Read John 2:7–11, 6:8–13, 9:1–34. What do these texts reveal about the creative power of God?

Have you ever had a miracle happen in your life? How do you define what a miracle is? A miracle is an event that can be attributed to divine intervention. In other words there are somethings which humans do no have the ability to bring about in these instances a miracle is needed. When someone is terribly sick, or when human wisdom is exhausted we seek God for miracles. We may want a miracle in less critical circumstances, but whatever the case those who seek miracles seek the intervention of One greater than themselves.

In these passages we see the power of Jesus Christ demonstrated over matter, we see His power demonstrated over sickness and physical ailments. Jesus is revealing His same creative power at creation in the manifestation of miracles. The thing about Jesus is that He will not use this power for His own advancement. When He was tempted in the wilderness He refuses to turn the stones into bread. Jesus only worked miracles for the purpose of uplifting humanity. We too must exercise restraint in using our God given gifts and talents in a selfish manor.

Miracles are wonderful when they happen, but what is the danger of making your faith dependent upon them? Upon what,then, must our faith depend?

The problem with miracles is that the Devil also has the power to work signs and wonders (Rev 13:13). Because of  this ability he will be able to deceive many in the last days (Mark 13:20). For this reason it is important that our faith rests on the word of God and we must test everything by this rule (Isiah 8:20). If someone works a miracle and they ask us to go against the word we must not follow them (Deut 13:2,3). Those how are sent by God will speak and teach according to His word and not against it. We must test all things and hold fast to the things which are good, and like the Bereans search the scriptures daily (1 Thes 5:21, Acts 17:11). Most of all God will grant us the wisdom and understanding we need to discern truth through His Spirit.

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, you worked the greatest miracle when you redeemed the human heart. Help us to trust in you with our everything. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

Read John 1:1–3, 14; Colossians 1:15, 16; Hebrews 1:1, 2. How do the New Testament writers identify the Creator? What are the implications of the answer?

When we read through these passages it helps us to understand who Jesus is and what His role was in creation. In John 1:1-3, 14 Jesus is called the Word and He is God. This passage can not be any more clear about the identity of Jesus. Jesus is God. Jesus is the one who created the heavens and the earth. Because Jesus is the the creator He is one who deserves our worship and our allegiance. When we accept the fundamental truth that Jesus is the creator then we can not say that He was just a good man but He was the incarnate creator who existed from the beginning.

Humanity is so very important to heaven and to imagine that heaven would send it’s most precious gift to save a person like me. I can only imagine what this is like. As a kid one the least liked insects in my life was the cockroach right next to spiders. They were dirty ugly and just annoying. There was a program called Joe’s apartment where Joe lived symbiotically with these cockroaches. These cockroaches where his friends. What if Joe decided one day that he loved his cockroaches so much that he wanted to become one to live among them and help them to live better lives. A man becoming a cockroach! This sounds absurd but Jesus did it. Jesus humbled himself so that He could exalt us to where we should be. Jesus humbled himself for those whom He loved dearly, including you and me.

How would you respond if someone were to ask you, "What is your God like?" What justification could you give for your answer?

In many way’s this is the same question that Thomas asked to Jesus (John 14:8) . Thomas said show me the Father. The same response that Jesus gave is the same response that I will give. If you have seen Jesus then you have seen the Father, If you have seen Jesus you have Seen God. Jesus is what God is like. As followers of Jesus was should represent Jesus by how we live. Another important reality is that sometimes we are the only Jesus the people will ever encounter. I hope that as we come to know and love Jesus more that we will being to look more and more like Him.

Prayer: Lord God almighty. Thank you for being the creator of the heavens and earth. Thank you for dying on our behalf. Help us to to be able live so closely to Jesus that we can say if you have seen me then you have seen my God.

Read Jeremiah 51:15, 16 and Psalm 33:6, 9. In addition to wisdom,what other attribute of God is mentioned in the Creation? How was this attribute expressed in Creation? More important, what are the implications of this truth for us?

I remember when I was a kid and there was this phrase that would be passed around. Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me. While this may be a cute phrase the truth is that words have the ability to destroy, and words have the ability to create. When parents speak positive encouraging words to their children they are creating an identity for that child, when negative and harsh words are spoken they are creating another identity for that child. Words our powerful, so powerful that they literally created a world.

When God spoke this world into existence He demonstrated His power, understanding, His ability to cause, His ability to make. When God spoke things happened and they held fast. These passages talk about God creating from His wisdom and understanding. God created with artistry and purpose, this mastery can be seen in all of His creation. As stated above, being created in the image of God we too have the ability create with our words. In addition to this if God’s words are so powerful how should we hold in esteem His Word (Jesus). How are we to hold in esteem the Holy Scriptures and creation which reveal to us who God is?

Dwell (the best that you can) on the size of the universe. Think about the incredible power needed in order to create it. And to think that the God who wields such power loves us, even died for us. How can you learn to draw comfort from this amazing truth?

It is amazing to think that such a powerful God cares so much for me. When I think of all the important people in the world none compares to the God of the universe. The other day my tire blew and thankfully I had a friend close by to help me change the tire. But what if the president of the united states personally flew in to my town to help me change my tire. I could not imagine that happening and that would be something. The reality is that humanity had a flat tire. We could not fix it, so Jesus came down to this earth to help us all. Wow what an amazing thought.

Prayer: Lord God almighty, Thank you for loving me the way that you do. In Jesus name amen.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language,where their voice is not heard" (Ps. 19:1–3, see also Rom. 1:19, 20). How have you experienced the truth of these texts? How has modern science helped us to even more appreciate the power and wisdom of God as Creator?

As modern science plummets into the complexity of creation each unfolding discovery reveals the hand of a Master Designer. Nature is a voice which God uses to communicate who He is and reveal His character to His people. While nature does not have a literal voice it speaks to us each and every single day. One day while contemplating the tree of life I looked out my window to see a tree stripped and barren by the winter season. I realized that this lifeless tree represented a creation that has been marred by sin. The change in season and the dropping of the leaves are all as a result of the sin of humanity. These and many lessons are available in the book of nature. The book of nature is so powerful, that God will declare that no one is without excuse in the Judgment because even if they did not know of God, His creation declared who He was (Romans 1:20).

Prayer : Lord God Almighty we thank You for all that You have created. Help us to read Your book of nature. Teach us how to read Your book of nature. Thank You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Hebrews 11:3. What does this verse tell us about God and the creation of the universe?

I remember when I was a kid I loved to build. I would build with Lego’s, I would take apart toys an try to make other things out of them. I think it was something in my blood that drove me to create. The thing about the way I created is that I always had to have something in my hands to create with. As children of God, we are created in His image. When I want to create things I am simply showing I am like my heavenly Father. The biggest difference is that when God created He just spoke it into existence. "The worlds were prepared by the word of God" (NASB). In order to believe that God did this we must have Faith. Our faith is what helps us to understand this concept because we can not see what God used to create the worlds.

Why is a supernatural Creator, One who exists above and beyond the Creation, the only logical explanation for the Creation? Bring your answer to class on Sabbath.

When I sit down to a nice home cooked meal, the smell wafts up my nostrils, and my taste buds seem like its dripping. When I take a bite and its delicious I know someone knew what they were doing. Behind every good meal there is a good cook. What if someone told me that the food made it’s self. The ingredients sat in the the kitchen for a week and the gradually began to drift toward each other and cling and form into what I just ate. I would think that it was pretty cool, it would require faith. For me the more logical explanation is that someone made the food rather than that the food made itself. In the same way to explain the creation by a supernatural Creator makes more sense than saying the world created it’s self over time.

Prayer: Lord of all creation, with faith we recognize you as our Creator. Thank You for Your benevolence and mercy. Thank You. In Jesus’ name