THE PURSUIT OF MIRACLES

The crowd in Acts, the 3rd chapter are a lot like us, today. They loved the sensational--they did the same thing to the apostles that they did to Jesus. They followed them for the miracles. They went after Jesus often for the fishes and the loaves--because He fed them, or to see something amazing.

Now, Jesus is no longer walking the earth, in the flesh. His disciples are now walking in His footsteps, empowered to do "greater works"--in quantity, that is. Jesus' ministry only lasted three years. Miracles just happened--as they should when the Holy Ghost is present, but they are a means to an end, other than to (simply) heal and deliver the individual. That's good, but not the main purpose. Jesus told us that miracles are to raise the level of faith of those who behold them--so that they "might believe on Him".

Miracles should lead mankind to believe on Jesus; belief in Jesus will convict and draw man to salvation. Miracles are the attraction that gets the attention of unbelievers--we need miracles. We don't need them to get what we want, but to see the salvation of those around us.

We lack miracles though. They abounded after Pentecost--why? Because, those who had been empowered by the Holy Ghost, lived a life of fellowship, of love, and enthusiasm for God and worship. Between worship of Him and love for one another--they were magnets that couldn't be resisted! The Holy Ghost in them wrought miracles and spoke the Word of God with power and authority, in the face of persecution, without fear of retribution. Even though people knew that they would suffer if they became Christians the Church grew by thousands daily!

What if we allowed--and invited the Holy Ghost to become that explosive in our hearts--as at Pentecost, today??? What if we laid aside "every weight and the sin that so easily besets us", and truly sought God in repentance [2 Chronicles 7:14]???

He would heal our land.

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