What are miracles, and do they still happen?

Asking for a Friend | Week 5

Dave Brown explores, “What are miracles, and do they still happen?”


MESSAGE NOTES

Miracles
Asking for a Friend • February 5, 2023
Teacher: Dave Brown

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If God never changes, why do we not see miracles today?

If God doesn’t provide a miracle that I asked for does that he doesn’t love me enough?

What is a miracle?
Why does God perform them?

1. Peter’s Mother-in-Law
2. A Man with Leprosy
3. Water to Wine

Luke 4:38-44 NIV

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

A miracle is the unnatural change in the physical, emotional, or spiritual condition of a person or thing.

Luke 5:12-16 NIV

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them…At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place.

Crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

John 2:11 NIV

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Miracles are displays of God’s glory, not demonstrations of God’s love.

J.I. Packer

A miracle is an observed event that triggers awareness of God’s presence and power.

We see miracles so often that we no longer recognize them.

1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV

And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.