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10-15-2008, 08:01 AM
Psalms 106:2 (KJV) 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
The question here is Who Can? The mighty acts of the Lord are the miracles of God. What is a miracle? Webster defines a miracle;
1. Literally, a wonder or wonderful thing; but appropriately,
2. In theology, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almighty power, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, "I will, be thou clean," or calmed the tempest, "Peace, be still."
What is the purpose of miracles?
One clear purpose of miracles was to authenticate the character of Jesus and his relationship with his heavenly Father. In this regard, miracles demonstrate the following: God is with Jesus (John 3:2); Jesus is from God (John 3:2; 9:342–33); God has sent Jesus (John 5:36); Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10–11; Matt. 9:6–7; Luke 5:24–25); Jesus is approved by God (Acts 2:22); the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father (John 10:37–38; 14:11); in Jesus the kingdom of God has come (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20); and Jesus is the Messiah (Matt. 11:1–6; Luke 7:18–23) and the Son of God (Matt. 14:25–33).
A second purpose of miracles was to authenticate the message about Jesus. This was the major function of the miracles as far as the ministry of the apostles was concerned. Mark says that the Lord “confirmed his word [that the apostles preached] by the signs that accompanied it” (Mark 16:20). When Luke was describing the ministry of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium, he said that the Lord “confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3). Notice that in both of these texts the Lord does not confirm the apostles themselves but rather “his word” or “the message” that the apostles were preaching. Signs and wonders do not testify to the apostles but to the message of salvation preached by the apostles. So the two principal things that are authenticated by miracles are the Lord Jesus and the message about the Lord Jesus.
Illustration
Eighty Years as a Second
In a recent number of the “Sunday School Times” a story is told of an Eastern king which illustrates at once our delusion respecting natural processes, and also God’s work and presence in them. The king was seated in a garden, and one of his counselors was speaking of the wonderful works of God. “Show me a sign,” said the king, “and I will believe.” “Here are four acorns,” said the counselor, “will you, Majesty, plant them in the ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water?” The king did so, “Now,” said the other, “look up.” The king looked up and saw four oak-trees where he had planted the acorns. “Wonderful!” he exclaimed, “this is indeed the work of God.” “How long were you looking into the water?” asked the counselor? “Only a second,” said the king. “Eighty years have passed as a second,” said the other. The king looked at his garments; they were threadbare. He looked at his reflection in the water; he had become an old man. “There is no miracle here, then,” he said angrily. “Yes,” said the other, “it is God’s work, whether he did it in one second or in eighty years.” --Source unknown
Thought for the Day - God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye. - C. S. Lewis --Dr. Dave Smeltz Daily Thought Devotional
The question here is Who Can? The mighty acts of the Lord are the miracles of God. What is a miracle? Webster defines a miracle;
1. Literally, a wonder or wonderful thing; but appropriately,
2. In theology, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almighty power, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, "I will, be thou clean," or calmed the tempest, "Peace, be still."
What is the purpose of miracles?
One clear purpose of miracles was to authenticate the character of Jesus and his relationship with his heavenly Father. In this regard, miracles demonstrate the following: God is with Jesus (John 3:2); Jesus is from God (John 3:2; 9:342–33); God has sent Jesus (John 5:36); Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10–11; Matt. 9:6–7; Luke 5:24–25); Jesus is approved by God (Acts 2:22); the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father (John 10:37–38; 14:11); in Jesus the kingdom of God has come (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20); and Jesus is the Messiah (Matt. 11:1–6; Luke 7:18–23) and the Son of God (Matt. 14:25–33).
A second purpose of miracles was to authenticate the message about Jesus. This was the major function of the miracles as far as the ministry of the apostles was concerned. Mark says that the Lord “confirmed his word [that the apostles preached] by the signs that accompanied it” (Mark 16:20). When Luke was describing the ministry of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium, he said that the Lord “confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3). Notice that in both of these texts the Lord does not confirm the apostles themselves but rather “his word” or “the message” that the apostles were preaching. Signs and wonders do not testify to the apostles but to the message of salvation preached by the apostles. So the two principal things that are authenticated by miracles are the Lord Jesus and the message about the Lord Jesus.
Illustration
Eighty Years as a Second
In a recent number of the “Sunday School Times” a story is told of an Eastern king which illustrates at once our delusion respecting natural processes, and also God’s work and presence in them. The king was seated in a garden, and one of his counselors was speaking of the wonderful works of God. “Show me a sign,” said the king, “and I will believe.” “Here are four acorns,” said the counselor, “will you, Majesty, plant them in the ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water?” The king did so, “Now,” said the other, “look up.” The king looked up and saw four oak-trees where he had planted the acorns. “Wonderful!” he exclaimed, “this is indeed the work of God.” “How long were you looking into the water?” asked the counselor? “Only a second,” said the king. “Eighty years have passed as a second,” said the other. The king looked at his garments; they were threadbare. He looked at his reflection in the water; he had become an old man. “There is no miracle here, then,” he said angrily. “Yes,” said the other, “it is God’s work, whether he did it in one second or in eighty years.” --Source unknown
Thought for the Day - God seems to do nothing of Himself which He can possibly delegate to His creatures. He commands us to do slowly and blunderingly what He could do perfectly and in the twinkling of an eye. - C. S. Lewis --Dr. Dave Smeltz Daily Thought Devotional