CHRISTMAS MIRACLE SERVICE
CHRISTMAS MIRACLE SERVICE
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Luke 1: 26-56
Strong’s 1411-“Miracles”: “dunamis power of God; an army, a host; strength, ability, inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth”
Luke 1:34-35: “Then Mary said to the angel (Gabriel), how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power (Strong’s 1411) of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.”
The word for power is the same word used for “working of miracles” in 1 Cor. 12:10. These verses in 1 Corinthians are about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 12: 8-10: “To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles (Strong’s 1411); to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, distributing to every man individually as He will.”
Mary knew from Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isa. 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
“Sign” (Strong’s 4592) “Of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates those sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s; of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen.”
“Mary said to the angel, how shall this be?” She shall conceive by the power (Strong’s 1411) of the Holy Ghost. A divine power will undertake it, the power of the Holy Ghost Himself. The Holy Ghost, as the power of the Highest shall overshadow her. The formation of every babe in the womb, and the entrance of the Spirit of life into it is a mystery of God. “We were fearfully and wonderfully made in secret” (Psa. 139: 14-15). How much more was the formation of the child Jesus brought about by the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit?
As Christians one of the cardinal doctrines of our faith is the miracle of the conception of Jesus Christ.
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, he performed signs, wonders, miracles, mighty works and healings. Jesus said the greater works the Father gave him to finish that He might bear witness that the Father had sent him (Jn. 5:36).
Mark 6:2: “On the Sabbath, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue. Many hearing him were astonished, saying, from when has this man these things and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works (Strong’s 1411) are wrought by his hands?” This too is part of the foundation of our Christian faith.
John 5:20: “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that Himself does and He will show him greater works than these that you may marvel.”
John 5:36: “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto my Father.”
The Apostles were given the “greater works” ministry to establish the church as the vehicle to usher Christians into the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.
Acts 1:8: “You shall receive power (Strong’s 1411), after the Holy Ghost has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth.”
In the midst of persecution by the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees, Peter and John prayed the Believer’s prayer, “Lord, behold their threatening and grant to your servants, that with all boldness we may speak your word. By stretching forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus.”
The New Testament documents that the Apostle Paul operated in all of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:19: “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power (Strong’s 1411) of the spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Acts 19:11: “And God wrought special miracles (Strong’s 1411) by the hands of Paul.”
Hebrews 2:4: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and divers miracles(Strong’s 1411), and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?”
Luke 1:32-33: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
The Lord God has given Jesus the right to rule and has set him as king over the whole earth. His kingdom is spiritual (cannot be seen by observation). His Kingdom is eternal. He shall reign for ever and ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
1 Peter 3:22: “…by the resurrection of Christ Jesus who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers (Strong’s 1411) being made subject to him.”
2 Peter 1:2: “According as His divine power (Strong’s 1411) has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue.”
When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he was so astonished that he could not believe the news. For his incredulity, he is stricken dumb until the promise is fulfilled.
However, the same angel, Gabriel is sent to Mary to announce that she was blessed and highly favored of the Lord and that she had been chosen to conceive and bring forth a son and shall cal His name Jesus.
Her response was, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.”
The Word of God is clear. Will we be like Zechariah and be stricken dumb or will we say, like Mary, believe and submit our faith according to the word.
Heb. 13:8: “Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever!!!”
All we have to do is believe!!!! We will continue the service believing the Lord to stretch forth His Hand in miracles and His mighty power.
We will close with Holy Communion.
Merry Christmas
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.