Sermon Tone Analysis

*Date:*      1st July 2007                                                                           (Sunday PM)                                                                        *Ref:* A0319

*Place:     Kambah P.S.*

*Title: The Following Signs*

*Text:        *& Acts 15:12

 

*Illust:     *The English economic historian of the 19th century, Arnold Toynbee, stated that “Miracles happen today.

They are history-making, earth-shaking events, which change whole courses of history and the fates of nations.”

He also went on to say that believing in miracles is a basic necessity of mankind: “The fundamental need of our world today is a rebirth of belief in the supernatural.

If this rebirth is not forthcoming from the more progressive creators of our mechanical culture, it may come from the “backward” peoples like the natives of Africa and Asia, to those who have not yet become victims of the proud materialism of the Great Powers.”

The need for miracles is just as great today as it was in the 19th century and every century throughout history.

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I.                   The Great Commission

!! A.               First Part

i.

Most of us would be familiar with the Great Commission, given by Jesus to His disciples & hence to us.

– This would be considered our mission statement

         Mark 16:15-16 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

(NKJV)

ii.

We know this, it’s why we do what we do, why we witness, have outreach, go on impact teams, go overseas.

It is all about going into all the world and ‘preaching’ the Good news of the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ that sinners can be forgiven & make heaven their home

iii.

However I think we need to call this the 1st part of the Great Commission.

As further in Mark, we see that there is some more information.

!! B.               Second Part

i.

This is what I like to call the 2nd part of the Great Commission

         Mark 16:17-18 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

(NKJV)

ii.

A definite promise, no ambiguity of supernatural enabling & power.

A working of the miraculous.

Miracles!

– What is a miracle?

*1.

*An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God:* 2. *One that excites admiring awe.

iii.

Something that puts awe into people, the awe of God, breaks through the day to day materialistic, scientific naturalism of the culture and trumpets loudly; the Kingdom of God is here.

Luke 10:8-9 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.

9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (NKJV)

      Miracles; Signs and Wonders are a perfect balance for touching man’s intellect, emotions and will

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II.

Signs & Wonders

!! A.               Jesus Ministry

i.

The public ministry of Jesus was one of signs and wonders, over & over again we are confronted with the supernatural breaking into the natural & people being in awe.

Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.

And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, (NKJV)

         Mark 4:39-41 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”

And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?

How is it that you have no faith?”

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (NKJV)

         Luke 5:4-8 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.

And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (NKJV)

         Matthew 21:18-19 18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.”

Immediately the fig tree withered away.

(NKJV)

ii.

These are only a small sample of some of the countless miracles that Jesus performed during His public ministry

iii.

This wasn’t just to be confined to Jesus.

He considered it so important in the proclamation of the Kingdom that He imparted the power to His disciples to be able to preach & perform the miraculous

         Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

(NKJV)

!! B.               Early Church

i.

This is carried over into what we read of the early church in the book of Acts.

– In our text Paul & Barnabas have been on the 1st real missionary journey of the church into what is modern day Cyprus and Turkey & on his return he goes to Jerusalem to visit the church leadership to give a report.

– They have been out preaching the word of God and their testimony is one of miracles and wonders.

~~  & Text

      Miracles

      [/semeion/ ~/say·*mi*·on~/]; 77 occurrences; translated as “sign” 50 times, “miracle” 23 times, “wonder” three times, and “token” once.

*1* a sign, mark, token.

1a that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known.

1b a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature.

/1b1/ of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen.

/1b2/ of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s.

Wonders

       [/teras/ ~/*ter*·as~/] 16 occurrences; translated as “wonder” 16 times.

*1* a prodigy, portent.

*2* miracle: performed by any one.

ii.

This was the common experience of the early church:

         Acts 5:12a And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.

(NKJV)

         Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

(NKJV)

         Acts 19:11-12 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

(NKJV)

iii.

If this was the experience of the early church, then should it not be the experience of the church throughout history up until today.

Should it not be the experience in this church & even through your life?

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III.

Contending

!! A.               To Be Expected

i.

The answer to that is emphatically yes! – This is the promise of Jesus.

John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.