Sermon Intro

• Last week we defined a miracle: A supernatural interruption or intervention in the natural flow of life
• I want to build your faith that miracles are simply “God getting involved!

Passage:

Mark 11:22–25 (NLT) — 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

The 3 Types of People When It Comes to Asking God for Miracles:

(We will address these more deeply in Point 3)

1. Those Who Never Ask – Too busy, too doubtful, or don’t think God is involved in personal details.
2. Those Who Ask Once and Quit – Feel like God should’ve answered already; they move on, discouraged.
3. Those Who Ask Defeatedly – They pray, but they don’t expect anything to happen.

SIX POWERFUL WAYS TO ASK FOR A MIRACLE

1.  Ask and Imagine
   1.  Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) — Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
   2.  Principle: “Our requests reflect our view of God. Small God, small prayers. Big God, bold prayers.”
   3.  Application: God wants us to ask for Kingdom-sized miracles.
   4.  Tie-in to Faith Sunday: “Faith Sunday isn’t about giving what you already have—it’s asking God what He wants to do through you.”
      1. “Ask Him for a number that stretches your faith.”
      2. “God doesn’t just provide to us—He provides through us.”
   5. Illustration - A kid doesn’t know what to ask for unless they see a magazine.
   6. Don’t limit God to a small miracle!
2.  Ask and Agree
   1. Matthew 18:19–20 (NLT) — 19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
   2. Principle: God delights in unity.
      1. Trinity; commanded blessing
   3. Unity - builds faith, refines motives, and increases expectation.
   4. Agreement in prayer is a force multiplier.
   5. Asking for Easter! 
   6. Example: Early church prayed together for Peter’s release—God responded with a miracle.
   7. [MID-SERMON PRAYER MOMENT]
   8.  “Right now, let’s put this into action. I want us to agree—right now—as a church, that God is going to make everything come together: the dreams in your heart, the provision for this campaign, the miracles in your life.”
   9.  Lead a corporate prayer of agreement, full of faith and unity.
3.  Ask in Faith
   1. James 1:6-7 (ESV) 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
   2. Illustration: Waves are surface-level, but faith is anchored deep.
   3. Principle: Faith isn’t about being emotionless; it’s about being anchored.
   4. Address the 3 types of people: 
      1. Never Ask – They don’t believe God cares about their details.
      2. Ask Once and Quit – Discouraged when there’s no immediate result.
      3. Ask Defeatedly – They ask without expectation 
   5. Application: Anchor your heart to God’s Word, even when your head is spinning.
4. Ask and Receive
   1. 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV) — 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
   2.  Principle: Once you ask, start acting like the answer is on its way.
   3. Illustration: Ordering from Amazon—you don’t keep ordering every day. You trust it’s coming.
   4. Application: Thank Him in advance. Live with a spirit of expectancy.
5. Ask and Move
   1. John 4:49–52 (NLT) — 49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” 50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. 51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”
   2.  Principle: Obedience unlocks miracles.
   3. Application: Sometimes you walk the dusty road with nothing but a word.
   4. Illustration: The man walked 20 miles with no proof—just a promise.
6.  Ask and Demand
   1. John 15:7–8 (NLT) — “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted.”
   2. Principle: Boldness comes from relationship.
   3. Eye-TEH-oo means to ask from a place of position and relationship. 
      1. My wife can ask for just about anything because of her position and relationship to me. 
      2. Getting engaged to someone who wants to marry you
   4. Clarify: To “demand” is not arrogance—it’s confidence born from closeness.
   5. Illustration: Peter at the Gate Beautiful: “Silver and gold I don’t have… but what I do have, I give you. Rise and walk!”
   6. Application: You are sons and daughters—ask boldly.

Recap:

•  Ask and Imagine
•  Ask and Agree
•  Ask in Faith 
•  Ask and Receive
•  Ask and Move
•  Ask and Demand