Miracles and Encouragement

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.”  (Mark 6:4-6 NLT)

Jesus performed miracles everywhere he went, sharing GOD’s Word with all, healing and showing loving kindness to all. The only place Jesus was limited was in HIS hometown.  A person has to be receptive to GOD’s Word; they have to be able to receive GOD’s message and healing. If a person has placed a wall up and closed their ears, they cannot receive what GOD has for them. It’s like a water hose that has a kink in it, causing the water to only trickle out; if you get rid of the obstruction, the water pours out - the obstruction/kink being the people (unbelievers and even some Believers whose faith is weak) unable to receive GOD’s message. If GOD’s Son was unable to perform miracles due to the unbelief surrounding HIM, then we Believers will have the same results when we are surrounded by people who do not want to hear or accept the Good News.

The reason for the people’s unbelief is they knew Jesus before HE started HIS ministry. They watched HIM grow up in their town, they knew HIS parents and it wasn’t possible for them to conceive that someone they knew would be sent from GOD, let alone be of GOD. Consider this in your own life, once you become a new creation in Christ, you want to share with others, but those who knew you before – they have a much more difficult time accepting this ‘new you’. Your old friends are probably attached to the old lifestyle you shared with them and if you are now living a life for Christ; this will ‘convict’ them (this isn’t you judging them, we as Believers are never to judge anyone). A non-believer will feel ‘conviction’ because they do not have the Holy Spirit in their lives. The HOLY SPIRIT’s process in dealing with one’s own conscience, alert and sensitizing us to GOD’s Word BEFORE we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. Once we are saved, we no longer are convicted, we may feel guilt and need to repent for a sin we have not confessed, but we are never convicted or condemned.

“If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God. When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.”  (Romans 2:12-16 MSG)

The HOLY SPIRIT is a comforter and encourager in Believers, HE is not a convicter or condemner!

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  (John 14;15-18 NKJV)  The Amplified version of this scripture explains the HOLY SPIRIT’s role; “If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.” (John 14:15-18 AMP) 

When you read about Jesus’ ministry throughout the Bible, you see that HE was always telling the people, to not fear, to have faith. He would always encourage others before HE performed a miracle, it was always a ‘just wait, hold on to your faith, and it will be rewarded greatly’ kind of message.“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.  Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”  And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.  (Mark 5:35-42 NLT) 

Another thing I’ve learned from this scripture is that Jesus cleared the room of all the unbelievers; he got rid of the people who would block the miracle HE was going to perform.  GOD can perform any miracle in our lives, but we have to receive that miracle.  In the scripture John 14:17 it explains the word ‘receive’, The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. It’s not that we just hear the Word, but we have to ‘receive’ the Word of GOD as well. Notice to be able to 'receive' we also have to 'know GOD', that is, you must be a Believer! That’s why so many times Jesus would say, “He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.” (Matthew 11:15 AMP).

When a person is bringing down your faith, distance yourself from them. This doesn’t mean you are no longer friends, but you can tell them that you cannot allow their disbelief to be part of your life. Hardened hearts and disbelief will block GOD’s love and message from being received in a person’s heart, that’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with GOD’s promises and fellow Believers. The Bible tells us often how we need to always encourage one another, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT). 

When Jesus was walking on the water towards the disciples and they feared it was a ghost, “But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.” (Matthew 14:27-30 NLT)  Notice that Jesus told them to have courage, to not be afraid –  HE was ‘encouraging’ them.  Peter was able to perform a miracle and walk on the water as well, that is until he took his eyes off of JESUS; when he took in the surrounding circumstances, the pressures of the world, that’s when he lost his faith and began to sink. So keep your focus on JESUS, surround yourselves with fellow Believers, and encourage others - this will open the doors of GOD’s blessings in your own life and receive the miracles GOD has for you!