Understaning Miracles. Part 2a Series

AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE MIRACULOUS IN THE BIBLE

WITH AN ATTEMPT TO CONFIRM THESE PRINCIPLES

WITH BIBLICAL SUPPORT

MIRACLES PART 2A

Principle #3. There were many ages in the Bible when there were no

professional Prophets or AMiracle-workers.@

(Judg 6:13 NIV) "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ’Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

(John 10:41 NIV) and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true."

(John 10:42 NIV) And in that place many believed in Jesus.

(Mal 4:5 NIV) "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

(Mal 4:6 NIV) He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

(Luke 1:5 NIV) In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

(Luke 1:6 NIV) Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

(Luke 1:7 NIV) But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

(Luke 1:8 NIV) Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

(Luke 1:9 NIV) he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

(Luke 1:10 NIV) And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

(Luke 1:11 NIV) Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

(Luke 1:12 NIV) When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

(Luke 1:13 NIV) But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

(Luke 1:14 NIV) He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,

(Luke 1:15 NIV) for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

(Luke 1:16 NIV) Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.

(Luke 1:17 NIV) And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous??to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

(Luke 1:18 NIV) Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

(Luke 1:19 NIV) The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

(Luke 1:20 NIV) And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

(Luke 1:21 NIV) Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

(Luke 1:22 NIV) When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

(Luke 1:23 NIV) When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

(Luke 1:24 NIV) After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

(Luke 1:25 NIV) "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Consider the relationship between the passages in Malachi and that in Luke. Consider the human reactions to angels in this passage and in all other passages in the Bible.

(2 Pet 3:1 NIV) Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

(2 Pet 3:2 NIV) I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.