John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name.
For the past few days, we have been studying Peter’s first ministry trip to Lydda and Joppa. In Lydda, a man named Aeneas was Healed after spending eight years in bed with palsy. As a result of his Healing, many people in Lydda and the neighboring town of Saron turned to the Lord.
While Peter was there he received word that a Christian woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) had died. She lived in Joppa was a wonderful woman who did a lot for the widows. Her death hit the city hard so they sent for Peter to come. Joppa was about twenty miles from Lydda, but Peter made the trip.
Upon his arrival in Joppa, they took him to the room where Tabitha’s body lay in preparation for burial. Peter asked everyone to leave the room and then he knelt down beside the bed and said, “Tabitha rise.” With that, she opened her eyes and sat up!
The word of her being raised from the dead spread like wildfire throughout Joppa and the Bible says and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:42) The purpose of Miracles is so people will believe Who Jesus is. John wrote on this subject. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name. (John 20:31)
Since Jesus was Crucified, Buried, Resurrected, and Ascended into Heaven where He now sits at the Right Hand of the Father, God has used people to continue the Ministry of Jesus. This is what we have been studying in the Book of Acts. God used Peter to Heal Aeneas and raise Tabitha from the dead. Both these incidents were done in the Name of Jesus and both caused many people to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The purpose of Miracles has not changed. Jesus performed Miracles to prove He was the Christ, the Son of God. After His Death, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension, the Disciples performed Miracles to prove He was the Messiah, the Son of God. After each account of a Miracle being performed, the Bible reads that many came to believe in Jesus Christ. No glory should EVER go to any person. All Glory, Honor, and Praise is to Jesus Christ, the Son of God because, without Him, we can do nothing.
God still performs Miracles today and in some cases, He uses people. This is the purpose of the Spiritual Gifts Paul wrote about in his letter to the Corinthians. God’s purpose in this has not changed. Miracles are done to cause people to believe in Jesus Christ Who went to the Cross so that they might be Saved, Healed, and Delivered. However, people used by God in this fashion should never receive payment or any recognition for their part in these supernatural happenings because as Jesus said, For without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Oh my! God so wants to…...….turn the tide……….in your life.
To God be all Glory, Honor, and Praise! Doreen
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