The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 9 July 2020 – TOPIC: PURPOSE OF MIRACLES
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TOPIC: PURPOSE OF MIRACLES
READ: ACTS 14:8-20 (NKJV)8. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.9. [This] man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,10. said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.11. Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian [language,] “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”12. And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.13. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.14. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out15. and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,16. “who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.17. “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”18. And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.19. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul [and] dragged [him] out of the city, supposing him to be dead.20. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.THE MESSAGE:The issue of miracles and miracle workers in the body of Christ today is a great concern to many who are bothered about the glory of God and the work of the Gospel. The miracle worker is so celebrated – sometimes, even given the attention God is not given! Some even demand such attention and gifts; others literally play God in the lives of men because they were used of God! This has led some to fake miracles just to get this kind of acclaim. A miracle at Lystra – healing a man lame from his mother’s womb brought such excitement and awe that the people concluded that the gods had come down to them in the form of Paul and Barnabas. And they intended to sacrifice to them. How did the apostles handle them?Paul and Barnabas would have none of the “men worship” that some in our time tolerate and even demand. They stopped them from sacrificing to them, and pointed them again to God. Is God using you in the lives of others? Do not receive from them the attention, glory or gifts they should give to God. Do not eat from men’s lives what God has not “eaten” from their lives. Every miracle done in the name of God is an opportunity to point men to the God of the miracle, not the man of God.PRAYER: May my life and all You do through me point men to You, not me, O Lord!