Power
Acts 14:8-20
This man had never walked. Now everybody knew he had never walked.
They knew this man.
It is wonderful when we see miracles, but let's make sure it is
miracles we are seeing. There are those who put on a show and even
hire actors to fake illnesses and handicaps to WOW a crowd. There are
unscrupulous people using the ministry as a tool for fame and fortune.
But, make no mistake, there are real miracles taking place. There are
people really getting healed of serious diseases. Miracles really do
happen.
Paul saw that the man had faith to believe.
"9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at
him, saw that he had faith to be healed"
Where did he get that faith? He listened as Paul preached the gospel.
"Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God."
Paul could see that faith in his eyes - in his look - the way he
listened. He probably sat on the edge of his seat as he heard this
life giving message.
Mr 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (AV)
Mt 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to
him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?
They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (AV)
Mt 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their
unbelief. (AV)
Ac 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look
on us.
We see here that faith is required to receive. These people had faith
and it showed. This was not an "I wish I had faith" thing. This is
people believing out of desperation. They had to have something to
believe in. Fortunately, they had the right message before them.
He jumped up.
"10 and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped
up and began to walk."
Often, we are made to believe that it has to always happen the way it
did in Acts 3:
Ac 3:6-8 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I
have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping
up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking,
and leaping, and praising God.
We don't have to force it. God can do it by himself. The healing
power of God worked through Paul as it had through Jesus - only in
Jesus Name.
Note these passages:
Jesus promised power -
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these
shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (AV)
Mt 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If
ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done
to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (AV)
Mr 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (AV)
Lu 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by
any means hurt you. (AV)
Peter exhibited this power -
Ac 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom
God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before
you whole. (AV)
Ac 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed;
and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her
eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. (AV)
Ac 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets,
and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of
Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. (AV)
Paul exhibited this power -
Ac 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned
and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (AV)
Ac 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs
or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits
went out of them. (AV)
We see that this power comes from the Holy Spirit dwelling in us -
1 Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;
to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues: (AV)
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (AV)
It is important for us to realize that this power is available to all
believers and is for the blessing of God's people and the spread of
the gospel.
They tried to worship Paul and his company:
It is a natural human response to make heroes out of those whom God
uses. We all need heroes. But to make men our heroes is a mistake.
Man is fallible; God is not.
We must never think for one minute that anything God does through us
is because of any merit of our own. It is entirely of God. He uses
whom He will. It is not because we have power, or because we have
earned anything, but simply His grace that works in us.
How fickle the crowd:
"19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd
over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he
was dead."
Remember how quickly the crowds who laid palm leaves and cloaks in
the street welcoming Jesus to town, began to call for his death.
"Crucify Him!"
Beware of the crowds. Fame is short lived. Masses are easily
influenced. Popularity is not our goal - righteousness is. Leading
God's people is not a popularity contest. Leaders often find themselves
in a minority.
What happened to the crowds? Why would they turn so quickly from
worshipping him to stoning him? Because they were not committed to
his message. They were simply wowed by the works. True faith is not
based on signs and works, but on the Word of God. When people accept
His Word as the truth and commit themselves to live by it, then true
faith is established.
One more miracle:
"20 But after the disciples had gathered round him, he got up and went
back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe."
In the last verse, Paul had been left for dead. He obviously was
injured pretty badly. Yet, the disciple gathered round him and prayed,
and he got up and went, under his own power (not carried), back into
town.
Undoubtedly, Paul had been healed by God as the disciples prayed.
The power works for the vessel as well as through the vessel.
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