MODERN MIRACLES
TEXT: Hebrews 2:2-4
INTRODUCTION:
1. Difference between the miracles of the Bible and what the world calls miracles.
2. Miracles of the Bible transcended nature, they were beyond nature or supernatural.
3. Providence is used by God today to bring about His plan in our lives.
4. While many claim to have miraculous powers, let us see what the Bible has to say
about modern miracles.
I. MIRACLES IN THE EARLY CHURCH HELPED TO CONFIRM THE ORAL PROCLAMATION OF THE
GOSPEL:
A. From A.D. 30 to about A.D. 55 none of the Inspired books of the N.T. had been written.
B. During this time the gospel was proclaimed by the spoken word and confirmed by signs and miracles.
C. Mark 16:17-20 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
D. Hebrews 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
E. John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
F. John 6:2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

II. MIRACULOUS GIFTS WOULD CEASE WHEN THEIR PURPOSE HAD BEEN FULFILLED:
A. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
B. Micah 7:15 As in the days when you came out of Egypt I will show them wonders.
C. From A.D. 55 – A.D. 100 as the Spoken word was being confirmed, the books of the N.T. were being written.
D. By the close of the first century the written word had been completed and confirmed, there was no longer need for miraculous gifts.
III. WE NOW HAVE THE COMPLETE, PERFECT WILL OF GOD REVEALED. WE CAN SIMPLY
COMPARE WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO THE WORD TO CONFIRM IT NOW:
A. James 1:21-25 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
B. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
C. The faith was delivered once for all the saints.
IV. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT DECEPTIVE MIRACLES WOULD CHARACTERIZE THE SERVANTS
OF SATAN IN THE LAST DAYS:
A. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
B. Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
V. "PROOF TEXTS" EXPLAINED:
A. Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
1. Some say that this means that He is still doing everything that He has ever done
and in the same way.
2. If this applies to His miracle then why does it not apply to: His work in creation;
His existence as a child; His physical habitation on earth; His being dead in the
grave; His being a sacrifice for sin; never to be repeated?
3. The context is found in 13:8, it is talking about the doctrine of Jesus, as being
unchanging.
B. 1 Corinthians 13:8 - "When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away."
1. Most charismatics believe that this is talking about Jesus. They would read it as if
it said "When He who is perfect is come."
2. But the writer didn't use a word for a human being, he used the Greek word
"teleion" an inanimate word; one without gender.
3. Had a person been intended there are plenty of Greek words for both the
masculine and feminine. But the writer chose a neuter word.
4. The context tells us that he is talking about that which replaced the miraculous to
confirm that one was speaking the oracles of God, with the complete word, the
Bible.

III. WHAT'S THE HARM IN IT?
A. One may neglect proper medical care awaiting a miracle.
B. Bible miracles were designed to make believers from skeptics.
C. Modern miracles with their many failures actually make skeptics out of believers.


CONCLUSION:
1. The world is full of gullible people who will fall prey to the fallacy of modern-day miracles.
2. The ignorant are prey for many false teachers.
3. The church in it’s infancy needed the support of miraculous gifts.
4. However, the time came it would no longer need them and would lay them aside.
5. Notice Paul’s illustration of childish things in 1 Corinthians 13.