Supernatural – Part 1

Over the Physical World

June 28, 2020

The big issue… is whether belief in supernatural occurrences is based on mistake, misunderstanding, fraud, legend, rumor, wishful thinking, confirmation bias, the placebo effect—or reality. In other words, does a miracle-performing God actually exist, and has he left fingerprints all over supernatural events throughout history down to the present age? Is he even available to intervene in your life today —Lee Strobel

Miracle (Webster): an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs

A miracle is an event (1) brought about by the power of God that is (2) a temporary (3) exception (4) to the ordinary course of nature (5) for the purpose of showing that God has acted in history. —Dr. Richard L. Purtill

At its core, Christianity is an absolute affirmation of the

.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. —2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV)

The whole idea of being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ requires the

to do that, and it is a supernatural work.

The Christian message is

, too!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. —Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Ultimately it is “the power of God” working through us by His Spirit that brings “salvation to everyone who believes” and entrance into the

of God.

Miracles are almost never about us but point to

and His work and His Kingdom.

Jesus: ‘But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ —Luke 11:20 ESV

Jesus’ miracles gave those around him and us a

into what life in the Kingdom of God will ultimately be like.

When the Kingdom comes – and the Bible says it will come suddenly and without warning – those who’ve committed their life to Christ will be saved and welcomed into the Kingdom, but everyone else will be

of time.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. —2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.… And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. —Exodus 13:17-22 (ESV)

Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, “They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.” And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.’ And they did so. —Exodus 14:1-4 (ESV)

When the text says God hardened “Pharaoh’s heart,” it’s not that God forced Pharaoh to do something he didn’t want to do but that He put Pharaoh in a position where He knew the

of Pharaoh’s heart would cause him to act and chase after the Hebrews.

The Egyptians pursued [the people of Israel], all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. —Exodus 14:9 (ESV)

And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.’ The LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.’ Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel 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. —Exodus 14:13-22 (ESV)

God says He will fight for the people of Israel, and they don’t even get their feet

!

While God does save the people of Israel, He also says, “‘17…I will get

over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the

Reveal Answer

….’”

When God does something

, like He did with Moses and the people of Israel, everyone knows Who is responsible and who gets the credit, honor and glory.

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey him!’ —Matthew 8:23 -27 (NLT)

Miracles tell us that all Creation is ruled by God – He is not bound to the rules and laws, but the laws and rules are bound to

!

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. —Romans 8:18-22 (NLT)

When Jesus returns and his Kingdom fully comes on earth as it is in heaven, not only will the dead arise and those still alive receive their new resurrection bodies, but all

itself will be redeemed and restored.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. —Revelation 21:1 (NLT)

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. —Revelation 22:3 (NLT)

All creation, this entire physical realm, remains subject to God and His will, and He can choose to

at times, to remind us and reveal to us what even Creation will be like when the Kingdom of God fully comes.

Anything God has ever done, he can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, he can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, he can do for you. —A.W. Tozer

Next Week: Supernatural – Over Nations