Miracles

Introduction:

Mark 16:17–20 (NASB95)

17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

…

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.*

Signs

‘wonders & signs’ — Acts 2:43.

‘signs & wonders & by various miracles’ — Heb 2:4.

ALL of these describe the supernatural events during the apostolic age

The big question: ‘Do we have miracles today.. & do we have people preforming them?’

Many preachers & denominations thrive, SOLEY because of their claims to do just that.

Let’s start here: Where is the empirical evidence?

Lay aside your Bible for a moment.. & look around you in the world

Do we have miracles today?

If we do, where are they, and how are they being preformed?

Websters: “Any events or effect in the physical world, deviating from the known laws of nature, or transcending, our knowledge of these laws, and extraordinary, anomalous, or abnormal event brought about by super human agency.”

In other words, a miracle is something that contradicts nature.

The Bible nor the dictionary makes a distinction between a “miracle of God” & a “miracle of nature”

God controls nature, so if it is a miracle in one sense than its a miracle in another.

But today USE this ‘difference’.. which really isn’t anything at all… in the discussion of miracles to PROVE… yeah they happen today!

Yet the BIBLE never ONCE says… the birth of a baby, or the blooming of a flower, is a miracle.

The birth of a baby isn’t contrary to nature

The blooming of a flower isn’t contrary to nature

Therefore according to NATURE… it is not a miracle

A miracle would be:

Making a sculpture of a human being out a marble.. carving & shaping.. & that sculpture comes to life and becomes a real human.

The virgin birth of Jesus was a miracle.. where do we see that today?

Jesus walking on water was a miracle.. where do we see that today?

The resurrection of Lazarus was a miracle.. where do we see that today?

Instead of funerals, you’d be hearing & seeing resurrection ceremonies!

Friends, these things are not being done today

The Bible miracles were undeniable.. Acts 4:16 “We cannot deny them”

And those who have the audacity to claim it? .. why aren’t they in the hospitals? Why don’t they go to St. Jude and heal all those kids? … because they can’t. They’re Charlatans

2 Timothy 3:13 “13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

They say most people don’t have enough faith to be healed..

Well maybe if you showed them some evidence they would believe!.. but no. People would be lined up in GROVES if there was real evidence.

What were miracles for? … to confirm the word of God, & the preacher who spoke it

John 3:2 “2 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.””

What do we learn from this?

Jesus was a teacher of truth

Jesus was a teacher from God

NO ONE can do these signs, unless God is with them

Make sense?

The ones who “claim” to preform these signs today… that cannot be verified by God/scripture/empirical evidence… are not from God.

1 Corinthians 13:8 “8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.”

But now we have that which is perfect, the complete NT.. and it is THAT book that is inspired

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

1 Timothy 4:13 “13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.”

Revelation 1:3 “3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

God gave the the power of miracles to the APOSTLES.. & those to whom they laid hands upon. So when the apostles died.. the transfer of miracles ceased.. and when the recipients died, the apostolic age of miracles ceased altogether… which is supported by the church fathers from the 2nd & 3rd centuries.

Do we need miracles today?? No. Why not?

B/c they ceased

B/c we have the NT

B/c miracles.. don’t save us

It is faith in Christ that justifies us before God in heaven

We have EVERYTHING we need today, in this inspired Word given to us from God

John 20:29 “29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””

1 Peter 1:8 “8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

John 20:30–31 “30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

It is the Word of God that saves: James 1:21 “21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

1 Peter 1:25 “25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.”