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"Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give
you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” –Acts 3:6
“Many nights we
prayed, with no proof anyone could hear.
In our hearts a hopeful song we barely understood….There can be
miracles, when you believe.” (Prince of Egypt, 2006; Dreamworks)We are creatures of evidence. In a court case or trial it is customary for the prosecuting attorney to provide evidence determining the guilt of the accused party. In some cases it is a weapon, fingerprints, video or audio recordings; or in other cases it is biological evidence like DNA, hair, blood or other bodily fluids. But the most damaging of all evidence is the eyewitness. Someone who actually saw the event take place and can without a doubt or question attest to the crime committed by the accused. We live in a world where skepticism is the norm when someone talks of miracles and healing. We see it on TV and it looks staged and untrustworthy so we chose to discount all forms of miracles as a result.
We all believe that Jesus Christ performed miracles during His reign on earth. For the three years of His ministry He performed countless healings, turned water to wine, walked on water, caused a fig tree to die and caused John, Peter and the other fisherman to catch more fish than ever possible, simply by throwing the nets over the other side of the boat. The list goes on and is deep with validity and promises from the Savior. The disciples carried on the teachings of Jesus and also cast out demons, healed the sick and even miraculously escaping from prison. When we read about it in biblical days it seems believable and strengthens our faith in God above.
So what happens between the data captured in the pages of the New Testament and the televangelist standing in front of his church and healing people today in the 21st century? I propose the mighty dollar is the factor that has changed. Peter, Paul and the others that were building the early church were not getting paid to stand before the masses and preach. No, at best they might be getting a meal and a place to rest for the evening. We know that Paul was a tent maker, Peter and John returned to fishing after Christ’s death and resurrection. The pomp, circumstance and extravagance of some in the ministry today leads many to look upon the church as a money making engine, and miracles performed there in as just another product to get people in the door.
Such a shame, because miracles do happen every day, all over this globe of ours. I’ve told the story of our daughter Samantha and the multiple miracles from the Father, relative to her spinal surgery at age 4; but I want you to consider other miracles that happen around you. Marriages are restored, children return home after running away, a father comes to know Jesus Christ after years of rejecting Him, a child swallows a quarter and lives to tell about it, you make it to the gas station on fumes or you find that something special that was lost for years. Don’t be so blind as to think these things just happen. So often we pray for something, and when it doesn’t happen immediately we forget about it. Then when it does happen we either forgot that we prayed for it, or we discount it as a coincidence.
Yes, I realize there are those times when our prayers aren’t answered to our liking and the miracle never materializes. We mustn’t become discouraged in these circumstances as hard as it seems at times. God is in the business of saving the world, and we don’t know by what means it will take for this to happen; only He does. Everything is intertwined, from the smallest quanta of matter to the largest mountain on the planet, it is all connected. God is sovereign. This means He has ultimate, supreme power over all things, even life and death; sickness and healing. It also means that He knows when to execute on a miracle and when not too, for the goodness of His kingdom. We don’t always see the reason that our request for a miracle isn’t answered (to our liking), but we must have faith that God is going to use it to further His kingdom on earth.
Peter and the other Apostles spent their entire life traveling the Mediterranean Basin performing miracles in Jesus name and bringing people to Jesus Christ. You have this same authority through the Holy Spirit to call upon God’s power for miracles in your life. It is not about the money, hypocrisy or greed of some of the churches today, it is about living for the One who can bring miraculous change in your life and the life of those around you.
Prayer:
Almighty God,
Help us to see the miracles that are all around us each day. Help us to trust in You and Your sovereignty in our actions, that others might be impacted through Your miraculous touch. I call upon Your Son Jesus Christ to be real in our lives, so that our prayers are not in vain, but destined for Your throne. Amen
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