One major difference between believing in Christ and having a personal relationship with Him and all the other religions of the world is that Christ – by His Spirit – gives you the power to live a life for God. And the Spirit can do miracles in your lives. God is a God of miracles. His faithfulness never ends; He does what He says He is going to do.
Lazarus
By the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus died and was placed and buried in a cave as a tomb. But even death cannot stop Jesus from helping us.
“Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” – John 11
Jesus heals a man who is out of his mind
For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.
As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed,
“Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Then the demons came out of the man … A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” – Luke 8
Jesus helps the poor and dying widow and her son
Jesus cares about the weak and poor and suffering and will never turn His back on them – on us. Call upon God in your weakest, most vulnerable moment and He will help you.
“…he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! …. and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.” – 1 Kings 17
God cares about all our needs
God tells us:
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
“For I hold you by your right hand – I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!”
Jesus said:
“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.”
“”Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Don’t give up – trust in the Lord
So don’t give up my dear friend, my brother, my sister. We may not have the same colour skin, we may not have grown up with the same religion, we may not live in the same country – there is only one God.
Call upon the Lord and you will be saved.
Amen.