FINAL SERMON ON MIRACLES (Acts
1. We have spent 3 weeks looking at distinctions
between New Testament miracles and modern claims.
2. Tonight we turn to a different but related subject.
3. Why did Jesus and the apostles perform the kinds of
acts described in the New Testament?
4. The answer to this question is found in the words
that describe Bible miracles.
5. When we think of a miracle we usually use the word miracle.
6. The language of the New Testament is more flexible
than English.
7. In the scripture that was read, we heard 2
descriptions for New Testament miracles.
8. One word is signs.
9. The other term is wonders.
10. These 2 words are found in Acts 5:12.
THIS EVENING WE WANT TO LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE WORDS; WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE WORDS SIGNS.
A. Most translations use this word because it does a
good job of expressing the thought.
B. Outside the New Testament this term described a
“signal.”
C. It was sometimes used to describe boundaries or
limits.
D. There are examples of it being used to describe
birthmarks.
2. This term points to something besides itself.
3. It has been compared to a street sign.
4.
5. The word signs means
that New Testament miracles pointed people to God.
6. They were designed to direct men and women to certain
conclusions.
A. Do we remember a comment about Nicodemus in Jn. 3:2?
B. According to Jn. 3:1, Nicodemus was a ruler of the
Jews. He came to see Jesus by night.
C. When he came to visit the Lord he had something to
say.
D. This ruler had drawn a conclusion that is recorded
in Jn. 3:2 – READ.
7. Nicodemus knew about the signs Jesus did.
8. He said these signs pointed him to the conclusion
that Jesus was from God.
9. Another place which helps us understand
this term is found in 2 Thess. 3:17.
A. When Paul sent letters to congregations his
correspondence had a sign.
B. Just as a birthmark can help
identify a person, so there was something special about Paul’s letters.
C. This may have helped Christians determine whether or
not letters were really from Paul.
D. It seems there were people who claimed letters were
from Paul when this was not the case.
E. To guard against this problem Paul devised a plan.
F. Here is what he said at the end of 2 Thess 3 – verse
17 – READ.
10. Your Bible will probably have the word “token.”
11. This is the same word that is elsewhere translated
“sign.”
12. Whatever this was, it pointed to the fact that Paul
wrote a document or a letter had his approval.
13. This term we are looking at is found at the end of
Mark’s gospel.
14. The apostles had their preaching confirmed by
miraculous “signs.”
15. These signs led people like Nicodemus to God.
16. These signs were also designed to help us.
17. Two other familiar passage
are Jn.
A. Both of these verses need to be read – READ.
B. John said Jesus did many signs (
C. The signs that are recorded are designed to help us
believe.
D. John said a few “signs” have been written down, but
most of what Jesus did is not recorded.
18. How many signs might Jesus have given?
19. How many things did He do to point others to God?
20. Most agree the Lord’s ministry lasted about 3 ˝
years.
21. This period of time leaves us with 1,277 days.
22. If Jesus averaged only one sign a day, He offered
close to 1300 signs.
23. We know from the gospels there were times when sick
people flocked to Him.
24. The number of people He helped could have easily
resulted in 10 signs per day.
25. This figure would mean He offered nearly 13,000
signs.
26. If He averaged 50 miracles a day, the number
increases to almost 64,000 different signs.
27. If we enlarge the number to 100 a day, the figure is
close to 128,000 different signs.
28. Unless John was greatly
overstating things in Jn.
29. Jesus may have offered 100,000 proofs to point
people to Himself, the Father, and the NT era.
30. In spite of all this proof (numerous signs), there
were unbelievers.
A. I want to read Jn. 12:37.
B. This verse is important for two reasons.
C. First, it contains the word we are looking at.
D. Second, it refers to “many” signs.
E. Here is what John said – READ.
31. Jesus performed many signs.
32. Proof upon proof was given.
33. If you want to see how powerful this proof was, skip
back to Jn. 11:46-48.
34. This term occurs again in the 47th verse of Jn. 11
but we will read the verse before and after it.
35. READ. 11:46-48.
36. Verse 28 shows what “signs” (miracles) were designed
to do: create faith in Christ & the
gospel.
37. THIS WORD TELLS US THAT BOTH IN THE FIRST CENTURY AND AT THE PRESENT TIME GOD HAD PROVIDED OVERWHELMING PROOF TO ESTABLISH THAT CHRISTIANITY IS TRUE.
A. If all we had were the proofs described as signs,
this would be enough.
B. The New Testament does not stop with this proof.
C. Acts 5:12 we also have the word wonder.
D. This word is not used to describe Jesus in Matthew,
Mark, Luke, or John.
E. It is however, applied to Jesus in Acts 2:22.
F. Peter said Jesus was approved by many “wonders.”
G. This term describes miracles which were so
extraordinary people remembered them.
38. There are events in life that are so unnatural and
unusual, we remember them.
39. This is how the miracles of Jesus are described.
40. This term is also applied to others.
41. In Acts 7:36 the word wonders is applied to
Moses.
42. The text says he performed “signs and wonders” in
the Red Sea and in Egypt.
43. Moses has been dead but the wonders he
performed are still told again and again.
44. Jesus performed these kinds of miracles and did even
greater things.
45. He engaged in these acts so there would be signs
(Acts 5:12).
A. At the present time we are exposed to a popular
message in the religious world.
B. Evangelists say, “I can perform miracles; listen to
me. Send me and my ministry money.”
C. This type of claim needs to be considered in light
of two different passages.
D. I would like for us to turn to Mt. 24:24 and 2
Thess. 2:9.
E. I am citing these references for two reasons.
1) Both of these verses have the two words that have
been described (sign and wonder).
F. We are using Mt. 24:24 because it describes a time
prior to 70 A.D.
G. 2 Thess. 2:9 is being used because it may still have
future application.
46. If you have found Mt. 24:24 let’s look at it
together – READ
47. Jesus predicated that “false Christ’s would arise.
Would these people produce any proof?
Yes.
A. Jesus foretold they would offer “great signs and
wonders.”
B. People would be convinced.
C. Even some Christians would be inclined to listen and
follow the apostates.
D. Paul spoke of a similar matter in 2 Thess. 2:9.
E. The Thessalonians were listening to the wrong
people.
F. They needed to be warned so God sent them at least
two letters.
G. Here is what Paul said towards the end of the second
letter – READ. 2 Thess. 2:9.
48. It is not enough for a person to say, “I have power
or I can do supernatural things.”
49. For those who know the Bible this kind of claim
carries no weight.
50. God has warned us about “lying wonders” and signs
from deceivers.
51. There are people who make claims that can lead God’s
people astray.
52. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TWO DIFFERENT WORDS FOR MIRACLES AND BOTH OF THESE TERMS ARE APPLIED TO THE WORK OF GOD AND THE WORK OF SATAN WOULD SEEM TO LEAVE US WITH A DILEMMA.
A. How do we know who is telling the truth?
B. How do we determine who is a deceiver and who is
not?
C. We need to see who and what the signs point to.
53. We know what the miracles of the New Testament point
us to:
54. Christ, the apostles, the gospel they preached, and
the way the early church functioned.
55. Today supernatural claims are still being made.
56. We must ask what the modern claims point us to.
A. What is done in modern times points people to:
B. A Jesus who is often different from the one
described in the New Testament.
C. What is done points listeners to miracle workers and
their ministries, not the apostles.
D. People are pointed to churches built by men, not the
church built by Christ.
E. Those who listen are often turned to entertainment
instead of New Testament Christianity.
57. Signs were given to provide undeniable proof that
Jesus is from God and the gospel is true.
58. Signs like the New Testament describes are no longer
being offered.
59. We need to reject modern signs but accept the signs
and wonders in the New Testament.
60. These were written so we can know we have the truth.
61. Nothing is more important than knowing and obeying
the truth.
62. If we have found the right way, have we been
obedient?