The Purpose of Miracles

John 20:30-31 30 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.

Essential / Not Essential

ESSENTIAL FOR:

Creation

NOT ESSENTIAL FOR:

Procreation

Essential / Not Essential

ESSENTIAL FOR:

Creation

Revelation

NOT ESSENTIAL FOR:

Procreation

Proclamation

Essential / Not Essential

ESSENTIAL FOR:

Creation

Revelation

Confirmation

NOT ESSENTIAL FOR:

Procreation

Proclamation

Completion

PURPOSE: Not Accommodating

Philippians 2:25-27 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

PURPOSE: Not Accommodating

1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

2 Kings 13:14a Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face.

PURPOSE: Provisional

Creation – Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made

All that we have, use and enjoy – came from God.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

PURPOSE: Provisional

Word of God – 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

John 20:30-31 – that you might believe

John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

John 14:11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

Mark 16:17-18 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

NOTE: This does not mean that every believer will do these things.

These signs will go where there are believers.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

Mark 16:19-20 19 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.

The purpose of these miracles (signs) was to confirm (prove) the message was from God.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

John 3:1-2 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

Acts 8:6-8 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

PURPOSE: Confirmatory

Hebrews 1:1-4 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 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?

Summary

The purpose of miracles was not just to put on a show.

It was not for solving personal problems.The purposes were:

For God – to provide what we could not do for ourselves

Through men – to confirm the word and prove the message is from God

Today – We have the confirmed Word of God – the Bible.