Boundaries for Miracles

Acts 5:12–16 NIV84

12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

1. Create an Atmosphere of Faith for Miracles

Creating an Atmosphere for Miracles

A. Faith is being Sure of what we Hope

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

B. The need for Prayer to overcome unbelief

Mark 9:23–24 “23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

C. Unity is an environment for miracles

Psalm 133:1 “1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

Psalm 133:3 “3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

2. Activate your faith with Action

A. Faith needs action to be complete

James 2:14–18 “14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

B. We must obey God’s commands

Deuteronomy 28:1–3 “1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.”

C. Become a doer of the Word

James 1:22–25 “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

3. Miracles are the result of much pain

A. If you can talk about your pain, you are not ready for a miracle

Mark 5:26–29 “26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.”

B. Suffering is a prerequisite to miracles

1 Peter 2:20 “20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”

1 Peter 3:17 “17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

1 Peter 5:10 “10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

C. A breakthrough requires that something Lbreak

John 2:1–3 “1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.””

Wine had to run out

Lazarus had to die

Someone had to be blind

Someone had to be in need

Your car had to break

Your marriage had to suffer

4. Maintain an intimate relationship with God

A. Nurture an attitude of expectancy

Matthew 7:7–8 “7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

B. Seek God diligently

Jeremiah 29:13 “13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

C. Salvation is our greatest miracle

Luke 10:17–20 “17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””