When Doors Swing Open, Be Ready: 7 Miracles to Expect This Year

Sermon outline

Miracles are open doors from God, and believers who stay alert and ready will see seven kinds of miracle opportunities in a year of supernatural outpourings.

1. Grow up: some things are not up for debate

   Ephesians 4 calls believers to be mature, not infants tossed about by every wind of teaching. Water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the blood, communion, sowing and reaping, healing and prosperity are fundamentals the church has graduated into and should not keep debating. He believes in giving love as well as giving seed, because whatever you sow you reap.

   “Prosperity is God's will. Why should we doubt that?”

   • Ephesians 4:13-16
   • 3 John 2
   • Galatians 6:7

2. The God who comes down, and the eyes to see it

   In Exodus 3 God sees, hears and takes note, but He is also a God of action who comes down to rescue His people and bring them into a good and spacious land. Like the blind men Jesus touched, believers need revelation, eyes of understanding opened to see what God has already revealed in His Word about their future.

   “God is going to take you to a spacious land.”

   • Exodus 3:7-8
   • Matthew 20:34

3. Miracles are open doors: be ready

   He defines miracles as open doors from God that enable us to fulfil His purposes, but they need special alertness because they can be right at our fingertips without us seeing them. Believers must stay spiritually alert, discern the people and circumstances God brings, and be ready when doors swing open.

   “When doors swing open, you must be ready.”

4. 1. Miracles of opportunity for witnessing and salvation

   God is an opportunist and wants His people to be opportunistic: available, warm, accommodating and loving rather than religious. In Acts 13 Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles when the message was rejected, a warning that God will pass by those who will not receive what He is giving.

   “We don't have to be religious. We just have to be loving.”

   • Acts 13:46

5. 2. Miracle opportunities for healing through God's word and knowledge

   The Spirit gives words of wisdom and knowledge, and in 2017 God will give knowledge and wisdom like never before. Naaman was healed when the prophet Elisha told him to dip seven times in the Jordan; in the same way God will speak through people around you, old or young, to bring your healing and breakthrough.

   “God will speak to you through people.”

   • 1 Corinthians 12:8
   • 2 Kings 5:1-14

6. 3. Miracle opportunities for gaining wealth

   God gives the ability to produce wealth and will provide even in hard economic times, turning cursed situations around as He did for Israel in Egypt. Famine broke in Samaria just as the man of God had said, and God is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine. He leads the church in confessions over their finances.

   Illustration: A preacher on television observed that a man who once had nothing now wears an expensive watch to church and spends the service watching the time. Never let that be said of us.

   “Your famine will break just as the man of God had said.”

   • Deuteronomy 8:18
   • 2 Kings 7:16-17
   • Ephesians 3:20

7. 4. Miracles of protection

   God protects us day after day, often without our knowing. He believes for miracles of protection around families from crime, retrenchment and premature death. Christianity is not a trouble-free zone, because we are in a war, but we are not forsaken: do not be afraid, stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord.

   Illustration: Waiting in a bank car park in Umhlanga, he watched men with a rifle in a car without a number plate drive off when he looked at them; on another occasion a stranger warned him to turn around because an armed robbery was happening in front of him.

   “Christianity is not a trouble-free zone.”

   • Psalm 34:19
   • Psalm 91:7
   • Exodus 14:13-14
   • 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
   • Ephesians 6:12

8. 5. Miracles of escape from enemies

   When Samson was surrounded in Gaza, God gave him strength to carry off the city gates and escape. People will slander, attack and plot against believers, but God will bring the miracle of escape every time. Every born-again believer has been gifted by God to overcome.

   “He did that for Samson, he'll do it for you. So don't give up.”

   • Judges 16:1-3

9. 6. Miracles of resurrection

   A young man fell from a window while Paul preached and was brought back to life. He expects physical, financial and relationship resurrections in 2017, speaks fruitfulness over couples who long for children, and says from his own family's experience that Christians are still challenged, but they believe the report of the Lord and overcome.

   “There'll be resurrections of all sorts in your life in 2017.”

   • Acts 20:9-12

10. 7. Miracles of preservation

    Just as the Spirit hovered over the darkness in Genesis 1, God will preserve His people through dark times. Prayers that seemed unanswered in 2016 will be answered, because God has never forsaken those who seek Him and no harm overtakes the righteous.

    “You will experience dark times. But God will preserve you.”

    • Genesis 1:2
    • Psalm 121:7
    • Psalm 32:7
    • Psalm 41:2
    • Psalm 9:10
    • Proverbs 12:21