Miracles

This morning we discussed The Miracle or Jesus returning sight to the man born blind

That, was a miracle wouldn’t you say

So, this evening, there was a couple of directions we could go

we could have either looked at

evil and suffering

or, miracles

After some thought and prayer it turns out we are going to look at miracles

So, because I am mostly a 3 point guy

We are going to look at miracles in 3 points

They are

What is a miracle

The purpose of miracles

And do miracles happen today?

and if so, what do we do with that

Story of a miracle

During World War II, a group of soldiers was trapped behind enemy lines in a small French village. Surrounded by enemy forces, with no way out and no hope of rescue, the soldiers began to lose hope. The enemy was closing in, and their supplies were running dangerously low.

In their desperation, the soldiers decided to pray. They gathered in a small, dilapidated church in the village, and one of the soldiers, a man known for his faith, led them in prayer. They asked God for a miracle—for deliverance from their dire situation.

As they prayed, a thick fog began to roll in from the surrounding fields, covering the entire village. The fog was so dense that visibility was reduced to just a few feet. The soldiers could barely see each other, let alone their surroundings.

But in that moment, something remarkable happened. The enemy, confused by the sudden and unexpected fog, began to retreat, fearing an ambush or that they had wandered into a trap. The soldiers, hidden by the fog, were able to slip away undetected, making their way back to their own lines safely.

When they reached safety, the soldiers marveled at what had happened. The fog had come at just the right moment, in just the right place, and it had stayed long enough for them to escape, only to lift shortly after they were free. It was a miracle—an undeniable sign of God's intervention in their hour of need.

Here is another story!

George Müller was a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, during the 19th century. Müller is renowned for his deep faith and his commitment to running his orphanages purely by trusting in God’s provision—he never solicited funds or took out loans, relying solely on prayer.

One morning, the orphanage’s dining hall was prepared for breakfast, but there was no food to give to the children. The cupboards were completely empty, and there was no money to buy anything. Yet, the children were seated, and George Müller stood before them to say grace, thanking God for the meal that had not yet been provided.

As Müller finished his prayer, there was a knock on the door. It was the local baker. He told Müller that he had been awakened in the middle of the night with the thought that the orphanage would need bread, so he had baked an extra batch and brought it over.

Just as the baker left, there was another knock at the door. This time, it was the milkman. His cart had broken down right outside the orphanage, and the milk would spoil before he could fix the wheel. He offered the milk to the orphanage, which was just enough to feed all the children.

So, what do you all think?

Miracles, or coincidence?

with God are there any coincidences?

What is a miracle

Here is what we could call a biblical definition

A miracle in Scripture is typically described as an extraordinary event brought about by God that transcends the usual patterns of nature.

These events are often referred to as “signs” or “wonders” because they point beyond themselves to God and His purposes.

Exodus 14:21–22 “21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.”

The parting of the Red Sea, where the waters divided, allowing the Israelites to escape from the Egyptians, demonstrates God’s control over nature.

John 11:43–44 “43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.””

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, showing His power over life and death.

Mark 5:29 “29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.”

A woman is healed instantly by touching Jesus’ garment, displaying the immediacy and efficacy of divine power.

So, that is our biblical definition

Let look at a theological definition

Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology defines a miracle as an event brought about by the power of God that is so different from the normal course of nature that it arouses awe and wonder.

Miracles are not a suspension of natural laws but are instances where God acts in a manner that goes beyond these laws or uses them in unexpected ways.

C.S. Lewis defines a miracle

as an event caused by the direct intervention of God, which cannot be explained by natural laws alone. He distinguishes between "natural" events, which follow the laws of nature, and "supernatural" events, which involve God's direct action.

Quote: “A miracle is something unique that breaks a pattern so expected and established we hardly consider the possibility that it could be broken.”

So, there is our definition,

Lets look at how God used miracles in the Old and New Testaments

The Old Testament

Miracles were a demonstration of God’s Power

Exodus 7-12 (Ten Plagues in Egypt): The plagues serve as a direct confrontation with the Egyptian gods,

demonstrating Yahweh’s superiority and power over creation and other deities.

Exodus 16:4 God provides for His people in the wilderness through miraculous means, reinforcing His role as the sustainer.

We can look at the story of Elisha calling down fire from Heaven in response to the God Baal right

So, it appears as though the OT miracles often served to establish God’s

covenant relationship with Israel,

as a people set apart

affirm His promises,

and reveal His glory.

And to also highlighted God’s holiness,

as seen in the miracle at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19).

The New Testament

When we look at the miracles in the New Testament they are mostly central around Jesus’ ministry

both during his earthly ministry

and after during the period of the early church

Jesus’ miracles were diverse:

He healed the sick,

cast out demons,

controlled nature,

and raised the dead.

Each miracle was a sign of the coming Kingdom of

God and the authority of Jesus as the Messiah.

Mark 1:40–45“40 Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.”

Jesus heals a man with leprosy, showing His willingness and power to cleanse.

Mark 4:35–41 “35 On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!””

Jesus calms the storm, revealing His authority over creation.

John 11:1-44 The resurrection of Lazarus as a foretaste of the resurrection life that Jesus brings.

So, we see that Jesus performed a ton of miracles in the during his ministry and as John 21:25 “25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.”

Now, as far as the NT, what about the miracles by the apostles

The apostles performed miracles to authenticate their message about Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6-10).

These miracles confirmed the truth of the Gospel and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

So, we know the definition of a miracle,

we know how they were used in the OT and the NT

Now outside of that there is one thing I want to mention about miracles and God

and that is the fact that the miracles show that God is Sovereign

That he is specifically sovereign over His creation

The Bible presents God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Colossians 1:16-17, Psalm 24:1-2).

As such, He is not subject to natural laws but rather upholds and governs them.

Psalm 135:6 “6 The Lord does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.”

His freedom to act in creation according to His will.

Job 9:10 “10 He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.”

Job’s recognition of God’s mysterious and powerful workings reflects the human inability to fully comprehend the divine

So, what do we do with this, lets sum up this point about what is a miracle or what is the definition of a miracle

we can say it like this

Miracles remind us that God is not confined to the laws of nature. He is the Creator, and as such, He has the authority to intervene in His creation in ways that reveal His power and glory. When we witness or hear about miracles, we are invited to see them as signs pointing us toward the greater reality of God’s sovereignty.

So, what is the purpose of Miracles

Miracles as a Divine Seal of Approval:

Throughout Scripture,

God uses miracles to validate His messengers and their message.

This divine authentication distinguishes true prophets and apostles from false ones.

Exodus 4:1–9 “1 Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 3 “Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow. 7 “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” he said. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it had again become like the rest of his skin. 8 “If they will not be…”

God gives Moses signs to perform before Pharaoh to validate his calling as the leader of Israel.

1 Kings 18:36–39 “36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!””

Elijah calls down fire from heaven to prove that Yahweh is the true God and that he is His prophet.

Acts 2:43 “43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.”

Acts 5:12–16 “12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

The apostles performed many miracles, which led to the growth of the early church and the spread of the Gospel. These acts authenticated their message about the risen Christ.

So, the authenticate the messangers, that was our first one

our second is that they show the revelation of God’s Kingdom

Miracles as a sign of the Kingdom

Jesus’ miracles are often described as signs

that point to the reality of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world.

They reveal the nature of the Kingdom—healing, restoration, and victory over evil.

Luke 11:20 “20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

This verse indicates that miracles are direct evidence of the Kingdom’s presence.

Matthew 12:28 “28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Jesus’ exorcisms are proof that the Kingdom of God is at hand, challenging the dominion of Satan.

Foreshadowing Ultimate Restoration:

Miracles not only address immediate needs

but also point to the eschatological hope

of a new creation where sin, suffering, and death are eradicated.

Revelation 21:1-5: The new heavens and new earth will be the ultimate miracle, where God will dwell with His people, and all things will be made new.

So, miracles authenticate the messenger

they Reveal the kingdom of God

and now we will see that they Demonstrate his Compassion and power

What we saw this morning right

God’s Compassion

Many miracles in the Gospels are motivated by Jesus’ compassion for the suffering. This reveals God’s heart toward humanity and His desire to alleviate suffering.

Matthew 14:14 “14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.”

This verse shows that Jesus’ miracles are an expression of His deep empathy.

So they show his compassion and then

they show his Power over evil

Miracles also demonstrate God’s power over the forces of evil, sin, and death.

Jesus’ authority over demons (Mark 1:23-27)

and His ability to raise the dead (John 11)

show that He has come to reverse the effects of the Fall.

And finally #4 in the purpose of miracles in to provide an invitation to Faith

In fact, miracles can serve as a catalyst for belief

In John’s Gospel, miracles are often called “signs” because they are meant to lead people to faith in Jesus.

Our thesis statement as found in John 20:30–31 “30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Miracles invite a response of faith, calling individuals to trust in Jesus not only as a miracle worker but as the Savior and Lord of their lives.

So to re-cap this second point of the purpose of Miracles we see that

1 they authenticate God’s messengers

2 They reveal God’s Kingdom

3 They demonstrate God Compassion and Power

4 They are an invitation to faith

Miracles are not just about the miraculous event itself; they are about what they signify.

They are God’s way of communicating with us, revealing His love, mercy, and justice.

When we read about or experience a miracle, we should ask ourselves,

“What is God trying to show me through this?”

Whether it’s a miraculous healing,

a provision in a time of need,

or a supernatural sign,

God uses miracles to draw us closer to Him and to deepen our faith.

So, what does this mean for us?

Do miracles happen today?

what do y’all think?

I think they do…

Continuing Miracles

Theologically, many Christians believe that God still performs miracles today,

though their frequency

and form may vary.

Miracles today can be seen in answered prayers,

healing,

and divine interventions that go beyond human explanation.

Now, Cessationism is the other hand in the coin toss

there are several forms of Cessationism and I must admit the more I learn the more open I become

But cessationist also get a bad name

Some Christian traditions hold to

cessationism, the belief that miraculous gifts ceased with the apostolic age.

Others, known as continuationists, believe that the gifts of the Spirit, including miracles, continue today.

What Do I think ?

again I agree with what he explains in this book

I support the idea that while certain miraculous gifts may not be as prevalent, God’s ability to perform miracles has not ceased

Read from the sheet!

So as believers, what does this mean for us

Should we continue to seek miracles today?

Well, I think the answer lies in the motive

if our motive is

to seek a miracle in order to advance our own power of fame as Simon the magician did

then no

If our motive is to simply be entertained

then no

that is what Herod did right

when he first saw Jesus

Luke 23:8 “8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him.”

Rather we must understand that to seek miracles for reasons outside of what we have discussed tonight is contrary to the gospel

Miracles dont save

only the gospel saves

With that said, there is nothing wrong with seeking miracles for the purposes in which we have or are given by God

which are

to confirm the truthfulness of the gospel

to bring help to those in need

to remove hindrances to ministries

and to bring glory to God

Which means we should and can pray for miracles

in fact scripture encourages us to pray for God’s intervention in our lives (James 5:14–16“14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

While God may not always answer as we expect, we trust in His wisdom and timing. We are invited to ask in faith, knowing that God’s will is perfect.

And we should live in expectation and hope

again the ultimate miracle we all await is the resurrection and the new creation (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 21:4).

Our hope is rooted in the greatest miracle of all:

the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which guarantees our future hope.

So let me leave you with this

V. The Resurrection: The Pinnacle of All Miracles

Systematic Theology Perspective:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle in the Christian faith.

It is the cornerstone of our belief,

proving that Jesus is the Son of God

and that He has triumphed over sin and death.

The resurrection is the ultimate

demonstration of God’s power

and the hope of eternal life for all who believe.

C.S. Lewis’s Perspective:

Lewis viewed the resurrection as the central miracle of Christianity.

He argued that all other miracles derive their significance from this event.

The resurrection is not just a miraculous event;

it is the foundation of the Christian faith.

It demonstrates that God’s Kingdom has broken into the world,

and it points to the future resurrection of all believers.

See, brother and sisters

The resurrection

is the miracle that changes everything.

It is the guarantee of our salvation,

the source of our hope,

and the promise of our future resurrection.

As we reflect on the miracle of the resurrection,

we are reminded that God’s power is not limited to the past

but is at work in our lives today,

bringing new life and hope.

Let us live in the light of this miracle,

sharing the good news of the resurrection with a world in need of hope.