It's Not Unusual...

Introduction

What comes into your mind when you hear the word unusual?

If you have your Bible, can open to Acts, chapter 19, verse 11. Today, we’re going to talk about three concepts related to stories – Who? What? How? to demonstrate that God’s miraculous authorship doesn’t always come in the manner we think.

Has someone ever told you a story and the beginning go something like this, “So, John was out playing football…” and you interrupt the story to get clarification? “Wait, WHO?” Even when the person repeats the name, we stand amazed at the name of the person who was doing the thing.

And God was doing – Who?

Credit should be given to the rightful person, can we agree? But I want to share some truth with you: People don’t like to begin sentences with “and God was doing” because it steals their thunder.

I used to do a lot of woodworking. I built our family a kitchen table and chairs with a bench and the whole nine yards. I found free plans for a farmhouse table and chairs, went to the store, and bought the materials. I spent Spring Break of 2018 building this set in our living/dining room. When we got ready to move to Chicago, we knew that we had to sell that whole nine yards kitchen set.

Here’s how I would describe various stages of that project. And Adam was trying, and Adam was re-measuring and Adam was re-cutting and Adam was making another trip to Menards…and Adam was crying…

The word doing doesn’t explain the depth of God. There are lots of alternatives that could be used in this phrase, especially for the word “doing”, and hearing them might help paint a clearer picture of God.

And God was producing

And God was fashioning

And God was constructing

And God was authoring

And God was laboring

And God was causing

And God was yielding

And God was promising

And God was purposing

There has never been a wood worker in the world that doesn’t want these phrases to describe them because they reveal a depth of intentionality that is absent from the world in which we live.

Personally, I want to be fashioned, produced, constructed, promised, and purposed by the same God that spoke the universe into existence. Are we willing to let Him?

extraordinary miracles – What?

If you aren’t from Georgia, and I’m not, there is one kind of tea. You don’t even have to say sweet tea. It’s just what is. Diabetics like me, beware.

So, now that we know that it was God who was doing the doing, the next thing is what was it God was doing. Luke, the author of Acts, says “and God was doing extraordinary or unusual miracles.” Extraordinary miracles. Are there actually any other kind of miracles than extraordinary? Recall our conversation starter “So, John was out playing football...” with your friend where you interrupt the story with the famous “He did WHAT?” response.

Our text says that these were “extraordinary miracles.” That is quite a statement to make considering that miracles are beyond what is ordinary. Right? Why does this matter?

Because Paul is writing in Acts 19 about Ephesus, which was the center of magic in the Near East.

The Book of Acts: A Commentary The City of Ephesus

Magic, as many would know, is any process by which human beings become able to manipulate supernatural power for their own ends

The Book of Acts: A Commentary Ground-Level Spiritual Warfare

But in places where the Holy Spirit is moving in a revival atmosphere and where miracles are not uncommon, we do find ourselves even today distinguishing unusual miracles from the ordinary ones.

Now, these people would have known something of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and yet, they were hearing that God was doing extraordinary miracles. Extraordinary beyond resurrection?

Luke’s account of these miracles is so deep.

Do ya’ll ever talk about the Christmas story when it’s not Christmas? I hope so.

The Logos, the Word of God Himself, born as a speechless babe. Dwelling in a dirty, lowly manger as opposed to the beauty of heaven. The Holy One of Israel wrapped in cloths used for cleaning a stable.

In Luke’s account here in Acts 19:11-12, we see this parallel picture - these seemingly common everyday objects, handkerchiefs and aprons, became the tangible objects through which God’s power was displayed for humanity to see. Let’s not miss this. The extraordinary is what Jesus is known for.

by Paul’s hands – How?

Yah, but how? Maybe you’re at a point in your ministry where all you need is a miracle. Doesn’t seem like much to ask, right? SASB # 406, a short chorus written by John Gowans says this:

ALL that you need is a miracle, And all that you need can be yours, All that you need is available The moment you turn to the Lord.

People come to us every day, sometimes after they’ve turned to everyone and everything else, looking for a miracle. No doubt that the people of Ephesus in Paul’s day looked to Ephesian magic to solve their problems, but found little help.

The same guy who stood by and watched Stephen stoned to death for his faith was now God’s missionary. How? The same guy that persecuted the church and sought death for followers of Christ now called him Lord. How? Paul became the vessel through which God would bring the miraculous to life. Last week, my brother Mario spoke about brokenness, and family, Paul was broken. At the hands of Paul, you gotta be kiddin’ me! How? That guy has no business as God’s messenger, he’s just a tent-maker!