CENTRAL THOUGHT
Miracles are God’s Divine Intervention in the Affairs of Men.
HYMM: S.S & S. 524 “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah”.
TEXT: ACTS 14:8-18, 16:16-40
INTRODUCTION:
Paul was formerly known as Saul, until his miraculous conversion. He was a devout supporter and practitioner or Judaism- the Jewish religion that teaches that justification can only come through obedience of the law- The Ten Commandments as given to Moses by God. He was a lawyer by profession (Acts 22:3) though he was also involved in tent making (Acts 18:1-3) and was so zealous in the teaching and observance of the tenet of Judaism. His zeal was so much that he regarded anyone who practiced any other religion outside Judaism an enemy. Therefore, when the church of Christ was born on the day of Pentecost, he became an archenemy of the Church. He persecuted the believers in Christ, hauling them into prison and killing others until that fateful day on his way to Damascus, when he had encountered the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-8). God chose him and used him extensively as an instrument for miracles in the course of his ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In this study, we shall consider Paul’s experiences in Lystra and Philippi where God used him to heal a cripple and a demon possessed girl respectively, during one of his missionary journeys, and how he handled the hazards he faced as a result.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
- Understand how God used Paul as an instrument for miracles
- Learn how to handles the challenges in ministry
- See the need of walking in the Spirit
- Understand that God is the source of every genuine miracle
- Learn to given the glory to God for every success recorded in ministry
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1.) HOW DID GOD USE PAUL TO BRING HEALING TO THE MAN CRIPLLED FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB?
The incident took place in the city of Lystra. Paul and his companions arrived in Lystra from Iconium, and continued the preaching of the gospel message. Among their audience was a crippled from his mother’s womb, who listened to Paul’s message with rapt attention. Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit to acknowledge him and observed that the man had faith to be healed; so, Paul with a loud voice said to him “stand upright on thy feet”. Immediately the crippled man leaped and started walking, and the people who saw the miracle was amazed. This miracle underscored the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and being led by Him when ministering.
QUESTION 2A) WHAT DANGER DID PAUL AND BARNABAS FACE FROM THEIR HEATHEN AUDIENCE?
Having seen this great miracle that was wrought by Paul, the people were greatly amazed, and in ignorance, they believed that their gods has come down to them in the likeness of men. As a form of gratitude to their gods, they wanted to offer a sacrifice to the apostles which the apostles resisted. The incident had presented an opportunity for Paul and Barnabas to arrogate power and glory to themselves. This obviously would have destroyed their ministry and place them as enmity to God. Of course, the apostles know that what was done was absolutely an act of God, and not in any way, by their power. They equally knew the danger inherit in allowing the people go ahead with the sacrifice.
QUESTION 2B) HOW DID THEY HANDLE THE CHALLENGE AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?
When the apostles realized what the people were about to do, they tore their clothes in anger and ran to the multitude, crying out with a loud voice. Paul said to them, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings- just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:15). The apostles were careful to turn the attention of the people from themselves and unto God, who was responsible for the perceived miracle. We must learn from the way the apostles handled this challenge and understand that no matter the level of success in our given ministries, we should ascribe the glory to God alone, who is the author and finisher of our faith. Remember, Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
QUESTION 3) READ ACTS 16:16-17 AGAIN. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS SLAVE GIRL BEFORE AND WHEN WE MET PAUL AND HIS TEAM?
The slave girl was described as one who had the spirit of divination, she was involved in fortune telling through the demonic power, by which she made much money for her masters. When she met Barnabas and Paul, she followed them, shouting and saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to us the way of salvation”. Paul rebuked the evil spirit, and cast it out, and the girl was delivered. Though the evil spirit using the girl spoke the truth about the apostles, it was, however, not intended to turn the people from their idol worship to the living God. So, no matter how true the statement of the agents of Satan are in the midst of believers, we must identify and spirit and deal with it immediately and accordingly.
QUESTION 4A) HOW DID PAUL DISCERN THE SPIRIT THAT WAS AT WORK IN THE GIRL?
As the possessed girl continued to shout the same statement repeatedly, day after day, Paul got so upset that he had to focus his attention on her. As a man full of the Holy Ghost, he was able to discern the type of spirit that was operating in the girl. It was not difficult for him to discern, as the Spirit of God in him was not in agreement with the one speaking through the girl, though the statement was true. So, he turned to the girl and said to the demon, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her”. Instantly, the evil spirit left the girl.
QUESTION 4B) HOW CAN WE DISCERN THE ACTIVITIES OF EVIL SPIRITS?
Discernment of spirits is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church. So, Christians can discern the activities of evil spirits, as they listen to the voice of the indwelling Spirit of God. Believers are therefore admonished to test every spirit whether it be of God. Many deceivers who have the spirit of the anti-Christ are already everywhere in the world. It is therefore important that believers, who have not been baptized in the Holy Ghost, should seek to be baptized and those who have been baptized should seek to be refilled again and again and continually led by Him.
QUESTION 5A) READ ACTS 16:19-24 AND EXPLAIN THE EXPERIENCE OF PAUL AND SILAS AS A RESULT OF THE DELIVERANCE OF THE SLAVE GIRL
After the slave girl was delivered by the Lord, her masters discovered that their chances of making more money through the girl’s activities were gone. They seized Paul and Silas, dragged them to the authorities at the public square, brought them to the Roman officials accusing them of causing trouble in their city by teaching customs contrary to their laws. Paul and Silas were seriously beaten, manhandled, and thrown into jail. The jailer was ordered to lock them up. He then threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet between heavy blocks of wood and made sure that the doors of the prison were securely locked.
QUESTION 5B) HOW DID PAUL AND SILAS REACT AND WHAT CHALLENGE DOES THIS POSE TO US?
At midnight, Paul, and Silas, rather than bemoaning their faith and accusing God of allowing them to be treated in such a shameful manner, started praying and praising God, singing hymns unto God. They were joyfully singing aloud that the other prison inmates heard them. This action of Paul and Silas really posed a great challenge to today’s Christians. Can we truly boast of handling our life challenges in this manner? Do we not question God why we should suffer any deprivation or harm for what we consider as “doing the work of God”? sometimes we adjudge God as being unfair, even when we know that our suffering is as a result of our own errors, probably because of our erroneous belief on the “new grace doctrine”. We should appreciate the fact that we can be at the center of God’s will and still experience problems, difficulties, challenges, etc. But we are comforted when we know that our suffering is as a result of our obedience to His call upon our lives, believing that He that called us is able to see us through. He knows how to deliver the righteous.
QUESTION 6) WHO WAS THE SOURCE OF PAUL’S HEALING ACTIVITIES AND WHAT MEANS DID HE USE?
In Acts 9:11-12, the Scripture records that “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 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”. From the above statement, we understand clearly that God was the source of Paul’s healing activities. All that Paul did was just speak the Word of command and obedience to the instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ – “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils…” (Matt. 10:8). In our generation there are instruments God also used for miracles like Arch-Bishop Benson Idahosa and others.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
God is still working miracles today. He wants to use us, but we must avoid making merchandise of the gift of God. When it pleases God to use us in any capacity, we must take heed to ourselves that we do not fall victim of the praise of men that may push us into arrogating to ourselves the glory that belongs to God alone. No matter the level of success we attain in ministry, let us not forget that it is by His grace and mercy, not by merit.
We must not forget our frailty as compared to God’s ability. To Him be all glory even now and forever more. Amen!
MEMORY VERSE:
HEBREW 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MONDAY: GOD OF MIRACLES.
Acts 16:16-18, 3: 1-8, 19:11-12
TUESDAY: SUFFERING FOR GOOD DEEDS.
Acts 16:16-24, 5:16-18
WEDNESDAY: THE PRICE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST.
1 Cor. 11:23-27; Luke 14:26-27
THURSDAY: REJOICING IN TRIBULATION.
2 Cor. 7:4; Acts 16:23-25; James 1:2-4
FRIDAY: WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.
Acts 14:9-10, 13:2
SATURDAY: MIRACULOUS FAITH.
Acts 14:8-10; Mark 15:27-34; Matt. 9:27-30