Looking for a Miracle? Start listening for a Prophetic Word!

As the Easter Season nears, many are looking for their own miracles and need a miracle in their lives. Is that you?

Often, the Road to Glory and the miracle of promise begins with a prophetic word. John records seven of these spoken by Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John that should offer us hope, promise, and strengthen our faith.

These seven “I am” statements made by Jesus reflect on the declaration of Jehovah to Abraham when He asked for God’s Name. I AM that I AM.

Jesus declared Himself to be:

• The Bread of Life, Who uniquely and supernaturally satisfies in contrast to things of this world, in material goods, wealth, or attainment.

• The Light of the World, Who pierces the darkness of destruction, disunity, and despair in a chaotic culture. If you have Jesus, you have an assignment to reflect His light as part of your purpose.

• The Door for the Sheep, Who laid down His life to give access to all of humanity to the covenant relationship with God and the blessed promises to those who enter in.

• The Good Shepherd, Who pursues the lost, tracks down the strays, disciplines the rebels, comforts the weary and hurting, and provides for His own.

• The Resurrection and the Life, Who gives His Spirit, the very One Who raised Christ Jesus from a tomb after a brutal death on a criminal cross of the Roman Government. Jesus removed any fear of death for those who have accepted Him and believe.

• The Way, the Truth, and the Life, Who makes the singular way to God the Father in this covenant relationship of adoption as a child of the Most High with eternal salvation.

• The True Vine, Who grafts in the branch of each believer to give eternal life through His Spirit, eternal power through the connection to life, and the fruit of the Spirit that reflects the nature of the vine. Good fruit comes from branches connected to Jesus. Bad fruit comes from the connection to this world and its sick culture.

In John 11:25-27, Jesus teaches us about the prophetic word spoken to His dear friends which applies today and forever. He is the resurrection and life, but our circumstances may speak louder than God’s Word, if we’re not faithful in our reading, praying, and abiding to the vine.

Jesus loved these friends. Jesus taught us that being connected to friends and family matters. But God’s Word says that Jesus delayed His response to a desperate letter from Mary and Martha about the deathly illness of their brother, Lazarus. Jesus waited two days after receiving word of his dear friend’s illness.

Have you ever gotten impatient with God? Have you questioned Him for not showing up on your terms? You’re not alone. Gideon, Moses, David, and many more wondered where God was in their need. The explanation lies in John 11:4 as to why we experience delays.

“This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God.”

Do you see delays and even the answers of “No” to your prayers as for God’s glory?

When Jesus did arrive, Martha confronted Jesus in great sorrow and anger as her brother laid dead on the fourth day in a tomb – wrapped, decaying, with the smell of death emanating from the tomb. As Jesus exchanged words with Martha inquiring of her beliefs, He saw that she believed in eternal resurrection.

This purposed occurrence yielded many things, but two are especially important.

Jesus wanted Martha, Mary, and all present at the moment to understand that prophetic words are for the future days, like the resurrection of the dead and in heaven, but also for the here and now. This was such a time.

Do you have a current need? Do you need a now miracle? What are you doing to speak the words of promise declared by Christ? He is the Resurrection and the Life! He is the one who calls forth our dreams entombed in the death of our doubt and drama. Jesus is the One Who is well able to speak the grave clothes off our tangled lives in bondage to sin, fear, addictions, illness, whatever your need.

This prophetic word which produced a great miracle made its way to the High Jewish Court, the Sanhedrin. The Jewish leaders’ power was threatened, and they envied Jesus’ following. Oh, dear friends, never underestimate the rage, vengeance, and destructive responses from established systems of this world in response to a prophetic word that comes to life because of your faith and the faith of all believers operating on the Word of God and the promises He has made.

Jesus’ words to release a dead Lazarus from the clutches of death are the same words we must speak, believe, and live today in a dead culture that’s rotting before our eyes and a dead Church that is better known for our disunity, lack of power, condemnation, lack of lives changed through salvations, wayward focus and priority on things of this world instead of God’s Kingdom come and His will being done by those who are supposed to bear the resemblance to Jesus.

Today, Jesus is calling you out. “Come forth!” Remove the grave clothes and live!

Go deeper in study and learn more about a prophetic miracle. Listen to the complete teaching by Pastor Ronnie.

The Covenant Demonstrated

You’ve heard it over and over— people who may consider themselves Christian but don’t participate in a local church for one reason or another. Why is that?

One of the top reasons people reject involvement in a faith community is their belief they just don’t measure up and couldn’t possibly be good enough to engage with Christians in a family of faith at a local church.

If that sounds like you, let me introduce you to someone who just might be able to change your mind when you hear his story.

Meet Mephibosheth. Yeah, what was his momma thinking, right?! His name in Hebrew literally means, shame on you! He was crippled in both legs as a child when his home was under attack by an invading army who hated his grandad, the King of Israel, Saul. Mephibosheth’s dad was Jonathan, who died on the same day as his father at the hands of an enemy.

Mephibosheth was cared for by a servant named Ziba, which means no progress in Hebrew. He happened to live in a region called Machir, meaning slavery and in a city, Lodebar, or dry place.

Whew. Yeah. Shame on you was cared for by no progress living in a place of bondage and a dry place. Mephibosheth didn’t seem to have much hope.

But then, something happened. A covenant was exercised. His life changed suddenly and permanently. And all this broken, crippled young man with little hope had to do was to accept an invitation.

You’ve met Mephibosheth. Now, look at the account in 1 Samuel 18:1-5 of his dad, Jonathan, and David. At this point, Jonathan’s dad is King of Israel as appointed by the people. But David was King as anointed by God and would later become King. David and Jonathan were best friends. In fact, they were beyond best friends.

Jonathan loved David as himself and saw what God saw — the right man for the right position to lead Israel. So, the heir apparent to the throne, Jonathan, made a covenant with David. The Hebrew word for covenant is berit, which means to cut, to shed blood for the purpose of a pact, alliance, or binding commitment.

As these two young men cut their own wrists, crossed their forearms to grasp hands, and mixed the blood coming from their voluntary wounds, a bond was formed that transcended the familial relations that occur from genetic prodigy. These men adopted each other as brothers and marked themselves for life to demonstrate the binding nature of their bond.

Jonathan ceded his position of next in line as Saul’s firstborn to be the King. Jonathan awarded to David several key possession, including his robe, bow, & sword – all pointing to the power he also received. Receiving Jonathan’s sword meant, “Who fights you, fights me.” Having the royal robe coupled with the sword empowered David even as Jonathan lived.

The very persona of David continued to grow from a warrior to leader who would be prepared to be King. David became what the people assumed of Jonathan.

Then, as already mentioned, King Saul and Jonathan died on the same day in battle. David ascended to the throne of Israel as to serve as king. 2 Samuel 9 is the account of the demonstrated meaning of covenant in practice, not just words.

Imagine you’re watching King David reach from his prominent chair to the table in grasping the King’s chalice. As he reaches, the shepherd turned warrior turned King sees his exposed wrist as his arm extends. He sees the scar.

He remembers his kinsman and adopted brother. He asks who remains of the house of Jonathan. After the toils and rivalries of war, only Mephibosheth remains. David sends for the man.

When the royal messenger arrived in the region of slavery and the city of the dry place, Mephibosheth had a decision to make. Would he accept the invitation of the King or reject it?

What has your response been to the invitation extended you by the King of kings, Jesus Christ, Whose marked and scarred body testify to His new covenant?

The account in 2 Samuel 9 explains that the crippled man was welcomed to the King’s table and set to dine there from that moment forward. Lands were returned to him that had belonged to his father. Lands were also given to those of Mephibosheth’s household and in his service and companionship.

Do you see it? When we make Covenant with the King, which David was extending to Jonathan’s son, despite our own brokenness and state of disrepair, we have a position in the presence of the King. We dine at His table, receiving His goodness. We are given access and possession of that which belongs to the King. Further, in fulfilling God’s Word in Genesis 12:1-3, the ultimate Covenant made with Abraham and all God’s people, “we are blessed...we bless others...God blesses those who bless us and curses those who curse us.”

Have you received the King of Glory’s invitation? Have you entered into Covenant with Him not only as Savior, but also Promise Keeper? In Christ, believers have a supernatural Covenant that transcends all we could anticipate or appreciate. The abundant life is in Jesus Christ. Accept His invitation and abide.

Listen to my full teaching on “The Covenant."