Miracles

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What Is A Miracle

Wayne Grudem defines a miracle as a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself. Unlike God’s providence where God providentially sustains His creation, Miracles are those activities that reach beyond the providence of God. They are His actions that cause us to be blown away my the manifestation of His divine power in our lives. They bear witness of God because only He can perform miracles. He exercises his omniscience and omnipotent powers in our circumstances. For example, When a person has a terminal diagnosis and is only given a few weeks to live, then God restores the health of that person completely. This is unexplained and beyond the power of any doctor to do. This is a miracle. People will have to conclude that only God did this!

5 Purposes For A Miracle

Miracles authenticate the gospel

Nicodemus came to Jesus as the source of the gospel and proclaimed His authenticity by saying John 3:2

John 3:2 NASB95

this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Nicodemus stated that the miracles that Jesus were performing were from God. If they were from God, then Jesus must be His Son. He mentioned that no one could do what Jesus was doing.

Likewise, in Hebrews it mentions that people who are recipients of the gospel bear witness to the gospel by signs and wonders. Hebrews 2:4

Hebrews 2:4 NASB95

God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Miracles are used to authenticate the gospel we share.

Miracles Testify that the Kingdom of God is here on Earth

The attributes of heavenly things can be manifested here on earth. These are manifested through miracles.

Matthew 12:28 NASB95

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Jesus explains to the Pharisees that the casting out of demons is by the power of the kingdom of God. Earthly powers cannot cast out demons! Only by the power of the kingdom of God can demons be cast out.

Jesus gave the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven to do miracles. Matthew 10:7-8

Matthew 10:7–8 NASB95

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Notice Jesus instructed the disciples to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We need to recognize miracles in our lives as the kingdom of heaven being at hand!

Miracles Help people In Need

When people have a true need, God will meet that need. God determines what a need and a want is. The needs He always meets and often uses miracles to meet those needs. Matthew 20:30

Matthew 20:30 NASB95

And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Matthew 20:34 NASB95

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Jesus encountered two blind men and healed them. This is a miracle. The question then becomes is being cured from blindness a need? If so, then why didn’t Jesus heal all blind people? We do not know the answer to this, but Jesus obviously determined this to be a need and performed a miracle.

Miracles Are Used To Remove Obstacles To People’s Ministry

Matthew 8:15 NASB95

He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.

Jesus Healed Peter’s mother-in-law from her sickness. Her sickness was preventing her from serving. When Jesus healed her the first thing she did was served Him.

Acts 9:36–42 NASB95

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Tabitha was a minister in Joppa that got sick and died. God used Peter to do a miracle and bring her back to life. It is insinuated that she continued in her good works. But more importantly God used it to cause people to believe.

Miracles Bring Glory to God

John 9:3 NASB95

Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

When Jesus healed the blind man of age, He did it to display the power of God. The reason for this mans years of blindness was to ultimately bring glory to God through his healing

Should We Expect Miracles Today?

The answer is under the right conditions yes! The obvious questions are what are the right conditions? If they fulfill the 5 purposes that we just discussed.

The evidence of this is found in James 5:14

James 5:14 NASB95

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

When someone is sick, they should call for the elders of the church to call for a miracle in their lives.

Acts 4:29–30 NASB95

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ we should call and expect for the miracle of salvation to occur.

Matthew 10:7–8 NASB95

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.