Miraculous Gifts - sermon

Miraculous Gifts

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Introduction

1. What we know on miraculous gifts, we know from the Bible, nothing else, not our feelings.
2. Galatians 1:6-9
3. What we preach is the same preached by Peter, Paul, same as you have. Bible is the only source. Feelings do not make it right.
4. No question miraculous gifts existed in New Testament. Acts 2, Acts 10, ect.
5. Question is, do they exist?

Discussion

I.)                  Gifts would end

A.)                1 Corinthians 13:8ff

1.)                 Miracles existed at the time of this writing

2.)                 However, their end was in site.

B.)                Defined

1.)                 A supernatural act performed by an individual by God’s power

(a.)               Not something great, but normal

(b.)               Law of gravity

2.)                 That which violates natural law

C.)                Certain gifts mentioned

1.)                 Prophecy – ability to foretell

(a.)               Jesus predicts his death

(b.)               Revelation reveals future events

2.)                 Tongues – Acts 2

(a.)               Languages they had not been trained in – were fluent

(b.)               Not through natural laws, through God

3.)                 Knowledge – things that could not be otherwise knows

(a.)               Ananias and Sapphira

D.)                These will be done away?

II.)                When would they be done away?

A.)                1 Corinthians – mid 1st; Revelation – late 1st, 96 AD.

B.)                That which is perfect

1.)                 That which completes

2.)                 That which completes vs. 9

3.)                 Not partial but complete understanding

4.)                 James 1:25 “perfect law of liberty” – the Bible

(a.)               Bible was not complete

(b.)               Only a partial message was available at the time of 1 Cor.

C.)                Miracles would be done away once the Bible was completed.

III.)             Some specifics

A.)                Acts 1:12-13

1.)                 The apostles gathered in the upper room

2.)                 Joined 120 but apostles are the focus.(vs 14-15)

B.)                Acts 1:23

1.)                 Note the antecedent of the noun from chapter 2.

2.)                 The 11 is the antecedent of chapter 2.

3.)                 Outpouring of the Holy Spirit is upon the 12, not 120

C.)                Acts 2

1.)                 Spirit came upon the apostles only

2.)                 Seen in three ways

(a.)               Sound of wind - auditory

(b.)               Flames – visual

(c.)                Speaking in other tongues – internal

3.)                 This miracle was not a speaking to God, but men to men in their own language.

4.)                 There is a promise in vs.38. to receive the “gift of the holy spirit.”

(a.)               Not miraculous ability

(b.)               Benefits of salvation

(c.)                No record of these 3,000 doing miracles, depended on the apostles and those to whom they had given the power.

D.)                Acts 8:5

1.)                 Phillip’s proclamation was powerful and many miracles were done

2.)                 Simon was a practitioner of magic

(a.)               Turned at Philip’s preaching, amazed at Philip’s work.

(b.)               Philip could do miracles as a deacon – he’s not an apostle and could not pass the gift.

(c.)                Vs. 18 – Spirit given “through the laying on of the apostles hands.”

(a)                 Philip had ability

(b)                 Apostles were required to come to Samaria and lay hands on the people. Otherwise, why come?

IV.)              What about today?

A.)                Tongue speaking was for revelation and to indicate the validity of what was being said.

B.)                Ask modern day miracle workers, Where’s the apostle who laid hands on you?