Miracles Week 8: Finding Thin Places

In the eighth installment of our "Miracles" series, we delve into the concept of "thin places"—moments where God breaks into our world to reveal His love, power, and glory. These moments, though rare today, were abundant during Jesus' time on Earth, particularly through His miracles.

## **John 1:14** - The Incarnation as a Thin Place

The sermon highlights the incarnation of Jesus as the ultimate "thin place." As described in **John 1:14**, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Jesus' presence on Earth was a continual revelation of God's glory, bridging the gap between heaven and earth.

## Learning from Miracles

The sermon focuses on two miracles that exemplify how we can cooperate with God to create these "thin places":

### **John 2:1-11** - Water into Wine

- **Setting**: A wedding in Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine.

- **Key Figures**: The servants, who filled the jars with water at Jesus' instruction, played a crucial role.

- **Lesson**: The servants' obedience and trust in Jesus' instructions allowed them to witness and participate in a miracle. This teaches us the importance of making ourselves available to God, even when the task seems mundane or illogical.

### **Matthew 14:13-21** - Feeding the Five Thousand

- **Setting**: A remote location where a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus.

- **Key Figures**: The disciples, who distributed five loaves and two fish to feed thousands.

- **Lesson**: The disciples' willingness to offer what little they had and follow Jesus' instructions resulted in a miracle. This illustrates that God can multiply our limited resources when we trust Him.

## Four Key Lessons on Creating Thin Places

1. **God's Desire for Our Involvement**: God wants us to participate in His divine work. As seen in these miracles, our involvement strengthens our faith and demonstrates that "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" (**Philippians 4:13**).

2. **As You Go Principle**: Miracles often occur in the midst of our daily lives. We must be sensitive to God's voice and embrace the opportunities He presents as we go about our routines.

3. **Offering What We Have**: Whether it's time, energy, or resources, offering what we have to Jesus allows Him to use it for His glory.

4. **Trusting Jesus**: Trust is foundational. Neither the servants nor the disciples knew Jesus' plans, yet their trust led to miraculous outcomes. We must trust Jesus with both our lives and our circumstances.

## Conclusion: Trust and Obedience

The sermon concludes with a call to trust Jesus as the way to experience the ultimate "thin place"—a personal relationship with Him. By trusting in His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness and eternal life. This trust extends beyond salvation to every aspect of our lives, as we follow His lead and participate in His kingdom work.

As we reflect on these lessons, let us strive to be available, obedient, and trusting, so that we may witness and partake in the miracles God desires to perform in and through us.