The Greatest Miracle

I find myself preparing to preach this upcoming Sunday from the text of Acts 10. We are going through a series that covers the New Testament book of Acts that we are calling Unhindered. I always enjoy going through Acts and seeing how the gospel of Jesus Christ went out unhindered.

Acts 10 contains the story of how Simon Peter shares the gospel with a Roman centurion who comes to faith in Christ. It is so good. As I have been studying and preparing a sermon from this text, I came across something that has just held on to me.

This thing that has gripped me was something I read in a commentary on Acts from Warren Wiersbe. In his Be Dynamic commentary, Wiersbe talks about Peter’s miracle ministry in Acts 9:32-10:48. In these verses, Wiersbe shares how this miracle ministry went from great to greater to the greatest.

The Great

In Acts 9:32-35, we can see God using Peter to bring healing to a man named Aeneas. Aeneas had been crippled up and paralyzed for about eight years before Peter met him. Peter shares the love of Jesus with this man and even commands a paralytic to stand to his feet – something he hasn’t done in almost a decade. Amazingly, strength comes back to Aeneas’ legs, and he is able to walk again. No doubt that this is a very great thing.

The Greater

As Luke moves on in Acts 9, we see Peter going to Joppa and being used in an even greater way. Peter was called on by some of the disciples in Joppa called out to Peter to come to them because one of their own, Tabitha, had died from an illness. In Acts 9:36-43, God uses Peter to bring this young woman back to life from the grave. If seeing a paralyzed man walk again was great, then seeing someone come back from the dead is truly greater!

The Greatest

As you get to Acts 10, it is hard to even imagine that one might rise above what has already been seen… but it happens. Acts 10 holds the story of a Roman centurion named Cornelius who is seeking after God. This is a good man who does many good things. In spite of this, Cornelius realizes that he is still lacking something essential.

The Lord tells Cornelius to bring in Peter and listen to what Peter has to say. Peter comes into Cornelius’ house and shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with those gathered in this centurion’s house. As Peter shares the gospel with the gathered group, they respond by trusting in Christ and receiving salvation (Acts 10:44-48).

It may not pop out like a bright neon sign, but this miracle that takes place here is the greatest of all mentioned. This miracle is the greatest because it shows God not simply bringing physical ability back… not simply bringing breath back into stopped lungs… it shows the rescuing of sinners from the clutches of Hell’s grasp.

Do we recognize that when we see a sinner turn to faith in Christ that the greatest of miracles has happened in our midst?

I firmly believe that miracles still happen today. In fact, if you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, then the miracle of new birth and a new life can happen in your life today. Confess your sins and call out to Jesus for this new life. He will give it to you.

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Thoughts From the Book of Amos

I am currently studying the Old Testament book of Amos in my personal time.  Before now, I can't remember looking into the words of this prophet of God.  I realize now that I have truly been missing out on some awesome stuff.  This was a guy from Judah (the southern kingdom) who was sent to Israel (the northern kingdom) to let them know what God was up going to do.  His approach was great.  He started by pronouncing all kinds of judgments from God on the surrounding nations.  This got the people's attention and them all excited.  Who doesn't like to hear about the fall of your enemies?  But in the middle of chapter two, the tide turns.  God begins to reveal how His judgment is coming on Israel for their sins also.

This really got my attention.  God was not going to put up with sins of people any longer.  They had gone too far.  The interesting thing to me was that just because Israel was His chosen people, they did not get a pass.  I wonder how many times we think that our "little sins" won't be taken so seriously because we are "God's children"?  The sins of Christians make God just as sick to His stomach as the sins of unbelievers.  Those of us who are followers of Christ should not think that God will just overlook our shortcomings.  Jesus reminds us that God sends sun and rain on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45).  Who's to say that His judgment will not fall on both for sin also.  I understand that in speaking of eternal consequences, the believer's sin has been washed in the blood.  But we (believers) should not think that we will be passed over by the earthly consequences of our sin.  Maybe we should remember the words of Peter when he wrote, "for it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God" (1 Peter 4:17).

Just some food for thought...

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Friendly Fire

That's one phrase that I've never understood.  It describes being hit/shot by someone on your side/team.  How's that friendly?  I actually get where the phrase comes from but still doesn't sound very friendly to me.

It seems that the most of what I'm hearing on the radio concerning sports is not how Florida has won their second national championship in three years, but rather people wanting to run down this young man named Tim Tebow.  It seems that many in our society feel that this young man is a fake and a sham (or at least that's what I'm hearing on sports radio where I'm livng).  With him "wearing bible verses on his eye black" and saying "God bless" with every statement that he makes, people are saying that he needs to quit selling religion.

Personally, I'm getting a little sick of this junk.  It aggrevates me to no end how people can be so ignorant sometimes.  I'm not a Florida fan by any means, but Tebow is truly one of college's best athletes in a long time if not ever.  I think that it's funny that everyone wants to down this guy because it seems that he is living his life as a young 20-something year old the way that we all should be living.  I don't see where he is selling religion any more than public schools are selling the religion of atheism, agnosticism, or humanism with many of the subjects they teach in their classrooms.  When once has Tebow said on national camera that we all need to turn to Christ?  I've never heard one instance.

In John 17, Jesus prays that His disciples may be unified so that those who are not may see the awesome power of the living God at work and turn to Him.  Here we have some people who say (hmm?) that they're believers but think that Tebow should keep the verses to himself and tune down the "God bless" statements and just let your life speak for God.  WHY???  God gave us a voice and a brain and a passion... He intends us to use them.  It sounds a little like the instance in Luke 19:39-40 where the religious people of the day told Jesus to rebuke the people who were shouting praises to Him and Jesus said that the stones would cry out if these people didn't.

Let's be careful in how we treat our fellow believers.  There are many who are watching and there is an enemy that is seeking to destroy us (John 10:10/1 Peter 5:8).

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