MODERN MIRACLE WORKERS OR PIOUS PRETENDERS?

Introduction:
	A. Four Oaks Bible Chapel, Tampa, FL
		1. Ernest Angsley, Katherine Kulhman, et al have been found to be frauds
		    more than once.
		2. Not trying to ridicule anyone, simply point the way to the truth.
		3. Watched wrestling as a kid, convinced it was real; then I saw my first
		    live match from third row ringside.
		4. Hope our study of the word of God today will shake loose any
		    misconceptions in this matter.
	B. Are there any miracles being performed today?

I. WHAT ARE MODERN DAY MIRACLE WORKERS FAILING TO DO?
	A. John 14:12 - Must be able to do every miracle that Christ did, and more.
		1. Works of nature - John 6 - calm storm, walk on water.
		2. Control elements - water to wine, feed 5000 with a lad’s lunch (send
		    them to Ethiopia).
		3. Control demons and madness - Gadarene man; sons of Sceva.
		4. Read minds - Matt. 9 - Palsied man, scribes thought he blasphemed.
		5. Cure all diseases - Mongolism, cancer, cerebral palsy, leprosy,
		    paraplegics, limbless, AIDS, etc.
		6. Prophesy - A true prophet meets the requirements of Deut. 13:1-3;
			a. Deut. 18:20-22 - Speaks and it does not come to pass.
		7. Raise the dead - Luke 7:15, widow’s son; John 11 - Lazarus.
	B. Jesus said they would do the same or greater; we are still waiting.

II. WHAT ARE MODERN DAY MIRACLE WORKERS DOING?
	A. Making excuses:
		1. “You don’t have enough faith.”
			a. 2/3 of the miracles in the New Testament had nothing to do with
			    faith on the part of the recipient.
			b. How much faith did the water have to be changed to wine?
			c. Christ said the faith was to be in the worker, not the recipient.
			d. Mark 16:17 - believer’s faith.
			e. Matt. 17:20 - “Faith to move mountains”
		2. “You don’t have enough spirit; you are weak in the Lord.”
			a. 1Cor. 3:1-3 - Corinth was weak, carnal, babes, fed with milk, and
 			    they still performed genuine miracles.
	B. Getting the cart before the horse.
		1. John 10:37-38 - Jesus used the miracles to prove the word; MDMW use
 		    the Word to try to prove their miracles.



III. WHAT ARE MODERN DAY MIRACLE WORKERS FORGETTING?
	A. The purpose of miracles
		1. Confirm the deity of Christ - John 20:30-31.
		2. Confirm the teaching of the word - Mark 16:17-20; Heb. 2:2-4.
	B. Not every one received a gift or even the same gift - 1Cor. 12:29-30.
		1. Modern tongue speakers believe you must get a miraculous gift from
		    the Spirit or you are a second class citizen in the Kingdom.
	C. Tongues aren’t the best gift, 1Cor. 12, yet that’s the one they all want.
	D. Every tongue speaker must have an interpreter or he is to keep silent
		1. 1Cor. 14:27 - speak one at a time, too.
	E. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not to confirm salvation - 1Cor. 14:22.
	F. Is God redundant that He needs to re-confirm that which has been proven?

IV. WHAT ARE MODERN DAY MIRACLE WORKERS DOING TO THEMSELVES?
	A. Gal. 1:7-9 – Bringing themselves under a curse.
	B. 2Tim. 3:8-9 - Making fools of themselves.
	C. Burning themselves out religiously.

V. HAVE MODERN DAY MIRACLE WORKERS PERFORMED ANY MIRACLES?
	A. They have followed no New Testament authority or examples in their
  	     performance; and a performance is what it is.
	B. Miracles have ceased - 1Cor. 13:8-10 (elaborate).
		1. Zech. 13:1-3
	C. Transmission of gifts was by apostles alone.
		1. Rom. 1:11
		2. Acts 8:14-18 - apostles sent to impart gifts; Samaritans did not receive
		    them automatically.
		3. When the apostles go, so do the gifts.
	D. There was never any doubt over New Testament miracles.
		1. John 11 - Lazarus was dead four days and walked from the tomb.
		2. Matt. 12 - man with withered hand in presence of skeptical Pharisees.
		3. Acts 4:15-16
	E. There is nothing but doubt over modern miracles.
		1. Dr. Nolan, In Search of a Miracle
		2. They have denied the performance of their miracles to us hard-nosed
		    unbelievers.
			a. 2Cor. 12:12 - “Be patient with me and show me a mighty work.”

Conclusion:
	A. There are no more miracles; those who are involved with them are either
	    deceivers or deceived. It is our duty to bring them out of this error.
	B. Many of them are sincere, but they are sincerely mistaken.
	C. Some here today are not ready to meet the Lord.