July 13 2014 Faith For Life's Problems

Faith For Life's Problems

Without Mary’s faith, the compassion and power of God would never have been released into the people’s lives.

Five Insights Into Mary’s Faith

1. Her faith understood the setting.

Verse 1 – There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the Mother of Jesus was there.

We may often miss a miracle in life because we think God is not interested in people like you and me.

Judges 6:12 – The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.

Luke 1:31 – You will bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus.

Jesus said, He came to give us life more abundant.

2. Her faith understood the situation.

Verse 3 – (Mary) – They have no more wine.

Is this not reality, that our best attempts have not led to God, but to lives where the wine of living has run out.

3. Her faith understood the solution.

Verse 5 – Do whatever He tells you.

You can go to Jesus with the confidence that His life will always be enough for you.

4. Her faith understood the sufficiency.

Verses 6 & 7 – Now six stone jars were standing there, each holding about 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said, fill the jars with water, and they filled them to the brim.

Lesson: No matter how deeply you draw on Jesus for power to live, you cannot exhaust His grace.

• Paul: in isolation.
• Peter: on trial.
• Stephen: being stoned.

5. Her faith enjoyed great satisfaction.

Verse 10 – Every man serves the good wine first and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.

When Jesus enters the life, there comes a new dimension for living.

God can be found. He is the resting place you need.

July 11 2010 Handling Life's Pressures

Handling Life's Pressures

(John 2:1-11 - On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drinkbut you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.)

Without Mary's faith, the compassion and power of God would never have been released into people's lives.

The Steps of Faith

1. Understand the situation
(Verse 3 - When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine.")

This is not reality, that our best attempts have not led to God, but to lives where the wine of living has run out.

2. Understand the solution
(Verse 5 - His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you.")

You can go to Jesus with the confidence that His life will always be enough for you.

3. Notice the sufficiency of Christ
(verses 6 & 7 - Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.)

Lesson - No matter how deeply you draw on Jesus for power to live, you cannot
*Paul
*Peter
*Stephen

4.Enjoy great satisfaction
(Verse 10 - "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.")

God can be found. He is the resting place you need.