Part 3 Reclaiming Miracles, Signs and Wonders

RECLAIMING MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS Part 3

Tuesday November 19, 2024

***John 12:35-40 NKJV ***Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. [36] While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. [37] But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, [38] that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" [39] Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: [40] "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."

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?

We must approach the word of God with childlike humility otherwise, in all our learning, we will miss the point.

• The Word of God Is Both Doctrine and Power The word of God is a self-sustaining and self-correcting power. It is both doctrine and authority. Without authority, doctrine will be lifeless, empty letters which are actually destructive. 2 Corinthians 3**:**6 LSB who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

John**6:63 LSB The Spirit is the One who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

• Without correct doctrine, power will be either nonexistent or if it exists, it will be abused and go off the rails.

2**** Corinthians 10*:4-*5 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.

2 Corinthians 10***:***4-5 NKJV For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Human reasoning is dealt with by correct doctrine, but that is not our only problem. There are obstacles that stand in man’s way, that prevent the light of the gospel from shining through.

Demonic attacks are proud obstacles that keep people from responding to the word of God.

• Demons respond only to power not doctrine. Men respond to wisdom but demons respond to power. You cannot debate a demon into submission. Luke*** ***4:38-**39 NLT After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon's home, where he found Simon's mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. "Please heal her," everyone begged. [39] Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.

The devil always invites and promotes miracles in order to distract. In Matthew 4 and Luke 4 the first and third temptations the devil presented to Jesus were requests for miracles. The devil understands the power of spectacular things to distract from truly important matters.

* Unbelievers sometimes ask for miracles in order to mock While hanging on the cross, the last mockery Jesus endured were also requests for miracles. Matthew 27:41-42 ESV So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, [42] "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

Luke 23:39 ESV One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

WHY MIRACLES?

• God’s greater interest is in teaching and training us into godliness. He uses miracles for three reasons To display His power so that unbelievers can believe. John4**:*48 LSB So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

• As a display of His mercy and compassion Matthew 9:35-38 NLT Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. [38] So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

Luke 7:11-17 NLT Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. [12] A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. [13] When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" he said. [14] Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up." [15] Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. [16] Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, "A mighty prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited his people today." [17] And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.

Mark 1:40-42 NLT A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. [41] Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" [42] Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Mark 5:18-19 NKJV And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. [19] However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

• To remove the distractions so that He can get on with His real agenda. Situations which require miracles are usually difficult and they consume all of our attention. The mother of a sick child, a person threatened with job loss, eviction, foreclosure or deportation, a person faced with life threatening situations like a plane accident or armed robbery will be so focused on the clear and present danger, nothing else will matter much.

Matthew 15:32 ESV Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."

2 Timothy*** ***3:16-17 LSB All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• When the Lord confirms His words in your mouth, He is also confirming you as His servant. Isaiah 44:26 NKJV Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,' To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built,' And I will raise up her waste places;