Signs & Wonders?
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week Nick talked about Ananias & Saphira
This couple chose sell some land then give money to church
But instead of giving it without anyone knowing - made big deal of it
Tried to make everyone believe were giving all money from sale of land
Instead kept some money for themselves - but told everyone gave it all
They lied about how much were giving & tried to appear spiritual / holy
Told everyone giving all money but instead kept some back
But God knew what they’d done so suffered consequences - dropped dead! Slide
Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Not surprising everyone freaked out - realised God meant business
That’s heavy! We need to think carefully about what we’re doing & why doing it
That’s heavy! We need to think carefully about what we’re doing & why doing it
That’s heavy! We need to think carefully about what we’re doing & why doing it
God actually cared about peoples motives - there were consequences for lying about stuff!
Consequences for trying to out we’re super spiritual - when we’re not!!
& what message other people might think when we do those things
So today we’re looking at some reasons why people were wanting to know God
& thinking about why people might think about getting know God
Today’s passage shows us people sometimes want to know God because they’re afraid...
Or because want God to do something for them...
or because they’re hurting & need God’s help... Slide
We Come to God in Fear
We Come to God in Fear
So 1st couple of verses say this - Slide
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
When Ananias & Saphira died - word spread - people became fearful
This is kind of afraid that is more healthy respect - like you might have for lion / tiger
They’re beautiful animals, look friendly… but get too close & they might eat you!
So people saw apostles = Jesus 12 disciples - walking streets of Jerusalem
See them gathering in temple every day - they looked at them in awe / in respect
People heard knew what happened to Ananias & Sapphira but also saw miracles
People being healed all sorts of amazing, powerful stuff
So they held apostles in awe - God is working through these guys
So I’m just going to stay at distance - I want to see miracles amazing things
But I don’t want to be on end of God’s power / judgment & end up dead
Fear of power of God & miracles done through aposteles drew people to God
But fear kept them at healthy distance - didn’t know what might happen - to them - Slide
Who’s been on a rollercoaster ride or theme park ride
Meet newest rollercoaster in Canada - Yukon Striker
Has 75 m drop at 90 degrees into underground, underwater tunnel!
75 metres first drop into an underground, underwater tunnel! You will hang for 3 seconds, staring down at that small hole in the water before plunging 90 degrees straight down!
You hang for 3 secs staring down at small hole in water
before !
The ride will hit a top speed of 130 km per hour and travel a total of 1.1 km. It’ll feature 4 inversions, including a first-of-its-kind 360 degree dive loop.
Ride hits top speed of 130 km per hour & travels total of 1.1 km.
Features 4 inversions first-of-its-kind 360 degree dive loop
My question is - why would you want to go on that?!?!
To me that sounds terrifying!! But I can tell you my wife would probably want to go on it
People drawn to these types rollercoasters / rides
Even though might be scared heights, scream all way through, feel like going to die...
Some reason they get off at end ride… then queue up to do it all again - crazy?!?
Many people are drawn to God out of fear - they want protection from their fear
Afraid of what might happen when die; afraid of God judging them - like Ananias & Sapphira
Perhaps afraid of bad stuff happening to them, or afraid of things don’t understand
But once we meet God, accept we’ve done things wrong & need his help...
We don’t need to stay afraid - God loves us & happliy forgives & accepts us
Bible tells us when we come to God - he places His Spirit inside us - Slide
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So God’s Spirit lives in us & give us strength, love & ability make good choices
If God lives in us we don’t need to be afraid anymore
Although God loves & accepts us He’s still creator os universe - awesome & powerful
Although God loves & accepts us He’s still creator of universe - awesome & powerful
Bible tells us when we die God will ask us to tell him about our lives
& God will reward us depending on how we lived our lives - good or bad Slide
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
So although we don’t need to fear anything we do need to keep healthy respect of God
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
We choose to do what’s right because God loves us & forgiven us all bad things done
As God is our heavenly Father - like Mum & Dad, we want to do what pleases Him
Because we know they only want whats best for us - same with God - Slide
The ride will hit a top speed of 130 km per hour and travel a total of 1.1 km. It’ll feature 4 inversions, including a first-of-its-kind 360 degree dive loop.
So Question for us is: Slide
Or do we have unhealthy fear of God?
Do we have healthy respect for God or do we have unhealthy fear of God?
Do we have healthy respect for God or do we have unhealthy fear of God?
Slide
We Come to God for Signs
We Come to God for Signs
Back in bible times people were superstitious - you know what that means?
Means they believed stuff was true that wasn’t true - like myths, fairytales etc
1 belief = if person’s shadow touched you - that person’s spirit could influence you - Slide
So people looked at Peter - amazing miracles were being done
People thought - if Peter’s shadow just touched me - maybe I’ll be healed
Maybe if shadown touches me God will bless me, something amazing will happen
So People lined streets where Apostles used to walk to temple various times of day
Hoping 1 of Apostles shadow’s fall on them & make hope / wish come true
Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 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.
So people saw amazing miracles Peter & Apostles were doing
& thought - if Peter’s shadow just touched me - maybe I’ll be healed
Or God will bless me, or something amazing will happen
So people lined streets hoping Peter’s shadow’s fall on them & make wish come trueSlide
So People lined streets where Apostles used to walk to temple various times of day
Hoping 1 of Apostles shadow’s fall on them & make hope / wish come true -Slide
Hoping 1 of Apostles shadow’s fall on them & make hope / wish come true
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So people lined streets hoping Peter’s shadow’s fall on them & make wish come true
Important to remember wasn’t Apostles who were doing healing
Important to remember wasn’t Apostles who were doing healing
Was power of God’s Spirit working through Apostles to do amazing stuff - Slide
Who here believes in toothy fairy? Have any of you seen this advert of tooth fairy?
Some parents tell kids - if put their baby tooth fallen out under pillow
Tooth fairy will come when they’re asleep replace tooth with money for them
Some people today think God’s like that - like tooth fairy or santa
If they say right prayer, do good things, or just ask for something - God will do what want
They think they’ll get something for nothing
God’s not like that - God doesn’t do something just because we ask him too
God’s not like that - God doesn’t do something just because we ask him too
Instead God blesses us in ways might not be what we might want or expect - Slide
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Eph 1:3
Sometimes God will answer our prayers with ‘No’ because asking for stuff bad for us - Slide
Or God will answer our prayers with ‘No’ because asking for stuff bad for us - Slide
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
BUT - whatever happens in our lives good or bad - If we know God & trust Him...
He will make sure everything - good or bad - will count towards plan He has for us
Even if what we get isn’t what we were hoping for! - Slide
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Roms 8:28
So Question for us is: Slide
Do we treat God like the tooth fairy or do we trust God give us what we need?
Do we treat God like the tooth fairy or do we trust God give us what we need?
Slide
Slide
We Come to God for Healing
We Come to God for Healing
Come to God for Healing
Come to God for Healing
Lastly there were those who came to God - were hurting, in pain, desperate & struggling
They were hoping God might help them in their time of need - Slide
Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
News of all amazing miracles happened spread to towns outside city
People bringing family & friends were desperate for help - suffering all sorts sicknesses
God met people through Apostles & many healed - NOT all - Luke used ‘all’ way saying lot’s
People came to God genuinely seeking Him - willing to put faith in Jesus
People so broken & desperate to find healing & peace
Through power of God’s Spirit they found healing & peace - Slide
Came to God genuinely seeking him - willing to put faith in Jesus
Willing to put faith in JEsus because had nothing left - broken
Do you remember man called Job from OT? He was man who suffered many horrible things
One those was boils all over his body - horrible painful skin infection
I had same sickness - for 5 years - tried all sorts of antibiotics & medicines
Some so strong made tendons in your leg so weak could snap
I even bleached my clothes, towels, sheets to try kill bugs - ruined half my clothes
I tried everything - nothing worked
I remember being so desperate I sat down on our lawn & cried out to God
I remember getteing so desperate I just sat on lawn & cried out to God
“Why’s this happening - what do I have to do to fix this?”
I was so desperate I would’ve done anything to make it go away!
Many people come to God because they’re desperate - broken & need God’s help
There’s no-where left to turn to - tried everyone / everything life is no better
But haven’t got answers need - woman like this who came to Jesus desperate - Slide
Woman like this in Bible who came to Jesus desperate - Slide
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
Jesus saw how desperate woman was & that she believed Jesus only one who could help
Jesus on this occasion healed woman & she was set free
Jesus saw she trusted Him to save her from this horrible sickness - so Jesus healed her
Sometimes we don’t receive healing /help we hoped for or desperately need
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
But remember God still loves us anyway & always does what’s best for us
Even though we may not understand why God doesn’t heal us
We can always count on God to do what’s best for us in long run
sometimes - like me - may not mean being healed straight away - or at all
BUT - if we put our trust & faith in Jesus - we can rely on God
God does love & accept us, He has forgiven us, & he is saving us
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
And God will save us from consequences of evil / bad stuff we’ve all done
So Question for us is: Slide
Do we trust God with our whole lives even though things don’t get better straight away?
Do we trust God with our whole lives even though things don’t get better straight away?
So
No matter what reason drives us come to God - bible tells us - Slide
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
God willingly loves & accepts all those who genuinely come to Him in faith
Whether you’re fearful, desperate, or curious - God will meet with you
If you come to God willingloves & accepts every one when we come to Him in faith
God loves & accepts every one of us when we come to Him in faith & fearful respect
& that’s good news for everyone
When we place our faith & trust in Jesus as one who lived perfect life & died perfect death
So we can be forgiven of all wrong we’ve done then God will ge working in our lives
You may or may not see supernatural miracles, or amazing healing
But God’s still busy making sure everything in your life serves His plan for you
And works together for the best end result when you reach eternity
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