Helps for Daily Life 12

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BIBLE STUDY 2: HELPS FOR DAILY LIFE

 

A SERIES:           THERE IS HOPE

LESSON 12:        John 2.1-22 THE IMPORTANCE OF A MARRIAGE MIRACLE  

John 2:1-22 (KJV) “¹And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:  ²And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. ³And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. ⁴Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. ⁵His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. ⁶And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. ⁷Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. ⁹When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,  ¹⁰And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. ¹¹This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. ¹²After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.  ¹³And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,  ¹⁴And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:  ¹⁵And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;  ¹⁶And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. ¹⁷And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. ¹⁸Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showiest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?  ¹⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ²⁰Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? ²¹But he spake of the temple of his body. ²²When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”  

 

There are many people who are unbelievers and among those who claim to be believers who we hear say, "Miracles do not occur.” As result of scientific and technological advances there are people who say that the universe operates on fixed, unchanging laws and therefore miracles do not occur. Some people look at the laws of the universe and they make the decision that there is no God and everything is like a mechanism. Other people look at the universe and they see these things that take place and they believe that they see an evidence for the existence of a miracle-working God. I take the position and the view that miracles absolutely do occur. I believe in miracles. I believe that God can step into His universe and can do the miraculous and the extraordinary. Nevertheless, we are living in an atmosphere when there are some who say that miracles do not occur on the basis of what they have observed in scientific and technological exploration and discovery.

 

Many people have come to understand that human beings have needs in life which neither science nor technology can solve. We have come to believe and understand that there are some things that the human heart needs and desires that science is not able to supply. Science can put lights in your house, but science can't put love in our homes. Technology can put pictures in your house, but technology cannot put peace in our relationships. There are some things beyond the realm of the scientific which the human heart needs and that's why many people today are looking into the realm of the miraculous. For that very reason we have the New Age Movement today. The New Age Movement is a symptom of the desire on the part of many people to find something beyond what a world of science and technology is able to provide.

 

I do believe in miracles. I believe that God created this universe according to certain laws and when we see the laws of the universe we see God's usual action. However, if you believe in a God who created the universe you have to believe also in a God who can do miracles. Law is God's usual action. Miracle is God's unusual action. Law is God doing the ordinary. Miracle is God doing the extraordinary. I believe that a miracle is God doing what he chooses to do with His own universe. 

 

The Christian faith is a miracle faith because we have a miracle book. What we believe about a miracle ultimately is determined by what we believe about God. If we believe Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," then we can believe any miracle that is given to us in the pages of the Bible. Christianity is a miracle faith. If we take the miracles out of the Christian faith then we don't have Christianity anymore. Christianity believes in a miracle book.

 

Think about the miracle of the Word of God. There were over 40 authors over a period of about 1500 years of time, on various continents and lands, from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds and yet the writings of all of these authors came together to give us one book that has a unity and consistency of theme. The Christian faith has a miracle book.

 

The Christian faith is a miracle faith because we have a miracle experience. We believe that a person can experience a miracle salvation. I believe in miracles. I have a soul that has been set free from the chains of sin and I have seen many other souls set free during my life time. That which is miraculous is the soul that has been redeemed through the blood of Calvary. Therefore, when we believe in the life-changing miracles that Jesus brings about in the lives of people we don't have any trouble believing in miracles. Every time you see somebody saved, you are in the presence of a miracle. If you have received Christ as your Savior, you are a walking, living miracle. As that little song goes that we once sang, “It took a miracle to hang the world in space. It took a miracle to put the stars in place. But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, it took a miracle of love and grace.”

 

The Christian faith is a miracle faith because we have a miracle Savior. In Acts 2:22 the Bible says that Jesus was a man approved of God by signs and wonders and miracles. When Jesus came to this earth He became the Son of man by means of the miracle of the virgin birth. He was not only the Son of man; He was the Son of God. As Jesus walked on this earth, He did things that only God could do. Nicodemus said to the Lord Jesus, "We know that you are a man sent from God for no man can do these miracles that thou doest."

 

The very life of Jesus itself is the greatest miracle this world has ever witnessed. He came into the world by means of a miracle - the virgin birth. He came out of this world by a miracle - the resurrection. From beginning to end and all the way in between, Jesus Christ is the miracle worker. I believe in miracles. I want us to study THE MARRIAGE MIRACLE of Jesus and let the Lord speak to our hearts and show us that Jesus can do in the spiritual realm the things He did in the physical realm.

 

John 20:30-31 John tells us why the miracles of Jesus are recorded in the Bible. "And many other signs (another word for miracles) truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book. But these signs are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and that believing you might have life through His name." Therefore, when we see the miracles of Jesus and the purpose of them, it is so that we will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Then, because of that we you might receive Him by faith into our heart and that we might receive the miracle of the new birth - eternal life.

 

LETS TURN OUT THOUGHTS TOWARD THE MARRIAGE.

 

THE FIRST MIRACLE OCCURRED IN A HUMBLE PLACE.

John 2:2, "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee..."

 

It occurred in a little hill village called Cana. About nine miles from Nazareth. In those days that was just a good morning stroll. Not too far away. Just a little place. This is the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. This is the first miracle that Jesus is going to perform. We might think that if Jesus was going to do something like this He would begin in a more promising place than a little place called Cana. "Lord Jesus, why don't you begin in some prominent place? Jesus, why don't you begin a place of prestige? Maybe Imperial Rome is where you'll begin. On the other hand, why don't you start in academic Alexandria? Lord, why don't you do your first miracle in religious Jerusalem?" No, Jesus selected a little place called Cana. The Lord Jesus is doing a lot of wonderful things in little places where people don't even know anything about it.

 

The most significant things that are happening in Caldwell County are not the things you read on the first page of the newspaper. The most miraculous and wonderful things happening in the County are not the things you are seeing on the television news every evening. But in little, out of the way places, in the humble little homes where Jesus is not turning water into wine, but He is turning wine, beer, whisky and drugs into saved souls, new furniture, mended broken hearts, renewed relationships, loving mothers and fathers, and faithful husbands and wives. The Lord is doing miraculous work in hearts and lives of people in a simple worship service during a time of prayer or a song when an invitation to Jesus is given. The Lord is doing miraculous work in the life that has been touched by the kindness of someone who unknowingly smiled at them when that person was about to give up and end it all thinking there was nothing to live for. The Lord is doing miraculous work in a life that has just been encouraged by someone who said something kind and gentle while feeling so low they felt as though they would have to reach up to touch the bottom. The Lord is doing His wonder works. He works in humble places. There is no home, there is no family, and there is no life that is too small or insignificant for Jesus to do one of His miracle works. More than likely, we will never read about His miraculous works on the front pages of the paper or hear about it on our favorite new channel. He started in a humble place.

 

THE FIRST MIRACLE OCCURRED IN A HAPPY PLACE.

John 2:2, "And the third day there was a marriage”

 

It's a very happy place because the Bible says there was a marriage going on there. A marriage is always a happy time. I have never seen a hearse at a wedding. I have never seen a bride wearing a black wedding gown. There is never any need for a funeral director at a wedding. It is a time of celebration, a time of jubilation and rejoicing. Everything positive that can happen takes place most of the time if at all possible.

 

I heard about an old boy getting ready to get married. Right before they were getting ready to go in the chapel, all of a sudden he turned just as white as a piece of cotton. The preacher asked, "Son, what have you lost? Your car keys?" He said, "No, sir." The preacher asked, "Well, have you lost your marriage license?" He said, "No, sir." The preacher asked, "Well, son, have you lost your reservations for your honeymoon?" He said, "No, sir." The preacher asked, "Well what have you lost?" He said, "Preacher, I've lost my enthusiasm."

 

I guess there may have been a few who have lost their enthusiasm but generally speaking it is a happy and exciting time when a couple comes together in the house of God and make their vows to each other and to God in marriage.

 

In those days when they had a marriage they were elaborate affairs. The ceremony would go on for about a week. There was a lot of good food. There was a lot of good things there to enjoy. Marriage ought to always be a happy time. Marriage ought to always be a joyous occasion. That doesn't mean that's it's not a serious occasion. We should be happy; it should be a fun time, but we must always keep in mind that it's an important time, too. The second most important decision we will ever make in our life is the decision of who we are going to spend the rest of our life with. Number one, a person must receive Christ as their Savior. Number two, a person must pray and ask God to give them a Christian mate. It's a very serious time.

 

We are living in a day when the importance, obligations, permanence, and seriousness of marriage is minimized. One of the real sad things that has taken place in America is that the celebrities in America have done a good job minimizing marriage and ridiculing the divine institution of marriage. Therefore, now they brag about the fact that after they've had their children they are going to get married. They brag about the fact that they've gone from this partner to this partner to this partner. Somebody said most Hollywood actresses get married so much they need wash and wear wedding gowns and from what I read and hear on the so-called news, I think that's probably true.

 

However, this is not only happening in Hollywood. It is happening in our own families and among our closest friends. In my opinion, even worse is the growing trend of living together and avoiding marriage altogether. I am not just referring to people who do not know Jesus but I am including many who are supposed to know Jesus and some who have even been called of God to some specific ministry. Many give the excuse that marriage is only a piece of paper and a lot of hoopla and there is no need to go through all of that when living together accomplishes the same purpose. When I have tried to discuss the matter personally with family, friends, and others the door to conversation and communication slams shut and if pursued anger erupts. The Devil has already got them in the web of deceit and they have bought into his lies.

 

Though marriage must not be entered into lightly it is God arranged, God ordained and God instituted from the Garden of Eden to this very day. No matter what anyone may say on the subject the Bible says marriage is honorable. Any such arrangement outside of marriage is dishonoring to God. Marriage is such a special occasion and such a special institution that God has encircled and enclosed it with His care when he says in the Ten Commandments, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

 

THE FIRST MIRACLE OCCURRED IN A HOLY PLACE.

John 2:2 says, "And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage."

 

The couple that invites Jesus to their wedding is wise indeed. We have a lot better chance of making it if we will see to it that Jesus is in that marriage ceremony. One of the greatest blessings I have had over the years of ministry is to have young couples come in for counseling and when we start talking about the wedding plans have them say to me “We want our wedding to be a testimony. We want people to know that Jesus is our Savior and we want to honor Him in everything we do.”

 

Jesus was called to the marriage. Jesus was always a gentleman. He said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." That is what Jesus does for a sinner and for a church. He never barges in uninvited. We have to open up the door and invite Jesus to come in. When Jesus comes in it does not mean because it is a holy time that it is still not going to be a happy occasion. Jesus Christ is not some kind of killjoy. Jesus Christ was with people in the real experiences of their lives. People enjoyed it when Jesus was there. Some people have the idea that if we get the Lord in our life and if we include the Lord in our marriage and our family, that that's the end of the fun. No, no, no, that is not true at all. Some Christians would like to have us think that. Some Christians go around with a long face and a sourpuss expression. A lot of Christians seem to take the attitude that anything that's fun is either illegal, immoral or fattening. That is not the way it is at all. When Christ comes, fun comes. When Christ comes, that is when the enjoyment time comes. We are dealing here with a marriage.

 

LETS TURN OUT THOUGHTS TOWARD THE MOTHER.

John 2:3, "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, 'They have no wine.'"

 

They gave out of wine. That would have been a very embarrassing situation. Just imagine, here we are having a wedding and we have all of these guests and we run out of food. It is an embarrassing social occasion. Nevertheless, they knew what they needed to do when the wine gave out. When a problem came up the mother of Jesus gives us some tremendous guidance here. When a problem comes up in our marriage or in our life, we need to take it to Jesus. That's the difference Jesus makes. When we invite Christ to our marriage and into our family that doesn't mean that we aren't ever going to have any more problems. It does mean that we have Christ in our life and our marriage and we have someone to turn to when the problems come up. We have someone to call on.

 

The reply of Jesus in verse 4 seems a little strange. "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." It's strange that He called her woman and not mother. He does it here and when He is on the cross. When He was on the cross He looked down and saw His mother, Mary, and said, "Woman, behold thy son (talking about John)." Why did Jesus refer to her as woman and not mother? Though it is a term of affection, Jesus is clipping the earthly ties and basically saying to Mary, "I am no longer your son in the flesh, - I am now your Savior." 

 

Then He says, "Mine hour is not yet come." That's one of the themes we find all the way through the Gospel of John. Several times Jesus will say, "Mine hour is not yet come." "It is not His hour." When you come to chapter 17:1, the night before the cross, the Lord Jesus lifts His face toward heaven and says, "Father, the hour is come." He says to his earthly mother, "The hour is not come."

 

As Jesus starts toward the cross he says to the Heavenly Father, "The hour is come." It's not the miracles that saves; it's the shed-blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The hour of all hours is when Jesus died on that old cross for our sins. The hour of all hours, the eternal hour, is that hour in time when Jesus poured His blood out on Calvary's cross for our sins. He is saying to His Mother without literally saying it, "I'm going to the cross. I'm operating on eternal standard time."

               

In verse 5 she says to the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Isn't that good advice? That's good counsel for all of us. Just do whatever Jesus says. That's the key of the Christian life. Obedience to Jesus is the key to a happy life and a lasting marriage. What would happen in our life and the life of churches today if we just totally obeyed the commands and commission of Jesus? What difference would it make in our daily life if we as individuals, just did whatever he says unto us to do? 

 

LETS TURN OUT THOUGHTS TOWARD THE MIRACLE.

 

They have run out of wine. Now in verse 6 we are going to follow the progress of this miracle. Jesus did signs and wonders and miracles. Now the miracle-worker is getting ready to perform a miracle and all of the things that the Scriptures mention that are involved in this miracle and they all have great significance.

 

We being with the waterpots in verse 6 - "And there were set their six waterpots of stone..." In John's Gospel we always have to look beneath the surface for the underlying truth because there is symbolism and Spiritual meanings here. When we look at these waterpots made out of stone we notice that there are six of them in number. Numbers have significance in the Bible. The number six is the number of failure. Seven is the number of completeness. Seven notes in a scale. When we are told in the Bible about that final world ruler, that final Christ, his number is 666, a trinity of failure.

 

THE WATERPOTS SPEAKS TO US OF OUR FAILURES.

The Lord Jesus said in verse 7 - "Fill the waterpots”

 

It reminds us of the fact that we have failed. I wonder if there is anyone who is studying along with me who might say, "Preacher, I've failed." You had a marriage and it failed. Things seem to go to pieces in your marriage and you feel broken and as if you are a total failure. Friend, I have some good news for you because I believe in miracles. I believe that Jesus is able to put lives back together again. I believe that Jesus can step into our failure experiences. He can give us a brand new life and a brand new purpose and a brand new meaning for existence.

 

Notice these water pots are empty. They had run out of wine. Empty of earthly wine. Eventually that's what always happens in some marriages. Sooner or later the earthly wine gives out. Many people, when they get married, if they marry because there are certain needs in their lives which they want to be fulfilled eventually the wine runs out. They have looked to their mate to fulfill some of those needs. They have looked to material or physical things to fulfill some of those needs. Sooner or later they get to the point where they are just like an empty vessel. However, the reality is we all have needs. There are times when we all have empty places in our lives. The tragedy is that some people don't understand that ultimately the only fulfillment of those empty spots in their lives is Jesus Christ. If we look to our mate, our husband or wife, to fulfill all of the emptiness in our life, at some point in time they are going to run out like an empty vessel. They can't do it all and meet every need we have. We can become so obsessed with wanting our own needs met that we develop unrealistic expectations. Our mate is not going to be ultimately that which can fill the deepest emptiness of our life. Jesus is the only one who can do that.

 

Young couples get married and they say, "Boy, we have our own marriage now. We've gotten out of an unhappy home situation. We are going to get us a house and a car and we are going to have this and that." They get all those material things - those trinkets and toys. Down the road they all of a sudden they find out they are still empty on the inside. They are still like an old empty waterpot. The Lord said, "My people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and they have hewn them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." If we have a wonderful mate, thank God for it. If we have a home to live in and if we have material conveniences, thank the Lord for them. However, we are a spiritual person. we are a spiritual entity. There are some needs in our life that only a miracle from Jesus can supply.

 

THE WATER SPEAKS TO US OF THE WORD OF GOD.

The Lord Jesus said in verse 7 - "Fill the waterpots with water."

 

Water is always a picture of the Word of God. They fill those waterpots up to the brim and in verse 8 it says, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast." When I read that it reminds me of the responsibility of Bible Study leaders and teachers and preachers and missionaries and others to take the water of the Word and give it to people. We have a lot of areas as Christians where we need to try to give out the Word of God. In marriage the Word of God is so very, very important because as a family develops the “water” of the Word of God must be central early on in the lives of children like seeds planted in a fresh garden. If the Word of God is maintained in the marriage of a couple the bond between the two will be strong and the tie that binds will be blessed.

                 

In March of 1970 Susan and I met for the first time in my hometown church in Sunday School. There was no doubt that God had brought us together. Then we were so ridiculously and romantically in love we were married in September of 1970. She is my first wife and my first true love I don’t think there will be another to ever fill that place in my heart and hold that Godly bond in my life that we have together. I can say in 2016 we don’t love each other the same way we did 44 years ago; we love each other more and better because together we have grown in our Christian maturity and love for Jesus because we have kept Him in the center of our life and our marriage. When I got married I didn't know anything about marriage and had never read any books on marriage. Today we have all kinds of books by James Dobson and Gary Smalley and Norman Wright and all of these Christians who write about marriage and how to be a good husband and how to be a good wife. We didn't have those kinds of things available to us back then. Nevertheless, we did have a love for Jesus in our hearts and we had a copy of the Word of God in our hands. We just started reading the Word and studying the Word and trying to follow the teachings of the Word and do what God said in the Word. God has filled our marriage as we have let the Word of God, the water of the Word; fill our hearts and our lives. I can personally testify that people won't go wrong when the husband and the wife are going by the Bible. If the husband and the wife will just do what the Bible says to do about marriage they will never go wrong! 

 

Jesus said, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast." Something happened from the time that they drew that water out and began to pour it into those waterpots. Because the Bible says in verse 9 that the water was made wine. The water blushed in the presence of its maker and became wine. That is a miracle! The water was made wine. That is what Jesus can do in our life. Some people read that and say they don't believe in miracles but that does not make any sense. If we can sit down in front of what we call a flat screen television punch a button on a hand held device and a picture comes on that blank screen out of nowhere and starts talking and music starts playing and we believe that, why can we not believe in miracles? If we can sit before a screen and punch a button and start typing on a key board and the thoughts that are on our mind begin to appear on that screen, why can we not believe in miracles? If we can take what we call a cell phone and punch a few numbers and all of a sudden we hear the voice of our family member across the world speaking to us, why can we not believe in miracles? If we can take a device called a camera and aim it at an object or person and punch a button and their image appears on a screen and can be printed so that it can be hung on our wall for decades to enjoy, why can we not believe in miracles? I could go on and on with examples. Why can we not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, without whom nothing was made that was made, take the water of the Word and turn it into the wine of joy in our life? He can do it. 

 

THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION OF THE WINE.

I am not going to go into detail about the question of the wine. However, I must say I am convinced that Jesus did not make anything that would cause all the misery and sorrow and heartache that people have and do experienced by the use of alcoholic beverages. Let me say that it has not and will not be at a wedding I officiate. If a couple has the wish to get married and ask me to officiate the wedding it is going to be a Christian marriage. If there is a wish to have a reception I will not have any part of any alcohol nor anything that resembles alcohol around me. That is where I will take a stand. If that is the wishes then my recommendation is to go to a honky-tonk and let a bartender officiate. Do not ask a Christian preacher to perform the ceremony. Help yourself to giving the toasts and all that kind of malarkey, trying to be like the world. Christians are to be different from the world. 

 

If most people only knew how much trouble alcohol caused in marriage and if people only knew what has to be dealt with in the lives of people in this community and County and all communities and counties because of what alcohol is doing, you would never try to justify alcohol. Don't use the Lord Jesus Christ to be justification for something that will cause such misery in the lives of people. I don't believe it for a moment. Ten thousand worlds from now I don't believe Jesus ever turned anything into rotgut. That's all it is. Wine, beer and whisky is not a thing in the world but rotten fruit juice, corn or other grain. That is one of the reasons it stinks so bad on the breath of those who drink it. When Jesus touches things He doesn't make them worse, He makes them better. 

 

I wasn't going to talk about the question of the wine. Nevertheless, let me beg you if you have any alcohol in your home, for the sake of your family and your children, go home and pour it out. Get rid of it. Throw that beer out. Your family will be better. You'll have more money to spend on the things that you really need. I'd rather have a rattlesnake in my baby's crib than to have alcohol in my home. Some men think they are so macho when they sit around and drink that rotgut stuff. The commercial on television years back said “It doesn’t get any better than this” and I must say that they were absolutely correct, it only gets worse. If there is a desire to be macho go home and get the liquor out of the house and that will prove who is macho for God. 

 

THINK ABOUT THE QUANTITY OF THE WINE.

Some people say there could have been as much as 120 gallons of this. That means when Jesus does something, He does it in abundance. When he wants space He just makes it infinite. When He makes stars, He makes billions of them. When He wants suns he makes millions of them. When He wants to save a soul He does it with abundant grace, abundant pardon, and abundant mercy. There is more, much more, when you put Jesus in your marriage.

 

THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WINE.

They took this wine to the governor of the feast and he drank it and said, "Man, this is different. Most people give the best first and then that which is worse last. You have saved the best till last." That is exactly how the devil works and how the Lord works. The devil always gives his best first. Then that which is worse. The devil always gives us the best he has to give first because that is all he has to give and then we always have to take all he has left which is the bitter aftertaste later on. He gives us that sweet taste of secret sin. Suppose we do something sinful and nobody knows we are doing it. The Bible says, "Bread eaten in secret is sweet, stolen waters are sweet." That secret sin is so sweet but we have to take that next drink - the drink of guilt. Then we have to take the next drink - the drink of fear that somebody will catch us. It gets worse and worse and then there's that drink of addiction. Then there's the drink that we have to take more and more to get less and less and we go down and down and down. Finally there's that last bitter cup of damnation in hell. The devil always gives his best first because that is all the good he has to give and saves his worse till last. The pleasures of sin for a season. Then it's the wages of sin.

 

However, Jesus always saves the best for last. I must be honest and say that the first cup when we come to the Lord is a little bitter because it's the conviction of sin. We have to admit that we are a sinner and that's not very pleasant to drink. I must admit that when we repent that's a pretty tough experience. To admit to God that we have sinned and ask Him to forgive. Nevertheless, it gets better along the way because then there's that sweet cup of salvation and we take a good drink of the water of life. Then it gets better and better and every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. It gets sweeter and sweeter and sweeter. One of these days we'll step on the shores of glory into the presence of the Lord and we'll say, "Lord, hallelujah, you saved the best till last." That's what He always does.

 

There was an nonbeliever in a public place making a speech attacking the Bible, attacking Jesus, attacking the miracles of the Bible. He latched onto this miracle of Jesus turning water into wine and ridiculed it and made fun of it and laughed at it. Everybody was laughing. They thought it was funny. When he got through a man stood up and said, "Well, I'm not as smart as this man is. I don't know as much about the Bible as this man does. I've just been saved. I don't know whether the Bible says that Jesus turned the water into wine or not. Nevertheless, if the Bible says He did it, I believe He did it. However, I was an old drunk, a wino and I met this Lord Jesus Christ and let me tell you what He has done in my life. He has changed wine into furniture for my house. He has changed wine into clothes for my wife. He has changed wine into food for my children. I don't know about that water into wine, but I know what Jesus has done with the wine in my life.”

 

What Jesus did for him, He will do for any of us. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been saved? We can have another miracle here through this Bible Study. Suppose we have a miracle service. The miracle of all miracles would be if everyone who is studying this Scripture knows and has received Jesus as Lord Savior.

 

DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?

To find more help in receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please go to the Bible Study Title Page “ETERNAL LIFE.” Please send me an email and let me know about any decision for Christ you make so that I may pray for you. Feel free to send me any questions, comments, or responses you may have as well. For those who are already Christians I invite you to also please let me know of any decisions you make in your Christian life for Jesus. Please send me your questions, comments, or responses and let me know if the Bible Studies are helping you.

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ALWAYS REMEMBER!

The support of your local Church ministry and the ministry of your Pastor should be the first priority of your Christian life and your service to the Lord. Be faithful to prayerfully prepare and attend Sunday School and Worship Service this Sunday and participate in worship as your Pastor preaches the Word. Do not forget to give the Lord at least your TITHE through your local church from your gross income – that is your first fruits. Any other other giving is an offering to a ministry unto the Lord. Honor the Lord in all you do and with all that you have. Always remember that everything you have and all you are belongs to the Lord. It is on loan to you – so manage it well! There will be an audit one day! Make sure the Books Balance!

 

All Bible Studies Are Prepared by Pastor Frank Denning And May Be Be Used By Permission.