Reclaiming Miracles, Signs and Wonders Part 1

RECLAIMING MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS

Tuesday November 5, 2024

Prelude

Mark 12:24 LSB Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God?

The religious leaders of Jesus’ days were split into two groups, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They held sway over the lives of the people in every area, extending beyond the religious to their financial, dietary, and other beliefs.

While Jesus was addressing the Sadducees specifically in the text above, His judgment of them was equally applicable to the Pharisees. They both misunderstood the scriptures and therefore were not able to know the power of God.

The Sadducees were more secular in their interpretation of the Torah, and essentially took away from the text. They did not believe in the supernatural phenomenon, angels, resurrection, even though the Old Testament has many records of such.

The Pharisees believed in the supernatural but in their hyper-religiosity, they added to the Word of God, many traditions of the elders. In so doing, they made the actual Word of God of no effect.

In the body of Christ today, there is a dearth of miracles. Christians today are divided into two groups. One group does not experience miracles and so conclude that miracles have ceased. Among theologians, They are called cessationists.

The second group, called continuationists, still expects miracles. The only problem is when we experience them, the miracles are either too few or they are of a questionable source.

This teaching is intended to explore a sound biblical view of miracles so we can develop a right attitude towards them. The warning of Jesus to the Sadducees is very relevant and applicable to us, Christains today. Like them, we have failed to do justice to the word of God and that is the reason for the lack of miracles among those who do not expect as among those who hope and pray for them.

Matthew 22:29 NLT Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.

Miracles of the Early church followed a specific pattern. The first miracle after Pentecost was recorded in Acts 3. Miraculous healing led to the preaching of the gospel, which led to persecution, which led to boldness and more preaching and more miracles and more persecution. If we go back to Acts 2, we will see that before the first miracle, there was a bold preaching of the gospel which led to the saving of souls. So the pattern actually starts with a bold declaration of the gospel. It is unavoidable to notice the boldness of the Apostles in preaching, and when they got in trouble they prayed for even more boldness.

Prayer for boldness

Acts 4:27-31 NLT "In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. [28] But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. [29] And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. [30] Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." [31] After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

• There was a collaboration of evil against Jesus, His Message and His people.
• Jesus was undeterred, because He knew God preordained such a contradiction of sinners against Him.
• Believers prayed, not for deliverance, but for greater courage/boldness to preach.
• Secondly, they prayed for signs and wonders to attend their preaching.
• God confirmed the believers with the visitation of the Holy Spirit.
• The believers responded by preaching with greater boldness, the very thing for which they were persecuted.
• In so doing, they showed they were willing to please God, rather than men.

The miraculous is the exclusive preserve of those who are committed to please God, rather than men.

They show their commitment by preaching God's word without compromise. Acts 4:19-20 NLT But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? [20] We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

*Galatians 1:10 NLT Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

1 John 2:24 NLT So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.*

PURPOSE OF MIRACLES

If we seek miracles for their own sake, our motives are impure, and we are reduced to the level of the gentiles who seek these things instead of God. Matthew 6:32 NLT These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

John 2:18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."

John 4:48 ESV So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."

John 6:30 NLT They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?

Miracles, signs and wonders are done by God, as confirmation that His Word is being preached.

We are not miracle workers. Only God is. We are called to be faithful preachers of God’s total counsel, in season, and out of season. When we are faithful, God will confirm us with miracles, signs and wonders. Mark 16:20 NLT And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

God cares about His word, because God and His word are One.

John 1:1 LSB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

If we care about His kingdom and its righteousness, all these other things, (miracles) shall be added to us. Matthew 6:33 LSB But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We need to stop promoting miracle/healing services.

The devil is not afraid of miracles. He is afraid of the word. *Ephesians 6:16-18 ESV

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,*

Doing so puts the emphasis on the wrong thing… on miracles instead of on the word of God. The word is the main thing. The word of God produces light and life and miracles. Miracles confirm the word.
When people come expecting miracles, they will not be interested in the word.

Miracles do not save, only the word does.

Miracles produced testimonies, which attract people who must receive the word for themselves.

John 4:39-42 ESV Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. [41] And many more believed because of his word. [42] They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."

Miracles do not grow people’s faith, only the word does.

Romans 10:17 LSB So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

1 Peter 2:2-3 LSB like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, [3] if you have TASTED THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD.

• It is possible to receive a miracle and still not know Jesus.

The man who was born blind gave a powerful testimony after being healed by Jesus, yet he did know Jesus.

John 9:30-38 NLT "Why, that's very strange!" the man replied. "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know where he comes from? [31] We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. [32] Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he couldn't have done it." [34] "You were born a total sinner!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue. [35] When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" [36] The man answered, "Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him." [37] "You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!" [38] "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.