Getting Miracles Right

Miracles happen in...

1. THE RIGHT PLACES

In Priority

Acts 3:1 NASB95

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

The Hour of Prayer

3 PM - A busy time of the day.

The Church was still Jewish and attended Temple daily and Synagogue weekly until the 2nd Century.

In Position

Acts 3:2 (NASB95)

And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

The Providential Encounter

The man was where God’s people were (the Temple).

The lame man and the Apostles were following their daily routine when they encountered one another.

God often does the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary.

If we want to see God’s extraordinary power working in our lives, we have to be committed to the ordinary parts of the Christian life.

Miracles happen to...

2. THE RIGHT PEOPLE

The Apostles

Acts 3:4 NASB95

But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”

Their Office

Acts 2:43 NASB95

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Their Compassion

Acts 3:7 NASB95

And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Peter and John acknowledged this man with their gaze and engaged him.

Peter touched the man when he picked him up.

The Man

Acts 3:2 NASB95

And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

His Condition

Medical notes from Luke: Patient has congenital disability, is over 40 years of age. Progression of recovery is leaping, standing, and walking.

A disabled Levite did not have access to God because they could not go through the veil.

Leviticus 21:16–18 NASB95

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God. ‘For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,

His Expectation

The man was expecting something from them.

Acts 3:5 NASB95

And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

The man humbly asked for a little money, but he received an eternal inheritance and a changed life..

When others saw a man despised by the world, the Apostles saw a man loved by God.

Miracles happen with...

3. THE RIGHT POSSESSIONS

Acts 3:6 NASB95

But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Material Wealth

Peter examined what he had available to help the man with.

The healing enabled the man to help himself instead of depending on others to survive.

Spiritual Wealth

John 14:12–17 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

When we see someone in need, we need to reach for our Bibles and our wallets.

Miracles happen for...

4. THE RIGHT PURPOSES

Worship

The man’s response was to enter God’s house in praise and worship.

Acts 3:8–9 (NASB95)

With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

Evangelism

Others saw and heard the testimony of the man.

The crowds recognized the man and were shocked by what had happened to him.

Acts 3:9–10 (NASB95)

And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Perhaps many Christians today do not see the power of God in their lives or their churches because they desire the adoration and attention that belongs to God alone.

Perhaps many pastors today do not see the fruit of changed lives in their ministries because they are preaching the good news of their works instead of the good news of God’s works.

CONCLUSION

To all those under the sound of my voice: We are all the lame beggar.

Christian, you were helpless, needy, and separated from God when He came to you and saved you.

Unbeliever, you are helpless, needy, and separated from God, and today God offers salvation to you through His Son, Jesus Christ.