Beyond the Spectacle: The True Purpose of Signs and Wonders

• Purpose of Signs and Wonders [00:00:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces the sermon title and series context, focusing on Exodus 4 to explain why miracles were recorded in Scripture.
• Authentication of Prophets [00:08:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that miracles accompany special spokesmen to validate their divine message, citing Moses and the plagues as examples.
• Nature of Prophecy vs. Miracles [00:13:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between the primary role of prophets (delivering divine messages/rebuke) and the secondary role of miracles, using John the Baptist as the primary example of a great prophet who performed no miracles.
• False Teachings on Spiritual Gifts [00:09:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor critiques the idea that speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation, arguing that if it were universal, it would not be miraculous.
• John the Baptist vs. Jesus [00:15:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts John the Baptist, who performed no miracles but was the greatest prophet for revealing Christ, with Jesus, who performed the most miracles and is the ultimate fulfillment of covenant promises.
• The Purpose of Miracles [00:22:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > Miracles are described as 'signs' that get attention to lead people to listen to the preached Word, rather than being the primary focus of faith or salvation.
• The Jerusalem Council ([Acts 15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15&version=KJV)) [00:22:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor analyzes the debate over circumcision, arguing that salvation is by grace through faith alone, and that miracles among the Gentiles served as confirmation of God's acceptance of them without the Law.
• Faith vs. Sight [00:31:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the story of Thomas, the pastor highlights that while miracles confirm faith, the ultimate goal is belief in the risen Christ, even for those who did not see the signs.
• Faith vs. Sight [00:34:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts Thomas's belief based on physical evidence with the blessing for those who believe without seeing, applying this to the modern believer's faith.
• Purpose of Miracles [00:36:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that miracles were vehicles for mercy ministry and confirmation of identity, but do not secure salvation, which is secured by Christ's work.
• Cessation of Miraculous Gifts [00:42:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asserts that the miraculous laying on of hands for instant healing has ceased because the scripture is complete and no new messengers are needed.
• Mercy Ministry [00:44:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines the ongoing work of the church as mercy ministry—sacrificial service to the hurting—rather than seeking miraculous shortcuts.
• Authority of Scripture [00:47:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor concludes that the written Word validates itself and is sufficient for instruction, salvation, and sanctification without new revelations.
• Sufficiency of Scripture [00:47:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that special revelation is complete in the 66 books of the Bible and that the word validates itself, making new miraculous declarations unnecessary.
• Nature of Biblical Miracles [00:51:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > Healings are described as 'acts of mercy' and 'teaching moments' that serve as pictures of spiritual hindrances like blindness, deafness, uncleanness, and death.
• Spiritual Application of Signs [00:52:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor connects physical miracles to spiritual realities: spiritual blindness/deafness (Mark 4), spiritual uncleanness (Ezekiel/Mark 7), and spiritual death (Lazarus/Ephesians 2).
• Eschatological Hope vs. Earthly Longevity [00:56:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the long lives of patriarchs with the Christian hope of resurrection, arguing that living forever in a cursed world is not the ultimate blessing compared to being perfected in Christ.

• Sermon Illustration [00:05:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts a personal story from 30 years ago as a property manager in Durham. A woman claimed the Lord told her to rent a specific house on East Club Boulevard. However, her credit report was extremely poor (over three feet long with many judgments). The pastor explained that the Lord works through means (credit checks) and she did not qualify, illustrating that sincere belief does not override practical means or guarantee specific outcomes.
• Sermon Illustration [00:10:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical story of Balaam, where God used a talking donkey to rebuke the prophet for going to curse Israel, illustrating how God can perform miracles directly or through unusual means to validate His message.
• Sermon Illustration [00:16:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the story of John the Baptist's life, noting he performed zero miracles, healed no one, and multiplied no loaves, yet was greater than Elijah and Moses because he revealed the Messiah. He also references Elijah being taken up in a tornado and Moses striking the rock.
• Sermon Illustration [00:30:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a rhetorical analogy of a magician or car trickster, stating that Jesus and the apostles did not 'pull a rabbit out of a hat' or 'pull a coin from someone's ear,' emphasizing that their miracles were substantive divine acts, not parlor tricks.
• Sermon Illustration [00:32:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor narrates the account of Thomas doubting the resurrection until he could touch Jesus' wounds, and Jesus miraculously appearing through shut doors to offer peace, illustrating the relationship between miracles and belief.
• Sermon Illustration [00:32:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of Thomas doubting the resurrection until he physically touched Jesus' wounds, contrasting this with the blessing for those who believe without seeing.
• Sermon Illustration [00:36:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the story of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dream to illustrate how God used a specific gift to bring mercy and survival to the household of Jacob and the people of Egypt.
• Sermon Illustration [00:37:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor lists various miracles performed by Elijah, such as fire from heaven, raising the dead, and healing Naaman, to show that these acts were blessings during times of spiritual darkness.
• Sermon Illustration [00:40:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor critiques TV healers who claim healing requires faith, contrasting them with Jesus who healed regardless of the level of faith present in the recipient.
• Sermon Illustration [00:48:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the prophet Jeremiah to illustrate that even in long ministries, God's direct speaking and miraculous interventions were rare events, not constant occurrences.
• Sermon Illustration [00:55:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead after four days to illustrate spiritual death and the power of Christ to give life and will to respond, noting that Lazarus eventually died again, highlighting the temporary nature of earthly miracles versus eternal salvation.
• Sermon Illustration [00:49:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the modern mission effort model of setting up clinics, schools, and churches to minister to body, mind, and soul, contrasting it with the direct preaching of the Word.

• Pastoral Charge [00:23:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > Turn to Acts 15 in the Bible to read the account of the Jerusalem Council.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > Praise the Lord immediately when healing occurs.
• Pastoral Charge [00:44:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > Seek to bless others through mercy ministry rather than seeking personal attention.
• Pastoral Charge [00:48:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Trust in the sufficiency of the written Word of God.
• Pastoral Charge [00:57:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > Pray for comfort and blessings for the dying.
• Pastoral Charge [00:59:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > Uphold the Word and share it with others so they may trust in Christ.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:00] If you have your Bibles, please turn to the book of Exodus, chapter 4.
[00:00:05] We are on part 2 of our series about signs and wonders and miracles.
[00:00:13] Today's sermon has the title, Purpose of Signs and Wonders.
[00:00:20] So we're going to go through a lot of verses.
[00:00:23] I just sent that manuscript, so you won't be able to turn pages fast enough.
[00:00:30] But, you know, you're here to listen. You can take notes and you have the email.
[00:00:35] If you didn't get the email, I can send you the manuscript that has everything written out for you.
[00:00:43] So we're going to start with the passage where Moses has already fled Egypt.
[00:00:51] Remember, he was raised in that household of Pharaoh as an adopted Hebrew child.
[00:00:58] And then he sends a call from the Lord to deliver his people.
[00:01:04] Yet he sought to do it by his own means and had to flee Egypt.
[00:01:11] And so he's been dwelling in the wilderness.
[00:01:14] And then he sees the burning bush and goes to it.
[00:01:17] And then the Lord is speaking to him and declares that he has been chosen by the Lord himself to go back to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh and to speak to the children of Israel
[00:01:30] and that he will lead them out of the land of captivity and initially lead them into the wilderness to worship the Lord.
[00:01:42] And so we're picking up the situation where Moses is resisting that call from the Lord.
[00:01:52] And he has multiple excuses why he feels like he cannot be that spokesman.
[00:02:02] And, in fact, one thing we should take note of is that it has been 400 years since the Lord has actually audibly spoken.
[00:02:15] And there's been no written word in that 400 years either to his covenant people.
[00:02:20] So it was a long drought, very similar to the drought from the time of Malachi to the arrival of John the Baptist.
[00:02:31] So let's look at the first 17 verses of Exodus 4.
[00:02:34] Let's hear God's word.
[00:02:36] Then Moses answered and said, But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice.
[00:02:44] Suppose they say the Lord has not appeared to you.
[00:02:49] So the Lord said to him, What is that in your hand?
[00:02:53] He said, A rod.
[00:02:55] And he said, Cast it on the ground.
[00:02:57] So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent.
[00:03:00] And Moses fled from it.
[00:03:02] Then the Lord said to Moses, Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.
[00:03:07] And he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand, that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.
[00:03:25] Furthermore, the Lord said to him, Now put your hand in your bosom.
[00:03:29] And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
[00:03:35] And he said, Put your hand in your bosom again.
[00:03:39] And so he put his hand in his bosom again and drew it out of his bosom.
[00:03:44] and behold it was restored like his other flesh then it will be they do not believe you nor he the message of the first sign that they may believe the message of the latter sign and it shall be if they do not believe
[00:04:02] even these two signs or listen to your voice that you shall take water from the river and pour it on dry land the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land. And may the Lord add his blessing to
[00:04:23] our hearing of his word. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we pray that you would bless us to learn from your texts throughout the scriptures of the purpose of signs and wonders, that we would not be children in understanding, but that we would be mature in our faith and in our knowledge
[00:04:44] and that we would not be vulnerable to those who would seek to deceive your people with false teachings and a false Christ and a false gospel.
[00:04:59] So bless us both in the hearing and meditation and comparing of your word, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
[00:05:08] So how can you know if the Lord still gives special revelation and works miracles today?
[00:05:23] That is the concern that we should all have.
[00:05:28] There is great fascination about signs and wonders for some time now.
[00:05:36] I shared the story with you at lunch the other week, But over, you know, 30 years ago, I would travel these streets, the streets in Trinity Park and beyond, and my role as a property manager.
[00:05:51] And we had this one house on East Club Boulevard.
[00:05:56] And if you live in Durham, you don't want to live on East Club Boulevard.
[00:06:00] Over 30 years ago, and still the case now.
[00:06:04] But we had a house there, and it was for rent.
[00:06:07] And a woman called me, and she wanted to, you know, see it.
[00:06:13] She wanted to rent it.
[00:06:15] And so I was, you know, obviously the first one there, and she pulled up.
[00:06:22] You know, she had her little young son, how many, like, Elijah's age, run up to me with a gospel track.
[00:06:31] And I thought, well, this is cute.
[00:06:33] You know, I was a believer at that time.
[00:06:36] And, you know, here's a burden for my soul, because they had no idea whether I was a believer or not.
[00:06:41] They didn't know me.
[00:06:42] How could they tell?
[00:06:44] And so I accepted the gospel track, was very thankful for that.
[00:06:48] And the woman, right as she got out of the car, said, Mr. Butterfield, the Lord has told me I'm to rent this house.
[00:06:58] And she hadn't even gone inside yet.
[00:07:01] And I said, well, let me show you the house.
[00:07:03] And so I proceeded to show her the house.
[00:07:05] and at the end she said I love it and I know the Lord has told me that I'm to have this house I said well there is a process and you have to fill out an application and we will have to run
[00:07:21] a credit check and so as soon as you can get that filled out and back to the office you know we can get this process going and so she proceeded to do that and as I ran the credit check and
[00:07:33] And in those days, I don't know how it is today, but it would come out through the fax machine.
[00:07:41] And the longer your credit report, usually it's bad news.
[00:07:46] And it was like the second longest credit report.
[00:07:49] It was over like three feet long.
[00:07:52] And there was just judgments and failures of payment upon one account after another.
[00:08:01] And quite, quite sad.
[00:08:03] So I had to call her back up and tell her that we could not rent her the house.
[00:08:10] There's just no way that she could qualify to rent because her credit was so bad.
[00:08:17] But she insisted that the Lord had spoken to her and that she was to have that house.
[00:08:25] And I had to explain to her, well, the Lord works through means.
[00:08:28] and we have to know always do these credit checks and we have to look at people's income and their qualifications and she did not qualify now she was very sincere it's not a question of
[00:08:43] somebody sincere it's a question has god really spoken to them so that is the question before us and so our first point miraculous signs validate the speaker and the message are from god And so I'm speaking to you from Scripture.
[00:09:03] What is the purpose in Scripture for signs and wonders or miracles to be recorded?
[00:09:10] They accompany a special spokesman of the Lord.
[00:09:13] Not all.
[00:09:15] Let's understand.
[00:09:17] There's some who will go so far and say, as we talk about tongues of the weak, if you don't speak in tongues, then you're not saved.
[00:09:28] Well, if we're saying that tongues are speaking, and we talk about this actually speaking in a foreign language, if we were to say that is necessary, that all believers are to have it, we can't say it's miraculous, because it would be common among all God's people.
[00:09:46] So a miracle to be a miracle, it has to be very unusual.
[00:09:50] It has to defy the principles and the laws of physics for it to be a miracle.
[00:09:59] So there are certainly miraculous things happening in the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, which covers thousands of years.
[00:10:07] We have, like, Joseph's dreams, where it's multiplying also of the stock of Jacob under the tyranny of Laban.
[00:10:17] Yet, with the beginning of Moses, as we come into Exodus, we have a very spectacular manifestation of miracles under Moses, unlike any time before.
[00:10:36] And always, unlike any other time in the Old Testament, usually miracles are done through prophets, or the Lord performs them directly.
[00:10:50] And, for example, how the Lord does it directly, like Balaam, was hired to go and curse Israel.
[00:10:58] At first he refused, and then the money offer got bigger and bigger and bigger, and then he went as he's riding his donkey.
[00:11:05] His donkey, when he's beating his donkey, rebukes him.
[00:11:09] A voice, a human voice comes from that donkey.
[00:11:13] And so this is where the Lord is working a miracle through the donkey to rebuke Balaam for going.
[00:11:21] and then he was told, you will always say the words of the Lord.

[00:11:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:11:25] Then he turns out to bless Israel instead of curse Israel.

[00:11:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:11:31] Now we just read how Moses, who right since a call from the Lord to lead his people, and then he was back and away from that call, that he would be a shepherd.
[00:11:40] He would be a shepherd for Israel.
[00:11:42] He was hesitant.
[00:11:43] He provided all these reasons.
[00:11:45] I'm not eloquent.
[00:11:47] How would they know that you sent me?
[00:11:50] They're not going to believe me.
[00:11:52] And so the Lord provides two miracles initially, one dealing with a staff being thrown down, turned into a snake, and then he grabs it, returns back to the staff, and putting his hand in his bosom, comes out leprous,
[00:12:06] and put it back in, pull it out, and it will be like the other.
[00:12:12] And so these are signs for Moses to use to convince the audience of Israel that he has been sent by the Lord, that his words that he speaks are from the Lord.
[00:12:31] In fact, the pouring of water to turn into blood is a sign for Pharaoh.
[00:12:37] And, of course, these ten signs or ten plagues, as we call them, are indeed very miraculous, but they serve as means of judgment to destroy that nation and cause Pharaoh ultimately to let the people go.
[00:13:01] So you have to remember that both in the Old as well as in the New Testament, prophets were primarily prophetic.
[00:13:12] What do I mean by that?
[00:13:13] Well, they came with divine messages.
[00:13:16] They were known to speak to the people, to rebuke them.
[00:13:22] We should think of this, rebuking them for their sins, their idolatry, their unfaithfulness to the Lord, and calling them to repentance.
[00:13:31] They were preachers with a prophetic word from the Lord, a divine message.
[00:13:38] And then we record that word, and we have it preserved for us in the Scriptures.
[00:13:43] but notice take note if you know your scriptures who is the greatest of the prophets now you might be challenged how do you judge what is a great prophet and people might run immediately well who did the greatest miracle well jesus gives us the answer in luke chapter 7
[00:14:09] verses 24 through 28. And when the messengers of John, and that would be John the baptizer, had departed, he began to speak to the multitudes concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft
[00:14:33] garments? Indeed, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in king's courts.
[00:14:43] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet, this is he of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare
[00:15:02] your way before you. For I say to you, among those born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
[00:15:26] Now, that last part there, but he who is least in the kingdom of God, who would that be?
[00:15:35] That's you, believers, ordinary believers, not prophets, not miracle workers, not pastors per se, not those recorded in Scripture who have done some great and wonderful thing, but those that are simple believers are the least in the kingdom,
[00:15:59] and certainly those who do not work miracles will be greater than him.
[00:16:05] But Jesus tells the question, the greatest of the prophets is John the Baptist.
[00:16:14] Brothers and sisters, John the Baptist worked no miracles, zero, none.
[00:16:26] He didn't do any healings.
[00:16:28] He didn't multiply any loaves.
[00:16:31] He preached the message that Jesus preached, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.
[00:16:38] And then he baptized disciples.
[00:16:42] Now, indeed, he was a prophet.
[00:16:44] Prophets are prophetic.
[00:16:45] So he did receive a word from the Lord, but he did not do any miracles.
[00:16:50] And it was prophetic in Malachi that a prophet would come, like Elijah would come.
[00:16:59] The way Elijah had already died and went to be with the Lord.
[00:17:02] We know he went to be with the Lord.
[00:17:03] There was a tornado that took him up.
[00:17:08] But he came in the spirit or in like the power of Elijah, not in the miracle sense, but in the declarative sense.
[00:17:15] And so why is he the greatest?
[00:17:17] Because he's the one who revealed to Christ, the Messiah, to Israel.
[00:17:24] He had that privilege, that special privilege, above all the other prophets, even baptized Jesus.
[00:17:35] So he's the greatest, far greater than the mighty Elijah or Elisha, greater than Moses, who indeed brought the ten plagues upon Egypt, who wrote Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy.
[00:17:54] He brought the law.
[00:17:56] He brought the written Ten Commandments.
[00:17:59] And you think, well, who is greater than Moses?
[00:18:04] John the Baptist, among men.
[00:18:09] And so, indeed, although Moses was there when the Egyptian army is drowned in the Red Sea and manna comes down, you know, he strikes the rock, water comes out, and we can go on and on about Moses.
[00:18:23] And the Lord used him in a great and mighty way.
[00:18:26] but he did not introduce the living, walking Messiah to Israel.
[00:18:34] So this is what makes John great.
[00:18:36] And remember, he worked no miracles.
[00:18:39] They introduced him who worked more miracles than anyone else before or since.
[00:18:46] No one eagles Jesus in the amount of miracles, the extent of the miracles that he did.
[00:18:54] And we have to remember that.
[00:18:56] And why is that?
[00:18:59] Because, you know, the apostles did miracles, and they did it even after Jesus ascended back to the Father.
[00:19:08] Why didn't they do more miracles?
[00:19:10] Because they had to travel more miles.
[00:19:11] They had to see more people.
[00:19:13] They had to convince more people.
[00:19:16] But Jesus did more miracles, for he is the greatest of the prophets.
[00:19:22] He is the great high priest above all others.
[00:19:25] He is the great king greater than David.
[00:19:28] He is the greatest of the great.
[00:19:31] And the book of Hebrews highlights this again and again in every possible way.
[00:19:36] Of course, his miracles will stand out above all others who do miracles by the work of the Lord through them.
[00:19:47] And we always have to emphasize that.
[00:19:50] And so Jesus is the fulfillment of all the covenant promises.
[00:19:54] and in his life, in his suffering, in his death, and indeed he has secured salvation for every sinner turning to the Lord.
[00:20:06] And the miracles of Jesus were spectacular and wonderful, but his message to bring reconciliation for sinners and the power of his suffering and his death on the cross as promise secures salvation that is the greatest work of the lord with the his own resurrection
[00:20:35] for scripture says we as believers die with christ and we as believers rise with christ and nowhere does it say and you do miracles with jesus salvation is the great work Now we see Jesus doing miracles, but when he does miracles, he doesn't do it by himself.
[00:21:04] He preaches and preaches.
[00:21:06] He teaches.
[00:21:07] He uses, sometimes he'll lead with a miracle, but then he will have a gospel message with it.
[00:21:14] And as I said last week when we were talking about tongues, that as we have the Lord's Supper or we have baptism, These are signs of the covenant, but we don't rejoice in the sign, but rejoice in what it points to, what is fulfilled, and that is in Christ.
[00:21:36] But the signs of communion and of baptism are always with the preaching of the word.
[00:21:46] and the signs and wonders and miracles of the Lord and of the apostles are always with the preaching of the word.
[00:22:00] The signs get your attention, like a wonder.
[00:22:05] Wow, that's amazing.
[00:22:06] Did you see that?
[00:22:07] No one can do that.
[00:22:08] You must be sent by God, and then you're going to listen to what he says.
[00:22:15] So think about it.
[00:22:17] The inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Testament church was a matter of contention when it came to the application of observing circumcision.
[00:22:31] They weren't saying no Gentiles.
[00:22:33] They were saying Gentiles coming in, well, you've got to become Jewish.
[00:22:38] You need to be circumcised according to the law of Moses.
[00:22:41] Keep the traditions of Moses.
[00:22:43] So they were being very literal in the application of the Old Testament.
[00:22:47] but sadly they went too far in order to be saved you have to be circumcised and that is the attack against the gospel itself so the debate whether to circumcise Gentiles does not come down to God's revelation
[00:23:08] but for the Judaizers they want the law they want the law to be applied Now, it had to come down to God's revelation.
[00:23:22] What does God's word say to solve this issue, like all issues even today?
[00:23:27] So we have this council of Jerusalem, as we call it, Acts 15, verse 1 through 12.
[00:23:34] You can turn there if you like.
[00:23:37] And notice how it will be settled.
[00:23:42] There will be several different people speaking.
[00:23:45] Remember, Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles.
[00:23:50] Gentiles have that one apostle, and then the Jews get 11 apostles.
[00:23:55] And you might think that doesn't make sense.
[00:23:57] You know, think of the numbers.
[00:23:59] But Paul and Barnabas are the main, they're representing the ministry to the Gentiles.
[00:24:08] So we take it out in verse 1 of Acts 15.
[00:24:10] And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, or we can say the law of Moses, you cannot be saved and that's that's the key and so it becomes now a works righteousness
[00:24:27] faith plus a plus a works righteousness verse two therefore when paul and barnabas had no small dissension that means they argued strongly and dispute with them they determined that paul and barnabas and certain others of them should go to jerusalem to the apostles and elders about
[00:24:46] this question it's like we need to talk to the whole church you know most of the church leadership is in jerusalem go with this question let's get this settled verse three so being sent on their
[00:24:57] way by the church they passed through phoenicia samaria describing the conversion of the gentiles and they caused great joy to all the brethren and when they had come to jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders and they reported all things that god had
[00:25:16] done with them. So they're given a report of their missions, their efforts, and all these different Roman cities far beyond the borders of Israel. Verse 5, But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed
[00:25:31] rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And this would be the ceremonial aspect of the law of Moses.
[00:25:42] It's not debated in the Ten Commandments, the ceremonial law.
[00:25:47] Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter, and when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them, so you have to remember what Peter's vision in Acts 10,
[00:26:02] and then he was directed to preach the gospel to Roman Cornelius and his household and his friends, And remember, they spoke in tongues and they were baptized in the name of Jesus.
[00:26:20] So Peter rose up and said to men, brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us that by my mouth, that would be Peter's mouth, the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
[00:26:32] So God, who knows the heart, acknowledges them by giving them the Holy Spirit.
[00:26:39] That's your speaking in tongues, but also we can say in general, salvation.
[00:26:49] Just as he did to us, in verse 9, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
[00:26:59] So saving faith, the Holy Spirit was given by saving faith.
[00:27:02] Now, therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
[00:27:17] But Peter is saying is that we could not keep the law.
[00:27:23] We who are Jews could not keep the law, even in our faith, because we are lawbreakers.
[00:27:31] We're all sinners.
[00:27:34] Why do you say you have to keep the law to be saved?
[00:27:38] Now, as we're saved, we want to keep the law.
[00:27:41] We are called to keep the law, but we can't absolutely keep it.
[00:27:46] And we can't keep it in order to be saved.
[00:27:51] That's why we need to be saved, because we're lawbreakers.
[00:27:54] That's our dilemma.
[00:27:56] So God has to intervene.
[00:27:57] In verse 11, but we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
[00:28:09] You're saved by grace through your faith.
[00:28:13] And, of course, that is a gift from the Lord, giving your faith.
[00:28:17] Now, verse 12 is very important.
[00:28:20] Then all the multitude, the whole assembly, the whole court, the whole senate or general assembly, as you want to call it, kept silent, and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders
[00:28:40] God had worked through them.
[00:28:47] It's God working the miracles through Barnabas and Paul among the Gentiles.
[00:28:56] That is not insignificant.
[00:28:57] That is very important.
[00:28:59] In this argument, see the miracles work among the Gentiles in the presence of the Gentiles, of the healings, or maybe there is a speaking in foreign languages, confirm God's acceptance of these people, these Gentiles who were before not my people,
[00:29:25] who did not seek me, who did not regard me, who did not worship me.
[00:29:31] but the gospel has come. They believe, they're moved by the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the word, and miracles are done as a confirmation of God's favor. God's approving the ministry of Barnabas and Paul when they go to cities and people receive the word. Miracles are done.
[00:29:57] It is a vivid, visual confirmation of God saying, salvation has come to the city.
[00:30:09] Salvation has come to these Gentiles who are professing faith in Jesus Christ.
[00:30:16] A wonderful, beautiful thing.
[00:30:19] There is a purpose for miracles.
[00:30:21] As I said the other week, Jesus and the apostles, they just didn't pull a rabbit out of the hat, literally.
[00:30:31] They didn't do car tricks.
[00:30:33] They didn't pull a coin from someone's ear.
[00:30:35] They did miraculous things that no one else could do.
[00:30:45] Indeed, we have to take note that the Lord indeed wants our attention in this evangelism effort.
[00:30:58] Because the Great Commission said you go to all the world.
[00:31:00] And here we're seeing the fruit of it.
[00:31:03] And so Paul and Barnabas are not just a side note.
[00:31:05] They're saying, brothers, we were able to do great miracles.
[00:31:11] There's something significant here because Jesus, in some places in Israel, would not work a miracle and why because of unbelief in that place there was too much unbelief and so the miracle would be wasted and so he moved on but but the gentiles who
[00:31:35] believe that there's not unbelief but actually belief and so the miracles are done now But in John's gospel, the second to last chapter, chapter 20 of John, verse 24 through 30 ends with the explanation of Jesus, his miracles,
[00:31:53] and the purpose of John's gospel, recording Jesus' teaching and ministry.
[00:32:01] And, of course, this is an explanation for all the gospels, but it's just John who has his commentary there.
[00:32:09] And look at the text, and take to heart what's being said here.
[00:32:13] So verse 24 of John 20.
[00:32:15] Now Thomas, remember he wasn't there when Jesus first appeared to the 11 of them, because Judas killed himself.
[00:32:25] Now Thomas called the twin, one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came.
[00:32:30] The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord, and he said to them, But unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
[00:32:52] And after eight days, his disciples were again inside and Thomas with them.
[00:32:57] Jesus came, the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, peace to you.
[00:33:05] So there's a miraculous appearing of Jesus.
[00:33:08] He didn't come through the doors.
[00:33:09] They were shut.
[00:33:11] I don't know.
[00:33:11] He appeared.
[00:33:13] It was miraculous.
[00:33:16] And he's saying, peace, peace to you.
[00:33:21] Then he said to Thomas, reach out your finger here and look at my hands and reach out your hand here and put it into my side.
[00:33:31] do not be unbelieving but believing and thomas answered and said to him my lord and my god jesus said to him thomas because you have seen me hence with his eyes you have believed blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed and truly jesus did many other signs in
[00:34:01] the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life
[00:34:17] in his name. So Thomas is gently, I think it's gently, rebuked by his Lord. You are believing that I have risen from the dead because I am talking to you. You see the holes in my hands. You can put your hand in my side.
[00:34:35] You're believing because you're seeing. But the great blessing is to those who believe who have not seen. And that's all of you here. Appeal for 2,000 years. We weren't there when Christ was crucified or when he rose from the dead.
[00:34:52] But we believe it just because we have faith.
[00:34:56] that is the power of believing not seeing and as john is summing up his his gospel account here but jesus did so many other miracles and they're not written but what is written what is recorded
[00:35:13] not just the miracles but that you would believe that jesus is the christ now the miracles confirm in one way he's a prophet now of course he said no i am the father of one so it's really his words
[00:35:33] that show that declare more clearly that he is the son of god because there's others who rose from the dead before not many so the miracles don't in themselves declare he is the messiah But the suffering and the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ declares he is Messiah and that work of the Lord secures salvation.
[00:36:07] His miracles that he did perform on people or through people or even his apostles don't secure salvation.
[00:36:15] It is his own personal work that is applied to us.
[00:36:21] Our second point.
[00:36:22] Signs almost exclusively serve as vehicles for mercy ministry.
[00:36:26] So the Lord doesn't waste anything.
[00:36:30] He doesn't waste words.
[00:36:31] He doesn't waste time.
[00:36:33] He doesn't waste actions.
[00:36:35] He redeems everything.
[00:36:37] If only we could be like that.
[00:36:39] So consider Joseph's ability to interpret dreams.
[00:36:42] It was a blessing in the good news for the butler.
[00:36:45] Remember his cellmate?
[00:36:48] But bad news for the baker, the other cellmate.
[00:36:50] Yet for Pharaoh, who was very disturbed by his own dream that he had, and he did not understand the interpretation, what could this mean?
[00:37:01] There were blessings and curses that were combined in that one dream that Joseph was able, by God working in him, to interpret.
[00:37:11] And this allowed for great help, merciful help to the household of jacob now help people in egypt throughout the country and people throughout the region by millions of people now abraham was told that his descendants would spend
[00:37:33] 400 years in egypt then come out with a great bounty and they would be a nation and indeed they came out as israel as we know but the gift to interpret the dream of pharaoh was the start
[00:37:46] of great mercy that the Lord would put in place through the work of Joseph, who became prime minister.
[00:37:57] Now, Elijah had many miracles.
[00:37:58] And when we think about prophets, I mean, it is exciting to read about Elijah because he's bold in the time of apostasy, and he has a sword, and he's not afraid to use it.
[00:38:10] And we get all excited.
[00:38:12] There was fire coming down from heaven four times.
[00:38:16] during the ministry of Elijah, death to the prophets of Baal for their falsehood and their false worship. He raised the dead. He promised the birth of a child to a woman who was barren.
[00:38:30] Of course, I mean, that was a child he raised later. And then there's Elijah who healed poisoned food on the table of the school of the prophets. He recovered lost property, provided generously for the financial needs of a widow of a prophet.
[00:38:49] He was used to bring healing to the Syrian leprous General Naaman.
[00:38:55] There was victory for the armies of Israel through his miracles.
[00:39:00] There was an end of drought and a famine through, indeed, the actions of Elijah and Elijah as well.
[00:39:09] And so we have these wonderful blessings that are recorded in the time of great spiritual darkness.
[00:39:18] But Jesus performing miracles among the people blesses many people, many more people, day in and day out.
[00:39:27] He brings deliverance from pain, from ailments, and even raising people from the dead and not just one or two.
[00:39:34] but all his works that he does are merciful works the miracles have a double purpose to be assigned to confirm who he is and his message but they have a practical application to bless the people relieve people of suffering he feeds the hungry the four thousand and later the five
[00:40:00] thousand and these signs indeed confirm who he is and what he says is true and from the father but we should not despise the practical practical helps that they provide for the people of faith
[00:40:17] and the people not of faith mercy ministry is to everybody we first take care of our own In our family, and then in our church or in the community of the believers, we work across denomination lines, but then the unbelievers as well.
[00:40:41] Now, these acts of healing suddenly, a miraculous healing, as we would say, by someone, right?
[00:40:48] You would have to have someone who's the vehicle to bring the blessing by laying on hands or praying for somebody.
[00:40:56] Do they continue today?
[00:40:57] Well, it's interesting that on TV, the TV healers, you know, would say you have to have faith.
[00:41:08] And I think they're pretty consistent in saying that.
[00:41:12] But Jesus didn't say that.
[00:41:16] He said, you know, he challenged people where they had faith, but he didn't require them only to have faith in order to be healed.
[00:41:26] And the same with the apostles.
[00:41:30] So mercy work was done upon believers and unbelievers alike.
[00:41:37] But is this work still going on today?
[00:41:41] Well, as far as I know, there is not a number to call for those in the hospital who are dying, for someone to come to lay hands on them.
[00:41:56] We have people who are paralyzed, and they stay paralyzed.
[00:42:00] Now, people can be healed, I think, of any ailment.
[00:42:05] It doesn't matter what it is, because the Lord is Lord over healing, for he's the giver of life, and he's the restorer of life.
[00:42:14] But people who have lost an arm are not going to regain that arm.
[00:42:18] Same with their legs, or the loss of an eye.
[00:42:20] those who are perhaps weeks away from death and are emaciated don't suddenly recover because that power of healing, that miraculous laying on hands and then instant fully healed, not gradual healing over weeks, but fully healed is not done through apostles
[00:42:49] because they're God or other individuals because the whole scripture is completed.
[00:42:56] There's no need to confirm a messenger because the message is here in the Bible.
[00:43:02] It is completed.
[00:43:04] All that we need to know of the special revelation of God is from Genesis to Revelation.
[00:43:10] But let us acknowledge, and I want to repeat this, that the Lord brings healing.
[00:43:16] When healing happens and the Lord works through medicine and doctors and nurses, and the Lord works despite the wrong medicine or the wrong judgments of doctors and nurses, whether surgery or not.
[00:43:35] The Lord can bring healing.
[00:43:38] All means are available to the Lord, and when somebody is healed, go directly and praise the Lord, for the Lord has done a work.
[00:43:49] The Lord has shown mercy in extending someone's life or giving recovery, or to me, to some degree, not a full degree of recovery.
[00:44:00] Now, you might call it a miracle.
[00:44:03] That is fine.
[00:44:05] We don't have to argue about that.
[00:44:09] But let us say it is of the Lord and not of individual A or B.
[00:44:15] Let's give God the exclusive praise, the exclusive thanksgiving.
[00:44:19] Now, if you desire to work miracles, if you desire and have a burden and a good and right burden to be a means to bless others, well, seek out mercy ministry.
[00:44:43] Don't seek attention for yourself, but blessings for others.
[00:44:48] And so understand all God's people are called to mercy ministry.
[00:44:52] So our center is going to debate about women deacons, whether to have them or not, or whether to keep them or just have men only.
[00:44:59] But the big issue is mercy ministry.
[00:45:02] Who can do it?
[00:45:03] Everybody.
[00:45:04] Everybody in the pews, doesn't matter how old they are.
[00:45:07] I mean, as long as they can walk or, you know, they don't even have to talk.
[00:45:12] They can do some mercy ministry.
[00:45:14] Mercy work requires much time.
[00:45:18] Let's be honest about that.
[00:45:19] It requires sacrifice of resources, generous giving.
[00:45:25] It's not all the one person.
[00:45:27] Maybe there's a team doing this.
[00:45:29] Interaction with the hurting person.
[00:45:32] And ideally, what should be going on is sharing the gospel or reinforcing the gospel, or bringing scripture as you minister to people in nursing homes or hospitals or wherever they may be.
[00:45:44] And so this is the way of the church for 2,000 years.
[00:45:50] Now, a miracle would be a shortcut to the healing.
[00:45:55] But sometimes we can't heal somebody.
[00:45:57] Sometimes people will not heal, but they still need mercy.
[00:46:00] They still need somebody by their bed reading scriptures, praying with them, encouraging them, getting them milk, perhaps feeding them, perhaps changing them, or just spending time with them.
[00:46:16] That is the great work that is available to us.
[00:46:21] But it's hard work.
[00:46:23] And a lot of people would rather not do it.
[00:46:26] But that is how mercy work is done today.
[00:46:32] See, the church does not need signs because Christ worked the greatest miracles.
[00:46:38] And he has the empty tomb to testify that he has risen.
[00:46:44] This is the great encouragement to the believers.
[00:46:47] Now, we look back on the written word, once again, to draw encouragement.
[00:46:53] to receive instruction from the Lord of how to live in righteousness and to pray rightly and humbly before the Lord, how to confess our sins before God, and on and on grow in our sanctification.
[00:47:07] And we talk about mercy works.
[00:47:11] But today there are no miracles as we would define them in Scripture.
[00:47:16] God is not sending messengers with a new declaration of his special revelation.
[00:47:21] It is all in the 66 books of the Bible.
[00:47:26] But the Lord does work mightily among his people, mightily in history.
[00:47:35] And let's always confirm that.
[00:47:36] So our last point, the word validates itself.
[00:47:39] No more miraculous signs are needed.
[00:47:43] And so that might seem like a harsh statement.
[00:47:45] You know, signs are not needed.
[00:47:48] And they came at particular times.
[00:47:50] They weren't around all the time.
[00:47:52] If you want to do a careful study, look at how many times God spoke to Abraham.
[00:48:00] Do you think it was more than six times?
[00:48:03] Less than six times?

[00:48:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:48:05] I don't know the exact number, but it was very few times.
[00:48:07] Same with Jacob and Isaac and David and the prophets.

[00:48:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:48:14] If they could count like Jeremiah, look how long Jeremiah is, 52 chapters.
[00:48:20] Each time God spoke to Jeremiah, mark a day.
[00:48:25] Would he have like even 60 days of God speaking to him?
[00:48:31] Although he spoke to him over many years.
[00:48:36] See, we need to trust the written word.
[00:48:41] We need to know that the word validates itself.
[00:48:46] And so we have preachers go forth and they preach directly from the written word.
[00:48:52] And people are saved by that means.
[00:48:55] Now, the modern mission effort has been usually to have nurses and doctors set up clinics and then a teacher to set up a school and then the preacher set up a church.
[00:49:08] You know, you're ministering to the body and the mind and the soul.
[00:49:13] And I think that's a great way.
[00:49:15] And, of course, there's mercy work embedded in that.
[00:49:20] But we must take the heart, the words of Jesus, to the Pharisees and apply it to ourselves as Christians.
[00:49:29] In Matthew 16, 1 through 4, it says, Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked that he would show them a sign from heaven.
[00:49:41] He answered and said to them, When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red.
[00:49:47] And in the morning there will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.
[00:49:53] Hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
[00:50:03] A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
[00:50:14] And he left them and departed.
[00:50:17] Now he did provide that sign.
[00:50:20] Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.
[00:50:23] The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the belly of the earth.
[00:50:27] And he will rise again.
[00:50:30] A wonderful, glorious sign.
[00:50:33] But we're told in 1 John 4, 1 that we have to test the spirits.
[00:50:37] We have to test the spirits.
[00:50:38] And how do you test the spirits?
[00:50:40] If somebody's coming and it's like, you know, the church has gone wrong for 2,000 years.
[00:50:44] There's people around today saying anything.
[00:50:48] or resurrection or other things.
[00:50:50] How do you test that?
[00:50:51] You go to the Word, Genesis through Revelation.
[00:50:55] You compare the Scripture with what somebody says.
[00:51:02] So Jesus makes it very clear that people should not seek a sign for the purpose of having a wonder.
[00:51:11] Sick people and distraught people sought the Lord for healing.
[00:51:15] They weren't seeking a sign, show us a sign to heal my son, please, my daughter.
[00:51:21] They were seeking mercy, and they knew that the Lord Jesus could heal in a miraculous way.
[00:51:29] And that was legitimate.
[00:51:32] The Lord brings blessings as he wills.
[00:51:37] Now, consider that the picture of healings.
[00:51:41] I said they're acts of mercy, but they're teaching moments.
[00:51:46] They have spiritual meaning to them.
[00:51:48] And most types of healings were for blindness, deafness, paralysis, leprosy, and there was other ailments.
[00:51:56] And, of course, there were people that were raised from the dead.
[00:52:00] But these are all pictures of spiritual hindrances that we possess since sin and the sin nature.
[00:52:09] Now, Jesus addresses the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people he encounters.
[00:52:15] and he's calling them to embrace the gospel.
[00:52:19] Mark 4, verse 10 through 12.
[00:52:21] But when he was alone, those around him with the 12 asked him about the parable and he said to them, To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God.
[00:52:32] And that's what we talked about just shortly.
[00:52:35] The mystery of the kingdom of God is the revelation of the gospel.
[00:52:39] And there's different applications, like the Gentiles will come in, but it's not something unknown, but it's revealed now.
[00:52:45] But to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they should turn in their sins and be forgiven them.
[00:53:01] So Jesus said, I make it difficult for some people, for they will not truly understand.
[00:53:07] They will not truly perceive.
[00:53:11] They will remain in their unbelief, in other words.
[00:53:14] Now there's this spiritual inability to walk after God in his ways.
[00:53:17] Proverbs 2, 13 through 14, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.
[00:53:27] So you either go walk in ways of righteousness or in the ways of sin.
[00:53:32] To rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perversity of the wicked.
[00:53:38] Romans 8, 1 talks about blessed is one who does not walk in the flesh or in a sinful manner, but walks in the spirit. So there's that spiritual understanding of what does it mean to be able to walk
[00:53:51] with the Lord.
[00:53:53] Then there's spiritual uncleanness.
[00:53:54] Think of leprosy. That's like ultimate uncleanness.
[00:53:57] Ezekiel 44, 23 and they shall teach me I'm sorry, and they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the unholy. And cause them to discern between the unclean clean and clean. Ezekiel 36, 25, talking very vividly about our salvation and the work of the
[00:54:20] Lord inside of us and what he will do. And I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean. And I will cleanse you from your filthiness and from your idols. That filthiness is not dirt
[00:54:34] or mud. It's sin. I'll cleanse you from your sin and from your idols. Mark 7, 15 says, there is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him, but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.
[00:54:54] So these are very strong spiritual truths.
[00:54:58] Then there's spiritual death of the soul.
[00:55:00] Then we have a great example of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus who was dead and buried.
[00:55:05] Four days he was dead, and Jesus came to his family and came to the tomb.
[00:55:12] and rose him by the power of God.
[00:55:17] And he simply commanded Lazarus, Lazarus, come forth.
[00:55:24] He gave Lazarus the ability to hear and the will to respond.
[00:55:30] Although he's all bundled up.
[00:55:32] You know, he has to tell somebody, you know, unbind him.
[00:55:35] There's a great picture that we are spiritually dead in our sins and trespasses.
[00:55:40] In fact, Paul writes to the Ephesians believers about that.
[00:55:45] Ephesians 2, verse 1, and you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.
[00:55:54] He's talking about us spiritually speaking.
[00:55:58] So how do we pray for someone who is very sick, approaching death?
[00:56:02] Well, we pray for their salvation if they are lost.
[00:56:06] Among those raised from the dead, understand that no one was raised twice.
[00:56:13] Why was that?
[00:56:15] Lazarus was sick unto death.
[00:56:18] He died. He rose from the dead by the power of Christ.
[00:56:24] But certainly he got sick again.
[00:56:28] He did die. Everyone who rose from the dead did die in their generation.
[00:56:37] It would not be merciful to have a saint live in this cursed world again, on and on and on.
[00:56:45] And we really shouldn't be envious of the patriarchs who lived 800 or 900 years.
[00:56:52] We can't imagine.
[00:56:55] I mean, it may be impossible in our day and age because there's just many more corruption.
[00:57:01] But that's a long time to not be perfected, to not to be fully sanctified, to wrestle with your sin and then to repent.
[00:57:13] so miracles have a purpose but they're not what we rejoice in most we should always seek the better thing the better gift we want salvation for others we want people to walk with the Lord
[00:57:33] and for the dying there are promises we can read to them we can pray with them we pray for comfort We pray for whatever blessing can be provided.
[00:57:48] We do pray for healing.
[00:57:49] There's nothing wrong with praying for healing, but one needs to prepare for death ultimately, not just for healing, but knowing that we have a greater resurrection that awaits us.
[00:58:04] We've got a better relationship that is before us.
[00:58:08] We have greater joys that are in our future.
[00:58:14] And so let us remember the signs point to something, confirm a message, or even the messenger with that message.
[00:58:26] But let us rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the greatest gift and has done the greatest work for us forevermore.
[00:58:37] Let us pray.
[00:58:39] Heavenly Father, we pray that you would bless us to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, to be informed by the word again and again that we would make intercession and prayers for all men,
[00:58:52] believers and unbelievers, even for wicked leaders, that they would all see the blessing, the life that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:59:03] And so, Father, help us to uphold your word and bring that word to bear to others that they too may trust in the living and reigning Christ, who is indeed the one who forgives us of our iniquities.

[00:59:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:59:22] And so, Lord, bless us to that end.
[00:59:25] To your glory's sake we pray. Amen.