Sermon Central
-
Axe That Swam Series
Contributed by John Walls on Sep 24, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: Practical look at miracles in the Bible
AXE THAT SWAM
Introduction: In the weeks ahead, I will be looking at some miracles in the Bible. These are well documented in the Word of God. I will put a practical application to each of these miracles.
Several questions come to mind when dealing with this subject. First of all, What is a miracle? Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary has this for a definition: an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message. It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a power interrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power.
In the frame that we will be looking, it is the supernatural act of Almighty God. No attempt will be made to explain the miracle as none is needed since it is recorded in the Word of God. All Bible miracles are easy to believe the moment we put God into them. The man who experienced the miracle of the new birth should have no trouble in accepting the miracles of the Bible. It is real futile to try to explain them to the unsaved man. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The next question could be this: Do miracles still occur today? Yes, they do but I feel that I must explain some truths that should factor into the equation. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:13- 15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”. The apostles did some miracles in their ministry. But Satan’s crowd was in the "miracle" ministry too.
Some may even get spiritual and try to quote our Lord Jesus when He said this in John 14:12. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. The greater works that Jesus is speaking here is the work of the miracle of the changed lives of men and women who are saved under our ministry. It is not some miracle like changing water into wine. I have never seen or heard on of those guys doing that. They cannot walk on water. Those miracles that Christ did were important in that showed those Jews who require a sign to see that Jesus was the promised Messiah for Israel. I do not believe it was the miracles of the apostles that brought folks to Christ but the countless changed lives.
Some of the "miracles" that we see today are nothing less than Satan’s crowd working in trying to deceive the masses. I would not give one penny to see this type of garbage. But some people swear by these "man of God". Brother such and such is able to do miracles. What did Jesus say about this crowd? Listen to what He said in Matthew 7:21-23. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
No where in the Bible are we told to expect a miracle today. But I do find these words about some daily activities. Acts 17:11 tells us “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Jesus told us in John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Jesus wants us to see Him, not miracles. Rarely do people pay attention to Jesus in these miracle services. They draw attention to themselves. Peter and John did not and would not take credit to the healing of the lame man in Acts 3. They pointed souls to Christ and God gave them a harvest of souls.
