Acts 5:12-16

Apostolic Miracles


Introduction:

Our Lord Jesus performed many miracles during His public ministry. When He had chosen twelve apostles, He transferred to them miracle working power by their laying on of hands upon the lame and sick. Since these miraculous works were done during the time of the apostles in Acts; the question arises why aren’t these mighty miracles taking place today? We know God sometimes performs miraculous works through the prayers of the saints but even these are rather a rare occasion. Eph. 3:20


  1. The Nature of Miracles in the Early Church

    1. The Purity of the Church

      1. The impetus is fear

      2. Godly fear – Prov. 9:10

      3. Fear is part of the Christian experience – Luke 3:7; Acts 2:40; I Thess. 1:10; 2:16; 5:9; I John 4:18

    2. Church Discipline – Eph.6:10-17 (Robert Murray McCheyne)

      1. Those who crash in the faith – I Tim. 1:18

      2. Reprove empty talkers – Tit. 1:10-13 (Gal. 2:11-14; I Tim. 5:20) (Francis Schaeffer)

    3. The Power of the Church v.12

      1. By the hands of the apostles – II Cor. 12:12

      2. Greater works than these – John 14:12 (Martin Luther, C. H. Spurgeon, Walter Chantry)

      3. Suffering is appointed in the life of the saints – Heb. 12:1-12; I Tim. 3:16,17


  1. The Purpose of Miracles in the Early Church

    1. God is Sovereign

      1. Proof that the Lord is the head of the church

      2. Human beings cannot perform miracles – Acts 3:12

    2. Authenticated the Apostles Message

      1. The writer of Hebrews substantiates this – Turn To: Hebrews 2:1-4

      2. The fallacy that teaches that miracles produces conversions – Luke 16, the story of the rich man and Lazarus

      3. The story of Doubting Thomas who would not believe unless he could see – John 20:24-29 cf. Acts 5:13

    3. Glorified God

      1. It’s not about us. (Narcissistic age)

      2. It’s about the glory of God -The man born blind –

John 9:1-38







Pastor Nick Iamaio

Reformed Presbyterian Church 207 First Street, Fulton, NY 13069

Web Site fultonrpc.org

8/23/2009