Mission Over Miracles

Historians tell us that the Book of Acts covered about the first 30 years of the genesis of the Church. Subsequently there are 30 miracles recorded in the same book. That’s (about) 1 miracle per year. Some are clustered together, while some are spread apart.

Because the Book of Acts is the actions of the Holy Spirit through regular people, we now are not only the byproducts of their effort, consistency and sacrifices but also the continuance of the same. It was their obedience that gave us what we have today.

We are the Church not because of miracles but because of obedience.

The Book of Acts is less about miracles and more about the mission of the Church and the providence of God. Don’t base your impact on the miracles you experience or don’t experience. Hinge it on your obedience to the leading of the Spirit to go and do.

God will lead. You may not see a miracle regularly, but if you obey you will see an impact eternally. Get excited over miracles, but get committed to your submission.

There are two Simons in the Book of Acts. The first is Simon Peter, the Apostle, the other is Simon Magus, the sorcerer. Both were workers of miracles.

Check the difference:

Simon Magus:
Acts 8:18-19

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon Peter:
Acts 3:12-13

And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servante Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.

One was excited about a miracle, the other was submitted to the mission.

One glorified a miracle and sought attention to himself, the other glorified the Miracle Worker and moved attention away from the miracle to the mission of the Savior.

**My Take**
If someone makes you pay attention to the miracle using the Savior, they are practicing sorcery. If someone leads you away from the miracle to focus on the Savior, then it is the work of the Holy Spirit. **

Miracles are good, but obedience is better. Miracles are rare, yet obedience can be done daily. People will applaud a miracle, but it does not mean they’ll commit to the mission. But those who submit to the mission are the ones who will leave an impact.

Miracles are euphoric. They leave you feeling like God is tangible. He is active and moving. It makes you feel good. Submission is dreary and dry. It can make you feel God is distant and apart. But the reality is providence is God at work. He may not be tangible, but He is ever present. He is guiding. He is keeping.

Much like Paul in Acts 23, after a series of riots and beatings and false accusations and imprisonment; Jesus stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer.”

Jesus stood by him! No miracle. No big show of power. Just a moment of God’s confidence that Paul was following where the Holy Spirit was leading. No miracle in the midst of trouble. Just simple surrender to the mission of the Gospel.

It’s no wonder that Jesus said, “These signs shall follow them,” and the Book of Acts recorded, “signs following them.” Miracles follow the missional.