A Study Of The Miraculous
Continued
The Partnership - The Purpose - The Process
The miraculous is a Partnership with a Process connected to a Purpose.
THE PURPOSE
GTCOTR/ws071002
Key Scripture for Purpose: Hosea 4:
6 ¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
14 … therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
I. We Benefit From Knowledge & Understanding
Hosea 4:
1 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6 ¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 ¶ My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
II. Understanding The Purpose For Miracles
A. Three Primary Purposes For Miracles
1. For God’s Glory
A. John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (the purpose was not unto death)
B. John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (The purpose of this miracle was to glorify God)
C. Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (the miracle was meant to have glorified God!)
2. For Man’s Provision (usually not aimed at the performer)
A. Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
B. Matthew 14 Feed 5000+ with fish & loaves
C. Exodus 14 Dividing the Red Sea
3. For Kingdom
A. Advancement
(1) Acts 2:6 Miracle on ears of hearers @ Pentecost
(2) Acts 8:39 Phillip caught up to Azotus
(3) I believe that more miracles are done in this category than any other I have found. (Acts 28 Publius healed; Acts 10 Cornelius angelic visit; Acts 28 Paul saved from shipwreck/snake)
B. Enhancement (faith building; strengthening)
(1) The Gospels Jesus’ appearances to disciples after resurrection
(2) Acts 2 Pentecost
B. A Peripheral Purpose
1. No Promise Goes Unfulfilled
A. Deut 8:18 … that He might establish His covenant
B. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2. Bargaining with God
A. you have nothing to offer
B. paid for by the blood
3. It cost God nothing to do miracles now --- but it cost Him everything at one time. Perhaps this is why miracles are still so precious to Him.
III. Connect Your Miracle To A Worthy Purpose
