The Prophesy Fulfilled: God's Miracles in Missouri

The Prophesy Fulfilled The Powers of the King – Chapters 8 & 9 How Followers Respond to Miracles

Does God still show His power in miracles? How do you respond to God’s miracles? “There are two ways to live your life. One is as thought nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein (1879-1955) DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Have you ever see or experienced God’s miracles? Describe your miracles.

MIRACLE IN MISSOURI? POWER OF A PRIEST? ‘Mystery Priest’ Vanishes After Anointing Crash Victim August 9th, 2013. A small Missouri town is looking for a man not suspected of a crime but, rather, a miracle. “I think that this time I’ve actually witnessed a guardian angel at work,” Jeremiah See of the New London Fire Department told ABC News. An unidentified allegedly drunken driver hit Katie Lentz, of Quincy, Mo., head on Aug. 4 while traveling on Route 19 near Center, Mo., pinning the 19-year-old in the front seat of her convertible. With her vital signs failing fast, she asked rescue crews to pray with her. That’s when first responders say a man who looked like a catholic priest seemed to appear out of nowhere, despite a 2-mile perimeter blocking the scene. “He began to pray and use the anointing oil,” New London Fire Chief Raymond Reed said. “There was a calmness that, to me, seemed to come over the entire scene.” But that’s not the only seemingly divine detail. Firefighters say their equipment kept failing until the mystery man showed up. “His words were to remain calm, that our tools would now work,” Reed said. “Instantaneously, at that moment, our neighboring department arrived with fresh extrication tools.” Lentz survived, but the man vanished before crews could thank him. The young woman is recovering in the hospital with broken legs and ribs, but some say it could’ve been worse, if not for the mystery man on the highway. “Whether it was just a priest as an angel, or an actual angel coming down,” Lentz’s friend Travis Wiseman said, “he was an angel to everyone and to Katie.”

MIRACLE IN MISSOURI? POWER OF A PRIEST? Priest Identified…an ambassador of Christ I had Mass in Ewing MO as the regular priest was sick. As I was returning, I arrived at the scene. The authorities were redirecting traffic. I waited till it was possible to drive up closer. I parked behind a large vehicle about 150 yards from the scene. I asked the Sheriff's permission and approached the scene of the accident. I absolved and anointed Katie, and, at her request, prayed that her leg would not hurt. Then I stepped aside to where some rescue personnel and the pilot were waiting, and prayed the rosary silently. I left when the helicopter was about to take off, and before I got to my car it was on its way to Quincy. I was amazed at the calmness of the two Highway patrol men. The sergeant was completely in control, amazingly calm. Everybody worked as harmoniously as a Swiss watch despite the critical nature of the scene. I gave my name to one of the authorities, perhaps to the sergeant of Highway Patrol, explaining that I was returning having celebrated Mass at Ewing. It was the sergeant who, at the Sheriff's request, gave me Katie's name as I was leaving, so I could visit her in hospital -- I assumed she would be taken to Columbia. I think there may have been angels there too and, in this context, I congratulate the fire team from New London and Hannibal, the Sheriff/deputies of Ralls County, the Highway Patrol personnel, the helicopter team, the nurses and all who worked so professionally. God has blessed your work. I hope the credit goes where it is due.

Jesus came to fulfill the Scriptures! • Jesus reveals His power over nature! • Jesus reveals His authority over “spirits”! • Jesus demonstrates His love & compassion for the people! • Jesus demonstrates power over death! • Jesus reassures us that He can do what He promises! JUSUS PERFORMS MIRACLES…WHY? • Jesus is God incarnate! • Jesus substantiates His claims!

"It may be that the event which we call a miracle was brought on not by a suspension of the laws in ordinary operation, but by the super addition of something not ordinarily in operation."Sir George Stokes, renowned physicist "We find that Christianity has better evidence and more witnesses writing closer to the time of the events than any other religion. There is no religion that offers the kind of miracles that Christianity can claim. No other religion has the record of specific prophesy or divine deliverance that the Bible gives. And no other religion has any miracle that can be compared to the resurrection of Jesus Christ."Dr. Norman Geisler “Subtract the miracles from Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, or Taoism and you have essentially the same religion. Subtract miracles from Christianity and you have nothing but clichés and platitudes”Peter Kreeft, Christianity for Modern Pagans, 1993 “All the essential and distinctive elements of Christianity are miracles: creation, revelation, the giving of the law, prophesies, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the Second Coming, and Last Judgment.” Josh McDowell LET’S EXPLORE MIRACLES…HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY FOR CHRISTIANS?

WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS BELIEVING IN… The controversy is with the whole principle of the possibility of miracles. And this finds its solution in our concept of God! Once we assume the existence of God, there is no problem with miracles, because God is by definition, all-powerful. (If God created the universe, there is a supernatural dimension to reality, and this means that miracles are possible.) This circle contains all the knowledge of the universe…color in your percent of that knowledge!

MAN GOD WHY DO MIRACLES THREATEN PEOPLE? • Man proclaims self-sufficiency • He considers himself “Enlightened” & “Civilized” • Endless quest for all knowledge (possible to know all & explain all) • An orderly, predictable, controllable world • The world is a “tight, safe, predictable playing-field” • God is supreme & we are dependent upon Him • We possess limited knowledge • We are not in control; our world can change beyond our ability to “predict” • I am accountable to a higher power for my actions and I must the reality that I cannot continue pursuing an immoral & selfish lifestyle

WHAT IS A MIRACLE? Biblically… • An act of God breaking into (intervening), changing, or interrupting the ordinary course of things… • That produces an intentional but unusual event… • That would not have occurred otherwise… • For the specific purpose of producing profound responses in those who were privileged to observe them. They always had a redemptive purpose and were never done to dazzle people or ostentatiously display His supernatural powers

LOTS OF RELIABLE RECORDS! The four Gospels record 35 of the many miracles Christ preformed in His brief public ministry. They always had a redemptive purpose and were never done to dazzle people or ostentatiously display His supernatural powers(Matt 4:1-7) The miracles of Christ were done publicly (sometimes before 1000's of eyewitnesses)(Acts 2:22) Many of these witnesses were hostile to Christ. They never denied He preformed these miracles, they only challenged His source of power (Matt 12:24) and His authority to do them (Matt 21:23). There is the testimony of those who were “cured”, “healed”, etc. There were reliable witnesses, who lived out "truth" and died for what they believed! His miracles set Him apart from the founders and leaders of other world religions (above all being the Resurrection!)

Difference Between Miracles and Magic

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy Matt. 8:1-4 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a chronic infection caused by a specific bacteria. It is primarily a disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes.In the 1940’s the medical world found a successful treatment using a combination of antibiotics.

How did the leper react when he saw Jesus? What did Jesus tell the leper? And what is the “gift commanded by Moses”? THE LEPER’S RESPONSE How did Dr. Luke describe the leper? (Luke 5:12 AMP) While He was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean. What did the law require of Lepers? (Leviticus 13:44-46) Why? Do you see any comparisons between leprosy and our sin?

THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION Matt. 8:5-13 “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” “The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” THE CENTURION’S RESPONSE How did the centurion respond to Jesus? How did Jesus respond to the centurion? Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. What does Jesus say about those who do not come humbly in faith…believing?

JESUS HEALS MANY Matt. 8:14-17 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Isaiah 53:4) “Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment]”

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS Matt. 8:18-22 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” When Matthew identifies a “teacher of the law” & “another disciple” inquiring of Jesus, what is Matthew implying about those asking the questions? How does Jesus respond to these questions?

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS Matt. 8:18-22 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” What are “dens” and “nests” for? What is Jesus implying in his response to the “teacher of the law”?

Ossuary: An ossuary is a chest, box, container made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS Matt. 8:18-22 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Is Jesus being harsh, cruel, insensitive, heard-hearted? What is the Jewish tradition and laws surrounding the buying of deceased family members? What is the “implied” response of the those who said they wanted to follow Jesus? What does Jesus see in their heart?

JESUS CALMS THE STORMS Matt. 8:23-27 “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” What did Jesus tell the apostles in verse Matthew 8:18? What was Jesus doing in the boat? How did the disciples react to the storm? How did Jesus respond? What do the those in the boat say about Jesus?

JESUS RESTORES 2 DEMON-POSSESSED MEN Matt. 8:28-34 “When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

JESUS RESTORES 2 DEMON-POSSESSED MEN Matt. 8:28-34 “Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” How did the owners of the pigs respond? How did the townspeople respond?

JESUS FORGIVES & HEALS A PARALYZED MAN Matt. 9:1-8 “Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” What is easier, healing a paralyzed man or forgiving his sin? We see a new dimension of Jesus' DIVINE authority!! How did the “teachers of the law” respond? “At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”

A NEW ERA HAS DAWNED! JESUS’ DIVINE REVELS THE REASON FOR HIS COMING! “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” How did the paralytic respond? How did the people respond? An entirely new era had dawned – the age of forgiveness of sins…the reason for which Jesus had been born!

THE CALLING OF MATTHEW Matt. 9:9-13 “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Don’t you find it interesting that Matthew’s calling is inserted among Jesus' “miracles”! Why was Matthew’s calling a “miracle”? Is your calling a “miracle”? Explain How do you think the Jews following Jesus and his closest disciples thought about his selection?

JESUS PARTY’S WITH SINNERS Matt. 9:9-13 “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Why did Jesus gather with, eat with, commune with “the evil” tax collectors? How do you think the tax collectors felt about Jesus hanging out with them? How did the Pharisees respond? “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

JESUS QUESTIONED ABOUT FASTING Matt. 9:14-17 “Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” What are John’s disciples saying? What is their attitude? “Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” What is Jesus saying here? (HINT: Under what conditions was fasting often practiced by the Jews?) • Sign of mourning • When danger threatened • When under divine displeasure • When great calamity befell the land

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.” “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” JESUS USHERS IN A NEW WAY AND OFFERS A NEW WINE Matt. 9:14-17 Does spiritual transformation come from traditional practices? Does the keeping of laws, the observance of ancient rituals, or the emphasis on spiritual works bring us life and please God? Explain the parables of the cloth and the wineskin. “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

JESUS RAISES THE DEAD & HEALS THE SICK Matt. 9:18-26 “While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.” Why did Jesus respond so quickly to the father’s request? “Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” Why did Jesus respond to the woman?

JESUS RAISES THE DEAD & HEALS THE SICK Matt. 9:18-26 “When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. Why did the people laugh at Jesus?

JESUS HEALS THE BLIND & THE MUTE Matt. 9:27-34 “Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”. Why did Jesus respond to the 2 men? Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone? “But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.” Do you much blame them?

JESUS HEALS THE BLIND & THE MUTE Matt. 9:27-34 “While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” How did the crowd respond? How did the Pharisees respond?

WORKERS ARE FEW Matt. 9:35-38 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” What does Jesus mean by the “harvest is plentiful”? Why are the workers few? What are we called (commanded) to do?

THE AUTHORITY OF EMMANUEL HOW DOES JESUS DEMONSTRATE HIS AUTHORITY? WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE?

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THE POWER OF JESUS IN OUR LIVES? Do we limit God to the tangible…only what we can see, touch, and hear? Do we limit God to the laws of science and only to those things we can “prove”? Do we live in a way that really doesn’t require faith? Or do we come with a heart that “hungers and thirsts” after God and welcomes ALL of who He is and ALL of wants to be in our lives? (EVEN IF IT COSTS US OUR COMFORT?) What are the “costs” to us of following Christ?

The Prophesy Fulfilled: God's Miracles in Missouri