Title: Miracles Do Happen: A Faith-Fueled Look at the Power of the Impossible

The Foundation of the Miraculous

In Luke 18:27, Jesus speaks a profound truth: “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” This simple yet powerful verse serves as the foundation for a message that reminds us that miracles are not relics of biblical history—they are alive, relevant, and very much present in our world today.

The message begins with this central theme: miracles do happen. It's not just a hopeful phrase—it's a declaration rooted in faith and reinforced by scripture, experience, and testimony.

What Is a Miracle?

A miracle, as defined in this sermon, is a divine intervention in the natural order of things. It’s not merely an unlikely or rare occurrence. Rather, it's when God steps into time and space to do what only He can do. A miracle breaks the expected rules of the natural world and serves as a sign—a manifestation of God's power, His purpose, and His presence. Miracles authenticate His messengers and messages, revealing His sovereignty and compassion.

Biblical Examples of Miracles

The Bible is rich with miraculous events:

• The parting of the Red Sea.

• Manna from heaven and water from a rock for the Israelites.

• Elijah multiplying oil and flour for a widow, calling fire from heaven.

• Jonah surviving in the belly of a great fish.

• Daniel surviving the lion’s den unscathed.

Jesus Himself performed numerous miracles: healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, curing paralysis and leprosy, casting out demons, turning water into wine, walking on water, and raising the dead—including Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus. He even conquered death Himself through His resurrection.

And the miracles didn’t stop with Jesus. The book of Acts documents how the apostles continued this divine work—healing, casting out demons, and spreading the power of the Gospel throughout the early church.

Miracles Today: Personal Testimonies

The message shifts from ancient scripture to modern-day testimony, providing tangible evidence that God is still in the miracle-working business.

• A nephew born prematurely at one and a half pounds, lungs undeveloped, became a medical case study—now alive and thriving at 34 years old.

• A family member who underwent a kidney transplant that defied the odds, lasting over 30 years—far beyond the medical expectation of ten.

• That same family member later suffered a severe fall, breaking five bones in her neck. Yet when prepped for surgery, some of the expected injuries had vanished.

• Another family member rushed to the hospital with severe numbness—but medical tests revealed nothing.

• A young son hit by a car and thrown 20 feet in the air, landing in the path of another vehicle that stopped just in time—he survived.

Each story underscores this truth: miracles do happen.

Faith: The Doorway to the Miraculous

Miracles are not manufactured by faith, but invited by faith. The Bible teaches that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Faith is described as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It is through faith that we please God and position ourselves for His supernatural intervention.

Faith does not deny reality; it supersedes it. When logic fails and science has no answers, faith steps in. God delights in using what appears foolish to the world to confound the wise. Faith demands trust, not understanding. It demands surrender, not control.

Faith in the Waiting

Sometimes, we must wait for our miracles. Luke 18:1 encourages us to "always pray and not give up." Waiting is not a sign of abandonment; it's a process of growth. Just as a seed must remain undisturbed in the soil to take root and grow, we must remain grounded in God’s Word without digging up our faith in frustration.

The preacher illustrates this with a childhood memory: planting a seed in a styrofoam cup in kindergarten. He watered it and placed it in the windowsill, but when nothing appeared to be happening, he dug it up—disrupting its growth. The lesson? Be rooted and not disturbed. Trust that growth is happening beneath the surface, even when it’s not yet visible.

Surround Yourself with Believers

Finally, an essential part of maintaining faith is being in community with those who believe alongside you. Not everyone who attends church or claims Christianity truly walks in faith. The message emphasizes that there is a difference between holding the label of a Christian and living as a believer. Being surrounded by true believers strengthens your faith and reinforces your hope in the miraculous.

Rooted in Resurrection: The Foundation of Belief

In the early days of Christianity, long before the followers of Jesus were called Christians, they were simply known as believers. And what was it they believed? Something that, to the outside world, may have seemed absurd—that a man named Jesus, after being brutally beaten, crucified, and buried, had risen from the dead. This belief wasn’t just a part of their doctrine; it was the foundation. It was the cornerstone of their hope, the bedrock of their courage, and the essence of their faith. As the speaker passionately declared, “If He can get up, we can get up.” The resurrection isn’t just an event; it's a promise.

Faith in Action: When God Works Through You

The testimony continues with a reminder that real faith is not passive. It requires belief even when circumstances seem impossible. Whether facing illness, financial hardship, or emotional despair, believers are reminded that if Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter and called Lazarus from the grave, He can certainly bring us out of any metaphorical tomb we might be in.

But there's a key point here: sometimes, God doesn’t just do things for us—He does things through us. When your back is against the wall and stress clouds your thinking, God can still bring clarity. He can use your own knowledge, your own experience, and your own resources, revealing them at the right moment. As illustrated in a personal story shared by the speaker, what seemed like a financial impossibility was resolved not by outside help but by a realization: the answer had been there all along, right within reach.

The Power of Community and Scripture

Another significant insight emerges: the importance of surrounding yourself with believers. People of faith help remind you of God’s promises. They help point you back to what is true when doubt creeps in. When someone stands beside you and declares, “The Lord will provide,” it’s not just comfort—it’s alignment with biblical truth. God's Word promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. It assures us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper and that His provision is not only promised but guaranteed.

This leads into the importance of meditating on Scripture. Referencing Psalm 1, the speaker encourages believers to delight in God's law and meditate on it day and night. The result? Like a tree planted by streams of water, you become steady, fruitful, and resilient. Meditation on God’s Word builds confidence, and with that confidence comes peace—even in the midst of chaos.

Worshiping in the Fire

The sermon draws a powerful comparison to the story of the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. Many think they danced in the flames, but the speaker corrects that notion: they worshipped. They praised God, not after deliverance, but during the trial. This is the heart of faith—to worship in the fire, to give thanks in adversity, and to acknowledge God's presence even when circumstances are harsh.

When life feels like fire, the instruction is simple and profound: stop, drop, and roll. Drop to your knees, drop your burdens, and roll into worship. That’s how transformation happens—not by avoiding the fire, but by meeting God within it.

Patience and the Power of Waiting

The message transitions into a metaphor we can all relate to: cooking. There’s a difference between fast, microwave-ready meals and slow-cooked, well-marinated dishes. The latter takes time, but the result is deeply satisfying. In the same way, God’s blessings are often slow-cooked. They take time to develop. But when they arrive, they’re rich, fulfilling, and just right.

This is where many of us struggle. In a culture of immediacy, waiting feels like suffering. But the sermon reminds us that delay is not denial. God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with ours. If you’ve ever rushed into a decision and regretted it, you understand this deeply. Waiting on God means trusting in His perfect timing, not ours.

A Thread of Faith

To reinforce this theme, the message revisits the story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. As Jesus made His way to Jairus’s home, the woman interrupted His journey by reaching out—not for His hand, but for the hem of His garment. That small act of faith released healing power. The speaker calls us to have that same focused faith. Sometimes, all we can do is hold onto a thread—but if that thread is connected to Jesus, it’s enough.

Praising on Credit

Finally, the sermon crescendos with a bold, faith-filled call to worship. Even before the blessing arrives, we’re invited to praise God on credit. Praise Him in advance, not because you’ve already received, but because you trust in His promise. The assurance is this: “When praises go up, blessings come down.”

The Foundation of Christian Faith

Before followers of Christ were ever called "Christians," they were known as believers. Why? Because their faith was founded on what the world would call the most foolish notion—that Jesus Christ, having been beaten, bruised, crucified, and buried, rose from the dead. Such belief, in the natural sense, sounds irrational, even "crazy." But that belief is the very cornerstone of the Christian faith. If He got up, we too can rise. That is the hope and root of all who believe.

God Works Through You, Not Just For You

Belief in the resurrection isn’t merely about history—it’s about power today. The same power that raised Jairus’s daughter and Lazarus can deliver us from whatever we’re going through. But it requires more than hope—it requires belief that sometimes, even when God doesn't do it for you, He does it through you. Sometimes the breakthrough is already within your grasp, but stress and fear cloud your ability to see it.

Take, for example, a testimony from years ago at the church on Hudson Street. Tammy needed money for a roof and was overcome with worry for weeks. But through a simple conversation at work, she realized she had forgotten about her own account at the credit union—an account she already had funds in. She was standing right outside the building and didn’t even realize it. The lesson? What you need might already be with you. Faith can reveal what fear hides.

Stay Connected and Meditate on the Word

That’s why staying connected to believers is so important. The Word of God is full of promises: He shall supply all your needs; no weapon formed against you shall prosper; goodness and mercy shall follow you. And one thing about God—He can’t lie. He is truth. That’s why we are instructed to meditate on His Word day and night, as Psalm 1 declares. The result? You will be like a tree planted by rivers of water, always bearing fruit in your season.

Worship in the Fire

Remember the three Hebrew boys? They didn’t just survive the fire—they worshiped in it. They lifted their hands, bowed down, and praised God amidst the flames. That’s the kind of faith we need in trials. When you're in the fire, stop, drop, and roll—drop to your knees and begin to worship. Don’t meddle with the problem. Don’t dig at it. Leave it in the Master’s hands, because “one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase.”

God’s Timing is Perfect

Delay does not mean denial. We often want miracles to be instant—microwaved. But some of the best blessings take time, like home-cooked meals. The longer it simmers, the juicier it gets. So too with the plans God has for you. When you wait on the Lord, your strength is renewed. Don’t rush the process. Let it marinate. Let it slow cook. Because when it’s finally ready, it will be just right—tender, seasoned, and satisfying.

Just a Thread of Faith

The woman with the issue of blood didn’t need to grab Jesus—she just touched the hem of His garment. That was enough. Sometimes all we need is to hang onto a thread of faith. Even a touch from the ground level is enough to release divine virtue. And when praises go up, blessings come down. You can even praise Him on credit—thank Him now, knowing the blessing is on the way.

Miracles Happen Because He’s Good

Miracles don't happen because we’re deserving, but because He is loving, kind, and good. The speaker reflects personally on the miraculous path of their life—from launching a broadcast ministry, to founding a church many thought was impossible, to recovering from a near-collapse while preaching just a year prior. Through it all, God remained faithful.

Launch Into the Deep

Finally, like Peter at the Sea of Galilee, we are called to obey—even when it doesn’t make sense. Peter was a seasoned fisherman; Jesus, a carpenter. But obedience brought overflow. When Peter cast his nets on the right side, he caught so many fish his nets and boat couldn’t contain them—and neither could the boats of those who came to help.

Sometimes all we need to do is stop doing it our way and start doing it God’s way. Don’t just try to figure it out—let God work it out. Lift up every impossibility to Him, trust His plan, and declare: Lord, I believe You are still a miracle-working God.

So as the message concludes: Strengthen your faith. Ignite your hope. Trust in His plan. And if you believe that, shout Amen! and give God praise.