A Miracle Before Dunkirk

This is an incredible story of God's deliverance at Dunkirk that the movies/history books seem to leave out:

Studying some remarkable events in the history of World War 2, we find the deliverance of the allied armies at Dunkirk; a true story of Divine providence in modern history. It was on May 10, 1940, that Hitler unleashed his armies against France and Belgium. Within days, the British army found itself outmaneuvered and unprepared for the German blitzkrieg assault led by General Rommel and his 7th Panzer division.

The German high command began boasting of the demise of the allied armies, particularly the 300,000 soldiers of the British army sent by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to protect France and the low countries of Europe. As the prospect of victory waned Churchill was prepared to announce an unprecedented military defeat of a third of a million soldiers.

But then a miraculous turn took place initiated by King George VI, who ordered the observance of a National Day of Prayer. The British Monarch, along with members of the cabinet, attended Westminster Abbey to pray, while millions of Britons all across the Kingdom in unprecedented unity, attended churches to join the King in prayer. Newspapers throughout the UK reported, "Nothing like it has ever happened before."

Then the miracles began: First, Hitler ordered his troops to halt their advance for no apparent reason, which angered his generals and continues to baffle historians to this day. Secondly, a massive storm broke out in Flanders which grounded the German Luftwaffe squadrons, allowing the allied armies to travel to the beaches at Dunkirk unhindered by the German air force. A third miracle involving the weather was that simultaneous with the storm which grounded the Luftwaffe, the English Channel was as still as a millpond...an unprecedented calm which allowed ships of every size to evacuate over 338,000 troops including 140,000 French, Belgian, Dutch and Polish soldiers from the beaches at Dunkirk.

Winston Churchill addressed the British nation and described the evacuation of Dunkirk as a “miracle of deliverance.”

The following Sunday, the nation in celebration of God’s answer to prayer, sang Psalm 124 throughout churches in the United Kingdom.

Psalms 124:1-8 A Song of Ascents. Of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Today, be encouraged knowing that our God responds to prayer and is ready to act upon it at a moment's notice. The armies of darkness may surround us, in fact, they are sure to sooner or later; but we also know the Lord is standing ready to defend His own. "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth" [Psalm 124:8]

Bible Points to Jesus! - John 5:30-47

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

41 I do not receive glory from people.

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 5:30-47

In a court of law, a statement is proven by the testimony of witnesses. If Jesus alone testifies about Himself, His testimony will not be accepted because at least two witnesses must testify in order for a thing to be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus presents four witnesses to testify. These are John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father and the Scriptures. Jesus states John testifies of Him and Jesus knows this testimony is true. Jesus then said His works should have been all the proof any would need to know that the Father was with Him and sent Him (John 3:3, 7:31). He then added His Father and the Scriptures as additional witnesses.

Jesus was not upset because they didn’t endorse Him, but because they had no love for God. Jesus said they did not like His claim to be from the Father. Moses, whom they claimed as their defender, will be their accuser even though they have set their hope in him. If they really believed Moses, they would believe in Jesus because Moses wrote about Jesus. But if they do not believe Moses’ writings, they won’t believe Jesus either.

*Do you believe Jesus is God? Why or why not?

John 5:19-29 - Jesus' Authority

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:19-29

In verses 19-21 we see Jesus, God the Son, claiming the same power as the Father. Jesus begins by saying the Son only does things He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does in the same way. The Father does not judge anyone, because He has given the Son that task – so all who honor the Father will honor the Son. Any who fail to honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.

Notice that we will not be getting eternal life someday. We already have eternal life now by faith. Jesus then says an hour is coming and is now that the dead who hear the voice of the Son of God, and those alive who hear, will live. The Father has life in Himself and has given the Son Who has life in Himself as well. The Father has also given the Son to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13). 

Don’t be surprised at this. An hour is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good to a resurrection of life and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment. Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (John 11:43), everyone from their tombs, or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life. 

Please note the words those who have done good and those who have done evil do not mean a salvation by good deeds or damnation because of evil deeds. We are saved by the Lamb of God who, as our substitutionary Sacrifice, takes away the penalty of our sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ. Damnation is the consequence of rejection of God’s Son (John 3:36).

*According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the true source of our good works?

John 5:1-18 - Not Religious Laws but Jesus

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. 

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 5:1-18

In chapter 4 Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah, and proclaimed the true way of worship to the woman of Samaria. Now in chapter 5 He will make those same claims before the Jews at one of the great feasts in Jerusalem. The first of these statements was made by upsetting the religious leaders’ rules of what could and couldn’t be done on the Sabbath. Jesus healed this man who had been ill for such a long time.

The Jewish leaders found this man carrying his mat and they told him their laws for the Sabbath did not allow him to carry his mat. When they finally found Jesus, the leaders demanded to know why He disobeyed their rules. He answered He was working just as His Father had been working all along. The Jews persecuted Jesus because He did these things on the Sabbath. But when He called God His Father, making Himself equal to God, they wanted to kill Him for blasphemy. It is important to realize that Jesus is claiming divinity here. (More about Jesus’ claims in the next lesson.)

*Ask God to reveal any religious rules you may be following that are not based on His Word.

John 4:43-54 Faith to Believe

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

John 4:43-54

Following Jesus’ two-day ministry in Samaria, He went on to Galilee. He wasn’t honored in Nazareth, but the Galileans welcomed Him because they had seen everything He had done in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration.

As He traveled through Galilee, He came to Cana where He had turned water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. This implies that the official worked for Herod and was either in the bloodline or held an office in Herod’s government. Herod was not a Jew, so we believe the official was not either. When He heard Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

Jesus asked the crowd around Him if they would believe only if they could see Him perform miracles. A faith built on signs and wonders is not a complete faith. Faith in Jesus alone is absolutely necessary.

The official pleaded with Jesus to heal his son, and Jesus told him it would be done. The man believed what Jesus said and started home. Did the father really believe? Notice in verse 52 he did not even go home until the following day. Now that is faith! If we compare this to the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), it is interesting how Jesus answered these two Gentile officials’ requests from a distance. They apparently believed Jesus much easier than the Jews did because they had no preconceived notions of Jesus.

Twice in this chapter we read about the testimony of a believer – the Samaritan woman and the Gentile official – bringing others to Jesus. Both of these signs demonstrated that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Son of God.

*When you have testified of what Jesus has done for you, what happened?

John 4:21-42. Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:21-42

Jesus used His God-appointment with this woman of Samaria to reveal an incredible secret to the world – the truth about real worship of God. In all of history to this point, worship of God had been limited to a place: an altar, a tabernacle, a special temple, a specific city, or a holy mountain. 

Jesus revealed to her how God would now be worshiped anywhere and any time. The only requirement for true worship would be the person’s heart – they must worship in spirit and in truth. Worshiping in spirit meant all their heart and soul and mind must be committed to this worship. Worshiping in truth meant the person must worship the God who is Truth – Jesus (John 14:6).

*When you worship God, how are you worshiping Him in spirit and in truth?

John 4:1-20. - A God-Appointment

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria.

5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar (Shechem), near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

John 4:1-20

*As you look back over your life so far, can you see a God-appointment? What did you learn from this encounter with Him?

Jesus, being God, had a very special appointment with a woman most people of the Jewish nation would never have talked to. Not only did self-respecting Jews not speak with her, even her own neighbors probably ridiculed and hated her – the only reason a woman would come to draw water in the middle of the day when it was so hot. Jesus knew where and when He needed to be there to meet her and give her the good news of sin forgiven and new life of hope begun.

*When God meets you with one of His divine appointments, you will find He knows you, just as He knew this woman. Will you be willing to hear what He has to say to you?