Level: 3, Lesson: 3
MIRACLES GLORIFY GOD
OUTLINE

BIBLE TEXT: Matthew 9:8: "But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."

Miracles glorify God. Example: T.L.Osborn on the mission field. Signs & wonders validate the Word of God.

I Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Miracles cause people to believe that the word spoken is indeed the Word of God.

Mark 2:1-12: "And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy), 11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12And 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."

Jesus produced physical results so that people might know that He could produce spiritual results (the forgiveness of sins).

Hebrews 2:2-4: "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3How 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; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

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

I Corinthians 2:1-5: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Our faith must stand in the power of God, not in man.

Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."

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."

God does the miracles, not you!

MIRACLES GLORIFY GOD
Lesson Text

A "miracle" is an extraordinary or unusual event that is considered to be a manifestation of divine power.

Miracles are God's way of meeting the needs of those who seek Him in faith. Miracles will sometimes be used to demonstrate God's ability so that people may believe (Mark 2:10-11), but they will not happen to skeptics who are tempting God (Luke 4:9-12).

A miracle is also a supernatural intervention of God's power over natural law. Healings occur within the boundaries of natural law while miracles are not limited to natural law. A person with a high fever who receives prayer and then begins to recover is experiencing a healing. The Lord intervened, but in natural ways. The virus, infection, or whatever was rebuked left the body (Luke 4:39), and then the natural healing process that the Lord built into all of us took over. When something totally supernatural happens, that's a miracle. When Jesus reattached the servant's ear and it was instantly whole after Peter cut it off (Luke 22:51), demonstrated a miracle. It was also a healing, but it was a miraculous healing.

Feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:19-20), walking on the water (Matthew 14:25), translating a ship and all aboard to the other side of the sea (John 6:21)—all these are miracles. Miracles are usually instantaneous whereas healings are sometimes gradual.

"Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did, . . . and when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:5-6, 12 NKJV).

The Lord has never had anyone who was qualified working for Him. It's by God's grace that He uses any of us. Anyone who claims to be used of God because of his great holiness is either deceived or a deceiver. It's our faith in the grace of God that allows miracles to flow through us.

MIRACLES GLORIFY GOD
by Don Krow
(Additional Information)

Do you believe in miracles? May I tell you about one that happened to my family?

A "miracle" is an extraordinary or unusual event that is considered to be a manifestation of Divine power.

My wife and I have been married 21 years. Since the time she was 4 years old, she has suffered from "asthma" which is a respiratory disease that often arises from allergies and is characterized by difficulty in breathing, tightness of the chest and coughing. This condition is incurable and is usually treated by the use of inhalators and other medications.

After we were married, we moved to west Texas, known for its notorious dust storms. It is not unusual to see a dark cloud form and within 20 minutes you are in dust so thick that you have to turn on your car lights to see to drive. It was within this background that my wife could have died, or almost died, if it had not been for the miracle.

My wife, day after day, had to be propped up in bed on her knees just to breathe. Night after night I prayed for God's healing to come to her. After months of this, we were at the end of ourselves. It was at this time we intensified our seeking God by adding fasting along with our prayers. Within a few days some supernatural things began to happen. It was revealed to me through prayer that Wendy's (that's my wife's name) real problem was not asthma, but rather fear. There is a natural fear that is normal (like, "I can't breathe") and there is a supernatural fear that is abnormal that drives and torments people. The scriptures declare "God hath not given us the SPIRIT OF FEAR; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7). When we discovered this was Wendy's real problem, I immediately resisted and rebuked this foul spirit of fear (see James 4:7). Wendy was instantly healed and delivered from fear and asthma that day. It has been almost 20 years, and Wendy has remained healed.

A few weeks ago in Kit Carson, Colorado, a woman told me about her baby who at 17 months had brain damage and was partly brain dead. The baby was lifeless in the hospital with all kinds of tubes and things hooked up to him. This woman told me she got angry at God and began to curse. When she finally calmed down, she told God that she was sorry and would give her child to Him if He would heal him. Immediately the lifeless child stood up in the hospital bed with all of the different tubes attached to him. This lady began to say, "Jesus has just healed my baby!" She ran and called her husband proclaiming, "Jesus has just healed our baby!"

He said, "What?"

She said, "Jesus has just healed our baby!"

That baby is now grown up and is a college student with a 4.0 GPA.

Why am I sharing these true stories with you? When the Apostle John wrote down the true stories and miracles that Jesus did, he also gave the reason for doing this: "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" (John 20:31).

Isn't it time that you started thinking about spiritual things? 5"Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did . . . 12and when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:5-6,12 NKJV).

Have you ever considered turning to Him for the forgiveness of your sins? Accepting Him as your personal Saviour and following Him as your Lord? He loves you and wants to give you the miracle of His salvation!

Here are some questions to think about for this lesson

Level 3 Lesson 3 Questions
MIRACLES GLORIFY GOD

1. Read Matthew 9:1-8. What was the result of this miracle?
2. In I Peter 2:23, what does the term "incorruptible seed" describe?
3. In Mark 2:1-12, Jesus healed a man who was sick with palsy. According to verse 2, what did Jesus preach?
4. What can we know about Jesus words in verse 10?
5. What then is the purpose of miracles?
6. In Hebrews 2:2-3, it says, "The word was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." In Mark 16:17-20 (especially verse 20), what will the Lord use to confirm His Word?
7. In I Corinthians 2:1-5, Paul explained his method of preaching. In verse 4, what does the Bible say that Paul demonstrated and why?
8. What does Hebrews 13:8 say about Jesus?
9. In Acts 10:38, what did Jesus do as a result of being anointed with the Holy Spirit?
10. If the Holy Spirit worked through Jesus that way, which gave glory to God, then do you think that He can work through us that way too?

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