More Than A Miracle - Part One

This morning I want to talk to you about the miracle working power of the Lord. If you have confessed Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you know something about having a miracle take place.

Personally, I know that Jesus has miraculously saved my soul from eternal judgment. He is my Savior.

And this is truly our greatest blessing we can have.

Question: Did you know that Christ will always be near you to save you from the bondage of the devil?

Text: Acts 12:5 thru 9

Prayer:

Many of you know there can be times (in our lives) when we can be faced with false accusations.

At first we may think this is nonsense.

Then it begins to interfere with our day-to-day life.

Then we realize it is a spiritual attack from the enemy.

At first our physical well being may be put at risk.

Our lives can be threatened to the point of death.

Things go from bad to worse, and become dangerous.

This is evidenced in the Bible. We are clearly warned that the devil is a thief. Jesus tells us in John 10:10

"The thief (has come) to steal…to kill, and to destroy.

This should not frighten us, but we should be warned.

If it were not for Christ Who has come to rescue and save us from the hands of the devil, any of us could loose everything we hold dear to us. Our jobs, our possessions, our health, our families, even our souls.

Thank God for His Grace and Mercy that will save us!

I have seen a simple misunderstanding take place, only to be twisted by someone who dislikes us. One thing can lead to another, and suddenly we are being persecuted for our faith in Christ.

One more caution. For those without Christ, bondage can come and steal from them, and haunt them until they’re not sure if they will ever be the same again.

Without Christ, a person can live in a false sense of security and believe that life is good. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, they are robbed of their good times and the freedoms they once took for granted.

The Good News today is that we have the Grace of God that has come to save us from the perils of life.

My friend, listen carefully.

It is the Grace of God that rescues a sinner from:

· The darkness and devastation of sin

· The tyranny and destruction of the devil.

· The pride and foolishness of men.

· The rejections, fears, and the loneliness of our own heart.

Some of you know (first hand) what it means to be a prisoner of your own soul. This is real bondage.

Perhaps, you have been held captive by your own fears and insecurities. Others of you have been held captive without even knowing it. Perhaps, you have been held captive by your own doubt and disbelief.

Nevertheless, God’s Mercy and Grace has come to set you free. God has a way out for you this morning.

The Grace of God will save you from eternal judgment and condemnation. Only the sovereign hand of the Lord can set you free today from being bound with guilt and condemnation! In place of bondage, God wants to give you His abundant joy and peace.

We can see this with this wonderful story of deliverance. We can see that Peter was:

· Rescued from prison by a great miracle. Delivered!

· So overwhelmed by being set free (from His death sentence) that he thought he had only seen a vision (or a dream).

At first, Peter was wrong. He though this was a vision.

A vision from God will:give to you a supernatural insight or awareness/revelation.

The purpose of visions is to give guidance and direction to God’s servants and to foretell the future. That is, what will happen.

We are studying (Sunday nights) that we need vision. We need the “Revelation” of what God is going to do.

What Peter was experiencing was more than a vision. Peter soon realized that what the angel of the Lord had done was a miracle.

A miracle from God will: demonstrate/prove God’s awesome presence and power, His holy justice(right the wrong) and righteousness, His saving Grace, and His eternal Glory.

However you want to spell it out, God’s miracles will never operate with mystical illusions. Miracles are authentic works of God’s angels and the Holy Spirit.

This is just what Peter needed. A miracle from God.

This is just what the early Christians needed.

A miracle could be just what you need today.

This morning, you may know what Peter went through. Your back maybe literally against the wall. You may have no where to go. Your hands are bound in chains.

Consider this: Peter went to sleep that night thinking that he soon wake up only to face his execution.