1. Part 3 – “Miracles Don’t Just Happen on 34 th Street” December 20, 2015 Pastor John C. Martin

2. Psalm 77:14 New International Version You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

3. How do you receive the miraculous?

4. I. Position yourself to receive

5. Luke 1:6 New International Version Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

6. I. Position yourself to receive

7. Proverbs 15:29 New International Version The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

8. I. Position yourself to receive

9. Luke 1:30 New International Version But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God…”

10. I. Position yourself to receive

11. Remember: Your choices matter.

12. II. Acknowledge your questions and doubts

13. Luke 1:18 New International Version Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

14. II. Acknowledge your questions and doubts

15. Jeremiah 33:3 New International Version ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

16. II. Acknowledge your questions and doubts

17. Luke 1:34 New International Version “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

18. II. Acknowledge your questions and doubts

19. Remember: God can handle your questions.

20. III. Choose to believe

21. Luke 1:19-20 New International Version The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

22. III. Choose to believe

23. Choose to believe…

24. 1. Even if it doesn’t make sense.

25. Choose to believe… 1. Even if it doesn’t make sense. 2. Even if it costs you.

26. Choose to believe… 1. Even if it doesn’t make sense. 2. Even if it costs you. 3. Even if others judge you.

27. Luke 1:38 Contemporary English Version Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

28. Remember: God is true to His Word.

29. IV. Watch God do the impossible

30. Luke 1:23-25 New International Version When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

31. IV. Watch God do the impossible

32. Luke 1:35 New International Version The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…”

33. IV. Watch God do the impossible

34. Luke 1:37 Contemporary English Version “Nothing is impossible for God!”

35. Remember: Nothing is too difficult for God.

36. V. Go and tell others about your miracle

37. Luke 1:62-66 New International Version Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

38. Luke 1:62-66 New International Version All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

39. V. Go and tell others about your miracle

40. Luke 2:8-12 New International Version And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that

41. Luke 2:8-12 New International Version will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

42. V. Go and tell others about your miracle

43. Remember: Let the good news out!

44. Part 3 – “Miracles Don’t Just Happen on 34 th Street” December 20, 2015 Pastor John C. Martin