Acts 5:12

"And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch." Acts 5:12

We are an excitable people. We get excited a soccer games. We get excited at movies. We get excited at weddings. There is not much we don't get excited about. The early Christians got excited about miracles - I guess nothing has changed. The apostles did many things through the power of the Spirit of God - all of them exciting. There is something about miracles that we need to remember. To the best of my understanding, every miracle in the New Testament happened with the express purpose of opening the door to the preaching of the Gospel.

Never did a miracle happen just so a miracle could take place. I have observed that we often forget that little fact. We tend to follow the miracles. We get excited about them. We honor the miracle workers. We televise their meetings. We devour their books. We forget about the teaching that accompanied the miracle. You don't? In that case you are the exception to the rule. Some of our brothers and sisters in the Charismatic movement often do not feel a service is complete unless there are miracles taking place during the "altar call." When we leave such a service we comment on the miracles - because they take the predominant place in a service - the end.

But take a look at the miracles in the Bible - especially the Book of Acts. When did they take place? At the beginning of a service. The Apostles and disciples were in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. There was the sound of a mighty rushing wind and they spoke in tongues. Only after the crowd was gathered do we see the reason - Peter's first sermon - and 5000 men were added to the Church. The lame beggar at the Temple gate was told that he would not receive silver or gold. He was told to stand up and walk! Then the preaching took place - and 3000 were added that day. (By the way, do you realized how many times Jesus walked by that beggar and never healed him? This fellow was lame from birth and his family took him to the Temple every day from his childhood. He was there every time Jesus entered the Temple - and He never healed him. Some healing's are delayed for God's glory!)

Perhaps, if we are really "In the Spirit" we should have our "healing services" at the beginning of the meeting. Then we have real praise and worship, then we will have real preaching. I think our "altar calls" will have the desired effect then - people saved. After all, that is our reason for existing as Christians - to win souls to Jesus (see Matthew 28:19 & 20.) It's about time that we take our eyes off the miracles and put them on the Miracle Worker, Jesus Christ, the Messiah! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.