Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever

If you’re acquainted at all with the gospels and the works of Jesus, you’ll know that miracles matter. They were prevalent during the three and half years of His ministry. But, what about afterward? Well, in this podcast, we will take a look at what happened post Jesus. That is what happened miracle-wise after Jesus ascended back into heaven both in the early church and in the later as well. Just as in Jesus day some refused to believe despite the work of God so it is today. Voltaire, a product of the period in history known as the Enlightenment, said that if he and one thousand men in Paris saw a miracle before their very eyes he would rather disbelieve his eyes and the eyes of the one thousand than to believe in the miracles.¹. You see during the Enlightenment reason rose to the ascendancy. We will talk a little bit about this in this podcast. But just because some refuse to believe that God still does miracles does mean they don’t occur? No, God’s Word is true and eternally remains that way. Miracles matter and they happen even today — in fact, it matters much more today. But no matter what some just won’t believe. A pastor was once talking to an agnostic and was trying to convince him and convert him to Christ. “Speaking of miracles,” the pastor said, “if a man jumped out of a ten-story building and did not die, would that not be a miracle?” “No,” said the agnostic, “it would only be an accident.” “Then what if he jumped out the second time and he didn’t die. Wouldn’t you say that would be a miracle?” “No, that would be a coincidence.” “Then what if the third time? Wouldn’t that be one?” “No, that’s just a habit!” You see to accept miracles is to give God credit. Now what, well you are stuck with the rest of who God is and what He said about you. We’re talking the miraculous today, Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
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Miracles matter. We have a big God and because of it, big results should go hand in hand.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
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Question: Share your miracle story in the comments section below.

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If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 42 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Prayer

Podcast Notes

Well again, welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God thank you that you are the Miracle Maker. We give you the credit — all of it — the glory all of it — and the praise — all of it, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Miracles Matter: Doing the Works of Jesus

John 14:12–14 (ESV) — “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

In a previous podcast, we asked this question: “What are we going to do with this statement that came from the lips of the immaculate son of God?”
Jesus said straight out and plain that the works that He did we are to do as well.
In the gospel of Matthew, we have this verse that helps us to know the ‘works of Jesus.’

Matthew 4:23 (ESV) — 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Are you ready for it?
The works of Jesus include teaching: he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues.
The works of Jesus include proclaiming or as we say it preaching: he went throughout all Galilee… proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.
The works of Jesus include healing: he went throughout all Galilee… healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
Preaching, teaching, and healing are the works of Jesus.
‘The works that I do,’ Jesus said, ‘shall you do also.’
Believers in Jesus should be teaching, preaching and getting people healed.
Jumping over to Matthew eleven, we see the miracle component of the works of Jesus magnified.

Matthew 11:2–3 (ESV) — 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Did you hear that? — the deeds of Jesus.
The Greek word ‘deeds’ here is the same word for ‘works’ in John 14:12.
Works of Jesus — deeds of Jesus — same thing.

Matthew 11:4–5 (ESV) — 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

So, John, the free spirit, was now feeling the confines of imprisonment.
In his emotional state, he questions the reason for his situation and wants to verify that he was not just ‘taking a licking for nothing.’
He asks Jesus this question concerning His mission. ‘Are you the One?”
Jesus answers it this way, “The blind see — this miracle proves that I am the one”.
“The lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them and so I am the one”.
The works of Jesus are again distinctly listed here.
The works of Jesus in manifestation are the evidence of the King and His Kingdom.
These works we are to do as well — that’s the directive of our Lord and Savior.
If we love Him, we are to head out in this direction.

The Works of Jesus: Continued in the Book of Acts

Now, we come to the book of Acts and we have this statement inspired by the Spirit of God.
The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the works of Jesus.

Acts 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

The word ‘began’ is emphatic.
This is how the sentence reads if your translate the Greek in order word by word.

The indeed first word I made about all O Theophilus of what began the Jesus to do both and to teach until which day having commanded the delegates by spirit holy whom he himself selected.

The word ‘began’ is emphasized.
In the construction of this sentence, it is before Jesus even.
The Holy Spirit is wanting to let you know that ‘began’ is a vitally important word.
One that we should clue into.
Jesus began to do — the scripture never says that He finished doing.
We’re talking about the ‘works of Jesus.’
Let’s keep reading.

Acts 1:4–5, 8 (ESV) — 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…” 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Notice that Jesus wanted the disciples to wait for an endowment of power so that they could continue all that Jesus began to do.
He wanted them to wait so that they could do the works of Jesus — preaching, teaching, and healing.

Miracles Matter: Peter Preaching

If you read Acts chapter two, the disciples did what Jesus told them to do.
They waited for the promise of the Father.
Ten days after this last conversation with Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 in the Upper Room with power.
They spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.
Peter came out of that experience doing one of the works of Jesus!
He came out preaching.
Look at the results of doing the works of Jesus in Acts.
Remember Jesus began to do these things in the gospels.

Acts 2:36–42 (ESV) — Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Three thousand people gave their hearts.
This is a huge number of people proportional to that days population.
Now, do you remember the Pool of Bethesda in John five?
It was a double pool where the sick came waiting for the angel to come trouble the water.
The first one into the water after it was troubled was healed of whatever condition he had.
Jesus visited this Pool and healed a man who was lame for thirty-eight years and was laid daily by these waters waiting for an opportunity to jump at the manifestation of God.
I bring that up because 3000 people got saved and were baptized.
Where was the water to immerse so many people?
You understand three thousand people — That’s quite a task — the lines must have been huge.
Maybe they divided the people up among the various water sources, you know pools, cisterns etc. around the city.
Do you think that some of these 3000 might have been baptized at this same Pool where Jesus healed this lame man?
Entirely a possibility.

Miracles Matter: Ask the Man at the Beautiful Gate

We swing out of chapter two in Acts and one of the works of Jesus into a second one, the miracle matter that happened to the man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.

Acts 3:1–8 (ESV) — 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

So, Peter continued what Jesus began to do.
Luke wrote that in Acts one ‘what Jesus began to do.’
We understand that miracles matter.
Just ask this man who was laid at this gate to beg.
He will tell that the miracle of walking mattered to him.
Here’s a side note.
Did you notice what this man did after he was healed?
He followed the person who ministered to him to church.
People should follow you to church after you have ministered to them.
Humans are the only ones that send their children away from home to learn.
Chickens don’t go to chicken school to learn to be chickens.
Dogs, don’t go to dog school to learn the fine art of being a dog.
They follow Mom and Dad and that’s how they learn.
It should be the same way with believers – the new believer should follow the old believer that ministered to him to learn the ways of God.
Getting back to our point.
Peter continued what Jesus began to do.
Again, miracles matter.

Miracles Matter: Many Was the Number

That’s Acts three and four.
Now we go to Acts five.

Acts 5:12 (ESV) 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

Notice the Word of God says ‘many’ signs and wonders.
‘Many’ is the Greek word ‘polla’ which means many, much or great.
Now, the ESV translators added the word ‘regularly’ — many signs and wonders ‘were regularly done’ because there were many signs being.
They would have to be regular if there was a lot of them.
This phrase ‘were regularly done’ is all one word in the Greek anyway.
The word many brings us to this question and with that thought, here is the Question of the Day.
Here’s the question.

Is your heart hungry for many miracles, for many of the works of Jesus to be manifest, or are you satisfied with not so many?

Let’s follow that up with yet a second question.

Should a God, whom we all deem as a big God, yield big results?

Big God — Big results should go hand in hand.

Miracles Matter: The Deacons Get Involved

Acts 6:1 (ESV) — 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

The ‘daily distribution’ — what is that?
And with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the Day.

Jerusalem leaders had put together an organized system of relief for the destitute. You see in the city of Jerusalem there were many widows of men who had lived most of their lives outside of the Holy City, but had come to Jerusalem to die and to be buried. You see in Jewish society widows were particularly needy and dependent, and the Old Testament singles them out along with orphans as the primary objects of charitable deeds. The Hellenist widows may have been a particularly sizable group. Diaspora Jews [Jews who had been scattered and lived outside of Jerusalem] often moved to Jerusalem in their twilight years to die in the holy city. When the men died, their widows were left far from their former home and family to care for them and were thus particularly in need of charity. Many of them may have been attracted to the Christian community precisely because of its concern for the material needs of its members.² In order to care for these widows the Jews had set up means whereby they would be given money for food. Evidently the Christian community had adopted a similar custom. The daily distribution of funds is literally “in the daily distribution,” and may be taken to refer either to funds (as in the TEV) or else to food. In light of the manner in which the Jews themselves handled the care for the widows, it is quite likely that the distribution is that of money rather than food.³

One commentator said this distribution took place on a Friday. Two collectors went round the market and the private houses every Friday morning and made a collection for the needy, partly in money and partly in goods. Later in the day, this was distributed. Those who were temporarily in need received enough to enable them to carry on; and those who were permanently unable to support themselves received enough for fourteen meals, that is, enough for two meals a day for the week ahead. The fund from which this distribution was made was called the Kuppah, or basket. In addition to this, a house-to-house collection was made daily for those whose needs were more pressing. This was called the Tamhui, or tray.⁴
So, that’s what the distribution was all about.
It was a good work but not the one the apostles were to focus on.

Acts 6:2–5 (ESV) — 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

Underline Stephen and do the same for Philip.
The apostles prayed and laid their hands on these men.
This where the office of deacon originated.
You can read about this in First Timothy three.

1 Timothy 3:12–14 (ESV) — 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Philip and Steven started out as deacons.

Miracles Matter: Stephen

Hands were laid on them — that’s Acts 6:6.
The Word of God increased that’s verse seven.
Now, look at verse eight.

Acts 6:8 (ESV) 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen full of grace and power did what?
He did the works of Jesus.
Stephen continued what Jesus began to do.
Are you catching on to this?
He wasn’t an apostle — he was serving the widows.
But miracles that mattered, great miracles were produced through this servant of God.
Now, there’s more to the story of Stephen — you can continue reading about all the way through chapter seven of Acts.
But, we’re not done yet.

Miracles Matter: Philip

Chapter eight introduces us to Philip.

Acts 8:4–8 (ESV) — 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

The works of Jesus is preaching, teaching, and healing.
Philip is proclaiming — that’s the preaching part.

6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

Acts 8:4–8 (ESV) — 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

Philip continued what Jesus began to do.
He preached the Word and the sick got healed.
Neither Stephen nor Philip were apostles.
That should really put an end to this tired argument that God only used the apostles in miracles and doing the works of Jesus.
God used everybody then and He wants to use everybody now.
Here is even more evidence of this statement.

Miracles Matter: Ananias

Acts 9:10 (ESV) — 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Ananias is a disciple.
He is not a chief apostle like Paul.
Ananias is not even a regular apostle like the ones we see in Acts five.
He is not a deacon like Philip.
Ananias is just a disciple — a plain ole Jesus believing, Holy Ghost filled, church going disciple.
Yet gifts of the Spirit are working in his life.
Discerning of Spirits is working in him — that’s why he is hearing the Lord speak to him in a vision.

Acts 9:11 (ESV) — 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

Here is a second gift of the Spirit at work in Ananias — the Word of Knowledge.
Ananias receives information that no one could know.
He knows Paul is praying.
The Lord tells him what address he is at — that’s how this gift works.
The person the Lord uses in this gift will supernaturally know things about the past and the present.
Facts he or she could not know on their own.
But, there is more.
Every person in the body of Christ can be used by God just like Ananias was.
We’re out of time.
We will pick this up in next week’s podcast.

Now, Father God thatnk you for your goodness and your mercy. Show yourself alive in fulness of power. Thank you for your hand be manifest in our lives as we take Jesus to the world.

Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever.
You guys have a great God week in Jesus Name, Amen.

Why The Rapture and Jesus Second Coming Are Not the Same Event

__________
References:

The Speakers Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck ↩
Pohill, John New American Commentary, Acts ↩
UBSH Acts 6:1 ↩
William Barclay, Acts of the Apostles ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why Miracles Matter Now and Forever

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Twenty-Two

by Emery Horvath

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Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

Miracles Matter: Doing the Works of Jesus

The Works of Jesus: Continued in the Book of Acts

Miracles Matter: Peter Preaching

Miracles Matter: Ask the Man at the Beautiful Gate

Miracles Matter: Many Was the Number

Miracles Matter: The Deacons Get Involved

Miracles Matter: Stephen

Miracles Matter: Philip

Miracles Matter: Ananias

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

If you would like to know more about growing in faith, see the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

We are currently teaching in the Gospel of John. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

Miracles Matter: Doing the Works of Jesus

The Works of Jesus: Continued in the Book of Acts

Miracles Matter: Peter Preaching

Miracles Matter: Ask the Man at the Beautiful Gate

Miracles Matter: Many Was the Number

Miracles Matter: The Deacons Get Involved

Miracles Matter: Stephen

Miracles Matter: Philip

Miracles Matter: Ananias

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