Period of Popularity

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Period of Popularity

• Miraculous Signs - Part 5
• Discovering Jesus series
• Luke 414-15 and Selected

Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church
May 30, 2004
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• Luke 414-15 Jesus returned to Galilee in the
  power of the Spirit, and news about him spread
  through the whole countryside. He taught in their
  synagogues, and everyone praised him.

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• Matthew 423-25 (Pew Bible Page 683)
• Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
  synagogues, preaching the good news of the
  kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness
  among the people. 24News about him spread all
  over Syria, and people brought to him all who
  were ill with various diseases, those suffering
  severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having
  seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
  25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,
  Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan
  followed him.

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• Mark 121-28 (Pew Bible Page 707)
• They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath
  came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to
  teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching,
  because he taught them as one who had authority,
  not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man
  in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil
  spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us,
  Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I
  know who you are--the Holy One of God!" 25"Be
  quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
  26The evil spirit shook the man violently and
  came out of him with a shriek. 27The people were
  all so amazed that they asked each other, "What
  is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He
  even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey
  him." 28News about him spread quickly over the
  whole region of Galilee.

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1. Jesus ministry and popularity increasing
rapidly.

• People responded to His three fold
• ministry of...
• a.) TEACHING Mt 728-29
• b.) PREACHING Lu 443
• c.) MIRACLES Jn 32

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• John 223b ... many people saw the miraculous
  signs he was doing and believed in his name.
• Miracle Technically, is the act of God in nature
  that temporarily suspends the laws of nature.
  They are unrepeatable acts that run counter to a
  law of nature.
• To say that miracles are impossible is actually
  to deny that God exists. Henry Morris

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2. What do we know about Jesus miracles?

• Many are recorded
• Limited to His 3 year public ministry
• Historical they happened, not fantasy
• Reasonable not flashy or flaunting
• Useful by meeting needs
• Varied Jesus exercised Power over...
• Nature (Mt 827)
• Spirit World (Lu 436)
• Disease (Lu 440)
• Death (Lu 714-15)

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What do we know about Jesus miracles?Continued..
.

• Public not in secret and without props
• Spontaneous without prior preparations
• Instantaneous Said to the blind see they saw
• Gratuitous free of charge
• Kindhearted Never to punish or retaliate
• Selective Jesus primary purpose is Savior

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3. Why did Jesus do miracles?

• To verify His CLAIMS and message.
• Acts 222 "Men of Israel, listen to this Jesus
  of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by
  miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among
  you through him, as you yourselves know.

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Why did Jesus do miracles?

• To produce FAITH.
• John 211 This, the first of his miraculous
  signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He
  thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put
  their faith in him.
• Faith is not a blind leap into the dark,
• but a TRANSFER of TRUST to a PERSON who is
  credible, powerful and alive!

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Why did Jesus do miracles?

• To reveal His POWER over...
• Nature
• Matthew 827 The men were amazed and asked, "What
  kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves
  obey him!"

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To reveal His POWER over...

• Spirit world
• Luke 436 All the people were amazed and said to
  each other, "What is this teaching? With
  authority and power he gives orders to evil
  spirits and they come out!"

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To reveal His POWER over...

• Disease
• Luke 440 When the sun was setting, the people
  brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of
  sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he
  healed them.

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To reveal His POWER over...

• Death
• Luke 714-15 Then he went up and touched the
  coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He
  said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead
  man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him
  back to his mother.

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Why did Jesus do miracles?

• To give us a glimpse into the FUTURE.
• Luke 1120 But if I drive out demons by the
  finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come
  to you.

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What difference do the miracles make in my life?

• They validate His claims to be the Messiah...
• I should BELIEVE in Him!
• They communicate His Universal Power...
• I must SUBMIT to Him!
• They illustrate His coming Kingdom...
• I can take HOPE in Him!

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God is a miracle working God!

• The Greatest Miracle is the
• New Birth