Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
September 2, 2018

Let’s Study Miracles (Part 1)
by Bryan Gibson
The Book of Acts is filled with miracles, so let’s use it to make some observations about miracles (three this week, three more next week, and we’ll wrap it up with three more the following week.
#1: Miracles, wonders, signs—these are the different words used to describe miraculous activity (2:22, 43; 4:16, 22, 30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 8:6, 13; 14:3; 15:12; 19:11). Acts 2:22 uses all three of them: “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst…” Miracle comes from the Greek word dunamis, and means force or power (think dynamite, which is derived from the same Greek word). Sign is used, because a miracle signifies something; it makes something clear or obvious. In the passage cited above, the miracles of Jesus signified (made it clear) that He was the Son of God. And wonder is used, because a miracle is anything but natural. You don’t use the word wonder to describe some ordinary event, or something that could have a natural explanation.
#2: The power these miracle workers exhibited was far superior to the power Simon claimed to have (8:9-13), or that which people claim to have today. Words like “notable” (4:16), “evident” (obvious) (4:16), “great” (6:8), and “unusual” (19:11) are used to describe the various miracles, signs, and wonders they performed. Know anyone today who can raise the dead (9:36-43), strike someone blind (13:8-12), and heal everyone brought to him, and do so immediately (3:7; 5:16; 9:34; 28:9)? We’ve seen people hold poisonous snakes, but do you know anyone who has been bitten and suffered no harm, no swelling or anything (Acts 28:3-6)? “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and napkins were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them” (19:11-12). Know any man or woman who possesses that kind of power today?
#3: So indisputable were these miracles that even the enemies of the gospel could not deny them. Acts 3 describes a man who was “lame from his mother’s womb” (3:2), which was hardly a secret, because he was “laid daily at the gate of the temple called Beautiful” (3:2). Here’s the record of his healing: “Then Peter said, ‘…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. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God” (3:6-8). The reaction of the Jewish authorities? “Seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it…that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it” (4:14, 16). If such a miracle were performed today, not even the worst skeptics could keep a lid on it. News outlets all over the world would be covering it, and Twitter, Facebook, and every other form of social media would be absolutely blowing up. That’s the defining feature of the miracles found in the Book of Acts and elsewhere in the Bible—so clear, so obvious, so spectacular, that no other plausible explanation could be offered.
Stay Alert
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
“Therefore be on the alert…” (Acts 20:31)
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
“Be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
“So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

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	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

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Bible Study 9:00 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Training Class 5:00 P.M.
Worship 6:00 P.M.
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Bible Study 7:00 P.M.