Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

INTRODUCTION

Facts about Spiritual Gifts

A Spiritual Gift is a God-given ability to serve God in and through the body!

Every believer has at least one

They are sovereign gifts

They are for the building up of the church

They are to bring glory to Christ!

The word Charismatic means “Spiritual gifts”

Three Categories:

Speaking Gifts

Serving Gifts

Sign Gifts

Ø      Tonight we will look at two...Miracles and Healings

Rule of thumb...

Scripture not experience is a basis of truth and revelation.

\\ 1A.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES

*Miracle* (/dunamis/) miraculous power; a supernatural working of God that interrupts the natural course of events

1B.

The reason for miracles

To help the hurting

To validate Jesus as the Messiah

*John 14:11* "Believe Me that I /am /in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

*Acts 2:22* " Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know --

To authenticate the apostles’ message

*2 Corinthians 12:12* Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

*Hebrews 2:4* God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

\\ 2B.

The reality of miracles today

God is a miracle working God!

We are not seeing the same kinds of miracles today as were evident in the New Testament

Ø      Walking on the water

Ø      Raising of the dead

Ø      Turning water into wine

Why?

“Those signs accompanied God’s Word only so long as He was revealing the Word.

When the revelation stopped, the sign gifts stopped.”

(MacArthur)

The greatest miracle is the miracle of salvation!

*Romans 1:16* For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Ø      The same word "/dunamis/" used to refer to miracles is used to describe the spiritual power of the gospel that produces salvation

\\ 2A.

THE GIFT OF HEALINGS

1B.

It is always plural - healings

Physical healing

Spiritual healing

Emotional healing

2B.

Healings in the past

Jesus performed healing miracles

Ø      Not to be spectacular

Ø      Not to draw attention to himself

Commanded that they not tell anyone

The Apostles performed healing miracles

3B.

Healings in the present

God is a healing God!

*Exodus 15:26* “and said, If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians.

For I /am /the LORD who heals you"

*Rapha,* to heal to mend!

\\ All sickness is not the result of sin

Ø      Some people get sick because of sin.

*1 Corinthians 11:30* For this reason many /are /weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

Ø      But not everyone; Jesus and the Blind man

*John 9:2-3* And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

It is not always God’s will to heal the sick.

Ø      Paul had to ability to heal but he did not heal everyone who was sick, not even his friends.

*2 Timothy 4:20* Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

Ø      Paul did not even heal himself.

*2 Corinthians 12:9* And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

How many of you have ever been sick?

How many have gotten better?

Ultimately we will all be healed completely.

Home Free by Wayne Watson

\\ APPLICATION

God is still a miracle working God!

God never did and never will empower men to do miracles to highlight any person or ministry!

God performs His miracles to demonstrate His grace, mercy, and faithfulness not ours.

Our faith does not produce miracles it produces the proper environment for God to work miracles.

We are to seek the miracle worker not the miracle!

We are to have a passion for Christ!

Creating a passion for Christ

Ø      Spend time with God

Ø      Deal with our sin in repentance

Ø      Trust Christ alone - not what we might do!

\\ 1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1A.

THE GIFT OF ________________________

*Miracle* (/dunamis/) miraculous power; a supernatural working of God that interrupts the natural course of events

1B.

The ____________________ for miracles

To help the hurting

To validate Jesus as the Messiah

*John 14:11*

*Acts 2:22*

To authenticate the apostles’ message

*2 Corinthians 12:12*