## Believe in Miracles: Trust in Jesus

## John 20:30-31

Many folks, even some Christians, have a problem with the miracles of the Bible. One little boy asked his father, who had just preached a message on Jonah and the whale, 'Daddy do you really believe that a man could be swallowed by a fish and stay alive for three days?' The father replied that if God could create the universe out of nothing, if He could create the all the creatures of the sea out of nothing, and if He could form man from the dust of the earth and breathe life into him. Then yes, God had the power to make a fish that could swallow a man and keep him alive for three days.' The little boy replied, 'Well, if you're going to bring God into it…sure that's different!' Those who have a problem with miracles, fundamentally have a problem with God! It seems that today there are also many who would get excited over a miracle, but are bored with the truth of Jesus Christ. Ex. My testimony to my uncle. I believe that is not spiritually healthy. To focus on the miracle and fail to see the Master is a mistake that we do not want to make.

Over the next several sessions as we look into the Word of God our study will be focused on the seven specific miracles that are recorded in the Gospel of John. At the close of the Gospel of John we find the following statement.

(John 20:30-31) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

I believe that this is a very important clarification of the importance and the purpose of the miracles of Jesus Christ. John says, '…many other signs…' and the word he uses here under the inspiration of the Spirit is a word that means 'a miracle with a message'. Not just a miraculous event, but one with a meaning attached to it. In the next verse he tells of that message or purpose. 'that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ'.

Miracles are not God's way of showing off. Each of these seven miracles points us to Jesus Christ. They speak to us for the purpose that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ!

I. Problems with Miracles:

A. Deception

1. Satan is the great counterfeiter.

2. Always has been, and continues to be today.

3. We see him busy deceiving many.

4. John describes this deception.

(Revelation 13:13-14) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

5. Notice the motivation behind these miracles is to deceive men.

6. Paul warned of Satanic power.

(2 Corinthians 11:14-15) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

7. Satan seeks to deceive and blind the eyes of men to the glorious truth of the gospel.

(2 Corinthians 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

B. No one is saved by miracles.

1. Truly salvation is the greatest of all miracles, but there is no saving power in miracles!

2. Salvation is by faith, not by sight.

(John 20:29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

3. Faith is the heart's response to the character and nature of Jesus Christ as revealed to us in Scripture.

C. Evaluating miracles.

Definition of a miracle: A supernatural intrusion into the natural law that can have no other explanation other than that God is acting.

1. Check the facts

a. We need to look carefully at the facts of any reported miracle.

b. Often folks declare that to question a miracle is to question God Himself.

c. But if it cannot be tested, it cannot be trusted.

2. Check the focus

a. Does the miracle glorify Jesus?

b. Or is it glorifying an individual or movement?

c. Example of Simon the Sorcerer.

(Acts 8:18-20) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

3. Check the fruit

a. What happens as a result of the miracle?

b. Are folks turning to Christ in faith?

c. Remember, there were crowds that followed Jesus for the miracles.

d. But it wasn't long before they turned their backs on Jesus.

(John 6:66-67) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

(John 20:30-31) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Next time: Turning water into wine.