Growing Pains

The Reason for the Signs and Wonders

The Lord worked “many signs and wonders” through the apostles. What was the purpose for the signs and wonders?

Understand God’s Purposes in granting healing and performing miracles.

To Comfort the Hurting

“all were healed” that came, they were healed of both their physical and spiritual need.

To Confirm the Message of the Apostles

The Lord used signs and wonders to demonstrate the validity of the message and authority of the apostles to the people. Romans 15:18-19 “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;”

2 Corinthians 12:12 “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.”

The Jews often sought for a sign, but there is one sign that is greater than all others, the resurrection. Matt 12:38-39 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

Paul said that the Jews seek a sign and the Greeks seek for wisdom, but we preach Christ, the wisdom and power of God. 1 Cor 1:22-24 “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

To Convict and Convert

Many did believe the Word. “Believers were added in increasing numbers.”

However, some were convicted but responded with anger.

The Response of the Sanhedrin

Don’t be surprised by the World’s Reaction to You.

Unbridled Jealousy

They were filled with Jealousy and that eventually resulted in murderous anger (v. 33).

The Lord delivered the apostles miraculously to the bewilderment of the religious leaders and soldiers.

They immediately obeyed the angel’s command - “Go stand in the temple complex and tell the people all about this life.”

Don’t be surprised when you receive reaction from ungodly people for obeying the Lord and sharing the Gospel. Jesus said it would happen. John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

This past week 11 arrested by the FBI for standing up for the life of the unborn.

Unwavering Obedience

The response of the apostles to the threats is the same as before, we must obey God rather than men.

Unexpected Deliverance

The Lord used an angel to deliver them the night before, this time he uses the advice of a Pharisee. “Be careful … you may be found fighting against God.”

The Rejoicing of the Saints in Suffering

They were flogged, but they were still faithful. They were beaten, but they were still blessing the Lord.

Matthew 5:11-12 ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Rejoice that God is working through your trials to bring about His glory and your good!

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

How do you respond to suffering and mistreatment for the Lord’s sake? Do you rejoice in the Lord and trust Him or seek to get even?