Miracles

Acts 3:1-26

What is a miracle? One definition might be ?performing an act not possible by the laws of physics.? Flying in an airplane would have been considered a miracle by folks living in the 1^st Century. So sometimes miracles are in the eye of the beholder. But then there are those things that even we cannot explain such as the parting of the Red Sea, raising someone from the dead or, as we see here in Acts Chapter 3, the instant total physical healing of a congenital birth defect.

Unlike the lady who walked into the doctor?s office bent over and hobbling who emerged standing upright. When the people said ?it?s a miracle, your walking straight now, what happened?? And she said ?the doctor gave me a longer cane.? This miracle is real and verified by all the people who were there that day.

It?s the first physical miracle in the book of Acts. There is an unwritten rule in the Bible: the rule of first things. The first time something happens there is significance to it. The first time the church got together they studied God?s Word through the Apostle?s teaching, connected with each other?s lives through fellowship and focused themselves on God through prayer and worship. This forms a model we can use whenever the church gets together. So as we look at this miracle we can learn about God acting through us in the world.

Miracles are an interesting thing. In some ways today we have ?miracle envy?, in that we think that if the Lord is really pleased and really working that we will see miracles happen. Conversely, if miracles don?t happen we wonder what we are doing wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe that miracles do happen today, when God deems it the right time for the right purpose.

1 ? 3

Devout Jews would pray three times a day, 9:00am, 3:00pm, and sunset. Often they would go to the Temple. That?s what Peter and John were doing. They still considered themselves Jews, but now with a very important mission. After we come to know Jesus, we are still the same on the outside, but have a new and very important mission as well.

The Beautiful Gate was a very popular way into the Temple complex. Since giving to the poor was considered a value by good Jews, this man figured he?d be more likely to get money by sitting in a popular place with people predisposed to giving.

Neither he, nor Peter and John, had any idea what was about to happen. This is what might be called a ?divine appointment.? As you are going about your normal everyday activities you have no idea when God is going to put you in a place to do his work, so just be aware of that and be ready.

4 ? 5

Do you suppose that Peter and John had seen this guy on multiple occasions? But something in them said ?take a closer look.? I think that the Holy Spirit gave them special insight?both of them in fact. This didn?t happen every time they passed by a lame person, but in this case God was moving and he made it very clear what was supposed to happen.

We sometimes think that God will move in every situation in exactly the same way. God doesn?t change, but Jesus didn?t heal every person in Palestine, and we must, like the Apostles, be ready for God?s specific direction in specific situations.

And not just a miracle of healing, Peter and John had much more now to offer than alms?they had salvation! A side note here. When you look to the Lord, what do you expect to receive? This guy wanted money, but they offered was healing, and we presume, salvation. Do you presuppose what it is that God is going to give you in response to your prayers? Are you disappointed when He doesn?t answer according to your expectations? If you belong to Him, God hears and answers every prayer, but it is for His glory, and not ours. So be sure to look for the answer God wants to bring, it will be much better than yours!

6 ? 8

Who do you suppose was more surprised?the man, or Peter and John? Luke adds the details about his ankles and feet?remember that Luke was a doctor, so this would have been an important detail. In fact the words he uses are actually technical medical terms for something being out of joint being brought back in (leaping up). His words for foot and ankle are found nowhere else in the New Testament. This was not just a sprained ankle, but a real miracle.

Can you imagine the scene? I?m sure this guy wasn?t acting very ?churchy? as they went into the Temple. He was out of control! You would be too. So all the ruckus draws attention.

9 ? 12

So now we see what is really going here. Yes, God had mercy on this man and healed him, but the larger purpose was to draw a crowd who were ?filled with wonder and amazement?. This is an opportunity to share the gospel.

Perhaps this is a good place to talk about miracles. The healing ratified the gospel but if they had continued at that pace then people would focus on the physical healing rather than on the Healer and the gospel, which brings about healing in the spirit, soul, and body. In fact, miracles decline as we go through the book of Acts.

Today we see so many ministries focus on miracles. It?s gotten so bad that Hollywood makes movies poking fun at the ?miracle workers.? 60 minutes does exposes on the fakery that occurs when ministries bank on miracles to draw a crowd. It also denigrates the real miracles that do take place.

Miracles put the focus on us, rather than on God. It is always a huge mistake to take credit for God?s work, and John and Peter are quick to point out the real source of what took place.

Miracles take us off the hook to trust and have faith in God to take us through. We want the easy fix of a miracle. Which is easier, to say ?God, break the laws of physics so I don?t have to face this trial?? or ?God be with me and teach me through this difficulty to be more like you?? The first is easier in the short term but the latter is much more beneficial down the road. God is in the business of saving and transforming souls, not in coming in and bending the laws of physics for us every time we fall down or face trouble.

Anyway, Peter wastes no time. Something amazing has happened, all the people need is someone to explain it to them.

13 ? 26

13 ? 15 Jesus is the suffering servant (Isaiah 53), who gives life, which you rejected for someone (Barabbas) who took life.

16 Faith in Jesus is the way to life?the only way to ?perfect health?.

17 You didn?t know what you were really doing. Jesus said ?Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.? I think most people reject Jesus without knowing the full story. They hear something someone says about Jesus, or about Christians, and they think ?why would I hang out with people like that??

18 ? 26 This thing about Jesus is not new. In fact it started with Abraham, continued with Moses, and all the prophets from Samuel on down.

The end goal is ?turning every one of you from your wickedness.? We are evil from birth, inherited from Adam and Eve. But real wickedness is also totally rejecting Jesus Christ. We, like them, must also put aside our ignorance and turn from evil to the Author of life, so he can bring us to ?perfect health?.

Why did God wait so long to heal this man?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. NKJV

Just because God doesn?t answer today doesn?t mean he doesn?t love you.

Be careful what you ask for

The miracle led directly to persecution which led to more opportunities to spread the gospel. In a way it created more problems (persecution on the Apostles) than it solved (healing one man).

Miracles benefit the gospel more than the individual. Seeing the other way around will lead to frustration and false doctrine. Jesus never emphasized miracles. He emphasized belief.

Times of refreshing & restoration

This is such a wonderful picture. ?refreshing? means ?a recovery of breath.? With Jesus it?s like you have been unable to breath and then suddenly this giant weight of sin is lifted off of your chest and you take in that wonderful first breath. ?Restoring? means to ?return something to its original state.? We were always meant to be in fellowship with God and live forever. Through Jesus God restores us to Him.

Everyday Miracles

By the way, we define a miracle as a ?visible? breaking of the laws of physics. But I think that when it comes to God?s children, the Father is probably performing all kinds of miracles for us all the time. We just don?t see them, and its probably a good thing!