END-TIME PROPHETS (Online Book) - Chapter 3

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COJCOM · End Time Prophets - Chapter 3

0:04 Miracles of Jesus Christ
No. 1 - 4:26:18 - Jesus Turns Water Into Wine
No. 2 - 10:21:05 - Jesus Heals An Officials' Son
No. 3 - 12:37:18 - Jesus Drives Out An Evil Spirit
No. 4 - 22:51:02 - Jesus Cleanses A Man With Leprosy
No. 5 - 24:43:15 - Jesus Heals A Centurion's Servant

Minister Michael C. Garrett     About

Chapter 3: Miracles of Jesus Christ

Note: This book was created from a series of sermons starting in November 2016 by Mr. Garrett. This book consists of 6 chapters reflecting the eight sermons published of the same title. This book is for the convenience of having all eight sermons in one easy-to-read format and download. These sermons are on our YouTube channel - Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ - YouTube

I’d like to point out something that I stated in the previous chapter. If you would turn to Acts 2:22 – when Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost in approximately A.D. 31, speaking very forcefully, saying, “’ Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man [approved] by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did [by Him and] through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know –’” – a ‘Man approved of God by the miracles, wonders, and signs that were done through Him.’”

     That’s a powerful statement!

     John 14. I also pointed this out in the previous chapter, and will probably cover this some more in the following chapters because I want to get you focused on what I’m trying to relate to you.

     Here in this chapter, we’re going to talk about many of the miracles which Jesus Christ performed during His ministry almost two thousand years ago when He was indeed a human being. And those miracles proved that He was the Son of God and a Servant of God. Well, notice what Jesus Himself says in John 14:12 – “’ Most assuredly, …’” – which means, in absolute truth! “ … ‘I say to you, he who believes [on] Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.’”

     What He is saying, which is very obvious – ‘there will be a group of people in the end-time that would be empowered by God’s Spirit, God’s presence, to be able to participate in miracles taking place.’ And, as they perform these miracles they will demonstrate and prove that these end-time prophets (a phrase which is not in the Bible, but a phrase that helps explain a biblical event) due indeed represent God the Father and Jesus Christ.

     We’re going to start covering some of the miracles Jesus did – and keep in mind, His own words, ‘and greater works than these he will do.’ Now, when will this outpouring of miracles take place!? I don’t know. As I’ve said – it could be three years from now, it could be seven years, ten years, twenty, thirty, fifty, a hundred. It all depends on when the timetable of when Jesus Christ is going to return. It will happen a fairly short time before the return of Jesus Christ – in what I like to call the ‘end-time days.’ How close are we!? I don’t know. And as I’ve said before, anyone that tells you that they know, they aren’t speaking the truth – because no man knows right now. God the Father knows. And I’m sure that by now Jesus Christ knows. But when it will happen – I don’t know.

     We are to ‘watch and pray’ and to analyze and discern and to try to get an insight into when these events may truly come to pass. But anyway – these things will happen!

Miracles of Jesus Christ

We’re going to go – basically – through a chronology, through time.

     The very first miracle Jesus performed – that we know about – written down in the Bible is when Jesus turned water into wine.

     1. Jesus turns water into wine. John 2:1-11.

I must say, I have a feeling that Jesus did miracles before this happened, but they weren’t recorded.

     Verse 1 – “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.”

     ‘The mother of Jesus was there’ I think is significant. I think we’re going to find out that – and it’s a pretty good indication – that the wedding was for a sister of Jesus Christ. And the mother is hoping and making sure that the wedding goes well. Remember, Joseph has since died.

     Verse 2 – “Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3) And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’” – so they had wine, but everyone was having such a good time, that the wine ran out.

     There are a lot of church traditions that just coil in unbelief at the suggestion that Jesus Christ and His disciples – the future apostles – were drinking wine. And a lot of these church denominations claim, ‘Oh, it wasn’t wine! It was grape juice.’ Don’t fool yourself!

     In Greek, the word is oinos. And if you were to get on a plane this afternoon and travel to Athens, Greece, and go to a restaurant – and if you ordered oinos – they would bring to you a glass of about 12 percent alcohol-induced wine. Indeed, it was wine! It wasn’t grape juice!

     I don’t know why these different church groups struggle so hard to try to prove that it wasn’t alcohol. It was alcohol. Now, does that mean that we are just supposed to drink all the alcohol that we want to!? Obviously not. There are many prohibitions in the Bible about becoming over-intoxicated. Many, such as the Psalm and the Proverbs in different accounts – being drunk is different than having a glass of wine. Drinking a margarita with a Mexican food meal is different than drinking a whole pitcher full of margaritas. Having a beer with your pizza is different than drinking a whole 24 case in one night. You can drink a beer and you’re not drunk. You can drink a glass of wine and not be intoxicated. So, just because you’re drinking wine doesn’t mean you have got to get looped!

     Verse 4 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour …’” – ‘the hour of unveiling that I AM indeed a Man approved of God by miracles and signs, and wonders – indeed the Son of God’ “ … ‘has not yet come.’ 5) His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’” Now, keep in mind – she is very insistent. And, she knows that her oldest son is the Son of God. How does she know that!? Well, remember, she was told by ‘the angel’ – possibly Gabriel – that the life that was going to form inside of her womb was indeed from God Himself. She heard that from an angelic being. So, she knows who He is, and she knows what He can do. And by her being in the middle of this – you don’t get the feeling that she’s a guest at this wedding. You get the feeling that she’s the one making it happen. That she’s the one in charge.

     Verse 6 – “Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7) Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8) And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.’”

     The servants put the water in these giant jars, and then He told them, ‘dip in there about a cup and give it to the master of the wedding.’ “ … And they took it.”

     Verse 9 – “When the master of the feast [very possibly the father of the bridegroom] had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10) And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’

     Verse 11 – "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed [on] Him.”

     I think it’s ironic – when I think about some of the church groups that just become extremely hostile about the idea of anyone ever having a drink. Now, if you have problems with alcohol in that you can’t control yourself – then you probably shouldn’t take a drink. I think that’s a pretty good idea.

     2. Jesus heals an official’s son. John 4:43-54.

     John 4. Verse 46 – “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.”

     Capernaum was a city where Jesus Christ probably owned a home. It was a very fancy city, a beautiful city with a lot of white marble. Sort of upper-echelon people living there.

     Verse 47 – “When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48) Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.’”

     He was observing that some people can be sort of cynical – I think that’s what Jesus was thinking about there.

     Verse 49 – “The nobleman said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies!’ 50) Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way, your son lives.’ So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51) And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, ‘Your son lives!’ 52) Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, ‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ 53) So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’ And he himself believed, and his whole household.”

     The nobleman became a convert to Jesus Christ and his entire home. Remember, ‘a Man approved of God through miracles, signs, and wonders.’

     Verse 54 – “This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

     3. Jesus drives out an evil spirit. Mark 1:21-27; Luke 4:31-36.

     If you would turn to Luke 4. Verse 28 – “So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29) and rose up and thrust Him [Jesus Christ] out of the city; and they led Him to the brow [the edge] of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30) Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”

     Now, let’s get the background of this story.

     Now, notice verse 14 – “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15) And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up [His hometown]. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”

     Verse 17 – And He was handed the Book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written: 18) ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’”

     Verse 20 – “Then He closed the Book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21) And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22) So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ 23) He said to them, ‘You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’” 24) Then He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.’”

     That’s a very powerful statement! If you become enthused with this new knowledge that you are learning, and if you sit down at your dinner table tonight and start sharing with them the things that you have learned, your family is probably not going to receive you well. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that you’re going to make them uncomfortable, and sooner or later they will sort of mock you in one way or another. You will not be accepted and received with great joy.

     Verse 25 – “’ But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven [the atmosphere] was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26) but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27) And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’”

     So, when these Jewish citizens heard the things that Jesus was saying in their synagogue, some of them became enraged and wanted to kill Him!

     Verse 30 – “ Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”

     Now, how did He do that!?

     I believe that Jesus Christ had the ability to change His appearance as it suited His will. And there are many stories where Jesus Christ simply walked through a crowd – which was predetermined that they wanted to kill Him. And He did so without even being recognized. Because He had the power of God with Him.

     If you would turn to Mark 1. Notice verse 14 – “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching …” – what? “ … the gospel …” – the announcement. The Good News “ … of the Kingdom of God, …”

     The Kingdom of God is the pinnacle of the Plan of God. We here at the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ say often – and we believe this – that we are here to talk about the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God. And, the ultimate place that you want to be in the Plan of God is to be a recipient – to be a full-time member of the Kingdom of God.

     Verse 15 – “and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT …’” – a consistent message throughout the Bible. Especially the New Testament. Now, the word ‘repent’ – it sounds religious – but all it means is to be willing to change. Be willing to look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you have flaws, you have problems, and you have issues in your life that fall far short of the glory of God. And these issues need to be cleaned up. Repent – be willing to change. Be wanting to change.

     Now, you can’t change yourself – but if you want to be changed and you go to God Almighty and Jesus Christ and sincerely say, ‘Help me with my weaknesses, help me with my sins, help me with my spiritual problems – help me to change.’ They are very faithful and they will help you to change. But you have to be wanting it. If you don’t ask Them, They’re basically going to leave you alone. But if They leave you alone, you never become the recipient of the promises made through the New Covenant – with the greatest promise of all being immortality and eternal life in the Kingdom of God!

     “ … ‘and believe in the gospel.’” - believe this Truth and this Plan, this Word.

     Verse 21 – “Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22) And they were astonished at His [doctrine], for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23) Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.” – a demonic spirit. “ … And he cried out, 24) saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!’”

     That’s quite a statement coming from a demon! The demon shows a little more intelligence than a whole lot of people who live in our society today! Because in America – today – and I can’t speak for Canada or Europe (I’ve heard a few stories) – the word Jesus Christ sometimes is only uttered as a profane word. But to actually mean it – that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings and soon will be the very Being in charge of the Kingdom of God. There are very few people who believe that. Very few actually sit down and read the Bible as a commentary on the One who is the Author of life and who is the Giver of eternal life. This Being that we call Jesus Christ holds within His hand the power to sentence you to death, or the power to grant you immortal and eternal life. That is a name that should be respected!

     This demon knew exactly who Jesus was! Verse 25 – “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’ 26) And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27) Then they were all amazed, …”

     I can’t even imagine what such a scene would be like.

     Now, before we go any further. If in your lifetime, you happen to come across a demon-possessed person who is directly confronting you – I suggest strongly that you do not take it upon yourself to tell the demon to “come out” of there. I strongly suggest that you simply say, “The Lord Jesus Christ rebuke you!” And let Jesus do the work. Because if you don’t you may end up in a whole lot of hot water. Because the demon may just really not care about who you are.

     who you are.

“ … so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’ 28) And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

     Now – keep in mind – the end-time prophets (this collection of people called by Jesus Christ) will have the same type of power given to them directly by Jesus Christ and backed up by Jesus Christ.

     4. Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy. Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 4:12-14.

     Turn with me if you will to Matthew 8. Verse 1 – “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2) And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’”

     Now, leprosy, to the best of my knowledge, is known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. And because they had very little or no medicine at that time – maybe other than some natural herbs – an infection could become very serious. And this particular infection – and you’ve heard of stories about them becoming terribly disfigured, pale skin patches, lesions, tissue loss, causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed. A very upsetting condition back in that day – as well as today.

    There are places in the world today where leprosy can still be found. 2 But thankfully, our country at the present time is not plagued by this type of horrible disease.

     Verse 3 – “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I AM willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4) And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’”

     5. Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant. Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10.

     Verse 5 – “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion 4 came to Him, pleading with Him, 6) saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ 7) And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ 8) The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9) For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ 10) When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11) And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom [from] Heaven. 12) But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.”

     There’s a lot in those few paragraphs there!

     Matthew 8:11 is proof – from the words of Jesus Christ – that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob will be – someday – in the Kingdom from Heaven. The Kingdom of God! But right now, they aren’t.

     But if you would turn back to the Book of Hebrews. Chapter 11 talking about faith. Verse 8 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in [tabernacles] with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

     Verse 13 – “These all died in faith, not having received [as yet] the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

     And verse 16 says, “ … for He [God] has prepared a city for them.” Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, we’re told by the very words of Jesus Christ and by the writings of Paul in the Book of Hebrews that they are going to be in the Kingdom of God! But they are not yet in the Kingdom of God.

     And, this is another one of the major fallacies of the teachings and doctrines of the churches of mainstream Christianity. And of many religions. They teach that upon death the “good” people go straight up to Heaven, and the “bad” people go down to “burning Hell!” That’s what they teach – that’s what the churches teach! And you know I’m not lying. And yet, that is not what your Bible says! ■

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11-19-2016 - End-Time Prophets - Part C