Sunday October 25th, 2020
« And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me. »
24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying: ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
God uses miracles in so many ways.
Today, we will see how faith and miracles could be tools for soul-winning.
A miracle is an effective weapon that destroys doubts and draws men to God.
While it is not the only means of winning souls, it plays a vital role in boosting the faith of man in God. Even Jesus admitted this in John 11:42.
In Acts 4:4, after five thousand souls were won due to the healing of the lame man, the angry religious leaders arrested the Apostles and questioned them on whose authority they performed miracles.
Peter mentioned Jesus – whom the Jewish leaders killed on the cross, as their source. Though the leaders were annoyed, they could not deny the reality of the miracles. Acts 4:16 GNT
« “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.” »
So as to limit the spread of the gospel, these leaders warned the Apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus’ again.
However, they did something significant on getting to their brethren – they lifted up their voices to God in one accord and prayed.
They prayed for the ability to perform even more miracles that would permanently shut the mouth of their persecutors and at the same time convince people of the truth they were preaching (Acts 4:29-30). That was profound!
From the example of the Apostles, we can conclude that any Church that denies the reality and necessity of the working of miracles should be questioned.
The early Church built their mandate to preach on the signs, wonders and miracle-working gift of the Holy Spirit.
God is still seeking vessels, He can perform signs and wonders through today (John 14:12). Are you available?
Application – Let us thirst for and acquire all the gifts of the Spirit, so that through us, God can perform signs and wonders that will advance His Kingdom.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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