Conduits of Miracles
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Gathering
Take time to gather informally and preview the service outline. If you'd like to participate in communion, please be prepared to do so.
Service
I. Opening
Welcome and Introduction: Welcome, everyone, to a special service focused on understanding our incredible role in God's miracles. Today, we explore how, through faith and prayer, we become vital conduits for His divine power in the world.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as we gather today, open our hearts and minds to the reality of Your miraculous power working through us. Teach us to embrace our role as faithful conduits of Your grace, ready to pray and act according to Your will. Amen.
Scripture: John 14: 12-14 – I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.
II. Worship and Praise
Let’s enter into a time of worship with a light-hearted twist. This unique rendition of a familiar tune playfully explores how we often approach our wishes and dreams—with the determination to 'make it so.' While it may not be Christmastime, and we’re certainly far from Stardate 41153.7, this song offers a fun preamble to today’s message about discerning the difference between our wishes and God’s will.
Let’s enjoy this creative piece, keeping in mind how it mirrors our own sometimes wishful thinking in prayer. Have fun and let this be a joyful start to our exploration of faith, prayer, and action in God’s plan.
Video Link: Captain Picard sings "Make it So" (Let it Snow) (youtube.com)
Reflection: Here’s some points of reflection that can help deepen your engagement with the song's themes and how they relate to our service and lesson today:
- Understanding Divine Commands vs. Personal Wishes: Reflect on the difference between God's sovereign commands, like "Let there be light," and our personal desires. How do we sometimes confuse God's promises with our own wishes, expecting Him to "make it so" on our terms?
- The Nature of Prayer: Consider how prayer is often perceived as a means to influence God to act in our favor, akin to Captain Picard's decisive "Make it so." How does this compare to the biblical understanding of prayer as communion with God, seeking His will above our own?
- Aligning with God’s Will: The video humorously shows us commanding outcomes with confidence. In our spiritual lives, how can we shift from trying to command God to fulfill our desires to asking how we can align ourselves more closely with His will and purposes?
These thoughts can help transition from the light-hearted opening into the deeper themes of the sermon and emphasize the importance of understanding our role in God's miraculous works beyond mere wish fulfillment.
III. Communion
Communion is a sacred time to remember Jesus' sacrifice, offering us forgiveness and eternal life through faith. This act is for those who have welcomed Jesus as their Savior and leader. If you're still on your journey of faith, please feel free to observe and reflect during this time. Know that you're valued and respected, regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey.
For those who have chosen to follow Jesus, let's share in communion together. We'll start with the bread, symbolizing Jesus' body given for us, and then share the cup, representing His blood shed for a new covenant of grace and forgiveness.
- "Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is My body.'" (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22) -- Please partake of the bread.
- “He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:23-24) -- Please partake of the cup.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who established this new covenant of love and forgiveness with His sacrifice. May this communion deepen our connection to You and to each other as Your family. Guide us to live out the grace we've received in our words and actions every day. Amen.
IV: Conduits of Miracles
In Scripture, we learn that Christ tells us all: “If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.” I think we can all agree that is a bold promise indeed!
We can all think of times when this has not worked from our perspective: I wish I had a million dollars… I wish I was a superhero… I wish there was world peace… I wish I could play guitar as good as Eddie Van Halen… I wish I had hair. This begs to ask the question, what specifically is meant in this passage and what is our involvement in the Miracles of God here on earth?
People have argued for centuries over this idea. Here is my attempt to help us all begin to understand this journey of understanding—one we won’t complete today, but one we can most certainly begin.
1) Understanding Miracles
Let’s begin with this very simple lesson: Miracles come from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7 -- But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
2) Our Role as Conduits
Miracles come from God. God sends them through us. They are activated through our prayers.
Generally, we learn this in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2 -- First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
This also is shown specifically for healing, from James 5:14-15—Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
In these two instructions, we as the Body of Christ—the Church—we pray for the miracle (healing, petitions, or other requests). God performs the miracle.
Consider what once would have been considered a miracle: the electric light. Some of you may have a flashlight in your pocket and if you do, pull it out. You can turn it on and light is emitted. In your home, you flip a switch and a light comes on. In this example, we do flip the switch but the power comes from another source: a power cell, a power plant… something outside of us.
When it comes to prayer and miracles, we are like the switch and the wires in the circuit. We are indeed essential for delivering the power but we are not the source of the power. We speak the prayer to “turn on the switch” and we might even do the work of delivering the electricity. But just like a circuit, there are other components: The light bulb has to be properly installed and the wires have to be connected to the power plant. If you are not connected to God when you pray for the miracle, it just won’t happen. If the person you are praying for is not receptive for that miracle then it also will not happen.
Conclusion
These ideas are indeed just an introduction to miracles and our role in them. The most important parts to know are that we are involved through prayer and sometimes through actions and activities—God generates the power. And like any other gift, the receiver of the miracle has to accept it.
For a stronger conclusion that ties back to your sermon's key points and offers a call to action, you might consider emphasizing our continuous need to align ourselves with God's will and the importance of being receptive and responsive conduits for His miracles. Here’s a suggested revision:
When it comes to miracles, it's clear that our role—though pivotal—is not the source of power but rather the channel through which God's power flows. Like the circuit that brings light to a bulb, our prayers and actions serve as vital connectors to the divine source of all miracles—God Himself. This understanding beckons us to a deeper faith, one that continually seeks alignment with God's will and readiness to act as His instruments on Earth.
As we step forward from here, let's commit to nurturing our connection with God, ensuring that our 'circuit' with Him is intact and conductive. Let's pray with specificity, faith, and a heart open to being used by God, remembering always that the miracles we seek are not for our glory, but for His, and for the advancement of His Kingdom. May we be ever willing to be the 'light switches' in a world that desperately needs the illumination of Christ's love and power.
We also need remember the readiness of the 'light bulb'—those we pray for and serve—is essential. Our role extends beyond prayer; it involves preparing hearts, including our own, to receive and recognize the miracles God performs. Through our words, actions, and love, we can help others to be receptive to the miracles God wishes to work in and through their lives.
V: Offering
As we continue in our worship, we have the opportunity to participate in the act of giving. The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV), "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Join me in prayer as we prepare our hearts for this act of giving. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us. As we bring our offerings before You today, we do so with hearts full of gratitude. May these gifts be used for the furthering of Your Kingdom and the spreading of Your love. Bless each giver abundantly, and may our cheerful giving be a reflection of Your generosity toward us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As we collect the offering, we do want to remind everyone that this part of the service is an opportunity to give but is in no way considered a requirement. We have the special opportunity here at Prepper Church to give all of the offering to a good cause that we choose.
Thank you for your generous hearts and faithful giving. Your contributions play a vital role in supporting the causes that we support. May God bless you abundantly as you continue to be cheerful givers. Amen.
VI: Closing
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we close our time together, we stand in awe of Your power and Your grace. Thank You for making us conduits of Your miraculous works. Help us to strengthen our connection with You, to pray with faith and specificity, and to be ever ready to act as Your hands and feet in this world. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Closing Remarks: Remember, we are like wires in a circuit, essential for delivering His power, but we must be connected to the ultimate Source. Let's move forward with bold faith, open hearts, and readiness to be used by God for His glory. Go in peace, knowing that you play a vital part in the unfolding of His divine plans. God bless you all until we meet again.
Local Group Discussion and Fellowship
Here are a few points for the congregation to consider and discuss after the service, focusing on the themes of miracles, prayer, and our role as conduits for God's power:
- Personal Connection to God: Reflect on your current 'circuit' with God. How strong is your connection? Consider ways you might strengthen your relationship with God to become a more effective conduit for His miracles.
- Assessing Our Prayers: Reflect on the metaphor, "Are you praying for a burned-out light bulb?" Consider the intentions and targets of your prayers. Are you asking God for outcomes without addressing the foundational needs or preparing for the necessary change? Discuss how we can ensure our prayers align with the readiness for true transformation and receptivity to God’s power.
- The Nature of Prayer: Think about your approach to prayer, especially when asking for miracles. How can you pray more specifically and with greater faith? Share any experiences where specific prayer led to noticeable outcomes.
- Openness to Being Used by God: Discuss times when you felt you were a conduit for God’s work. What did it feel like? How can you be more open and responsive to being used by God in the future?
- The Role of Faith in Miracles: How does faith influence our ability to be conduits for miracles? Share thoughts on the statement, "The size of the miracle may reflect the size of the faith."
- Receptivity of the Receiver: Discuss the importance of the 'receiver' in the miracle process. How can we help others be more receptive to the miracles God wants to perform in their lives?
- Action Beyond Prayer: Beyond prayer, what actions can we take to be active participants in God's miraculous works? Discuss how we can align our actions with our prayers to fully embody our role as God's conduits.
These points aim to deepen the congregation's engagement with the sermon's message, encouraging personal reflection, discussion, and practical application of the concepts explored during the service.
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