Monday, November 3rd

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Monday, November 3

Acts 5:12-16
 
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


Over the last few weeks I’ve shared several stories from my recent trip to the Middle East. Today I want to share one more.

On the night before I left to return home we had dinner with several Muslim background believers who shared their faith-stories with us.

One was a woman who looked to be about 50 years old who told us she had only known one Christian her whole life and that she had never even seen a Bible. She followed Islam because that what she was expected to do but she didn’t feel like her obedience and prayers actually resulted in any help from Allah.

Then one Saturday night she had a series of 3 identical dreams. Each time she said she saw a tombstone and a white casket in her dream. Each time she woke up from the dream speaking out loud these words, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” This had never happened to her before and she didn’t understand the dreams or what the words she was saying meant. But it happened three times that night.

The next morning - which was Sunday - (Friday is the day of worship in the Muslim world so Sunday was just another work day) - she called her Christian friend and told her about the dreams. Dreams are regarded as very significant in the Muslim world.

Her friend got very excited and told her that she thought the dream had to be about Jesus death and resurrection. The Muslim woman had heard of Jesus through the Qu’ran but she didn’t know anything about him. She explained about the empty tomb and how the angels said to the women, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” And then paused and said, “I almost forgot...today is Easter Sunday, the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!”

That formerly Muslim woman is now a follower of Jesus.

I believe her story is a modern day miracle; an example of what the book of Acts calls “signs and wonders.” Luke writes:

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles...And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women...

Signs and wonders were miraculous events that pointed people to the name of Jesus and to the power of the gospel.

The signs and wonders in Acts started back in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came with wind and fire and the apostles spoke in languages they had never studied. We are told that 3,000 people came to faith in Jesus that day.

Then in Acts 3 we see the story of the man born lame who was begging for money. He is miraculously healed; a crowd gathers in amazement; Peter preaches the gospel and some 2,000 more people come to faith in Jesus.

This is a pattern we will see throughout the Book of Acts.

God does something miraculous; then the gospel is proclaimed; and people come to faith in Jesus.

Here Luke wants us to see clearly the connection of signs and wonders to people coming to faith. This is what the believers prayed for in Acts 4:30 and it’s what was happening.
What does this look like today? Is God still in the miracle business? Does God do signs and wonders today? 

While in the Middle East I heard several stories that were clearly of the “signs and wonders” variety and I’ve heard missionaries from different parts of the world tell all kinds of miracle stories!

I have sometimes wondered why it seems like this stuff happens in other parts of the world, but not here where we live in North America?

That’s actually a pretty good question. Some say because we have lots of other places to put our faith; hospitals, doctors, and good medical care.

Some say it’s because we don’t ask; or maybe we ask for the wrong reasons.

Some say it’s because people around the world are more desperate in their faith!

It may be all or none of these things, but it helps me to remember the purpose of “signs and wonders!” The purpose was gospel transformation.

So is it any less miraculous when a corporate executive realizes, after missing yet another birthday party for his daughter, that something is out of kilter in his life and in his heart and reaches out in desperation to God? 

Is it any less miraculous when a single mother of three young children, struggling to make life work and convinced God has forgotten her, is invited to church and for the first time in a long time feels loved and accepted and opens her heart to Jesus? 

Is it any less miraculous when a high school sophomore who is struggling deeply with identity and self-esteem issues reluctantly goes on a retreat and hears the whisper of the Holy Spirit saying, “I love you, you are mine!”

Are those stories any less miraculous?

I think “signs and wonders” happen all the time! They just happen in different ways and we need to learn to see them.

May we keep our eyes open to what God is doing all around us!

Pastor Brian Coffey