Follow Me Session 27 Miracles and Healing. Hebrews 2:3-4 3

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1 Follow Me Session 27 Miracles and Healing Hebrews 2:3-4 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 1 Corinthians 12: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12: Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. We should expect from God healings and miracles. What if...it does not happen? Why is it that we side so easily with the what if nots instead of having faith in the God of the miraculous? Definitions are so important- Meme going around the internet about 6 vs. 9. Much of life is made up of disagreements due to lack of clarity. Miracles and healings are very different and yet many times used interchangeably. Gods will vs. Gods desires (I am not here to debate or argue certain aspects of biblical interpretation. I am here to point you to God s word and the person of the Holy Spirit and to encourage you to dive into the deep waters of all that God would reveal to you.) God is sovereign and He will get His Will accomplished. However, there are many promises He has given to us that require our faith, obedience, and surrender to walk in. Gift(s) of Healing(s) To restore instantaneously. The gift of healing is the divine enablement to be God s means for restoring people to wholeness.

2 The word is actually plural, healings, which indicate that different kinds of healings are possible with this gift (i.e., emotional, relational, spiritual, physical, etc.) People with this gift Demonstrate the power of God. Bring restoration to the sick and diseased. Authenticate a message from God through healing. Use it as on opportunity to communicate a biblical truth and see God glorified. Pray, lay hands on, or speak words that miraculously bring healing to one s body. Cautions: You are not the healer but only a chosen vessel of God. You should not take credit for healings or blame for lack thereof. Also, recognize that Bible-believing teachers differ in their views on the sign gifts. While you may not agree with other believers on this subject, we can all respect our differing viewpoints based on Scripture. This gift should not take away from or minimize each believer s personal faith for healing that God s Word expresses can be a part of the atonement that Christ made for us. As an elder team, we will always point sick people to scriptures to believe God for physical and emotional healing and pray the highest good for them. We affirm the following: Healing in the Atonement (Eternal Life) Gift(s) of healing(s) Prayer of Faith Anointing with Oil Lay hands on the sick Natural preventative such as healthy diet and exercise No New Testament Example where God explicitly puts sickness on believers. (God uses all things for His glory and our good) On the contrary, all throughout the New Testament, we see overwhelming evidence of God s desire for us to be whole physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many gifts of healings and miracles are in ministry and evangelistic. Miracles-The gift of miracles is the divine enablement to authenticate the ministry and message of God through supernatural intervention, which glorify Him.

3 An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause; wonder or marvel. Miracle as defined this way, should not be a normal occurrence or it would no longer be defined as a miracle. The greatest miracles I have had the privilege to witness are transformed lives. (Greatest miracle) Sign, wonder, miracle, (define) Dunamis-miraculous power might and strength (Miracle in Greek) Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. How many miracles were recorded in the entire bible? Jesus 40+ (depending on definition, healings and miracles) (spirit without measure) Old Testament- around 250 Miracles from Moses to Jesus (1 every 6 years) Elijah declared the greatest old testament prophet (14) Book of Acts: Many people read the book of Acts and are amazed as they should be. They then proceed to criticize and make statements like why don t we see things like this today? Acts was written by Luke who was a physician and he was documenting 30 years of the early church. 28 chapters there are roughly miraculous events. (signs, wonders, miracles) Miracles are miracles because they don t happen every day. If they happened everyday they could be named a day of the week but they would cease to be miracles. Miracles are an interruption in the natural order of things. When you think you have God figured out in any way, you easily slip into religious activity with Him. We cry out to God for the miraculous and then run from anything or anyone that may require us to be in a place that requires a miracle. Many times, a miracle is warranted but many times a miracle would negate the process of what God is doing. Would you rather God deliver you from the issue possibly missing the entire purpose of the issue or would you rather God lead you through the valley of the shadow of death in an intimate abiding relationship with Him for His purposes? People with this gift

4 Speak God s truth and have it authenticated by an accompanying miracle. Express confidence in God s faithfulness and ability to manifest His presence. Bring the ministry and message of Jesus Christ with power. Claim God to be the source of the miracle and glorify Him. Represent Christ, and through the gift, point people to a relationship with Christ. Cautions Need to remember that miracles are not necessarily caused by faith Should avoid viewing this gift as a personal responsibility, remembering that God determines the location and timing of miracles. Need to guard against the temptation to call on the Lord s presence and power for selfish purposes. Luke 1:37 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Jillian Story (Miracles and Healings) Turners Syndrome (missing X chromosome) 98% of fetuses with Turners Syndrome spontaneously abort. Only 2 % actually live beyond the womb. (It was suggested we abort her) 18 different doctors and specialists her first 3 years of life. Kidney-Cystic kidney that had to be removed. Heart- Aberrant right subclavian artery (her artery comes out on the wrong side of her heart) many other potential heart issues. Short stature- growth hormone Hoshimoto s Disease Other chronic illnesses. Jillian Faith Sweeney

5 This is a declaration of the name meanings of our new baby girl. This is a Spoken Word from God Himself that she is called of Him and in His hands. Every time her name is called, it declares the awesomeness of who God is in her and what He has for her life and reaffirms what we already know. Jillian in definition means regenerate Regenerate- to affect a complete moral or spiritual reform in; to make over in a better form; to bring into existence again; to restore (a body part) by the growth of new tissue; to become formed again; to be spiritually renewed; born again spiritually. Faith- a firm persuasion or conviction in the Word of God; faith is the substance of the thing we are trusting God for, the spiritual evidence of the physical result, not yet seen with our natural eyes. Faith is what we hold onto from the time we stand on the promise of God, until it physically manifests. Surrender- to yield to the possession or power of another on demand or under threat or force; to give oneself up; to abandon or relinquish; an act or instance of surrendering. I am firmly persuaded that God is brining my family to a place of complete and total surrender to Him and His will for our lives. To say that we are surrendered in word only leaves a false sense of spiritual maturity that can only be had by walking out the reality of the promises of God in action. Taking God at His word in the midst of trials, fleshly desires, and satan himself, is the true place of surrender. Not looking to man or relying on the flesh to get things done, but trusting God in faith, to see our lives changed so that we can be giant slayers in His kingdom and possess the promise land He has given to us. Today has been an awesome time of selfexamination that has brought about true revelation from God in regards to our lives in Him. I am confident that after today, I look at my surrendered life in a different light. True surrender means more today than it did yesterday. Take away God wants you well Class (sign up) How can we as a church serve you in your pursuit of God s purpose for your life? What are some areas of your life that you need healing or a miraculous move of God? What steps have you taken to appropriate God s Word directly toward your need? What areas in your life need surrendered to God for His purposes and blueprint?