New Year's Resolutions (Mark 9:14-29)
Gary McManus, 01/10/2016Part of the God's New Year series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
New Year’s resolutions?
Not often in the Bible:
King Jehosaphat (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Resolved to seek the Lord (good resolution!)
Many people are under the impression that God
wants something FROM us.
God wants something FOR us.
Jesus declared it. (Luke 4:18,
quoting Isaiah 61.)
This proclamation applies to all of us.
Some can’t see the forest for the trees
but Jesus can heal our blindness.
“Remove the LOG from our OWN eyes
before we can EVER help someone who
has a speck in their eye. Jesus will help us.
(Matthew 7:3, Luke 6:42)
Pastor example of prayer and work and healing.
[Paul said, I pommel my body. (RSV:
1 Corinthians 9:27).
Remember what the old doctor said
. . .take two aspirin and call me in the morning.
Healing—with instructions!
Jesus also offers healing WITH INSTRUCTIONS!
John 9:7
Also Mark 9:14-29.
Miracles. . .would you know one if you saw one?
(Matthew 17:20)
The word “immediately” is not there!
Jesus is still in the miracle business.
The good Lord takes His time with miracles
--your time.
Luke 18:1: the persistent widow.
When Jairus thought it was over (Luke 8:50).
Today’s miracle (Mark 9:14-29)
comes with an instruction booklet.
See John 9:7
Remember Luke 6:46: 46 “Why do you call me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not
[PRAY] LIKE I SAY?
Even Jesus prayed before miracles
(Matthew 14:19, John 11:41-42)
There are other miracles with instructions. . .
--the lepers (Luke 17:14).
-- the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:6)
We have the Bible and that should be enough
AND there are books, scientific books that
encourage people to pray as a part of their healing.
Resilience
Pray. . .keep praying Why?
Because sometimes the miracle comes wih instructions.
You can make a resolution like
King Jehoshaphat to SEEK the Lord.
You can make a resolution to pray more
. . .daily. . .three times a day. . .for _______ . . .
because sometimes the miracle
comes with instructions. Amen
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