UNDERSTANDING MIRACLES
(Synopsis of Sermon Preached at Kemaman BPC on 8th September 2017)
Text: Mark 8:14-21; Hebrews 2:3-4

Man is often impressed with the supernatural. The Charismatic Movement exploits this obsession to cause much confusion today with its emphasis on “faith healing”, “tongue speaking” and “demon casting”. Thus, there is an urgent need to seek clarity by studying the Scriptures to see what it teaches concerning miracles.

The Definition of Miracles
Let us now consider 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?” (Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV)

This passage teaches us three aspects of a true miracle :

Firstly, the terms terasi (wonders) and dunamesi (miracles, i.e. acts of power and might) teach us that a true miracle involves supernatural power which inspires awe and wonder.

Secondly, the expressions “God also bearing them witness” and “gifts of the Holy Ghost” teach us that a true miracle must be done by God. On the other hand, the Scriptures describe the supernatural acts of Satan as “lying wonders” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9).

Thirdly, the terms “signs”, “confirmeth” and “bearing witness” teach us that it is an event (sign) which point to implications far greater than the event itself. As such, there is a spiritual lesson behind every miracle, and it is used to confirm and authenticate the message of God’s spokesman.

The Occurrences of Miracles
There are three main epochs of miracles in history. The first period is found in the time of the Exodus. The miracles were done so that both the Egyptians and the children of Israel might know that the LORD is the one living and true God (see Exodus 8:10; 14:4; 16:12). All the gods of Egypt and the rest of the world are but idols. There is none like Jehovah, and there is no one that is higher than Him.

The second epoch came during the time of Elijah and Elisha. It was a time of great spiritual declension in Israel. The people had married the worship of the LORD with the false gods of the nations such as Baalim and Ashtaroth. Once again, the miracles were done to show that the LORD is the one living and true God for the restoration of pure worship (1 Kings 18:36-40).

The third epoch of miracles is found during the earthly ministry of Christ and the Apostles. These were done that “ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have live through his name” (John 20:30-31).

Yet to come is a fourth epoch of miracles. This future epoch is recorded in Revelation 11 during the ministry of the two witnesses in the time of the Great Tribulation. “These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” The purpose of these miracles is to affirm the pending judgement of God recorded in the Scriptures. Sadly, not only will the world refuse to repent, they will harden their hearts further against God.

What then about the signs and wonders of the Charismatic movement? The Bible clearly states that with the completion of the canon, the sign gifts of miracles as given to the Apostles had been withdrawn (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). Today, the witness of God’s grace is done through the preaching of the more sure Word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19), which is the Holy Bible.

Our Response to Miracles
On the other hand, the Bible records many miracles for us to study and understand. The Synoptic Gospels alone record close to forty miracles of Christ. We must not neglect the study of these records for our profit.

We have seen that the purpose of miracles is for revelation and affirmation. Since miracles are meant to point to wider implications than the event itself, one must not be satisfied merely with the amazement of the spectacular. We can only rightly understand and respond to the miracles if we put on the eye glasses of faith, and submit to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. Failure to do so will cause us to miss the point.

Mark chapter 8 records two negative examples for us. The first is that of the Pharisees. The Lord Jesus Christ had just performed the miracles of feeding the five thousand and the four thousand along with other miracles. Despite this, the Pharisees still sought for Jesus to perform a sign for them.

This revealed a stony hard of pride and unbelief. So long as they refused to repent and embrace Christ as their Saviour, they will never be able to discern the true meaning of the miracles. The natural man, being spiritually blind, can never understand spiritual things. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The second negative example is that of the disciples of Christ. When Christ asked them about the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod (i.e. the Sadducees, see Matthew 16:6), they presumed that Christ was referring to their lack of physical bread. Christ chided them for their lack of understanding. Did they not remember the two miracles of feeding? There was not enough food in the beginning, but Christ managed to multiply the food till the crowd was fed. In fact, there was even a surplus of food (Mark 8:19-20). They should have understood how the miracles taught that Christ as the Bread of Life was able to provide not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual (John 6). Sadly, the earthbound eyes of the disciples were unable to see the spiritual implications of the miracles.

Positively, we have the testimony of Rahab who having only heard of the ten plagues befalling Egypt fled to the one living and true God for physical and spiritual deliverance. A humble submission to the message behind the miracle should lead us to greater love and trust in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Conclusion
We have seen how a true miracle has three aspects: (1) It involves super-natural power; (2) Its author is God and (3) It has implications wider than the event itself. Thus, we must not be merely satisfied with wondering about the spectacular, but seek to understand the lesson behind the miracles. Sunday School teachers must not only teach the details of the miracle, but explain and apply the lessons behind the miracles to the students. Having understood the miracle, let us then seek to obey it in wisdom in our pilgrim journey on this earth. Failure to do so will be disastrous. “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?” (Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV)

Lovingly in Christ,
Preacher Clement Chew