What prevents us from denying God's evident miracles in our lives today? An Undeniable Miracle (Acts 4:16) “ ‘What shall we do with these men?’ they asked. ‘It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.’ ” Why the Leaders Could Not Deny It Then • Public evidence—thousands in Jerusalem saw the healed man walking (Acts 3:9–10). • Confirmed eyewitnesses—Peter and John stood before the court unchanged in their testimony. • Immediate, visible transformation—the crippled man’s wholeness spoke louder than opposition. • Consistency with prophetic Scripture—Isaiah 35:6 foretold the lame leaping; the sign fit the prophetic pattern. • Divine authority too obvious to suppress; denial would expose the leaders’ hardness, not disprove the miracle. What Prevents Us from Denying God’s Miracles Today? • Stored memory of Scripture’s record—God’s written Word stands as perpetual testimony (Psalm 105:5). • Ongoing eyewitness accounts—believers share fresh stories that echo Acts 4:16. • Transformed lives—“I was blind, but now I see!” (John 9:25) continues in every regeneration story. • Community verification—church families observe changes, healings, and providences together. • Holy Spirit’s inward witness—He bears witness with our spirit to God’s acts (Romans 8:16). • Historical continuity—centuries of documented conversions, revivals, and answered prayer. • Personal experience—when God intervenes in finances, relationships, health, His footprints remain unmistakable. Reinforcement from the Rest of Scripture • John 11:45—“many…who had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.” Public miracles drew faith. • Hebrews 2:4—God “testified…by signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.” • Mark 5:19—Jesus told the delivered man, “tell them how much the Lord has done for you.” Testimony sustains remembrance. • 2 Corinthians 3:2—changed believers are “known and read by everyone,” living letters confirming God’s power. Guardrails Against Denial in Everyday Life • Remember—keep a journal of answered prayers to rehearse God’s works. • Rehearse—regularly read biblical miracle accounts; they calibrate expectations. • Relate—share fresh testimonies in small groups; collective witness strengthens certainty. • Recognize—credit God promptly when breakthroughs come; thanksgiving cements memory. • Resist—reject naturalistic explanations that strip glory from God when evidence points to His hand. Living in the Light of Evident Miracles Because Acts 4:16 shows the futility of denying what God clearly does, choose to: • Stand bold like Peter and John when challenged about God’s work. • Celebrate every divine intervention, large or small. • Let visible grace in your life become undeniable proof to others that Jesus is alive and active today. |
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