Miracles Through the Early Church - Part 1 - the 12 Apostles

· More than the apostles – signs follow believers

· Jesus said that THESE signs will follow believers, not just apostles.

· Since the early church were also believers, God did miracles through them too!

Jesus MULTPLIED His MIRACLES through His Early CHURCH

· in Luke 4 – the early church was just as anointed as Jesus

· Jesus gave all believers, starting with the early church, the legal power of attorney to use His NAME - in His NAME!

Luke 4:18–19 NLT

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

12 Apostles did Miracles - preach, heal, deliver - Matt 10, Mark 6, Luke 9

Although we covered the history of the miracles of the Apostles, we are including some of their accounts again that can apply to us as well.

· Since we already studied the miracles of the apostles in Matthew chapter 10, let’s briefly review how they were commissioned and empowered by Jesus according to Luke’s Gospel.

· This alternate account will help show the progression of God’s miracles as it multiplies through even more people.

Luke 9:1–6 NLT

1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. 4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. 5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Miracles Return Rejoicing

The apostles responded, returned, and reviewed the amazing things God performed through them, to help those in need.

Luke 9:10 NLT

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.

Mark’s account: Mark 6:30 (NLT)

Mark 6:30 NLT

30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.

Life Lesson: Jesus expects a return on His investment in us

· We are blessed to be a blessing - physically, financially, and spiritually (with Jesus’ authority)

· To whom much is given, much is required.

The APOSTLES were to FEED the PEOPLE - Luke 9

· After the apostles returned from their missionary trip of preaching the good news and healing the sick, Jesus wanted to take them away for a time of rest. However, the people discovered where they were, and a crowd of over 5000 men soon formed.

· Instead of turning them away, Jesus welcomed them, taught them, and healed those who were sick until late in the afternoon.

· The 12 wanted Jesus to send them away to find food and lodging.

· Why would the apostles make such a request?

· They just returned from a mission’s trip, where they experience God’s miraculous power working through them personally to help the needs of others, such as healing the sick, which was greater than any physical hunger.

· Is it fair to ask the question, since God used them to heal the sick, couldn’t God use them to feed the hungry?

John 6:5 NLT

5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

· Jesus’ question almost sounds sarcastic, as if He were playing along with their carnal line of reasoning.

John 6:6 NLT

6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

· It seems that sometimes God TESTS us AFTER HE USES us. - to see if our faith in the Lord’s ability comes before man’s ability.

· Or if God’s solutions come before natural solutions.

John 6:7 NLT

7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

· Have you ever “reasoned away” a miracle?

John 6:8–9 NLT

8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

· At least Andrew had “seed” faith for a “feed” miracle! 

Here are some healthy attitudes towards God’s miracle power:

· If God can save, heal, and raise the dead, surely He can make some bread!

· If God did miracles before, He could do it again!

Instead of sending the crowds for spending of money, Jesus had better plans - to use the apostles for miracles once again!

“YOU feed them”

Matthew 14:16 NLT

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

Luke 9:13 NLT

13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?”

· So many make claims regarding the sovereignty of God, that we are waiting for God to do something about our situation, when in reality, God is waiting on US!

In order to help the people, Jesus once again helped the apostles- to help HIM!

Jesus then gave instructions to sit down in groups of 50.

Luke 9:16 NLT

16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.

· Once again, we see the miracles of Jesus operating THROUGH His church to help the world!

Life Lesson: Jesus expects us to demonstrate what we have learned.

The APOSTLES were to CALM the STORM - Luke 8, Mark 4

In a similar experience, Jesus taught about the Parable of the Sower of how God’s WORD is to grow in us to “produce” God’s WORKS (including miracles).

After the teaching, Jesus told the apostles to take Him in a ship across the Sea of Galilee, by saying “Let us go to the other side!”

As the storms rose with waves, the apostle’s faith “sank” with fear.

Instead of using their faith for a miracle to calm the sea, they used their fear to wake the Lord from a much-needed rest.

· Jesus told the disciples - Let us go over to the other side

· The Disciples cried out on fear - the cares of life choked the Word

· Jesus rebuked them - where is your faith?

· Meaning #1 “why didn’t you think we would make it?”

· Meaning #2 - “why didn’t you take care of the storm, so I could sleep?”

Life Lesson: Miracles fix the storming and feed the starving!

Personal application:

· Always be ready for God to use you

· Don’t reason away a miracle in your life

· Protect your heart from the storms of life - walk on the water!