June 26, 2011
“HIGHLIGHTING MIRACULOUS POWERS”
1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29
1 Peter 4:10-11
It amazes me how much we choose words more superlative than necessary when
conversing with others. Let me give you an example. Sometimes something
occurs and an observer is heard saying, “That’s awesome!” It might be quite
extraordinary; but “awesome”? If the event was awe-some it means “motivating
or inspiring one into being filled with wonder”. To be filled with awe brings one to
the place of standing in sheer amazement at what has taken place; often with
his/her mouth gaping open in shock. Honestly, such an experience seldom
happens in everyday life. The life we live is more mundane than awesome. Let me
give you another example. I am a Chicago Cubs baseball fan. l might announce to
you, “It’ll take a miracle for the Cubs to win the World Series. Since it’s been well
over one hundred years since the Cubs were even in the World Series it would be
very unusual; but a miracle? I think not! A miracle is “an extraordinary event
manifesting divine intervention in human affairs”. We get the picture! The English
language which we render, at this time, uses powerful, potent words routinely to
describe mundane, ordinary things. We chuckle at some of what we hear without
thinking about what is really being said. You might hear; “that blows my mind”,
“that is spectacular” or even “That’s such a coincidence”.
Today we move our sermon series to the realm of the spectacular as we learn
about “miraculous powers”. We are speaking of the spiritual gift of miracles. In
the primary Bible passage being used in our current series of messages, we find
this gift mentioned three times. Look with me at these three verses found in 1
Corinthians 12. We find the gift of miracles listed in Verse 10, “to another
miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between
spirits...”, next in Verse 28, we read again, “to another miraculous powers, to
another prophecy...” and then once more in Verse 29, “Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?” It is referenced so often in
such a short group of verses, how can it not be an active gift? Before we dive into
the main features of this gift, I want to lay-out a couple of major points which we
must keep in mind.
Last week we spoke of some spiritual gifts being identified as “sign gifts”. The
ones which are traditionally called such are: the gift of “healing”, the gift of
“miracles”, the gift of “tongues” and the gift of “interpretations of tongues”. The
rationale in this designation is because, when recounted in scripture, these God1
June 26, 2011
given resources are exercised while God’s people are in ministry with nonChristians or brand-new converts. Therefore they are “signs”. Essentially, they are
vivid demonstrations which God enacts to show His power to those who doubt He
is for real. Many, who label these gifts in such a way, believe such gifts are no
longer needed today. Christianity is the most popular system of faith in the world
at the moment. Thus some discount God’s work in spectacular ways today
because they reason such a demonstration of His power is no longer necessary. It
seems to me that to limit God’s activity, in any way, is a human attempt to put
God in a box. I believe such thinking is dangerous for Christians to do.
A second factor to be addressed is the distortion which quite often arises when
non-Christian people add their speculation to “research” about sacred things.
Without being indwelt by God, the Holy Spirit, pagans are unable to use spiritual
insight to discover truth. The Bible says they lack spiritual insight until they
acknowledge Christ. The Discovery Channel is loaded with such “scientific
investigation” of the supernatural, by unspiritual folk. God’s Word tells us “But
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) Still, they offer their
insights about the Bible. It is as reliable as reading the “National Enquirer”! I find it
amazing that people will check out publishers and authors of the books they read,
yet fail to check out the sources of such TV programs. Such misinformation feeds
into the insatiable curiosity the general public has about realities which are not a
part of this world. Miracles fit into such a category! To be truthful, there is a
doctrine in the Bible which we must be aware of. It is the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
It goes like this. God created this world, including natural laws which govern this
nature. When God intervenes in situations (and He does); He uses His power to
alter the way things “normally are”. When that happens, a miracle has occurred.
Miracles are the work of God as He injects His power into this world. When God
used Joshua to halt Earth from rotating on its axis, in Joshua 10, a miracle
happened. When God used Elijah to pray fire down from heaven, on Mount
Carmel, in 1 Kings 18, a miracle happened. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the
dead, in John 11, a miracle happened. When God sent an angel to wake Peter up
in prison, when the chains he was bound with fell off his wrists, when the gate
opened of its own accord and when the Apostle walked free along the street, in
Acts 12, a miracle occurred. Completely out-of-the-ordinary routine of earthly life,
God uses His sovereignty to accomplish His will completely independent of the
plans of men. God is still in the miracle business. He utilizes certain Christians to
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interact in our world through the gift of miracles. Physical things happen, as we
see it, but sometimes it is God’s intervening work. On occasion, He works through
one of His own as His instrument for getting it done.
Our second Bible reference mentioning spiritual gifts is 1 Peter 4:10-11. These
two verses spell out how we are to utilize our gifts. We read, “Each one should
use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s
grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the
very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God
provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ…”
Notice several things which we can glean from these verses. First, recognize a
progression which is inherent with gifts. Each comes to us from God, these
resources are dispensed through a committed believer and the process results in
ministry to others. The outcome of exercising spiritual giftedness is not for our
benefit. We receive resources from God, so He reaches others through us.
Welcome to the practical reality of the Body of Christ! Outsiders can and will be
reached through evangelistic resources. Believers will be built up when EACH
member of the body of Christ does his/her work. That’s how the church impacts
its culture!
Second, recognize it is “God’s grace” and “God’s strength” which gets passed
through the giftedness granted by God. We are only the messengers through
which our gifts are experienced. We must accept the fact we are in the employ of
the Godhead. For example, if we use the gift of wisdom, we give out God’s
wisdom. If we use the gift of hospitality, we give out God’s hospitality. If we use
the gift of mercy, we give out God’s mercy. None of the gifts originate from us.
None are part of our natural make-up. Everything a Christian does in life is giving
out what we received from God. This perspective takes selfishness completely out
of the picture.
Thirdly, recognize the end result of this plan is “that in all things God may be
praised through Jesus Christ”. The culture, in which we live, has a very low
estimation of the God Christians serve and obey. That is not God’s fault. He gifts
His people to enhance another’s life while also giving this unbelieving world a
witness that He offers substantive life to people. The lack of serious regard
toward spiritual giftedness, by believers, leaves an absence of any awareness of
God’s presence in this world.
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A fourth factor, which comes with understanding miracles, is knowing miracles
happen every day, yet they are most often missed by people. I can only speak
from my frame of reference, but this point is not something evident to pastors
only. In my vocation, God the Holy Spirit guides me in the planning and scheduling
of the lessons I teach and the sermons I deliver. The Tuesday before last, I
prepared my Sunday School lesson for today. With plans to be in New York for my
Grandson’s graduation on June 23rd (last Thursday), I needed to get two Sundays
worth of lessons and sermons done in one week. God gave me time on that
Tuesday to complete my second Sunday School lesson. Right after finishing that
lesson, I was visited by one who needed that very lesson, then. The following day,
Wednesday, another person from this church needed that same lesson. On
Thursday I needed to share the same Biblical truth with my very own mother, in
Illinois. On Friday, once again, the message of my adult class this morning was
needed by a fourth individual. Don’t tell me that is a coincidence! I will tell you
what I regularly tell others, “There is no such thing as a coincidence!” It is
miraculous power at work through the ministry of God, the Holy Spirit working in
and through life. Psalm 139:16 tells us, “All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be!” It matters not how we
view such a statement from King David. God’s divine intervention in our lives is a
miracle. In this earthly life of ours we see things come and go. We get found
deceiving ourselves into believing things are random circumstances which take
place. That is false information! We see through a glass darkly and therefore
believe only what we expect as our normal, daily routine. God actually wrote the
book on each of us, before we were born, and MIRACULOUSLY, it is occurring just
as He wrote about it! God gifts certain of His servants as His agents to bring
miracles all the time. This gift is certainly not null and void today! If your gift is
miracles, be sure God will (at His discretion) use you to bring them into others’
lives. It enhances the work of your church while bringing glory and praise to Him!
Rejoice and be exceeding glad!
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