Miracles: Every Nation Prayer & FastingSample

The Purpose of Miracles

“[. . .] John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:5–8

Acts 1:6–11 is often referred to as the thesis statement of Acts, setting the stage for the rest of the book. The themes found in this passage continue throughout the rest of Acts—the Holy Spirit will empower, lead, and guide God’s people as they advance his kingdom. In Matthew 28, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission to “go make disciples of all nations,” but in Acts 1:8, he gives them the power necessary to fulfill such a mission.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of God would come upon people for a specific time to do miraculous things and then depart from them. But after the miracle of Christ’s resurrection in the New Testament, the Spirit was given to remain with God’s people. He was sent to stay with us.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives his disciples the supernatural power to be his witnesses and live a life that honors God.

The stories we see throughout Acts are marked by the miraculous. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a miracle as a “divine intervention in human affairs.” God is still intervening, even today. He still loves to cause a miracle to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. He demonstrates his power to show his love to his people, through his people, and for the world.

The miraculous is always tied to the mission in Acts 1—that we would be witnesses of God, his goodness, and his power. God performs miracles so that we can know God and let him be known.

Has there been a time when God divinely intervened in your life?

Set aside time to pray and thank God for his power and goodness.

Faith Step

Write down some practical ways that you can be a witness in your everyday life.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for stepping into our broken world to change our circumstances for good. Your Word is full of miracles that display your love, power, and goodness. I pray that you would open my heart to believe you can do everything. You are the Almighty, kind, and worthy of praise, and I am ready to see you at work in my life and through my life this week. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.