THE MIRACLE MINISTRY
OF JESUS CHRIST TODAY
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and forever.
- Mark 6:56 (KJV) And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or
cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him
that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as
many as touched him were made whole.
Years ago when I was an Associate Evangelist with the T.L. Osborn
ministry I heard something that I have used and is true through out 47
years of ministry, "The miracle ministry of Jesus Christ is still God’s
indispensable method for world evangelism today". The Gospels do have a
healthy interest in miracles. They give us plenty of miraculous evidence
to believe in Jesus.
John 20:30 (KJV) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of
his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31. But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life through his name.
I. The miracles in the Bible took place only where people believed on
Him and His Word.
((Mark 6:5 KJV) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid
his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Mark 6:6 And he
marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the
villages, teaching.
A. Jesus pointed out that the works He did should help engender faith (
(John 10:38 KJV) But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the
works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in
him.
John 10:38 KJV) But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the
works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in
him.
II. Our eyes should not be on the miracles but on Him.
(John 6:26 KJV) Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat
of the loaves, and were filled.
A. People wanted only the fruit of the miracles in this verse.
III. In our text is that all that came to Jesus were healed. For what
reason did our Lord work miracles, signs, wonders, and works?
1. To Show His Identity Mark 2:10 (KJV) But that ye may know that the Son
of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the
palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into
thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went
forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified
God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion
A. There is a right relationship between a miracle and
the Messiah. Jesus healed the paralytic’s sickness to prove that He
could solve the man’s bigger problem of sin.
2. To Demonstrate That the Kingdom Had Come (Mat 12:28 KJV) But if I cast
out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto
you.
3. To Show His Love and Kindness
A. His heart went out to hurting folk. No doubt the
leper welcomed the words, "I am willing." His heart is touched with my
grief
4. Jesus sometimes worked miracles to stir up the people so that they
would be forced to deal with His deity and claims.
5. Faithfulness (Mat 15:28 KJV) Then Jesus answered and said unto
her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And
her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
A. Faithfulness, faith and miracles. . Faith is not
always required for a miracle for a very simple reason-God is sovereign.
To the woman whom was a definite outsider (a dog) the miracle proved a
reward of her faith.
1. My father, My self, Many on mission field.
6. To Fulfill Prophecy
(Mat 8:17 KJV) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
A. There is a right relationship between
predictive prophecy and the Messiah. It was said that when He came the
deaf would hear, the blind would see, and the lame would leap like a
deer.
B. This is what Jesus read in Luke 4:16-20 (KJV)
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his
custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up
for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was
written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of
sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To
preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and
he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all-them
that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
7. Miracles are always for the Glory of God
- John 11:4 KJV) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is
not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be
glorified thereby.
A. There is a right relationship between Jesus’
whole life and the glory of God. When He walked among us we beheld the
glory of God. When people saw Lazarus walking around all they could say
was, "Glory to God."
B. God will never share His Glory.
8. The great miracle of all is the New Birth.
A. Miracles are part of Christ’s saving work! As
Jesus worked miracles He began to save the world. Miracles are proofs of
deity. The miracle stories of the Bible have salvation talk in them.
"Faith", "save", and "mercy" are words that appear in the miracles. They
are about life in the new heaven and new earth. They are snapshots of
future glory. When a miracle takes place the recipients have a brief
glimpse into a future world ruled totally by God where there is no
sickness, death, or oppression by the evil one.
Illustration:
Miracles and the movies. Going to the movies might heop to understand
miracles. Before the feature presentation there are usually some
previews of coming attractions. So it is with Christ’s miracles during
His first coming.
Missions:
While churches concern themselves with missions abroad, many miss the
opportunity afforded by the 400,000 international students who study in
the U.S.A. each year. Many of them are open to new ideas and would be
responsive to the gospel. We need to win and train them to go back to
their Nations to evangelize their own people.
See: Ps 22:27; 96:3; Mal 1:11; Mk 16:15; Phil 2:8-11; 2 Tim 4:2; Rev
15:4
The sun is 865,000 miles across, but the smallest coin can block out the
sun if you hold it close enough to your eye!
Prov 15:27; Eccl 5:10; 1 Tim 6:10
God bless you and yours!
On behalf of this generation,
Your friends in the service of Christ,
Tony
and Marge Abram
Abundant Life Crusades
If we could be
of more help or if you want more information please visit:
www.tonyabram.com or
www.abundantlifecrusades.com
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