4. The Meaning of the Miracle - Barnabas Network

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ACTS 3/11-26

INTRODUCTION:

There will always be consequences – positive and negative – whenever God shows up miraculously. Some will welcome such an initiative while others may even attribute such miracles to the work of the Devil himself. Please don’t think that miracles will get rid of unbelief. (Read John 12/37). Discuss the following definition. Is it satisfactory for you? What changes would you make?

“A miracle is an event of supernatural power demonstrating the reality of God’s Kingdom Rule”.

[1] THE PURPOSE OF THE MIRACLE

a. To heal a crippled man“…..a good deed to a crippled man….”( Read Acts 4/9)

b. To arrest the attention of the people (Read Acts 3/9-11)

c. To validate or authenticate the message and the messengers. (Read Acts 3/15, 16)

What made this man a strategic target for healing?

[2] THE SOURCE OF THE MIRACLE

a. Their own power? Absolutely Not!! Their own godliness? Again, no way!! Such accolades are to be disowned

[3] THE RESULT OF THE MIRACLE.

a. The man is healed – this is God’s power demonstrating – but not everybody is convinced.

b. The message is proclaimed – in this situation we see both the words and works of the Kingdom

[4] THE MESSAGE OF THE MIRACLE

a. What you did with Jesus – surrendered Him, disowned Him, rejected Him and killed Him

b. What God did with Jesus – raised Him to life, vetoed your decision and reversed it

Peter now explains about forgiveness

[5] THE MEANING OF THE MIRACLE

a. This miracle was strategic involving a well-known local beggar, lame for more than 40 years (4/22).

b. This was a very public, undeniable miracle.

c. The beggar illustrates the broken, powerless human condition.

d. Why do we not see this kind of miracle in our communities and in our churches?