TURNING
WATER INTO WINE: John 2: 1- 11
Nathaniel
Bassey: There
was a marriage feast in Canaan of Galilee. Mary the mother of Jesus was
invited, the disciples, as well as Jesus…
Who are your
friends? Who are those you keep company with? I believe the celebrants had some
sort of relationship or connection with Jesus and co. The quality of
association you keep can sometimes determine the kind of help you get. SELAH.
It was the
mother of Jesus that said to them, “they have no wine”. Not even the host. They
had a miracle worker in their midst but were stranded. But thank God for good
association. Mary knew Jesus was able. Or perhaps they didn't think such a
situation required the supernatural. Just like us sometimes, there are things
we go through and just conclude they don’t require the supernatural and we
short-change ourselves. But the word says, trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding, in ALL OF YOUR WAYS acknowledge
him...How many ways? A few? Some? Only the big things? ALL... when we begin to
acknowledge Jesus in every area of our lives, we will see his hand in
everything.
Juzzy
Production: I looked
at it from another point though; I looked at the point before the miracles...
What he did before…He was baptized. After which he started his mission by
choosing his disciples; those that will carry out the faith when he's gone!!!
Being born again is good but baptism is very important. Like my Sunday school
teacher will say "an outward expression of an inward reality" -
Showing what
has taken place in our spirit at salvation…
Nathaniel
Bassey: Whatever
He says to you do, DO. I dare say that our problem as believers is not a lack
of rhema, but a lack of implementation of rhema. And until we begin to DO what
we see and hear, our Christianity would only remain a form without substance.
Mary knew her Son a bit to know He was also The Son of God. A lot of times, to
see miracles, one has to follow some seemingly foolish, silly and unreasonable
instructions (from and by God). Sometimes you have to do the ridiculous to see
the miraculous
Still on
water to wine, I have discovered something about miracles and the supernatural.
God always partners with man to bring about the supernatural. In verse 7 of
John 2, Jesus said to them, “fill the water pots with water”. Jesus had the
power to command wine to appear in those water pots. Just the same way Elijah
could have commanded oil to fill up the barrel of oil. But Jesus asked THEM to
fill it with water.
B.A.Y.O.R |
Martins: Sounds
to me like "do YOUR part, then I (God) will do mine"; it's a covenant
walk/work...
Nathaniel
Bassey: Heaven
will always work with man to bring about a change in the earth. Perhaps the
reason this is so would be known as we study. As if Mary knew, she told them
whatever He says to you, do. Saints of God, our miracles are hidden in His
instructions. You give him water and he'll give you wine. I keep hearing this
word. “DOERS” “DOERS”
Juzzy
Production: That's
like giving something to get something in return.
Nathaniel
Bassey: Blessed
are they who not only hear but also do. A lot of us have heard so much; the
backlog on the “to do list” is preventing us from receiving further
instructions. It's time to do. Let's also note that this was Jesus' first
miracle, and it began with a wedding - marriage. I hereby prophesy, to every
dry marriage. I decree a restoration of wine as you apply the water (Word of
God) into that situation. And by applying, I mean acting and obeying the word
in any area of your marriage, what will be the outflow shall be joy. The Word
shall accomplish that for which it is sent. It shall not return void. When you
sow the Word, it must come back with miracles. Sometimes the instruction is
simple, "forgive", “apologise”, “give”, “obey”, etc
Edidiong
Eno: I've been thinking: What
exactly makes people hear and not do??? Any help please?
Nathaniel
Bassey: Unbelief
Lovely Nkem: Doubt
Nathaniel
Bassey: Also
we must always yield to the Spirit for help. For he works in us both to will
and do. But will never force us to do.
Ziva: Some things re-echoed; DO! Like Pst. Nat
said, we need to obey the last instruction. We need to be doers.
Romans 2:13
said - For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the
law shall be justified.
Luke 6:49 -
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation
built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently,
and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if
any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding
his natural face in a glass:
24 For he
beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of
man he was.
25 But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
We
have heard so much rhema; what do we do with it? Faith without works is dead!
So our rhema and belief is nothing if we do not do. Hmmm, Write the vision,
make it plain! That he that reads it may run! - Hab 2:2
The essence
of making the vision plain is for action to be taken. Let us not deceive our
own selves. Self-deceit is worse than any deceit. God looks not at our
profession of faith, but actions taken in consonance. Reminds me of the parable
of the judgment; some came and said - Lord, we preached in your name! Signs and
wonders were wrought by us. But our Master, I know ye not. Why? When I was
hungry, you gave me not food to eat (works of love; action gotten from His
teachings). Thirsty, you gave me not drink…
Also, the
parable of the two sons. The first son was asked to go to the farm. He refused.
The second son was asked to go. He said - Yes father, but didn't do. The first
later DID. - Matt. 21:28-32
When we do,
it's called - OBEDIENCE. Which is better than sacrifice. Disobedience is worse
than witchcraft, says the Bible. What you Do determines WHOSE you are. The
fruit a tree bears determines its seed.
Know ye not,
that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom
you obey - Romans 6:16
I also
learnt from Pastor Nat’s discuss that God partners with man! Wow! So we are in
a partnership with Him!!!
Deut. 10:14
says - The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the LORD your God, as
does the earth and everything in it.
But then,
the earth He gave to man (Ps. 115:16) to have dominion, subdue and bring in
alignment with the will of God. So it will be in earth, as it is in heaven.
And because
we are mere mortals, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. So we need to partner
with Him for us to overcome and subdue and dominate this earth. (earth means
the world, but also means our flesh, which is but dust)
Ezekiel
22:30 - And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and
stand in the gap before me... (Partnership)
FINALLY,
there is something else in the parable. Your miracle is at the other end of
obedience; Jesus asked them to fill the water pots to the brim. And then says -
Draw some out now and take it to the governor of the feast. (vs 8). No
abracadabra. No prayers even. Just fill and draw and give. And remember, this
was His first miracle. They had not seen Him do anything like that before, yet
they OBEYED!
LASTLY, No
matter how bad the situation, when Jesus steps in, it changes to sweetness. And
all things will work together for good. A man calls all for a wedding feast and
doesn't make enough wine provision; imagine the embarrassment! Yet Jesus came,
and not only gave them wine, but gave them sweeter wine than the one they had
and also gave them honour. That even the governor turned to the couple and said
- wow! You kept the best wine till the end. No one has ever been able to do
this! Wow!
Always
involve God in your affairs. He is interested in the tiny-est hair on your
head. He cares, really and can turn any test into a testimony and any mess into
a message.
Nathaniel
Bassey: In
verse 4, I found something interesting. Jesus said to his mum, my hour has not
yet come. I checked that word “hour” out. It is “horah” in the Greek.
Meaning day, instant, season, high time. I like the word season.
It's interesting that one moment Jesus said my hour has not come and shortly
after he helped solve the problem, suggesting his hour had come.
Something
powerful to learn; sometimes the difference in SEASONS is just a few moments;
years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes.... Etc
Thank God
Mary and the host didn't seek another option after Jesus gave that answer.
Sometimes we give up almost at the turn of our season. And opt for a plan B,
opting for the flesh. Remember Abraham who took the “Ishmael route” before Isaac
came. And believe it or not, that decision haunts us even today. That is the
cause of boko haram, alqueda, alshabab, etc
Genesis
16:12 "he (Ishmael) will be a wild man, his hand will be against every
man, and every man's hand will be against him....."
Does this
sound like a terrorist to you? It does to me.
Lanre
KUNNUJI Olaminrewaju: I saw
that scripture in Genesis 16 some days ago and that was what came to my mind
also.
Nathaniel
Bassey: May we
be sensitive to know when our hour, SEASON, comes in Jesus name. And have the
grace to wait as well. “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…” (John 2:11). Miracles are meant to
show forth God's glory.
Romans 8:19;
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION of
the sons of God
Saints, they
are waiting; among other things, to see the miraculous power of God displayed.
This will happen through us this season in Jesus' name.
Tonia: Indeed the whole creation is waiting
earnestly for the manifestation of the Saints of God and this brings us back to
the discussion on partnering with God through obedience. An interesting
scripture came to mind here; Mk 16:20 "And they went forth and preached
everywhere, the Lord WORKING WITH THEM, and confirming the Word with signs
following. Amen."
So, the key
emphasis I've picked up from this great study of ours is partnering with God
for the Supernatural. If God will work with man continually, then obedience
must be in place which is the trigger for further and continuous partnership. A
man of God once said to me that so often we query God for not speaking to us,
but what have we done with what He said to us in the past? It is our continuous
obedience that commits Him to work with us the more.
Lord I yield
my spirit, soul and body to you in total submission. Work with me Lord and
bring to pass the desires of your heart in this generation!!!
He has made
us the Light of the world and if we must shine in our season, we must partner
with Him who knows the exact trigger for our Shinning for the whole world lieth
in darkness. Saints, I think God has just begun a deeper walk with us in this
group, believe it; He has begun a good work with us!!...
Joshua: I also believe Jesus honored Mary by not
picking a fight when she informed him about the wine. Could it be that Mary
knew His hour had come or close by and requested a miracle of him? We need to
honor and obey our parents so it will be well with us. I believe it lends
weight to Ephesians 6:1-3. Sometimes parents know when it's time for God's
glory to be manifested in our lives and they intercede for us in prayers. Being
in good terms with them just makes us live long.
Edidiong: Woooooow!!! Just read through all
the post from last night and its so inspiring and eye-opening...Thanks to
everyone that shared...Good morning saints
Fergie: God bless y'all and may we know
Jesus more in-depth that we will become like him. I love y'all.
Mr
Inspiration: All
I can say is "Take me deeper, dear Lord"! Very obviously, there is
more.I am learning the art of desperation these days...desperate people do
desperate things! I want to desperately press into God this season...to soak! I
won't stop pursuing...until I'm captured, by What I'm after! Hmmmm...God bless
everyone who has shared!
Eferoghene
Feludu: Just
finished reading all the posts am so blessed...God bless you all indeed. Just a
little contribution. You know, every single thing Christ did on earth was
deliberate. To fulfil the scriptures...e.g none of His bones were broken when
He was beaten to death and crucified. Then we could say that the first miracle
He performed was also deliberate. This was supposed to be like His announcement
into the scene...I bet if we were the ones with that much power, we would have
picked resurrection of Lazarus as the first miracle so people would be wowed
more. Turning water to wine almost seems like an unspiritual miracle. Imagine
how the religious folks would have felt about this miracle about someone who
claims to be the Son of God. But I bet you by reason of this miracle, all the
sinners became even more at ease around Him and didn't feel He was too Holy to
be talked to. Just because He made everyone happy by creating more wine.
Mr
Inspiration: I
love this insight, Efe! Very key for our reputation-conscious generation of
brethren!
Eferoghene
Feludu: Jesus
was deliberate in that He made the people at ease that surrounded Him...that’s
quite the opposite in today's religion...rather we make the people who we need
to help feel condemned already that they can't even tell us what is wrong in
their lives.
Mr
Inspiration: Very
true Efe. This point resonates deeply with me. I have seen plenty incidents to
validate what you're saying as very important.
Oluwatoyosi: Good morning family. Wow it’s been an awesome
morning. Just started my study this morning
and I’ve been so blessed. Eyes opening
to things have never noticed in the bible. Thanks to Pst. Nath, Ziva and
Tonia. May God give us the grace to do
as he says. I noticed from the 1st study
that total obedience is where our complete miracle lies. I read John 2 in the NLT
version. There were 6 stone water jars each could hold 30 gallons of water, 1
gallon equals about 3.8L. 6 stone jars can take 684L. A modern day bottle of
wine is about 0.75l. Jesus gave them over extra 900 bottles of sweet new wine.
If they didn't obey the wedding would have ended in a disaster. But their
obedience led to extra 912 bottles of wine. I pray that henceforth I will
totally obey without questioning. Even the seemingly foolish things are obeyed
in faith.
Blazyn: Just reading through the whole epistle from yesterday. Kai! Its been explosive
in here. @Pst Nath and everyone that shared, thank you. Something from the first
miracle again was Mary walking up to Jesus to tell him of the need for wine.
She was 100% certain of his potency to work the miracle. She placed a demand.
There are capabilities in us that we might never know and lie latent until a
demand is placed on them. May God direct us to people, situations, events that
will cause the miracle in us to be stirred up, to find expression. One of those
is the PP. It just brings power out of you!
Ziva:
Before I contribute, Bro Ikechi (a berean Christian) pointed out that in the
last discuss about water to wine, specifically at the DO part of the discussion
where I referred to the parable of the judgement, the parable in Matt. 7:22 and
the one in Matt. 25:31 are two different parables pointing to same talk about
judgement and should not have been joined together. Please take note. Sincere
apologies.
‘Lanre
KUNNUJI: Hello Saints, on starting to read John 2,
I came across the phrase "on the third day..." This made me go back
to the last few verses of the previous chapter to see what happened three days
before and guess what I saw?
John
1:50 - Jesus said "you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig-tree.
You shall see greater things than that. What has happened to you that has
strengthened your faith? Jesus says it is the overture, you shall see greater
things than that.
That
miracle that has dazed you for which you have come to know God better and
believe God the more is just the beginning. There is much more in God for you.
It
is so sad how Christians run into the street cow of one small gift God has
given them, and they become uncontrollable. The Pastor says something and you
"yinmu", after all, God speaks to you too. Bro, Sis, what you have
seen thus far is only the tip of the iceberg and it takes patience and humility
to see more of God's glory
With
the experience Paul had, he could have jumped into the street and forget about
his source but what was his prayer? "That I may know him"
Today,
many Christians jump out of the "incubator"
God
is still brooding on us and we feel we're ripe for the "stage".
The
Holy Spirit has been hammering one thing to me lately; watch out against Pride.
That voice that quickly wants to disagree. That part of us that wants to talk
all the time without listening much. That part of us that makes us feel we're better
than others. It needs to give way for a greater glory to be revealed. The Holy
Spirit wants to do more. God wants to perform greater miracles through us. But
we need to forget the former things for the new ones to emerge. We need to
submit to the full process of incubation. Nathaniel believed because Jesus told
him he saw him under the fig tree. That was fine, but he would never have
thought that Jesus was about to do much more. And if he had not been patient to
follow, if he had run off with that experience he had, he would not have seen
the "much more" that Jesus did afterwards. I pray that God will grant
us the patience and humility to be able to wait on Him until we enter into the
fullness of His glory in Jesus' name, Amen.
