MIRACLES, SIGNS AND WONDERS
Lesson 12 Breath of God
1. According to Peter how did God legitimatize Jesus’ claims? See: Acts 2:22 ______________
Acts 2:22 (AMP) 22 You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man
accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by
the mighty works and [the power of performing] wonders and signs which God worked through
Him [right] in your midst, as you yourselves know—
2. What is your definition of miracle? ______________________________________________
3. What is your definition of sign? _________________________________________________
4. What is your definition of a wonder? _____________________________________________
5. What did Jesus say of Himself in John 5:36? _______________________________________
John 5:36 (AMP) 36 But I have as My witness something greater (weightier, higher, better) than
that of John; for the works that the Father has appointed Me to accomplish and finish, the very
same works that I am now doing, are a witness and proof that the Father has sent Me.
6. The word “wonder” terata indicates a state of mind produced by the eyewitness of the
miracle. What is the reason for wonders according to Acts 14:15? ________________________
Acts 14:15 (AMP) 15 Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature
like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these
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foolish and vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and
everything that they contain.
7. What do we learn about signs from?
A) Isaiah 38:7 ________________________________________________________________
Isaiah 38:7 (KJV) 7 and this shall be a sign unto you from the LORD that the LORD will do this
thing that he has spoken.
B) Mark 8:18-21 ______________________________________________________________
Mark 8:18-21 (AMP) 18 Having eyes, do you not see [with them], and having ears, do you not
hear and perceive and understand the sense of what is said? And do you not remember? 19
When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many [small hand] baskets full of broken
pieces did you take up? They said to Him, Twelve. 20 And [when I broke] the seven loaves for
the 4,000, how many [large provision] baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they
said to Him, Seven. 21 And He kept repeating, do you not yet understand?
C) 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 ______________________________________________________
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (AMP) 11 Now I have been [speaking like] a fool! But you forced me to
it, for I ought to have been [saved the necessity and] commended by you. For I have not
fallen short one bit or proved myself at all inferior to those superlative [false] apostles [of
yours], even if I am nothing (a nobody). 12 Indeed, the signs that indicate a [genuine] apostle
were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty
works.
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8. Other words for miracles are: “powers”-dunamesin; “works”; “great things”; “glorious
things”; “strange things”; “wonderful things”; “marvelous things”. Considering all the
designations for the miraculous how would you summarize? ____________________________
9. See Exodus 8:6, 7, 19; (Exodus 4:6-12; Exodus 14:21-31); Numbers 22:30 – Who was
performing the miracle? _______________________________________________________
Exodus 8:6-7 (AMP) 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs
came up and covered the land. 7 But the magicians did the same thing with their enchantments
and secret arts, and brought up [more] frogs upon the land of Egypt.
Exodus 8:19 (AMP) 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, this is the finger of God! But
Pharaoh's heart was hardened and strong and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had
said.
Exodus 4:6-12 (AMP) 6 The Lord said also to him, Put your hand into your bosom. He put his
hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
7 [God]
said, Put your hand into your bosom again. So, he put his hand back into his bosom, and
when he took it out, behold, it was restored as the rest of his flesh. 8 [Then God said] If they will
not believe you or heed the voice or the testimony of the first sign, they may believe the voice
or the witness of the second sign. 9 But if they will also not believe these two signs or heed your
voice, you shall take some water of the river [Nile] and pour it upon the dry land; and the water
which you take out of the river [Nile] shall become blood on the dry land. 10 And Moses said to
the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before nor since You have
spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and have a heavy and awkward tongue. 11 And
the Lord said to him, who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the
seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and
will teach you what you shall say.
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Exodus 14:21-31 (AMP) 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused
the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land; and the
waters were divided. 22 And the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the
waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and
went in after them into the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his
horsemen. 24 And in the morning, watch the Lord through the pillar of fire and cloud looked
down on the host of the Egyptians and discomfited [them], 25 And bound (clogged, took off)
their chariot wheels, making them drive heavily; and the Egyptians said, let us flee from the
face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians! 26 Then the Lord said to Moses,
stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon
their chariots and horsemen. 27 So Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea
returned to its strength and normal flow when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled
into it [being met by it]; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians and shook them off into the
midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the
host of Pharaoh that pursued them; not even one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites
walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right
hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians,
and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which
the Lord did against the Egyptians, and the people [reverently] feared the Lord and trusted in
(relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord and to His servant Moses.
Numbers 22:30 (AMP) 30 and the donkey said to Balaam, am not I your donkey, upon which you
have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he
said, no.
10. Choose one or two. Luke 7:11-18; Luke 6:6-8; John 2:1-11; Luke 4:38-41 who was
performing the miracle? __________________________________________________________
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Luke 7:11-18 (AMP) 11 soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a
great throng accompanied Him. 12 [Just] as He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man
who had died was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a
large gathering from the town was accompanying her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, He had
compassion on her and said to her, do not weep. 14 And He went forward and touched the
funeral bier, and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, arise [from
death]! 15 And the man [who was] dead sat up and began to speak. And [Jesus] gave him [back]
to his mother. 16 Profound and reverent fear seized them all, and they began to recognize God
and praise and give thanks, saying, a great Prophet has appeared among us! And God has
visited His people [in order to help and care for and provide for them]! 17 And this report
concerning [Jesus] spread through the whole of Judea and all the country round about. 18 And
John's disciples brought him [who was now in prison] word of all these things.
Luke 6:6-8 (AMP) 6 And it occurred on another Sabbath that when He went into the synagogue
and taught, a man was present whose right hand was withered.7 And the scribes and the
Pharisees kept watching Jesus to see whether He would [actually] heal on the Sabbath, in order
that they might get [some ground for] accusation against Him. 8 But He was aware all along of
their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the
midst. And he arose and stood there.
John 2:1-11 (AMP) 1 ON THE third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother
of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited with His disciples to the wedding. 3 And when the
wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, they have no more wine! 4 Jesus said to her,
[Dear] woman, what is that to you and to me? [What do we have in common? Leave it to me.]
My time (hour to act) has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to
you, do it. 6 Now there were six water pots of stone standing there, as the Jewish custom of
purification (ceremonial washing) demanded, holding twenty to thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus
said to them, Fill the water pots with water. So, they filled them up to the brim.8 Then He said
to them, draw some out now and take it to the manager of the feast [to the one presiding, the
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superintendent of the banquet]. So, they took him some. 9 And when the manager tasted the
water just now turned into wine, not knowing where it came from—though the servants who
had drawn the water knew—he called the bridegroom 10 And said to him, everyone else serves
his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so
good; but you have kept back the good wine until now! 11 This, the first of His signs (miracles,
wonderworks), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory [by it He displayed
His greatness and His power openly], and His disciples believed in Him [adhered to, trusted in,
and relied on Him].
Luke 4:38-41 (AMP) 38 Then He arose and left the synagogue and went into Simon's (Peter's)
house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering in the grip of a burning fever, and they
pleaded with Him for her. 39 And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and
immediately she got up and began waiting on them. 40 Now at the setting of the sun [indicating
the end of the Sabbath], all those who had any [who were] sick with various diseases brought
them to Him, and He laid His hands upon every one of them and cured them. 41 And demons
even came out of many people, screaming and crying out, you are the Son of God! But He
rebuked them and would not permit them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ
(the Messiah).
11. Choose one or two. John 3:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Peter 3:18. Who was performing the
miracle? ___________________________________________________________________
John 3:6-8 (AMP) 6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and
what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at my telling
you, you must all be born anew (from above). 8 The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and
though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So,
it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
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1 Corinthians 12:13 (AMP) 13 for by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were
all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one
body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18 (AMP) 18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous
for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us
to God. In His human body, He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,
12. Choose one or two. 2 Samuel 24:16; Luke 1:19-20; John 5:2-4; Acts 5:19. Who was
performing the miracle? _______________________________________________________
2 Samuel 24:16 (AMP) 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy
it, the Lord relented of the evil and reversed His judgment and said to the destroying angel, it is
enough; now stay your hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah
the Jebusite.
Luke 1:19-20 (AMP) 19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence
of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Now behold, you
will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take
place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be
fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.
John 5:2-4 (AMP) 2 now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the
Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). 3 In these lay a
great number of sick folk—some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up)—
waiting for the bubbling up of the water. 4 For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed
seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring
up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted.
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Acts 5:19 (AMP) 19 but during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and,
leading them out, said,
13. Choose one or two. 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 24:24; Exodus 7:11; 1 Samuel 28:7-14.
Who is performing the miracle? ________________________________________________
2 Thessalonians 2:9 (AMP) 9 the coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the
activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of
[pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels— [all of them] lying wonders—
Matthew 24:24 (AMP) 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great
signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen
ones).
Exodus 7:11 (AMP) 11 Then Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and divination]
and the sorcerers (wizards). And they also, these magicians of Egypt, did similar things with
their enchantments and secret arts.
1 Samuel 28:7-14 (AMP) 7 Then Saul said to his servants, find me a woman who is a medium
[between the living and the dead], that I may go and inquire of her. His servants said, Behold,
there is a woman who is a medium at Endor. 8 So Saul disguised himself, put on other raiment,
and he and two men with him went and came to the woman at night. He said to her, perceive
for me by the familiar spirit and bring up for me the dead person whom I shall name to you. 9
The woman said, see here, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are
mediums and wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a trap for my life to cause my
death? 10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment
come to you for this. 11 The woman said, whom shall I bring up for you? He said, Bring up
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Samuel for me.
12 And
when the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and she said to Saul, why have you
deceived me? For you are Saul! 13 The king said to her, be not afraid; what do you see? The
woman said to Saul, I see a god [terrifying superhuman being] coming up out of the earth! 14 He
said to her, in what form is he? And she said, an old man comes up, covered with a mantle. And
Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and made
obeisance.
14. What did you find most interesting about this lesson? ______________________________
WHAT’S IN A MIRACLE?
Syllabus 12
How do you define something beyond explanation?
Many theologians have tried. Some
definitions include: “A miracle is a work wrought by a divine power for a divine purpose by means
beyond the reach of man”. William Taylor defines a miracle as, “A work out of the usual sequence
of secondary causes and effects which cannot be accounted for by the ordinary operation of
those causes, and which is produced by the agency of God through the instrumentality of one
who claims to be his representative, and in attestation of the message which he brings”.
Webster’s definition is: “An event or effect in the physical world deviating from the known laws
of nature, or transcending our knowledge of these laws; and extra-ordinary anomalous, or
abnormal event brought about by super-human agency.” About as clear as mud!
The Bible
itself gives us the best definition of ‘miracle’ by the names by which they are called. These names
are: miracles – signs – wonders – powers – works – great things – glorious things – strange things
– wonderful things – marvelous things – and marvelous works.
The Bible does not define miracles from the standpoint of nature or science but from the
standpoint of a moral sense, moral power, moral aim and the moral effect which they
represented. The Biblical explanation of miracles are manifestations of God’s extraordinary work
indicating powers beyond the ordinary. God’s Sovereignty is their determining factor. A true
miracle cannot be ‘trumped-up, pumped-up or controlled’. God wills or He does not. Like the
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prophets of Baal, we can wail, conjure, cut ourselves till blood gushes – but unless GOD chooses
to move – there is no miracle.
Throughout the Bible are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of recorded miracles. These miracles
were performed by God (Elohim), Christ, The Holy Spirit, angels, servants of God; and yes, in some
mysterious way the Devil and his cohorts.
The Bible reveals God’s miracle power from creation – through Revelation. God displayed
miracles through the history of mankind displaying power over nature, power over disease,
power over death, and power over demons. Miracles were the proof of Jesus’ deity and
Messiahship. His ministry was authenticated by His miracles and they were illustrations of the
great salvation which He preached.
Miracles are parables of grace (unmerited favor) and have a two-fold value – a physical and
a spiritual. For instance, the casting out of demons symbolizes Jesus’ power over the spirit world;
the healing of the lepers illustrates the removal of sin’s defilement; the raising of the dead
demonstrates Christ’s power to raise those who are dead in sin. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He
never used His powers to promote Himself or to astonish people but to aid and relieve the needy.
The Holy Spirit as co-equal with the Father and Son is the Dispenser of miraculous gifts. These
gifts of the Spirit are to be sought after (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1) and are not to be neglected,
despised or purchased (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Thessalonians 5:20; Acts 8:20).
The miracles of the Persons of the Trinity are inherent in each, but to angels and men power
is delegated. Angels were created by God to carry out His will and work and the Bible has
recorded many instances where God used angels as agents to perform miracles. One can only
wonder at the countless unseen miracles that transpire in the heavens daily.
The Holy Spirit as co-equal with the Father and Son is the Dispenser of miraculous gifts. These
gifts of the Spirit are to be sought after (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1) and are not to be neglected,
despised or purchased. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Thessalonians 5:20; Acts 8:20).
Human agents cannot perform miracles directly. We can only perform them as power is
delegated to us by God. We are only channels through whom miracles may transpire.
Those who performed miracles recorded in the New Testament had to disclaim any power of
their own (Acts 3:12). They had to possess faith in God’s power to perform what was impossible
from the human standpoint. (Matthew 17:20; 21:21; John 14:21; Acts 3:16; 6:8) Many miracles
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occurred at the command, or at the prayer of the person to whom they are attributed.
The Bible speaks of miracles performed through the power of the Devil (2 Thessalonians 2:9,
Revelation 16:14) and false Christs and false prophets (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13:13).
Counterfeit miracles were designed to support false religions (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) and are a
mark of apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9). Satan can appear as “an angel of light” and can
counterfeit the prerogative of God – namely miracles. It is a wise person who requests the gift
of discerning of spirits in order to tell the difference!
Some teach that miracles are not for today. They teach that with the passing of the apostles
God withdrew His miraculous powers. They claim that Old Testament miracles established the
supremacy of God as God over all the dead gods of idolatry. The miracles of Christ established
His claims to deity and Messiahship. Apostolic miracles established the Church as a divine
institution, and once firmly established was mainly left to ordinary providence. (God pity any
church left to ordinary providence!) They use passages such as 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 as their
proof text. However, to this author, how do they account for the countless times God has
providentially intervened in my life? How can they explain away the disappearance of cancers,
or restoration of eyesight? How can they deny the miracle of the New Birth which is the greatest
of all miracles for human beings?
Yes, abuses abound and have abounded. Who can condemn the critic who scoffs at icons
bleeding, nodding, smiling, frowning or speaking? People are told to go to some shrine or kiss
some rock to be healed. What about today’s faith healers who lay the “burden of having enough
faith” on the sick and dying. They teach one need only touch a handkerchief or make contact with
the TV set and you shall…
How many countless thousands have been deceived, disappointed,
disillusioned and left hurting?
The Lord has indeed triumphed over all human disorders – physical - mental – nervous. He
has triumphed over all cosmic forces on land and sea, organic and inorganic. He has triumphed
over the spiritual world represented by the Devil, demons and death. We through the Power of
The Holy Spirit are more than conquerors over these same elements - yet scripture reminds us in
Daniel 4:35 “God doeth according to His will among the army of heaven and among the
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inhabitants of earth”. God is the Worker of miracles and it is in the Power of His Holy Spirit that
we are to minister to, pray for and tell others. Our responsibility ends with the telling. It is God’s
responsibility to do as He wills.
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