Sermon Central
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How The Holy Spirit Gifts Us - Part 12 Series
Contributed by Randy Hamel on Apr 21, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Sermon looks at the gifts of miracles and healing
How the Holy Spirit Gifts Us - Part 12
What we believe series
Acklnowledgements: Dr. Henry Schorr, Centre St. Church, Calgary AB
oWell good morning. So great to see you.
o The story is told of a young couple who had a nasty argument
o And when the dust settled they decided to give each other the silent treatment
o That is a bad idea, but none of you have done that, right?
o But they did that for several days and by Sunday night the young man knew he had a real problem
o His alarm clock was broken and he needed to be up by 5:00 AM Monday morning to board a plane; therefore he needed his wife’s help to wake him up
o So not wanting to be the first to break the silence and lose he wrote on paper ‘please wake me at 5:00 AM’
o He woke up the next morning discovering it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight
o So he was furious and thought he would give his wife a piece of his mind
o But as he was headed out of the bedroom he noticed his note with his wife’s handwriting written ‘It is 5:00 AM. Wake up’ (PAUSE)
o Well friends careless and ungraceful communication can have devastating results
o I am conscious of this as for the last several weeks I have been preparing to speak on the sign manifestation gifts – today healing and miracles – next week speaking in tongues and prophecy
o The sign manifestation gifts have been the centre of abuse, misuse, and misunderstanding for two thousand years
o This has created unnecessary confusion and division between churches and Christians – something I refuse to get drawn into
o As I prepared these messages my prayer has been that we would have clarity where there is confusion, freedom where there is fear, and grace when we believe differently
o So before we start let’s agree not to let our differences cause disharmony in the local church. Agreed?
o All factions and dissensions are a work of the flesh and are not from the Holy Spirit
o Let’s not talk behind each others backs about this – if you want to speak about this come with your Bible open after you have prayed
o Then I would be glad to hear you out
o Do we agree?
o Let me be candid with you once again
o I do not believe there is any Biblical evidence that the sign manifestation gifts ceased in the first century
o That is what some call the Cessationism approach
o To put it simply some theologians and pastors believe the sign gifts ceased with the death of the last apostle; however most today believe they continue on, and I am one of them
o I do not support Cessationism
o The important point is what does the Bible teach
o There is little or no support for the cessations view in most major Christian denominations in Canada, in our Bible schools and seminaries today, although it is still taught in a few
o I am going to speak more on that next week when we cover speaking in tongues and prophecy – so be patient
o Let me make another strong statement
o One should never bring the word of God down to ones experiences; but rather filter your experiences through the Word of God
o Let me make another strong statement
o The sovereignty of God overrides my faith and prayers when it comes to healing and miracles
o All right, now we can start with the gift of healing
o Let’s be honest. Often we do not see the miracles and healing that we pray about
o We struggle with doubts
o We have questions like do I not have enough faith
o What is wrong with me
o Did I not pray long and hard enough
o And we wonder does God even heal today?
o Those are honest questions
o Friends God still heals today
o The Bible is full of miracles and healing
o Remember that Jesus did not heal everyone, but he did heal people wherever he went
o Jesus taught all his apostles and followers to pray for healing (Mt. 28:19; James 5), regardless of our experience
o If healing was not for today, then why would Jesus and James implore Christians to pray, asking for healing and miracles
o Now miracles tend to be God working through nature; healing tends to be God working through a personf
1. Miracles: is the divine enablement to pray for supernatural changes to take place through nature that authenticate who God is, bringing glory to God (Jesus – calming of the sea or God divides the Red Sea)
