Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Lakewood Church
Proverbs 11:25
Many people are praying for a
miracle.
Lord send a friend.
I need help with these children.
I need a break.
God has only our voice, arms, hands.
God brings people across our path
so we can be the answer to their prayers.
Somebody is praying for a friend.
You can be that friend.
Somebody got a bad medical report.
They’re worried, praying God send a
sign.
You’re that sign.
A simple call “I’m thinking about
you.”
Someone is discouraged.
I don’t understand this subject, I can’t
pass this course.
Take time to become that miracle.
People aren’t in your life by
accident.
God put them there.
Life is rewarding when you realize
you can be a miracle.
Paul is in Africa.
He’s a surgeon operating on less
fortunate in the middle of nowhere.
Small tin clinic with very limited
resources.
Only one doctor.
Young man came in middle of night
gored by elephant tusk.
But there was no blood in blood
supply.
Paul could’ve let it go.
Paul gave his own blood, operated
on the young man, then replenished the lost blood with his blood.
Paul could’ve prayed for a miracle
but he realized he was the miracle.
God put a miracle in you.
You could be the big break someone
needs.
It doesn’t have to be as dramatic
as saving a life.
Could be helping a neighbor
struggling with rent.
Taking young man to baseball
practice with your son.
It’s what will push them to their
destiny.
What if we all had attitude, “I am
the miracle waiting to happen.”?
See who’s in your life.
How can you help?
Can you put in a good word at the
office?
Do they need a dress and you have
several?
Are they alone with no family in
town and you could invite them to spend time with your family?
Those are opportunities to become a
miracle.
Joel’s friend grew up in projects
in unstable home.
He wanted to be journalist.
He got scholarship to major
university.
It was mostly white and he was African American.
Became great friends with roommate.
Roommate said journalists need
better vocabulary.
Taught him one new word daily,
everyday for 4 years.
He became a miracle.
Today the man is a top newscaster
on major network.
But where would he be if his
roommate hadn’t taken the time?
Joel I came here because I want a
miracle.
If you take the time to become a
miracle, God will make sure you always have all the miracles you need.
As long as you’re sowing seeds the
right people will be in your future.
Proverbs
11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever
refreshes others will be refreshed.
If you need a miracle – become a
miracle.
The seeds you sow will always come
back to you.
Joel met 2 ladies after service.
Before Lakewood church moved older lady didn’t think
she could keep coming.
She was a widow who didn’t drive on
the freeways.
Younger woman was a stranger who
overheard and offered to take her every week.
Lived 30 min away.
Could’ve said, no I’m busy, gas is
high.
But every Sunday she brings her to
church.
Older lady said “she’s my miracle”.
You can’t help everyone but you can
help someone.
Your destiny is connected to
helping others.
As you help them rise higher then you
will rise higher.
As you meet their needs God will
meet your needs.
The opposite is also true.
If we’re too busy to help someone
else we won’t have the help we need.
If we’re too caught up in our
dreams and needs we won’t get ours met.
It’s like a boomerang – it always
comes back to you.
Parable in Luke
10 (Good Samaritan)
Man was badly beaten on road.
First two men saw the man in need
but didn’t help.
3rd man also recognized
the man needed a miracle, but he took it one step further.
He became a miracle.
He knew God put him on his path on
purpose.
I can give him a new beginning.
Samaritan cared for him.
Held him mile after mile to nearest
city.
Paid hotel owner.
Which man are you?
It’s easy to get so busy and say I
don’t have time to help others.
Those you see that need encouragement
are opportunities to go to a higher level.
1st example Jesus used
was a priest.
He had to get to the temple for
religious duties.
He might get his white robe dirty.
True religion gets dirty.
It goes to where the needs are.
When you go down low to help others
you are lifted in God’s eyes.
There’s nothing closer to God’s
heart than helping hurting people.
True religion doesn’t judge people
to see if they deserve our help.
Doesn’t say, “Well they brought the
trouble on themselves.”
It’s the sick who need a doctor not
the healthy.
Anybody can find fault.
And come up with excuses to pass on
by.
Where are the people who will get
down dirty and love people back to wholeness?
Don’t be passersby, too busy with
church work.
Let’s become the miracle.
You can lift the fallen.
You can help a dream come to pass.
A friend Tammy Trent is a popular
country singer.
Went to tropical island to
celebrate 11th anniversary.
Husband a skilled diver who went
diving.
He never came back from diving.
Authorities searched but he drowned.
Tammy was in shock, devastated, in
a foreign country all alone.
Parents arranged to come next day
but the next day was 9/11.
No planes went out.
She prayed to God for help.
A knock on door.
Older Jamaican housekeeper said she
heard her crying.
Can I pray with you?
She put her loving arms around her
and held her like she was her own daughter.
Tammy was comforted.
The housekeeper took time to be a
healer.
She knew she is hear on earth to
wipe away the tears.
She became a miracle.
Scripture says one day God will
wipe away all tears.
In the meanwhile He wants us to do
it.
Are you helping somebody?
We come to church to be encouraged
but our real assignment begins when we leave the building.
Look around and see who needs help.
Hear them with your heart.
You see when somebody’s down.
Years ago Joel was in a restaurant
and saw man alone.
When their eyes met Joel felt
compassion and knew he was supposed to encourage him.
Man was dressed well as if well to
do.
Joel told himself “He’s fine, he
doesn’t need help”
Joel tried to put off but greeted
him at end.
Man said things are rough.
Joel said I know things will get
better.
A few months later Joel got letter.
The man was going thru divorce and
at the lowest point in his life.
That word gave him his fire back.
Joel didn’t say anything profound.
He took time to show that he cared.
What may seem ordinary to us
becomes extraordinary when God breathes on it.
That can be the spark that brings
them back to life.
1995 Woman gave birth to twin girls
prematurely.
One was very sick, heart problem –
not expected to live.
Hospital policy was to keep them
apart in separate incubators.
One baby was close to death.
Nurse petitioned to get the babies
together.
Finally put in same incubator.
Overnight the healthy baby put her arm
around her little sick sister.
 |
| The Rescuing Hug |
The sick baby’s health improved.
Both are perfectly healthy today.
The rescuing hug.
We don’t always see how powerful we
really are.
God has put healing in you.
Your hugs can cause people to get
better.
Your kind words can put people back
on their feet.
The scripture says a gentle tongue
brings healing. [Proverbs 15:4]
There are miracles in you waiting
to happen.
Some people just need to know that
you believe in them.
It can be life giving.
Moses was on big hill watching battle.
[Exodus 17]
As long as Moses held up his hands,
the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites
were winning.
Got tired.
His friends Aaron & Hur held
his arms up.
They became the miracle and the
Israelites won.
There are people God put in our
path that we are supposed to hold up.
Don’t miss the opportunity.
Do like Aaron and Hur.
On news Meghan Vogel was junior in HS - track
star.
Near finishing line another girl
wobbled and fell.
Meghan stopped and picked her up and
helped her to the finish line.
The people in the stands cheered.
At the finishing line Meghan let her
opponent cross the line first.
State made exception and gave them
both a finishing time.
It’s great to receive a miracle,
but there’s no greater feeling than becoming a miracle.
Who are you carrying?
Who are you lifting up?
Your destiny is connected to
helping others.
Isaiah 58:7-8: When you feed the
hungry…then your light will break forth like the dawn.
You are the answer to somebody’s
prayer.
You can help a friend cross the
finishing line.
If you’ll live focused on how you
can become a miracle, your light will break forth like the dawn.
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