| Have Miracles Ceased? 1. Purpose of Miracles – To confirm Truth A: Moses spoke God’s truth, then confirmed it with signs (Exe. 4:1-9,29,30) B: Jesus’ miracles were to confirm his divine sonship (Matt. 11:2-5;John 20:30-31) C: Apostles given power to perform miracles “to confirm the word” (Mark 16:17-20) The Truth has been confirmed – Heb.2:3,4 2. Power to perform miracles – gifts of the Holy Spirit A: Received by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5;2:4;11:16-18) 1. Holy Spirit baptism was not commanded and was not “for remission of sins” 2. Today there is one baptism (Eph. 4:5) – Water Baptism 1 Pet. 3:20-21) B: Received by laying on of apostles’ hands; (Acts 8:14-18; 19:1-7) --1 Cor.12 --lists “gifts of the Spirit” ; 1 Cor 13 tells “duration of gifts” Power has ceased – Apostles all dead—“But when that which is perfect Is come, then that which is in part (‘gifts”, vs.9) shall be done away” (1 Cor. 13:10). 3. Miracles have ceased. A: Miracles in Bible were genuine (supernatural) 1. Speaking in unknown tongues (unlearned languages- (Acts 2:4-8;1 Cor. 14:19) 2. Nature changed (Matt. 8:26; 14:15-21; 17:27;21:19, Mark 6:48) 3. Sick healed immediately (Matt. 4:24; 8:3; 8:14,15; Acts 5:12,15) 4. Lame and blind made whole (John 9:1-25;Luke 7:22;Matt. 15-31) 5. Dead raised (Lazarus-John 11; Dorcas-Acts 9:36-43; Eutychus- Acts 20:9-12) B: Such miracles do not occur today. 1. When failing to perform ‘miracle,’ ‘healer’ claims afflicted lacks Faith. (See mark 2:3-5—friends had faith; Matt. 17:20-21-healers lacked faith) 2. Those who claim to perform “miracles” today are liars. (See Mark 16:18 – Jesus said snakes and poison “shall not hurt them”} 3. Beware of false teachers and fake healers (11 Thess. 2:9-12; 1 John 4:1) |
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