Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, March 9, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
BIBLE-BELIEVING FUNDAMENTALISTS BELIEVE IN THE SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Exodus 7:1-12
Text: Exodus 7:9
Exodus 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
Introduction: A Bible-believing fundamentalist believes the Bible he holds in his hand is God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible word. He holds certain grand truths of that Bible to be FUNDAMENTAL and makes those truths qualifications for fellowship. One of those fundamentals is the truth of
THE SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE
This doctrine is non-negotiable. It is not a secondary doctrine; it is PRIMARY. It is not INCIDENTAL; it is FUNDAMENTAL. One of the main differences between a fundamentalist and a modernist is that a fundamentalist doesn’t try to explain the miracles of the Bible; he just BELIEVES them!
If you don’t believe in miracles, you certainly can’t believe the BIBLE, for the Bible ITSELF is a miracle!
If you don’t believe in miracles, you probably aren’t even saved, because salvation is a miracle, and what it took to save your soul is a miracle!
In our text verse we have the first occurrence of the word, “miracle,” in the Bible. A miracle is an unusual act of God that is superior to anything that man can do. Notice in the scripture reading that the devil IMITATES God’s miracles, but his miracles are always INFERIOR to GOD’S miracles! The devil is a supernatural being with supernatural powers. He CAN do miracles. His miracles, signs, and wonders will be his greatest device during the Tribulation period to deceive people. However, even the DEVIL can’t match what GOD can do!
By the way, there are no mention of miracles, as the word is used, for 2000 years after Adam. John did no miracle. Most miracles of the Bible, that are called miracles, are connected, as they began, with God dealing with Israel.
However, this Book, the Bible, is FULL of miracles. How can I preach one message on them? Well, we shall do what we can.
I. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PLAGUES ON EGYPT
Numbers 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
A. Drinking water
B. Deluge of frogs
C. Disturbing lice
D. Dirty flies
E. Diseased cattle
F. Dreadful boils
G. Dangerous rain (hail, fire)
H. Devouring locusts
I. Darkness
J. Death of the firstborn
II. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PARTING OF THE WATERS
Exodus 14:21 And 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.
A. Moses, then Joshua
B. Elijah, then Elisha
III. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION OF ISRAEL
Joshua 24:17 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
Hosea 12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
A. Through the 400+ years in Egypt
B. Through the 40 years in the wilderness
C. Through the fightings, wars, and persecutions through the centuries
IV. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PROMPTING OF THE ANIMALS
Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Animals have always obeyed God better than men do!
A. The cooperation in Noah’s Day
B. The catastrophes upon Pharaoh
C. The correction of Balaam
D. The care for Elijah
E. The chastisement of Jonah
F. The conviction of Peter
V. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF THE PROPHETS
James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
A. They split the waters
B. They summoned fire from heaven
C. They stopped the rain
VI. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PROOFS OF THE APOSTLES
Hebrews 2:3-4 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
A. There were sign miracles – 1 Corinthians 1:22; 14:22
B. There were signifying miracles – 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:2
C. There were special miracles – Acts 19:11-12
VII. WE BELIEVE IN THE MIRACULOUS PERFORMANCE OF THE SAVIOR
John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
He performed miracles:
A. With sickness
B. With speech
C. With sight
D. With spirits
E. With substance – water, food
F. With the sepulchre –
- Lazarus
- HIMSELF! Amen!