Miracles of Jesus E-Book

C. K. Sharpe

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Why did Jesus perform miracles? This 40-day devotional chronicles miracles Jesus performed as He lived on this earth. You will see Jesus performing instantaneous miracles in front of many witnesses—demonstrating God's kindness and concern for the afflicted. Be moved by how Jesus interacted with people, and see how—in a moment—Jesus changed their lives and glorified His Father in heaven. Each day you will read Scriptures that record the miracle, and then go deeper with a devotional reading, reflect personally and journal thoughtfully, and mediate on an insightful truth about the Lord Jesus. Experience the richness of Jesus' marvelous works and discover anew God's overwhelming love for you.

Leseprobe

I was excited to hear that Cheryl was writing a devotional called Miracles of Jesus. For the believer, Jesus’ miracles are a constant reminder of His supreme power while foreshadowing the greatest of His miracles—His death and resurrection. Cheryl does a terrific job guiding the reader on this journey into Jesus’ life and lordship, illustrating the importance of Jesus’ miracles and their significance to the gospel. Jesus’ acts of miracles serve as a road map to His ministry. Mark 1:15 tells us that Jesus performed many miracles, demonstrating His power over nature and spirits, and thus confirming that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Let Cheryl’s insight and passion for Jesus guide you to discovering Christ’s compassion for humanity. It is my prayer that this devotional will provide rich insight and bring comfort to your soul!

—JUDD BRANNON, director of the film Champion

BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

MIRACLES OF JESUS: A 40-DAY DEVOTIONAL

Copyright © 2017 C. K. Sharpe

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5382-2 (softcover)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5383-9 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked NASB is from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968, 1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture marked NIV is from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture marked NLT is from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Stock or custom editions of BroadStreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

Cover design by Chris Garborg at www.garborgdesign.com

Typesetting by Katherine Lloyd at www.theDESKonline.com

Printed in the United States of America

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PART I • THE VIRGIN BIRTH

DAY 1 The Birth of Jesus the Messiah: The Miracle of God’s Presence with Us

PART II • Control of Nature

DAY 2 Jesus Turns Water into Wine: The Miracle of Faith

DAY 3 First Miraculous Catch of Fish: The Miracle of Trusting Jesus

DAY 4 Jesus Calms the Storm: The Miracle of Jesus’ Calming Spirit

Lord of the Storm

DAY 5 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand: The Miracle of Abundance

DAY 6 Jesus Walks on Water: The Miracle of Authority Over Nature

DAY 7 Miraculous Feeding of the 4,000: The Miracle of Compassion

DAY 8 Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish’s Mouth: The Miracle of Tax Delivery

DAY 9 Jesus Curses the Fig Tree: The Miracle of God’s Judgment

Where Is the Fruit

DAY 10 The Miracle of His Provision: Second Miraculous Catch of Fish

PART III • DELIVERANCE

DAY 11 Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit: The Miracle of Jesus’ Power Over Evil

DAY 12 Jesus Heals Many Sick at Evening: The Miracle of Trusting Jesus

When Evening Comes

DAY 13 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man: The Miracle of Redemption

DAY 14 Jesus Heals a Gentile Woman’s Demon-Possessed Daughter: Miracle of Blessing Faith

DAY 15 Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon: The Miracle of Developing Mountain Movers

DAY 16 Jesus Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac: The Miracle of Unity

PART IV • RAISING THE DEAD

DAY 17 Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son in Nain: The Miracle of His Life-Giving Words

DAY 18 Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter to Life: The Miracle of Hope

“Talitha cumi”

DAY 19 Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead: The Miracle of Revealing God’s Glory

PART V • CURES

DAY 20 A Nobleman’s Son Healed: The Miracle of Progressive Faith

DAY 21 Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed: The Miracle of Fullness of Life

DAY 22 Jesus Cleanses a Leper: The Miracle of Cleansing Power

DAY 23 Jesus Heals a Centurion Servant: The Miracle of Believing Without Seeing

DAY 24 Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic: The Miracle of Forgiveness

Faith of Four

DAY 25 Jesus Heals a Man’s Withered Hand: The Miracle of His Goodness

DAY 26 Jesus Heals a Woman in a Crowd: The Miracle of Truth

DAY 27 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men: The Miracle of Sight

Mercy for Two

DAY 28 A Man Born Blind Receives Sight: The Miracle of Purpose

DAY 29 A Mute Man Speaks: The Miracle of Speech

DAY 30 Jesus Heals an Invalid at Bethesda: The Miracle of Listening and Responding

DAY 31 Jesus Heals Many Sick in Gennesaret: The Miracle of His Touch

Letter: Body Over Soul

DAY 32 Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute: The Miracle of Communication

DAY 33 Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman: The Miracle of Sabbath Worship

DAY 34 Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy on the Sabbath: The Miracle of Truth

DAY 35 Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers: The Miracle of Thankfulness

One Leper’s Thanks

DAY 36 Jesus Restores Sight to Bartimaeus: The Miracle of Mercy

DAY 37 Jesus Heals a Servant’s Severed Ear: The Miracle of Control Over Evil

PART VI • RESURRECTION & ASCENSION

DAY 38 The Preeminence and Resurrection of Christ: The Miracle of Jesus’ Supremacy

Blood-Washed Cross

DAY 39 Ascension of Jesus: The Miracle of Rising to Heaven

PART VII • NEW BIRTH IN CHRIST

DAY 40 The Ministry of Reconciliation: The Miracle of New Birth in Christ

SPECIAL THANKS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FOREWORD

Devotional books strengthen authentic faith when they center the reader’s thoughts upon Jesus Christ and root the reader’s heart in God’s Word. I am thankful to God that Cheryl Sharpe has provided the church one of those! Too often modern devotionals offer contemplative thoughts from the author and lose the gospel at the core. God’s gospel is too great for us to set our hearts upon any person’s mystical musings to start our day. Joyfully, this book sets the very words of God in front of us at the beginning of each chapter.

This devotional uniquely asks the reader to meditate on one of Jesus’ miracles each day. These miracles unveil the majesty and sovereign power of our Lord and Savior. We gain a glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Jesus as we consider His miraculous works when He walked the earth. In a short space, we are given opportunity to meditate upon the content of each miracle, consider practical applications from each miracle, pray the message of the miracle into our lives, and finally jot down a few thoughts or prayers of our own. Each daily reading readies our soul to start our day communing with the living God who loves us and gave His Son for us.

I pray this book will be used to draw you deeper into the worship of our great Triune God.

—Dr. Ritch Boerckel, senior pastor,Bethany Baptist Church near Peoria, Illinois

INTRODUCTION

Miracles either happened or they did not. What was the common denominator that prompted Jesus to perform the miracles that He did? Was it for personal gain? Recognition? Perhaps because He loved people so much? That’s what I wanted to find out. Answering those questions became my heart’s desire—my quest.

So I set out on my quest to study Jesus’ New Testament miracles. I couldn’t find anywhere in the Bible where Jesus performed a miracle for personal gain. His miracles were motivated by worthy intentions. They were instantaneous, they were done in front of witnesses, and they were always done in love—a feeling of compassion or concern by Jesus was apparent in each of His miracles.

I respect how Jesus interacted with people, revealing their measure of faith, forgiving their sin; and in an instant, drastically changing their purpose in life by placing them on the path of righteousness. I found He always demonstrated His unconditional love for humanity; an attribute He wants us to share as willingly as He does.

I invite you to read the truths that were revealed to me as I journeyed on my quest. Welcome to Miracles of Jesus, a forty-day devotional that strives to reveal the deep love Jesus had for people as He walked among us.

As you read the daily Scripture passages, may your heart fill with His love as you experience the richness of His works.

In the “Going Deeper” section, it is my desire that you glean insightful truths about our Lord Jesus.

“Personal Reflection” is your chance to reflect back on your life choices. As your heart prompts, please take the time to journal. A question has been posed to help get you started.

A “Prayer” and “Today’s Truth” is included as a starting point for your worship time with God.

By reading the occasional poems, it is my hope you capture an inspired glimpse into these miraculous events.

May your mind crave more personal time with our Savior as you delve into His Word. May God continue to encourage and bless you on your journey with Him. I pray this devotional will encourage you in your daily walk with the Lord. The miracles of our Lord and Savior have touched the very core of my faith, and it is with pleasure that I share my heart with you.

—C. K. Sharpe

DAY 1

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

The Miracle of God’s Presence with Us

MATTHEW 1:18–25 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

GOING DEEPER

The world would never be the same after Jesus’ birth. God had come to earth in human form, not with a crown on His head, but humbly as a baby named Jesus. Every attribute, every point of character was that of God. His virgin mother brought to term the King that her nation had been promised for hundreds of years. He was wrapped in humble cloths and laid in a manger.

Salvation had come manifested in the birth of this Godchild. Proof of this was made clear to the eye and mind on that starlit night in Bethlehem of Judea.

A humble few were given the good news and went to see the birth of the Messiah that night. How great the curiosity of the shepherds must have been; and perhaps, their eternal need for a Savior prompted them to see for themselves this “good news of great joy.” A new King had been born.

Just as the shepherds sought out and paid homage to the newborn King of the Jews, Jesus seeks us today. Just as so many wise men and women sought and found Him so long ago, you too can seek and find Him today.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Imagine looking down into the manger at little baby Jesus, knowing that lying there in that crude resting place was a child that would someday turn the world upside down.

What internal tug causes your heart to seek out Jesus today? Perhaps there is a longing built inside your soul that cries out for a Savior—the Messiah, the Lord—and draws you to that Godchild born so long ago. May your heart cry out with praise as you reflect on a baby born with the “soul purpose” of becoming a God-man—the One destined to be the Savior of the World.

In what area of your life do you need saving today?

PRAYER

Father, I approach your throne right now in awe of your great generosity. There are no words adequate to express the appreciation I have as I think about the life-changing birth that happened so long ago. Your love is limitless. You proved it to a world in need of a Savior by sending your Son as a newborn baby.

I give you all my praise for the birth of King Jesus and your great plan of salvation. Thank you for sending us the Redeemer of sins, and the hope of our rebirth in you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.