Part 2 Reclaiming Miracles, Signs and Wonders
**RECLAIMING MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS Part 2
Tuesday November 12, 2024 **
Matthew 9:35-38 LSB And Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. [36] And seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
A church without missionaries is a social club.
Why Believe In The Continuation of Miracles John 14:12-15 LSB Truly, truly, 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 the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in My name, this will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. [15] “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Romans 1:16 ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Miracles always have something to do with a word.
When demons, sickness and nature respond to the word of God, we have a miracle that makes men glad.
When men hear and respond to the gospel, they are saved, and they continue hearing the word, they are being sanctified. This is a bigger miracle that makes heaven rejoice. Luke 15:7 LSB I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
All spiritual gifts fall under categories of gifts: Gifts of utterance, 2) gifts of wisdom and 3) gifts of power. They all have to do with the spoken word. The lines are often blurred.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 LSB But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is profitable. [8] For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; [9] to someone else faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] and to another the workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to someone else various kinds of tongues, and to another the translation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30 NLT All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. [28] Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. [29] Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? [30] Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!
The gifts of utterance speak the eternally settled will of God… preaching, teaching, counseling, etc. , The gifts of wisdom speak forth the mind of God for specific situations. Prophecy, discernment and counseling, (See sons of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32, also Simeon Luke 2:25-26) The gifts of power speak with the authority of God. Healing of the sick, casting out demons, etc. Mark 4:39-41 NLT When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. [40] Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" [41] The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"
Luke 2:52 NKJV Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with men (righteousness.) Jesus, the word, grew had all three areas of giftedness.
The body of Christ is gifted and needs to grow in all three areas. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 NLT We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. [5] We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [6] And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
The word of God is a double-edged sword. We need gifts of utterance (doctrine)to teach, correct and equip. We need the gifts of wisdom to know the mind of God, discern spirits, direct our actions, etc
And we need the gifts of power to exercise authority by rebuking spirits and nature. Mark 1:23-27 NLT Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, [24] "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" [25] But Jesus reprimanded him. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. [26] At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. [27] Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!"