Intimacy With GodSample

I believe there is a principle that the Holy Spirit wants us to understand if we are to experience the extravagance of God through the miraculous. It all starts with learning to “do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5). The miracles of God that we find in the Scriptures, particularly in the gospel of John, are typically preceded by a request from God. These requests are His points of contact for a release of faith, because faith needs to have an element of risk for it to be faith. I believe that God delights in the kind of faith that leads to obedience. God wants us to stretch our faith in the midst of risk and experience His extravagant love for us. If we will just take Him at His word, focusing on His invitation rather than our problems, we will see a release of the miraculous that will bring great glory to God.

I am using the term word here in the sense of hearing the instructions of God for what He wants to do. These instructions could be in the form of a prophecy or a word of knowledge. It is important to make the distinction between God’s promises and His rhema word. The promises of the Bible are helpful in understanding general principles of God, whereas a rhema word gives direction in specific situations. It is also important to note that making this distinction is not raising subjectivity above the objectivity of the Word of God—the Bible. Objective biblical instruction and narratives point us to the reality of God’s Spirit communicating with humans on the subjective level of impressions, feelings, visions, and dreams. This also aids us in understanding the providential moments when we realize we are in a divine appointment where God has orchestrated events for His purposes. 

In the gospel of John, there are seven miracles—seven supernatural events—recorded. There is a reason and significance for every detail John has included in his gospel. Led by the Spirit, he selectively chose the miracles that we find in the book of John. It is interesting to note that every one of these supernatural events is preceded by a request from Jesus, asking the people who are going to experience the miracles to do something first.

Prayer:

Father, please open my ears to hear Your instructions. Please give me a heart that is willing to trust and obey You. Amen.