(Nicaragua) Do You Really Believe in Miracles? — David Wilkerson

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Believing in Miracles During Trouble

I have a question for you.

Do you really believe in miracles?

¿Cree usted en los milagros?

I said, did you really believe in miracles?

¿Realmente creen los milagros?

I didn't ask you if you believed in miracles. I asked you if you really believed in miracles.

No le pregunté si creían los milagros. Le pregunto si realmente creen los milagros.

We say that, and then when we get in our next problem,.

We say, God, where are you? Siempre decimos eso, pero cuando nos toca vivir el tiempo de prueba,.

Preguntamos, ¿dónde estás, Señor? In the 14th chapter of Matthew,.

En el libro de Mateo, el capítulo 14,.

Jesus goes off into a desert place.

El Señor Jesús se va a un lugar desierto.

He has just heard that John the Baptist has been beheaded.

Juan el Bautista acaba de ser decapitado.

Jesus Feeds the Multitudes in the Wilderness

And thousands of people follow Jesus into the wilderness.

Y miles de personas están siguiendo a Jesús al desierto. And they're with Him for three days.

Y están con Él por tres días. They must have slept out in the open. Y algo debe haber sucedido. If you had been there when Jesus fed that multitude,.

Y si usted hubiese estado con Jesús en ese momento, and you pictured the scene, y usted pudiera ver esta escena,.

You saw people coming on homemade push carts,.

Usted podría ver a la gente viniendo hacia Él,.

You see people carrying their friends on their backs,.

Usted podría ver a la gente con sus bolsas viniendo a encontrarse con Jesús,.

And you see people whose bodies are all crippled up,.

Usted venía la gente enferma que venía y seguía a Jesús,.

And you're standing there watching that,.

Y si usted estuviera parado viendo esta escena, and you see all these miracles, y usted viera todos estos milagros que Jesús está haciendo,.

And then you say, I will never doubt God again.

Usted diría, nunca voy a dudar de que Dios tiene poder para hacer milagros.

Look at the cripples leaping and jumping.

Usted podría ver a los enfermos paralíticos saltando y caminando.

Look at the blind, their eyes are being opened.

Usted podría ver a los ciegos que sus ojos son abiertos.

The deaf are hearing and screaming and rejoicing.

Los sordos oyen y comienzan a alegrarse y a regocijarse.

The disciples looked on this,.

Y los discípulos comienzan a mirar esta escena, His twelve disciples, sus discípulos, sus doce discípulos,.

And you think if you were one of them,.

Y usted imagina que fuese uno de ellos,. I would never doubt Jesus again. Yo nunca dudaría más de que Jesús tenía el poder para hacerlo.

I would always believe in his miracle power.

Siempre creería en su poder para hacer milagros. Then on top of all of that, pero añadiendole a esto, Jesus said to his disciples, Jesús le dice a sus discípulos, I won't send them away hungry. Voy a enviarlos a ellos.

We're going to feed them. No lo vamos a enviar así nomás, sino vamos a alimentarlos. Five thousand people. Y alimentaron cinco mil personas. Five loaves of fish were turned into food to feed the multitude.

Cinco panes y dos peces se convirtieron en alimento para toda la multitud que estaba ahí.

These had to be dry fish, dried fish.

Y esto era un pescado seco. Or they would have been smelling. O un pescado que estaba maloliente.

And you watch Jesus feed all these multitudes.

Y usted pretende que con ese poco alimento se va a alimentar a toda la multitud.

And you say, I will never doubt God again.

Y cuando usted ve un milagro de esa envergadura, usted nunca dudaría del poder de Dios. Jesus tells his disciples, pick up the fragments. Jesús le llama a sus discípulos y le dice,.

Tomen los cinco panes. They picked up those twelve baskets.

Toman doce paquetes, doce canastas.

I wonder if they understood.

Y yo me pregunto si los discípulos estaban entendiendo. After about.

Fifty, one hundred baskets,. Después de ver todas estas canastas llenas, the miraculous is gone. Parece que de un momento a otro se olvidan de los milagros.

It just looks so natural. One piece of bread at a time. Se comienza a partir el pan un pedazo tras otro pedazo.

And they're so busy coming and going. Y hay una tremenda.

Preocupación de ir y llevar el alimento a la multitud.

And it's very clear when you read this account. Y cuando usted mira la escritura,.

They missed the miracle. Parece ser que los discípulos perdieron el milagro. They picked up twelve baskets of fragments. Estaban más preocupados en las doce canastas que sobraban. I suppose they were meant to.

Jesus to show them something.

Ellos probablemente estaban creyendo que el Señor algo les iba a mostrar.

I have enough to meet everybody's needs.

Y el Señor les estaba queriendo decir, yo tengo poder para alimentar la necesidad de todos. Pero ustedes son mi iglesia. And I have an abundance for you. Y también tengo abundancia para ustedes, que son mis discípulos.

También es para ustedes. Coman todo lo que quieran. Hagan lo que yo hice. Go find someone still hungry. Give it to somebody poor. Vayan y alimenten con lo que ha quedado a la gente que necesita.

Pero Dios, Jesús, que conocía el corazón,. He knew these men did not get it.

Él sabía y entendía que sus discípulos no habían entendido el propósito.

Del milagro de la alimentación. They had seen and participated.

In a great miracle. Ellos habían visto y participado en un gran milagro.

And they didn't see or understand it.

Pero no pudieron entender el propósito.

De este milagro. And Jesus takes His disciples aside.

Y Jesús lleva a sus discípulos con Él a un lado.

He takes them down to the seaside.

Y los lleva al lado del borde, de la orilla del lago, del río.

And the Bible said He constrained them, He forced them into a boat.

Que el Señor los sube a un bote. The word in Greek means He forced them. Significa que el Señor los obliga. He constrained them.

Les mueve. Get in the boat. Suban al bote. And I wonder what's going through the heart of Jesus.

Y yo en ese momento me puedo preguntar ¿Qué le está pasando a Jesús? ¿Qué es lo que está sucediendo? He must have shaken His head. Probablemente le estaba moviendo la cabeza. They don't get it.

They still don't believe. Todavía no me creen. They've seen the greatest miracle.

Han visto un gran milagro. And they don't understand. Pero todavía no lo entienden. Get in the boat.

Just go. Go to the other side. Suban al otro lado del lago. And so they head out. Y dice la Biblia que ellos salieron.

Jesus Walks on the Water

And in the middle of the night the storm came, you remember. Y en la mitad de la noche una tormenta vino.

And Jesus went to them walking on the water.

Y el Señor Jesús comienza a caminar.

Sobre el agua. The Bible said they thought it was a spirit.

Y la Biblia dice que sus discípulos creyeron que era un espíritu, un fantasma.

It was a ghost and they cried out.

Que era un fantasma y gritaron, es un fantasma.

They saw Him and they were troubled. Lo vieron y se asustaron.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him. Y luego cuando el Señor vino a la barca saying of the truth ellos comenzaron a adorarlo. You're the Son of God. Y le dijeron verdaderamente eres Hijo de Dios.

Because the wind stopped. Porque la tormenta se había detenido.

Now you say, oh now they believe. Ahora creyeron. He calmed the ocean. El calmó al viento. Now they're worshipping Him. Now they're calling Him the Son of God. Ahora le llaman Hijo de Dios. This is good.

Now they understand. Now they believe in miracles. Ahora creen en milagros. No, not at all. No para nada. In Mark there's an account of this same event.

En el libro de Marcos se nos relata la misma historia.

That suggests that this did not open up their faith. Y nos hace ver que ellos.

Aún todavía no creían.

Mark said they were so afraid.

La Biblia dice en el libro de Marcos que ellos estaban tan temerosos. Beyond measure.

En gran medida. Porque no entendieron el milagro.

Porque su corazón estaba endurecido. And the word there is calloused. Thick skin. La palabra correcta ahí es que su corazón estaba duro. In spite of all the miracles.

A pesar de todos los milagros. God's closest associates.

Los discípulos que estaban cerca de Jesús.

Those who were closest to the heart of Jesus. Aquellos que estaban más cerca al ministerio de Cristo.

Did not understand the miracle of the loaves. El milagro de los panes y los peces.

You can say I believe in miracles.

Usted me puede decir, Pastor, yo creo en milagros.

I believe that God can do the impossible.

The Second Feeding and the Disciples' Hardened Hearts

Yo creo que Dios puede hacerlo imposible. And still be emotionally hardened to the truth of it. Pero aun todavía usted puede estar endurecido a la verdad que hay detrás de un milagro. So Jesus takes them into another lesson.

Así que el Señor Jesús los lleva a otra lección. This is at a later date. Esta es una oportunidad después. Another episode.

Otro episodio. And this time 4 ,000 people are there.

Y esta vez hay 4 ,000 personas.

And Jesus says I'm going to feed them. This time He is convinced that these men are going to understand and they're going to believe.

Y en esta oportunidad Jesús está convencido que sus discípulos van a entender el propósito del milagro y van a creer.

This time they take up 7 baskets full of fragments.

Y dice la Biblia que en esta segunda ocasión sobraron 7 canastas llenas de pan.

And once again Jesus says get in the boat.

Y nuevamente el Señor le dice suban al bote.

They're going to cross the boat cross the sea to Magdala. Y le dice el Señor van a cruzar el otro lado del lago.

And Jesus knowing their unbelief Y Jesús sabiendo que sus discípulos.

Aún no creen. He said beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and scribes.

Tengan cuidado con la levadura de los fariseos y de los escribas.

And these disciples go into panic.

Y los discípulos se llenan de pánico, se preocupan. Who forgot the bread?

And they're talking to one another.

Y están conversando el uno al otro. And the Bible said there was one loaf. Y la Biblia dice que había algo ahí.

And these men are arguing.

Y estos hombres comienzan a discutir entre los discípulos.

Jesus is wondering where our bread is.

Y comienzan a preguntarse Jesús está hablando de la levadura, alguien se olvidó el pan. Where are we going to get the bread? ¿Dónde vamos a conseguir el pan? Who forgot the bread?

Now you look at that scene. Ahora mire esa escena. You say how blind can anybody be? Es ciego. Puede estar alguien. And Jesus looks at these men. Y Jesús mira a estos hombres. And this is what he says.

Don't you yet understand? No entienden todavía? Don't you remember? No recuerdan todavía? The five loaves and five thousand?

De los cinco panes y de los cinco mil personas que fueron alimentadas? How many baskets you took up? ¿Se recuerdan cuántas canastas sobraron? Do you not remember.

The seven loaves and the four thousand? ¿Ustedes no recuerdan aún.

Los cuatro mil que fueron alimentados y las siete canastas que sobraron? And the baskets you took up? ¿Y las canastas que sobraron no recuerdan eso? Listen to what Jesus says. Mira lo que Jesús le está queriendo decir a sus discípulos.

How is it you still don't understand que aún a pesar de estos milagros ustedes no lo entiendan?

How is it that you have seen miracle after miracle.

Que han visto milagro tras milagro.

And I've done so many miracle things in your life. Y he hecho tantos milagros frente a ustedes. And you don't understand.

Y ustedes no lo entienden. You still don't get it.

You still don't trust me.

Todavía no confían en mí.

Why Jesus Connected Unbelief to the Loaves and Fishes

Now why does Jesus connect their unbelief with the loaves and the fishes?

¿Por qué es que Jesús está conectando la incredulidad de sus discípulos con los panes y los peces? Why didn't he think about the healing of the lepers? ¿Por qué no lo conecta con la sanidad de los leprosos?

What about the palsied man?

Why didn't he say you saw and heard of the palsied man that flamed for thirty-eight years?

¿Por qué no lo conecta con ese hombre que estaba sumido en una enfermedad por treinta y ocho años? What about the man that came down through the roof and couldn't walk? ¿Por qué no lo conecta con el milagro del hombre que bajaron del techo de la casa?

And all these miracles that happened before this occasion.

Y todos estos milagros habían sucedido.

Antes que esta ocasión. He didn't recall any of those.

Él no llamó a memoria ninguno de estos He tied their unbelief el Señor Jesús va a unir la incredulidad de ellos.

Strictly to the loaves and the fishes.

Directamente con el milagro de los panes y los peces.

Why don't you remember the loaves and fishes?

¿Por qué no recuerdan los panes y los peces? How is it that you have forgotten these miracles? ¿Por qué se han olvidado de estos milagros?

When you go back and look at this scene.

Cuando usted vuelve y mira la escena otra vez.

It says, Jesus, this is back to the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.

Estoy volviendo al milagro de los panes y los peces. That bothered me for a while. Y esto me molestó por un tiempo.

Jesus, of all the miracles you did.

Después de todos los milagros que Jesús hizo.

Why are you tying their unbelief into these two incidents of the loaves and fishes?

Yo le pregunté, Señor, después de tantos milagros, por qué es que unes el principio de la incredulidad con los milagros de los panes y los peces. We go back to Mark 15 y podemos ir a Marcos capítulo 15.

And examine why Jesus refers to these two miracles.

Y podemos examinar por qué es que Jesús está refiriéndose a estos dos milagros. And it says this.

Y dice lo siguiente Jesus called his disciples to him and said.

El Señor Jesús llama a sus discípulos.

Because they continue with me for three days. Excuse me. Because they continue with me for three days.

Porque ellos aún, luego de tres días. But they have nothing to eat No tenían nada que comer.

And here's the key I will not send them away fainting. No los voy a enviar así. I will not let them faint on the way. No los voy a dejar que vayan. Sin nada. Here's what Jesus I believe is saying.

Esto es lo que yo creo que Jesús está diciendo. You know me Ustedes me conocen.

In my majesty. Ustedes conocen mi majestad. You know me in my power.

Ustedes me conocen en mi poder.

But if you know me in my power only.

Pero si ustedes me conocen solamente basado en mi poder You will fear me. Ustedes me van a tener temor.

Pero no me van a conocer. There are a lot of people talk about the power of God.

Hay mucha gente que habla del poder de Dios.

But they don't know about his being a father to them.

Pero se han olvidado de que Dios también es un padre para ellos.

They know him as a miracle worker for the world at large.

Lo conocen como un Dios que hace milagros.

They believe God can heal the sick.

Ellos creen que Dios tiene poder para sanar a los enfermos.

They believe people can jump out of wheelchairs. Ellos creen que Dios puede hacer milagros.

Ellos creen que Dios puede sanar y levantar paralíticos.

They believe God can judge nations for sin.

Creen que Dios puede traer juicio a las naciones por su pecado And they believe in the great and the mighty. Ellos creen en cosas grandes And they have this fear of God Y tienen ese temor de Dios But they don't know the Jesus Who says, I'm not going to let you faint Que nos dicen, no voy a dejar que desmayen.

I'm interested in you Estoy interesado en ti.

Not just the multitude. No solamente en la multitud. But you're my son, you're my daughter.

Tu eres mi hijo, tu eres mi hija.

I show you miracles in my power.

Te he mostrado milagros en mi poder But I'm a man of compassion Pero soy un hombre de compasión I'm concerned about your welfare Estoy preocupado por lo que tu necesitas.

I'm concerned about your finances.

Estoy preocupado por tus finanzas.

I'm concerned about your marriage.

Estoy preocupado por tu matrimonio. Yes, look up at the heavens Miren el cielo The sun and the moon and stars.

God's Compassion for His Children

And I know you're hungry. And I know you're about to faint. And I'm not going to let that happen to you. If you will trust me. It's all about you. And my love for you. And that's what Jesus is saying.

You trust me to steal the winds and the waves. But you don't trust that I'll give you bread. He said, remember the loaves and the fishes. So you have to partake of the miracle. The Bible says you shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox That treads out the corn.

Instantaneous and Progressive Miracles

He said, does God just take care of oxen? He said, no, it's for your sake. I say this. You have to partake of the miracle. This is about God's love and concern for you. There are two kinds of miracles.

I mentioned this in one of my previous messages. There's the instantaneous. And the progressive. Now, if you were there watching Jesus heal the sick. You're seeing instantaneous miracles. That must have been such a wonderful sight.

You see people that have their knees bent and twisted. And they become straight. I believe in instant miracles. I believe that when Elijah was hiding in the cave. I believe that there was thunder and lightning.

And I believe the rocks were shaking When God opened the Red Sea. That happened instantly. When Moses strikes through rock, water comes out instantly. And that's what we want. We want the instant miracle.

When our elders lay hands on the sick. We want to see the instant miracle. I believe in instant miracles. I've seen instant miracles. How many times have you prayed for somebody? And you've not seen that instant miracle.

How many of you have been in trouble financially? And you haven't seen the instant miracle. When I was a young preacher I had a passion. I wanted to see the sick. And I wanted to see instant miracles.

I said, why can't I go in a hospital? People with cancer. I want people to get out of their bed and be healed instantly. On one occasion I had a financial problem. I needed $5 ,000 desperately. And I looked in the Old Testament.

And I saw God sends angels. One angel after another. The angel Lord encamps around about them, the Pharaoh.

I said, God, I need a miracle. I need $5 ,000. And I was living in a little town.

Pastoring a small church. And I said, Lord I'm walking down Front Street tomorrow.

And I'm asking you to send an angel.

And put an envelope in my hand. For $5 ,000. Now some of you are sitting there very excited. He's going to get his $5 ,000. An angel came to Front Street. And I got my $5 ,000. No. I walked down Front Street.

Back and forth. Nobody walks in a small town like that. But here came a man. I said, that's him? I have my miracle. I spoke the word. And the word came to life. I was already counting it in my mind. Then I noticed he was smoking a cigarette.

That can't be an angel. I went home. I said, God, where's my miracle? How many people there are listening to me now? You're just a little peeved. You're a little angry at God. Because God has not answered you yet.

You prayed You fasted You believed.

And you heard sermons on miracles. And you kept up your faith with scripture after scripture. And you're still waiting. And the longer you wait The devil comes along And says, your faith is too weak.

If you had faith, you'd have your miracle. That's what the devil told me.

If you had faith, you'd have seen your angel. You need to go back again. Fast and pray. You failed somewhere along the line. I was too embarrassed to blame God for failure. You don't want to blame God.

It must be in me. Because I went to a meeting. This is what I hear people say. A man of God Laid a hand on me. And he prophesied over me. Money was going to come to me. Low like a river. And so you wait.

And it doesn't happen the way the man said. Let me tell you. You can't take a shortcut to the will of God. You can't make a deal with God. You can't bargain with God. God will meet your needs. When you start seeking His face.

And you hear from God and not from some man.

Rejecting Prophetic Shortcuts and False Promises

I must have had 5 ,000 people come to me already. They went to somebody to get what they call a word. And you know what that word is? You're going to win thousands of souls. God's blessings are going to flow upon you.

Folks, this is the only word that I know right here. This is the only word that I know right here. God is good. Do you really believe in miracles? Can you believe that right now. You're in a progressive miracle?

Do you remember praying for something? Do you remember what you asked Him? Did you forget it? Did you just let it slip by? He did not forget it. The moment you asked Him in faith He started something in motion.

And it's working right now.

And one day you will see it. Stand to your feet.

Raise your hands. And tell Jesus you believe in miracles. I believe in miracles. I believe. Jesus answers prayer.

Lord, forgive my unbelief, Jesus. Forgive my unbelief.

Hallelujah If you really believed that God was working in your life.

You'd be shouting right now. You'd be praising God with everything in your life.

You'd be praising God at the top of your voice. I want to hear praise from the lips of God's people. God wants us to praise Him.

Lord, we praise You We magnify Your name You are God.

You are faithful You will not fail Your people. You have heard us and You have answered us.

And we will glorify Your name And we will glorify You, Lord.