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Have Miracles Ceased?
I. Several denominations teach the continuance of miracles
A. Proofs offered are based on emotional feelings and indirect evidence (I know a person who heard a person claim they saw ...)
B. The standard appealed to is what a person thinks is right
C. To oppose is taken as the same as calling the person a liar
II. Many of our problems is what do we mean by a miracle?
A. A miracle is not just an unusal event. Example: A person running for mayor with no hope of winning, suddenly finds himself in office. This is NOT a miracle in the biblical sense of the word.
B. A miracle is not just an awe inspiring natural event. Example: The erruption of a volcano is not a miracle.
C. A miracle is a sudden interrupt of natural events
1. The healing of the blind man in John 9
a. Not a normal occurance
b. Immediate results
c. No recovery time
2. The healing of the man with a withered arm
a. Not a normal occurance
b. Immediate results
c. No recovery time
D. Bible words
1. Signs - Signify or certify as being from God
2. Wonders - To attract attention
3. Miracles - What makes signs and wonders
III. For many reasons the Bible indicates that miracles have ceased
A. The purpose for miracles has ended
1. The recording of miracles were to cause belief in Christ - Jn. 20:30-31
2. But how do we know the apostles and others of that time taught the truth?
3. Heb. 2:1-4 - Miracles showed that the apostles were from God and were teaching the truth
4. Mk 16:20 - Their words were confirmed by the signs
5. The proof is only needed once
B. The need for miracles has ended
1. Jn 14:26 - The Holy Spirit was sent to teach and remind the apostles
2. Jn 16:12-13 - The apostles were not ready to understand everything, so the Holy Spirit was sent to teach them
3. The apostles wrote that teaching down to help us remember - II Pet. 1:3, 12-15
4. Once written, miraculous reminders of the past were no longer needed - Jude 3
C. The means of being allowed to perform miracles has ended
1. Mk 16:14-20 - The apostles, not all believers, were told they could work miracles (note pronoun change in Mk 16:16)
2. Passed on to some believers by the apostles laying on hands - Acts 8:14-19
3. Notice that only the apostles could pass on the gift
4. Paul plainly states miracles would cease - I Cor. 13:8-13
a. Not end of world - Hope and Faith would not endure
b. James 1:25 - The New Testament is the perfect law
c. II Tim. 3:16-17 - The word perfects the follower
IV. There is no evidence that miracluous gifts continue today
A. No solid proof. When the Jesus and the apostles did a miracle, it was obvious to all.
B. It did not require belief in the observers, it often caused belief - Acts 13:12
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