Delayed Miracles
Acts 3:1-10
(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, July 30th, 2025)
On February 12, 2009, David Becony missed a flight from Newark-Liberty International Airport to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Bad weather had delayed his earlier flight from New Orleans to Newark. This had to be a frustrating situation for Becony. Not only was he late, he was unable to get another flight. Even worse he could not find a hotel room near the airport. As a result he decided to camp out on a seat in the terminal. Becony's frustration turned to relief when he learned that the flight he missed ...Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed outside Buffalo, and killed all 49 people on board. As he watched television reports on the crash and its fiery aftermath he said, "It could have been me," ..."My wife would have been with all those families who had loved ones on the plane". He later proclaimed, "I'm still in shock, really… God was looking over me."
We don't like delays; Delays are at best inconvenient, most of the time they are irritating, and often they are downright infuriating. However, if we knew what we may have happened if we were on time we would be eternally grateful.
We have all cried out to the Lord at one time or another and He did not respond when or how we wanted Him to. At times this may cause us to become angry, frustrated, or even doubtful. In times such as these we must remember that we serve an all knowing and sovereign God who has a perfect plan for His children.
Our selected text covers the story of a man who was lame from birth. When other babies took their first steps he did not. When the other kids were running and playing he could not. When the teenagers began to work in the fields he was not able to help. And as a grown man he could not do what was needed to support himself.
Because of his condition, he was a poor beggar who sat at the gate of the temple and asked for "alms" of those who passed by. But one great day he encountered two men who would point him to the One who would change his life forever!
You may remember the old commercial for J.G Wentworth where the people would yell "It's my money and I need it now!” Many times this describes our prayer lives. We find ourselves in need of a miracle and like spoiled children we tell the Lord "it is my miracle and I want it now!!”
Regardless of our impatience, the Lord moves in His own way and in His own time. I would like to examine the story of the lame man and see the importance of waiting on and trusting in the Lord. In the process I would like to share a message entitled “Delayed Miracles”.
- Let’s begin with the fact that:
YOU MAY REQUEST A MIRACLE
We all have wants, needs, and desires, but there are some who are desperately seeking a mighty move of God. Certain situations are so severe that we know that our only hope is the Lord. In these times:
THERE IS A DESIRE
In verses 1-3 Peter and John approached the Temple and encountered a man with a specific request. He simply wanted “alms”. This poor lame beggar simply wanted some money (likely to buy food). This was a simple request and it was how he spent each day of his life.
When examining his story it is apparent that he possessed a much greater desire but chances are that he had long given up on it coming to fruition. He was lame; he had never taken a step in his life. As a result he could not work or do many other things that other people could do.
In this assembly there are many people with various issues, circumstances, and problems. Some of you are currently facing a situation and it seems that there is no hope. Your greatest desire is for the all-powerful God to come on the scene and perform a miracle in your life.
Through the ministry of the Apostles, this man encountered Jesus and his life was changed completely. He received far more than he could have ever asked for. I am glad to report that Jesus Christ is still working miracles today. However, He doesn’t always move when or how we would prefer. Though there are times when we have a specific desire, this passage shows us that:
THERE MAY BE A DELAY
This man had dealt with his condition throughout his entire life; he was “lame from birth”. The desire that you possess may be related to something that you have dealt with for a long time, possibly for many years. This period of extended waiting may have caused you to become frustrated, discouraged, or even angry with God. Notice:
DELAYED MIRACLES MAY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT
It is important to consider the location of this miracle; it occurred at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. This man was laid at the gate on a daily basis; therefore it is probable that he was present on numerous occasions when Jesus was in the area.
He certainly had heard of the mighty works that had been performed by this Man from Galilee. Maybe he heard that Jesus had spit on the ground and made clay, placed it on the eyes of a blind man and he received his sight. Maybe he heard that Jesus put His finger into the ear of a deaf man and he began to hear. Perhaps he heard that Jesus encountered 10 lepers and at the sound of His voice they were cleansed. It is likely that he heard of the Centurion who approached Jesus on behalf of his servant and without even being at the same location the servant was healed. Maybe he heard about a woman who has an issue of blood for 12 years and when she touched the hem of His garment she was instantly healed. Surely he had heard about a man named Jairus who's daughter was sick and then died, who was healed by this Jesus. I am certain that word had reached the lame man that Jesus had called Lazarus out of his tomb after being dead for four days,
It could be that after hearing the reports of these many miracles the lame man was resentful. He must have wondered why so many people were healed yet he did not receive a miracle.
You may currently be in a similar situation. For a long time you have cried out for God to intervene in your situation and your miracle has yet to come. To make matter worse, it seems as if God is working in the lives of everyone but you. You’ve put your trust in Him, you know that you belong to Him, you pray and you plead and it seems as if you are wasting your time.
Your delayed miracle may have caused you great disappointment and after a while your disappointment turned into doubt. This leads us to the reality that:
DELAYED MIRACLES MAY CAUSE DOUBTS
You have prayed time and again and it seems as if your efforts are an exercise in futility. You may ask “is it worth it?” You may wonder if God is there. It may even seem that He doesn’t care. You are tired of waiting. You are weak and weary. And you may have gone beyond doubts to the point of being angry at God. You blame Him for your situation. You ask why He let this happen to you. For many, their doubts and anger have caused them to give up and turn away from God.
The healing of the lame man shows us that just because God doesn't act when we want Him to, or exactly how we want Him to, this doesn’t mean that He has forsaken us.
Our Heavenly Father always has a perfect plan and purpose for the struggles in the lives of His children. You may request a miracle today and not receive it. But there may come a day (when you least expect it) when God shows up and does something more amazing than you could have ever imagined.
Now that we have considered the fact that you may request a miracle, let’s consider the reality that:
YOU MAY RECEIVE A MIRACLE
As this man was placed at the beautiful gate that morning, he had no idea that this was the day his life would change forever. He didn’t get what he originally wanted, instead, he got something far better!
Perhaps you have been waiting for God to work a specific miracle in your life; as of now it has not happened, furthermore it may never happen. But there may come a day when you realize that God has a much greater plan for your life than you ever could have imagined.
- Verses 4-6 show us:
THE METHOD OF GOD’S MIRACLES
God has a purpose for every struggle that you face in this life. When He works a miracle, it has a purpose as well. We all have a tendency to look at our situations and feel that we know how it would best be resolved.
If this lame man had of had his way, he would have never been born with this condition. I am sure that if it were up to him he would have been healed many years earlier. But God had a perfect plan and that plan involved waiting. The Lord was going to use this man for His own glory. His physical transformation would lead to the spiritual and eternal transformation of an entire multitude.
If you have been seeking God for a miracle, chances are that you feel that you know exactly what He should do in your life. However, the Father may have an entirely different plan that involves a completely different kind of miracle. Furthermore, His plan will ultimately lead to His glory.
One of the most important lessons we can learn from the lame man is not as much about the miracle as it is about the reason for it. Verses 7-11 show us:
THE MOTIVATION FOR GOD’S MIRACLES
Peter lifted this man up, his legs received strength, and he was filled with joy; so much so that he walked, leaped and he praised God. His greatest desire that once seemed impossible had been fulfilled. He received a miracle that changed his life forever.
If you are seeking a miracle it is very possible that you may receive it. You do belong to a miracle working God who loves you immensely and He delights in blessing His children! However, if and when God performs a miracle in your life, the ultimate reason will be so that He receives the glory.
The ultimate motivation for this miracle was what happened after it occurred. This miracle brought glory to God! Everyone who was present at the temple that day knew who this man was. As he began to walk, then leap and praise God they were “filled with wonder and amazement”.
Following this, a great crowd assembled at Solomon’s Portico and Peter took the opportunity to preach to them. He proclaimed that it was Jesus who healed this man; the same Jesus that they had rejected, mocked and crucified. Faith in Jesus Christ is what made this miracle possible. After seeing the miracle and hearing the Gospel a great multitude repented and believed in Christ for salvation.
If you have been seeking a miracle and you have become disappointed, discouraged, and doubtful, remember that Gods timing is perfect. Moreover, the miracle you are waiting for may never happen. If that is the case, God has a reason and He knows best! If you do receive a miracle, it will be by His power and for His glory! He may even use your circumstances to point others to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Throughout the life of Jesus, He worked many miracles. And each one of those miracles came with a message. This leads us to:
THE MESSAGE IN GOD’S MIRACLES
Peter looked at the lame man and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Miracles then and miracles now reveal the life changing power of Jesus Christ. Though this man had been lame since birth, it was not too big of a problem for Jesus. No matter how big or long standing your problem is, it is not too big for the Lord. He has the power to change your life today!
Miracles also reveal Jesus’ perception. What I mean is that Jesus sees all and knows all! This man may have felt worthless; he was a beggar who was used to being ignored by others. He may have even felt that God did not care about him. But there came a day when he learned that Jesus knew his story, and cared for him immensely. It is important for you to realize that Jesus knows your story. He sees your struggles, and He cares for you.
This miracle also sends a message that Jesus is always present. By the time the lame man was healed, Jesus had already ascended to Heaven. However, time and space did not prevent Him from working a great miracle. Even though He worked through Peter, when this miracle happened, Jesus was on the scene. The great news is He is still present in this world today!
We all have needs, wants, and desires. In some way we are all in search of a miracle. For some, what you need more than anything is to be forgiven of your sins. Any other problem that you have is temporary but “the wages of sin is death”. Your greatest need is salvation and everything necessary for you to receive his miracle has already been accomplished.
This man was born lame; you were born a sinner. This man was introduced to Jesus and his life changed forever. In the end he was walking and leaping and praising God. The same thing can happen to you today!
Maybe you have already received the miracle of salvation but you are waiting for God to work in another area of your life. Remember that Jesus can meet your need, whatever it may be. Sometimes the answer doesn't come right away. Sometimes He moves in ways we didn't expect. Sometimes things get worse instead of better. Sometimes our miracle is delayed.
Many men and women in the Bible dealt with the same issue: The children of Israel waited for 400 years to be delivered from bondage. Even then, they wandered in the desert for another 40 years. Abraham waited 99 years before Isaac was born. Joseph waited in prison for 14 years before things turned around for him. When Jairus was waiting for his daughter to be healed, his miracle was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood. When Mary and Martha desired Jesus to come and heal Lazarus, their miracle was delayed. Though there were delays in the lives of many of God’s people, things always worked out according to God’s perfect plan.
October 7th, 2015 Amber and I were in the hospital awaiting the arrival of our first son. I stepped into the waiting room while the doctor administered an epidural. Almost immediately I was paged back to the delivery room, by the time I returned Amber had already given birth. As I walked into the room, I could tell by the look in the doctor’s eyes that something wasn’t right. I asked what was happening and in an effort to keep us calm Doctor Jones said, “well, there is a little bump on his back that we need to get checked out”. I knew as soon as he turned him over that our precious son had been born with Spina Bifida.
It took a few days and several tests before we received the official diagnosis. The entire time I prayed that I was wrong. Maybe it was just a simple fatty mass, perhaps it was just fluid. When the results came in my worst fears were confirmed.
Even then, Amber and I had not given up hoping and praying for a miracle. We thought that there may have been a possibility that one simple surgery could fix everything, and Andrew could live a “normal” life, free from any lasting complications.
We did not know at the time that our son’s calf muscles would not develop. We did not know that he would not have strength in his ankles or mobility in his feet. We did not know at the time that he would have to wear braces for the rest of his life. Nor did we know that he would have to have intense neurosurgery when he was six months old. We didn’t know that he would have to endure years of physical therapy and likely more surgeries throughout his childhood.
We prayed and we pleaded with God and our miracle was not just delayed, it was denied! Little did we know how many other miracles that we would see over the next ten years (and we are confident that there are more to come).
There was a time when we were prepared for the possibility that Andrew would never walk, but one of the greatest days of our lives was when he came walking across the living room floor. One day we went for a checkup with his orthopedic doctor and he said, “he is doing great, he may never kick a ball, but he is walking and that is phenomenal”. That every night our boy kicked a soccer ball across the room. What many parents would consider normal was another miracle for us. After a major surgery Andrew was leaking spinal fluid and was scheduled for another surgery to repair the leak, however, the Great Physician reached down from Heaven, touched his body and healed the issue without any intervention from medical professionals. I could share many other similar stories where we have seen the miracle working power of God in the life of our son. God didn’t answer our prayers the way that we wanted Him to, but we would not change a thing. The reality is, God gave us a perfect Son who is created in His image, at the same time He used Andrew to teach us that He has a perfect plan that will result in His glory.
Recently I was talking to Andrew and I said, “Son, I am so proud of how strong you are and how you have endured and overcome all of the problems you have faced throughout your life”. His response… “Dad, I ain’t had no problems!” God has taught me a great deal through “delayed miracles”.
The reason for your delayed miracle could be that God is bringing an additional brokenness in your life so that you will draw closer to Him. Perhaps God your delayed miracle is His way of teaching you the truth of Romans 8:28 that says, “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. May we all learn that "all things do work together" even delayed miracles.
07302025
