Bible Miracles – Awe-inspiring Events That Make Believers

1. We go a long way to understanding miracles when we learn the definition of a Bible miracle.

2. Some misconceptions.

1) Any act of God. – “God’s answer to my prayer was a miracle.”

2) An amazing event. – “The birth of my child was a miracle.”

3) Something incredibly improbable. – The fact that he survived the Tsunami was a miracle.

3. A Biblical definition — A discernibly supernatural event demonstrating God’s controlling power over the terrestrial intended to produce faith in His word.

1) It should produce faith in God’s word.

a. This was the stated purpose of miracles in the scripture.

b. Mark 16:20 “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

c. John 20:30, 31 “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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. “

d. Acts 14:3 “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

e. Hebrews 2:3, 4 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

2) It should demonstrate God’s controlling power.

a. Satan’s work on the earth through demons was supernatural, but he did not have God’s power.

b. John 3:2 “[Nicodemus] came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. “

3) We should distinguish between an event that is discernibly supernatural vs. one that isn’t.

a. It must be discernible to be a miracle.

b. If it’s not discernible, then it can’t confirm God’s word to be true.

c. Jesus walking on the water was discernibly supernatural, because one could tell he was, in fact, performing a miracle.

d. By supernatural, I mean that which is beyond nature. (eg. God’s existence is supernatural, but not miraculous.)

e. God’s answer to prayer may be supernatural, but not necessarily miraculous (such as in the case of Hanna).

4) It should demonstrate power over that which is terrestrial.

a. No doubt God performs supernatural events in heaven on a regular basis.

b. But a miracle must be related to that which is terrestrial else, it couldn’t be discerned as such.

c. The miracles in the Bible showed God’s power over…

a) Nature

b) Disease

c) Death

d) Demon Possession

d. If the miracle isn’t demonstrable over the terrestrial, then it’s not discernable.

4. What are some examples of Bible miracles?

1) Axe head floating – 2 Kings 6:5, 6

2) Jesus walking on water — Matthew 14:25-27

3) Raising of the dead – John 11:43-45

4) Healing of the blind, deaf, and maim – Matthew 11:5 “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

5. What are some examples of answered prayer without involving the miraculous?

1) Hanna – 1 Samuel 1

2) Prayer of Abraham’s servant – Genesis 24:12-15

3) Esther – Esther 4:1-3 (Mordecai and all the Jews fasted with sackcloth and ashes, a form of prayer; compare Psalm 35:13).

4) Joseph – No doubt Joseph prayed to God in his circumstances and the Bible says that God was with him (Genesis 39:2, 21).

1. God is the source of all bona fide miracles and it is God who performs the miracle.

1) Acts 3:11-13 “And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

2) Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

3) John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

4) Acts 14:3 “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

5) Romans 15:18, 19 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

2. God’s approved spokesmen.

1) Moses – Exodus 4:1-9

2) Elijah – 1 Kings 17:17-24, 1 Kings 18:24

3) Jesus

a. John 3:2 – Nicodemus testimony.

b. John 5:36 – “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”

c. John 14:10, 11 – “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. “

d. Acts 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

4) Apostles

a. Acts 2:43 “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”

b. Acts 5:12 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.”

c. 2 Corinthians 12:12 “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”

3. Those baptized by the Holy Spirit.

1) Acts 2:4 – Apostles

2) Acts 10:45, 46 – Cornelius and household.

4. Those upon who the apostle’s laid hands.

1) Acts 8:14-19 (Read)

2) Acts 19:6 – “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

1. Changing of God’s Law

1) Moses and Aaron – Exodus 4:29-31 “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. “

2) Jesus and the Apostles

a. Acts 4:23-25 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.”

b. John 20:30, 31

c. Acts 4:30 “By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”

d. Acts 14:3 “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

2. When God required His word to be confirmed.

1) Elijah – 1 Kings 18:24

2) Daniel 3:28 – “Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”

3) Daniel 6:26, 27 “I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

4) John 11:43-45 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. “

3. Godly Compassion.

1) Mat 14:14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

2) Mat 20:34 “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

3) Mark 1:41 “Mar 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

4) Luk 7:13 “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”

4. Was faith required in the individual? Sometimes, but not always.

1) In some cases faith was a requirement.

a. Matthew 9:22 “But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”

b. Luke 18:42, 43 “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

c. Acts 14:9, 10 “The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”

2) Lack of faith also limited Jesus’ ministry in some cases.

a. Matthew 13:58 “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

b. Mark 6:5, 6 “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

3) But not always.

a. Luke 7:11-16 Widow’s son was healed.

b. John 5:5-15 (This man didn’t know who Jesus was until after he was healed, per verses 13-15).

c. John 9:1-7 (This blind man didn’t believe on Jesus until the end of the chapter vs. 36ff).

d. Acts 3:1-8 (Here was a man that wasn’t asking for healing, but for money.)