Celebration

John 2: 1The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the

celebration. ³ The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” ⁴ “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”⁵ But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, ⁸ he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. ⁹ When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ¹⁰ “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” ¹¹ This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The wedding at Cana of Galilee was the place of the first miracle of Jesus, and that miracle was prompted by His mother, because they ran out of wine, and thus they had run out of celebration. Jesus didn't let the celebration stop and turned the water into wine, and the end result was that His disciples believed in Him. Oh, how we need to believe in Him, that He is just on time to keep the momentum in our lives going, even when we seem to run out of strength and out of power. What has Jesus done to help you with the problems in your life? I was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer a few months ago, and Jesus has sustained me through the fear of dying, through the cancer metastasizing and going into my bones, and the next statement I am going to make is what needs to be said from me. Jesus is healing my cancer in many different ways. I am responding so well to my meds, and the oncologist is amazed at my progress, so I say 'Jesus did it!" I have some very strong prayer warriors lifting me up in prayer, and Jesus has heard and responded. No denying the fact that Jesus is doing a miracle in my life. The first miracle was Jesus giving me salvation when I did not deserve it and could not earn it myself. He has given me the Holy Spirit, and I ask to be filled by the Holy Spirit throughout my daily walk, and God has shown up every time.

God is near, and Jesus is active, and the Holy Spirit is affirming my faith walk at every turn, and I cannot deny that the power of God is actively doing a work in my physical needs and, of course, in this heart that is bent toward Jesus. Some days I get up in the morning, and the enemy is waiting to ruin my day with fear and lies, and I have learned to turn Him over to the power of the Holy Spirit, and God will fight that battle for me. God knows I wish I were a better man and a stronger believer, but even in my weakness, God never lets me down. Paul wrote this word to the believers in Corinth and to David Warren in Florence, Alabama, and in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul writes the following words ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

To close, I just want to praise God for His goodness and His love for me, His servant. I want to keep the celebration of my new life in Christ in the forefront of my thinking, and when my faith is weak and my strength is not very strong, I will ask Jesus to move, and He will, and the celebrated life will continue for me. Jesus can turn water into wine, and He will give me beauty for ashes, because He is God and He is alive and active. Isaiah 61: 3To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. We celebrate because the greatest miracle of all time has seen sinners saved by the grace of God. CELEBRATE!!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren