Should We Expect Miracles Today?

Introduction

Should we expect the Holy Spirit to work in powerful, miraculous ways in connection with the preaching of the gospel and the life of the church today? If we should, we must address common objections and see what scripture might say about them. This section of the study will most likely go into two weeks, so we have included a handout for memories sake. One historical note to add and remember — whenever a movement appears that sees greater success then the previously successful movement, there are often those that just assume the different is evil … like the Pharisees said about Jesus. So, let’s jump into discussing common objections.

1. Doesn’t Jesus say, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except for the sign of Jonah?”

Matthew 16:4 ESV

An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

Matthew

The mistake made in this objection is a failure to look at the context and find whom Jesus was talking to. In the context of , well let’s look at it

Matthew 16:1

Matthew 16:1 ESV

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

we see this several times in scripture where they come to test him and seek a sign… AND every instance of rebuke for seeking signs is addressed to hostile unbelievers. Jesus is rebuking Jewish leader who had hard hearts (no possibility thinking) and were simply seeking a pretext for criticizing him. IN NO CASE are such rebukes addressed to genuine followers of Jesus who sought a miracle for physical healing or deliverance for themselves or others, either out of compassion or to see gospel advanced, and to see God’s name glorified. The warning verses apply to unbelievers who are looking to criticize. THERE ARE NO passages warning against the use of miracles by genuine Christians. The New Testament actually encourages us to believe God and seek answers to prayer even in miraculous ways. The pattern of gospel proclamation and miraculous events is obvious.

2. Doesn’t Jesus warn us that in the end times false christs and false prophets will work miracles and they will be so deceptive as to even deceive the elect. Therefore it would be dangerous to follow those who work miracles - they could be a false prophet.

Mark 13:22 ESV

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

This is the logic (?) used here

False Christs work miracles

Miracles are happening in church A

therefore I will stay away from church A

just to be safe (I am not spiritual enough to tell the difference)

That is not a New Testament Worldview

Matthew 7:16 ESV

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Peter helps us

2 Peter 2:1–22 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

John helps us

1 John 4:6 ESV

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

False religions teach false doctrine.

Pharisees (ancient and modern) oppose and do not further the work of the Kingdom.

However, where churches teach true doctrine, further the work of the Kingdom, exalt Jesus Christ, and bear abundant fruit in the lives of people — this is not false, but a mark of true Christianity… where this is not happening there is a major problem.

3. If we say that miracles should accompany the gospel today, doesn’t this cheapen the gospel?

Be careful with these kind of statements since Peter, Paul and Jesus preached the gospel with power and miracles present.

Acts 6:8 ESV

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts

Acts 8:6–8 ESV

And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Did miracles cheapen the gospel in the early church when it grew like wildfire? spectacularly incorrect view.

If miracles did not detract there, the objection is not valid and we are right to seek miracles to go along with evangelism today. they enhance outreach

Romans 15:18–19 ESV

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

:

4. What do Miracles prove anyway? Since there can be true and false miracles, they alone prove nothing. Therefore, how can miracles ever be God’s means for converting an unbeliever.

This just doesn’t hold water, they are the affirming sign that the gospel is from God....

John 2:11 ESV

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Hebrews 2:4 ESV

while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5. Weren’t miracles mostly limited to the Apostles? Of course we see a lot of miracles in the Book of Acts, but wasn’t that a special time when the gospel was being written.

some argue that they are restricted to apostles or those closely connected with them

Acts 5:12–16 ESV

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

: 10-

1 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

: 4-11

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

1 Cor.

Mark 16:17–18 ESV

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

there is some question on this text but it was widely accepted in the early church and the gifts were taught as a common possession of Christians, of true believers, and not limited to Apostles.

some question on this text but it was widely accepted in the early church and the gifts were taught as a common possession of Christians, of true believers, and not limited to Apostles.

6. Wasn’t the purpose of miracles to authenticate new scripture as it was being given?

Acts 8:6–8 LEB

And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing. For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

he didn’t write any scripture nor did Stephen

Acts 6:8 LEB

Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

So what are the purposes listed for miracles in scripture?

Matthew 12:28 LEB

But if I expel demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you!

characteristics of the Kingdom

Luke 9:1–2 LEB

And summoning the twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

power and authority over darkness

Ma

Matthew 14:14 LEB

And as he got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.

help those in need

Matthew 8:15 LEB

And he touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.

Remove hindrance to service

to service

John 9:3 LEB

Jesus replied, “Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it happened so that the works of God could be revealed in him.

to give glory to God

the evidence shows they were not limited to apostle and scripture