Many people are asleep to the possibility of miracles. Yet miracles do happen and they can happen to you. If you are going to be a real Christian, you also need to believe in miracles. Christianity is a supernatural faith. The God of the Bible is the God for whom nothing is impossible.

Often in the Bible, in history and in life, the greatest miracles happen when everything seems hopeless. We see in Acts 12 that the church and its leaders were under a very dark cloud of persecution, where everything seemed locked up. Maybe things in your life look locked up and circumstances seem impossible. But this story tells us that God is bigger than any circumstance, for a great miracle of deliverance was about to take place that would amaze everyone, including the church and Peter himself who took some time to wake up to what was happening to him. We too need to wake up to what is often involved in experiencing miracles.

1. Pray for the miracle (Acts 12:5; Daniel 10:12; 1 Kings 18:42; James 5:16-18 AMP; Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:5-7; Luke 18:1-5)
2. Believe for the miracle (Acts 12:6; Mark 4:38-40; Psalm 46:1-2,10)
3. Receive the miracle
a. We have to obey God (Acts 12:7-10)
b. We have to be alert to see when God is at work (Acts 12:11-12; Psalm 34:7)
c. We have to come to a new level of faith in God (Acts 12:13-17; Ephesians 3:20; Mark 9:24)

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Do you pray persistent prayers without giving up until you see the miracle? Despite setbacks and difficulties, the church wasn't prepared to let sad events weaken their commitment to prayer. When Peter was also targeted for persecution, the church rose up as one to cry out to God for him (Acts 12:5). They understood that an attack on their leader Peter was an attack on them and God. So they joined together in the spiritual battle to resist all the work of the devil. And their prayers were about to make a big difference. Prayer is the key to breakthrough in tough times. But not any kind of prayer. Breakthrough prayer has to be persistent. You have to keep on praying until you see the answer (Daniel 10:12; 1 Kings 18:42; James 5:16-18 AMP; Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:5-7; Luke 18:1-5). One of the main reasons that individuals and churches do not see more prayer breakthroughs is because they often give up too soon. But we have to learn to press on in our prayers –for individual people, for families, finances, land and buildings, for healings and deliverance from every attack of the evil one. Many times, in different and difficult situations, we have to pray this type of earnest prayer called intercession. So to see miracles, keep on praying.

Have you learnt to be still and not to stress whilst you are waiting for your miracle, regardless of your circumstances? While the church was mobilised to prayer, Peter was sleeping (Acts 12:6). Peter knew his close friend James had just been executed and he knew what awaited him the next day. He was in miserable circumstances with no way out, yet he was sleeping! This sleep was the sleep of faith. It shows that Peter totally trusted God with his life and future. Clearly he had learnt something from his mentor and Lord. When a storm arose in Galilee and it seemed like the boat would sink, Jesus was fast asleep (Mark 4:38-40), and years later in a life threatening storm of a different kind Peter was able to sleep because he wasn’t afraid. He had come to a place of faith that God was in control of everything (Psalm 46:1-2,10).

Do you believe God is still the God of miracles and that you will see this in your own life, and in your family, church and nation? This miracle happened because of angelic intervention. Angels appear throughout the Bible and at decisive moments. This miracle shows us that we have to obey God. Peter had to respond and act in obedience to what God was saying and doing and we have to do the same (Acts 12:7-10). We also have to be alert to see when God is at work (Acts 12:11-12). We need to be much more aware of the Holy Spirit and be quick to perceive that God is with us (Psalm 34:7). And we have to come to a new level of faith in God (Acts 12:13-17). The disciples had faith to pray for Peter but couldn’t believe it when Rhoda told them that Peter was at the door, even though she had been too excited to let him in. They told her ‘you are out of your mind’ when she declared that the miracle they had been praying for had now happened. Peter was free even though there had seemed no way out. Every day we need to understand more of just how great God is (Ephesians 3:20). Thank God for the faith you have but maybe you need to pray: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). God can unlock any situation. He can open prison doors for individuals, just as the gates of the prison were opened for Peter. God can lead you to freedom beyond your prison doors of whatever holds you captive. God can open the door for families, for churches and nations. So let’s pray for miracles, believe for miracles and receive miracles.

To move forward in any area of life means leaving the safety of the known and getting out of your depth. That’s why Jesus told his disciples in Luke 5:4: ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ At every age and stage of life and ministry we each have to decide whether or not to take a step of faith to see what lies on the other side of a door that God may be opening up to you.

In Acts 10 we come across one of the most defining moments in the whole history of Christianity, when the apostle Peter took a huge step out of his comfort zone and Christianity broke out from being a sub-culture of Judaism to becoming a global faith for all people. Not long before, Peter had been unprepared for all that God was about to do. However he quickly came to a place of new blessing and influence because he decided to step out of all that he was familiar with and ‘go with the flow’ of the Holy Spirit. We see some important lessons from this story of Peter and Cornelius, a Roman centurion, about getting out of our comfort zones.

1. God can get us out of our comfort zone when we stay close to God in prayer (Acts 10:1-20; James 5:16 AMP)
2. God will get us out of our comfort zones when we are prepared to change (Acts 10:14-15; Mark 7:19; Acts 10:34-35)
3. God will work powerfully when we take action get out of our comfort zones (Acts 10:19-23)
a. A new group of people to minister to (Acts 10:27)
b. A new outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48)

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Do you live close to the Lord in prayer and receive direction from Him? The Holy Spirit will lead us in new ways when we are living a life of close fellowship with God. Both Cornelius and Peter were men of prayer (Acts 10:1-2, 9). Cornelius not only prayed but, significantly, was also a God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor. When righteous people pray great things happen (James 5.16). And it was while these two very different men were each praying in different places and on different days that they each had a vision from God and the Spirit told them what to do next (Acts 10:3-6; Acts 10:9-16). When God gives visions, they are not dark or mystical or vague but very clear and very directional. God always listens when righteous people pray. And in one way or another through a vision, the witness of the Holy Spirit within you, and of course always the Scriptures, He will stir you to move out of your comfort zone into new territory.

Are you going to be fixed and stuck in your old ways or flexible and obedient in following the Holy Spirit? It was Peter, the committed disciple, the preacher, the apostle, who needed to change rather than Cornelius! When Peter was told to kill and eat the animals he saw in the vision, he resisted based on the Old Testament teachings that certain foods were prohibited (Acts 10:14-15). But Jesus had declared all foods clean (Mark 7.19), and He had abolished the distinction between clean and unclean food and clean and unclean people. Peter knew in his head that the kingdom of God was not about special rules and religious practices, but he still instinctively responded in a traditional way. And that’s why he had to quickly lose his old ideas and prejudices which thankfully he did (Acts 10:34-35). When Peter changed everything changed. Change starts in the church, in you, not in the world. Like Peter you have to start to think differently, act differently and lose any prejudices towards others if you are going to reach people you haven’t reached before and see things you haven’t seen before. We must have a new love for all people groups, all ethnicities, and all places.

Are you willing to step out in faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit's leading? From the moment that both Peter and Cornelius stepped out of their comfort zones in faith and obedience, they opened a greater door for change than they could have ever imagined. And the same thing will happen for you when you decide to fully follow Jesus, when you commit to bringing up your family in a Christian way and when you accept the challenge to be a leader. Stop playing safe. Launch out into the new. When Cornelius took the risk of contacting Peter and Peter stepped out to go where he had never gone before, everything moved to another level. There was a new group of people to minister to (v27) and a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48). From this moment the Christian church accelerated in new ways. Today so many people groups, so many families, so many in your neighbourhood and circle of influence are far more open to the good news of the gospel than you may know. And they will be more willing to listen to you than you may imagine. Today great things can happen in your personal life, in your family life, your ministry and career when you too listen to God and step out of your comfort zone to obey His call.

God can bring total turnaround for you and for anyone, no matter what state or stage your life is in right now. We see how this can happen by looking at one of the greatest examples in the Bible of how someone can radically change by knowing Jesus.

The first Christians were persecuted for their faith, including by a highly educated, religious activist called Saul. He was violently opposed to Christianity; he hated Christians with a vengeance and hunted them down. He rounded up whole families and had them put in prison. He supported the murder by stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Yet the great destroyer Saul, became Paul, the great builder and the apostle who founded powerful churches and who wrote much of the New Testament. And in a similar way, your life can be totally turned around by Jesus too.

1. You can be changed by a personal encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:1-9, Acts 9:18; 1 Timothy 1:13-15)
2. You can become a key part of the church of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12-14)
a. He was received as a brother (Acts 9:10-17)
b. He was baptised (Acts 9:18-19)
3. You can receive a new call to change the world for Jesus (Acts 9:15)

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Have you been changed by a personal encounter with Jesus? When Paul was least expecting it, Jesus met with him (Acts 9:1-9). Whether your experience of knowing Christ is or isn’t dramatic, what matters is that everyone needs to come to a moment when they know that Jesus is real and commit their lives to Him. This is a moment when you are born again and can suddenly see what you had not seen before. The eyes of the apostle Paul were physically and spiritually opened. His physical blindness symbolised the spiritual darkness in his life at that point but when Ananias laid hands on him, his sight was restored (v.18). You too can have your eyes opened as to who Jesus really is and come to experience his forgiveness and the new life he gives. It doesn’t matter what your background is or what bad things you have done: Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:13-15). So you too can be changed by a personal encounter with Jesus.

Have you committed to become a key part of the church of Jesus? When Jesus told Paul 'you are persecuting me', it showed that Jesus regarded the Christian community as His body on earth. Paul had never met Jesus, yet the Lord showed him that persecuting Christians was persecuting Him. Later on, Paul taught that the church of Christ, that is all those who believe in Him, is the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12–14). When we become a Christian it is not just about having a personal experience of God, we are also born into the family of God. And it was the family of God that quickly helped Paul grow in his new faith. We see that he was received as a brother (Acts 9:10-17). Can you imagine how Paul must have felt when someone from the people he had so violently persecuted came to him and called him ‘brother?’ We too, like Ananias, must be quick to accept and encourage new Christians, no matter what their previous history has been. And every new Christian, just like the apostle Paul, needs to be baptised (Acts 9:18-19). When we repent and turn from our sins and going our way, we need to be baptised as a sign that we are now dead and buried to an old way of life and raised with Christ to a new life as a committed follower of Jesus.

Have you accepted your call to change the world for Jesus? Right from the start of his Christian life there was a special mission for Paul (Acts 9:15) to powerfully spread the good news of Messiah Jesus or Yeshua, to the non-Jewish world and its leaders, without ever losing his love for ‘the people of Israel.’ His future ministry would involve much suffering which Paul would later faithfully and happily endure. It didn’t matter to him whether he lived or died because from the moment he experienced Jesus on the road to Damascus all his priorities changed. He now lived only to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and to tell the world of the lavish and eternal love of God. You also have a specific call of God to share the good news of Jesus wherever you are. You may be young or a new Christian but ask God to show you how you can best serve Him in your family, your school, your career and nation. For when you fully surrender to Jesus as the apostle Paul did, you too will touch many lives for Christ and His Kingdom.

One of the greatest gifts we can share with others is the good news about Jesus. We read in Matthew 10:5-8 how Jesus sent out his 12 disciples and told them in verse 8: ‘Freely you have received; freely give.’ And that’s what they and the early Christians did so effectively after they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Great things can happen in families, cities and nations when ordinary Christians decide to share the good news of Jesus.

In Acts 8, we read how a great persecution took place against the church, so much so that they couldn’t stay together and had to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria. Even though they were forced out of their homes and effectively became refugees, they continued to share their faith. Acts 8:4 says “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

One of these men was Philip. He was an ordinary man who had been given an operational role to help oversee finance and food distribution, but he was so full of the Holy Spirit that he was also used by God to bring many people to know Jesus. We can each become effective sharers of our faith by looking at 3 things that Philip did:

1. He reached out to preach about Jesus (Acts 8:5; Acts 1:8; John 4:13-14)
2. He reached out in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:6-13)
3. He reached out to people as he was led by the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:26-29)

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Do you share the word of God and reach out with compassion and courage? After being scattered due to experiencing persecution Philip travelled to Samaria (Acts 8:5). In a time where Jews and Samaritans did not associate with one another, Philip courageously pursued the teaching of Jesus to go there (Acts 1:8). Philip wasn’t timid but announced and publicly declared who Jesus was. There was great joy in Samaria because of Philip's ministry just as there had been after Jesus had visited before. Jesus had travelled through Samaria and met a woman by a well who had a very messy life. He quickly saw her needs and encouraged her that He was the living water she needed (John 4:13-14). This woman understood Jesus’ message and went and shared it with her whole town, and many came to believe in Him. We too can make a great impact for the gospel when we reach out in the midst of our everyday lives to share how God cares for us, wants to know us and wants to satisfy our needs. In a time of lockdown, we must continue to engage those around us with the gospel, sharing the Word, your testimony and the great things God has done for you and can do for them, and inviting people to watch the online services.

Do you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit as you reach out to people, or do you try and reach out in your own strength? Philip performed many miraculous signs and saw many miracles of healing (Acts 8:6-13). The miracles that happened were not a result of Philip's personal charisma but the authority of the Holy Spirit. When we also know the presence of the Holy Spirit with us, we too can be used to do to bring a release of the power of God that will draw many people to Christ. God doesn’t just want us to know about him but wants to use us to manifest the power of his Spirit so that all can see and believe. When we receive the fire of the Holy Spirit and allow him to work through us, many will experience the Holy Spirit for themselves.

Will you be fully available to God and share the good news with your generation as you are led by the Holy Spirit? God had a divine appointment for Philip with this important official, someone from another racial and national background. We see here that Philip was obedient to the prompting of the Spirit, he did not follow his own agenda or ideas, but was led by the Lord (Acts 8:26-29). And so he was able to tell this man that what he was reading from Isaiah 53 was all about ‘the good news of Jesus’ the promised Messiah who suffered and died to free us from sin and bring us new life. God has divine appointments for each one of us. There are people that the Lord will lead us to and prompt us to minister to. We need to surrender our will and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. In order to be led by the Holy Spirit, we need to learn how to hear the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His voice. We do this by spending time with the Holy Spirit and praying and reading the word of God, the Bible. When we step out in faith and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will see first-hand how God can work through us. There is no limit to what God can do through you or how many people you can bring to Christ if you are willing to make yourself fully available to the Lord.

Just as warfare, in one form or another, is part of human history, so too the Bible teaches that there is an ongoing spiritual warfare with the Kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of light in conflict (Ephesians 6:12). Opposition and even persecution come with the territory of being a Christian.

Jesus faced the reality of attacks from the kingdom of darkness right from the time of his birth when Herod wanted to kill Him. Later He was tempted by Satan and opposed by evil religious people throughout his ministry. Finally, He was unjustly arrested, violently abused and ultimately crucified. But through His death and resurrection He conquered death and showed us how we can all overcome evil in life. His disciples were therefore not surprised when they experienced opposition to the teaching, signs and wonders that they were doing in the name of Jesus.

As we now move into the next stage of our studies in Acts chapters 5-7, we see that the early Christians saw great blessing. But they also went through a tough time:
• The believers were put in jail (Acts 4:3)
• They were put on trial (Acts 4:7; Acts 6:12-13)
• They were threatened (Acts 4:18-21)
• They were physically beaten (Acts 5:40)
• They were even stoned to death (Acts 7:57-58)

And yet in spite of all this the church surged forward. They knew how to stand strong in the face of opposition and keep focused on Jesus and their spiritual calling. We too need to all stand strong whatever type of opposition we may be facing either as individuals or as Christian communities in different nations. We see how the first Christians reacted when the going got tough and what happened as a result:

1. They never stopped boldly teaching about Jesus (Acts 5:42; Acts 4:18-21; Acts 5:29-32; Acts 6:10; Acts 7; Luke 12:11-12)
2. They never stopped rejoicing (Acts 5:41-42; Romans 14:17; Acts 8:8; Hebrews 1:19; Acts 5:18-20; Romans 8:28)
3. They never stopped growing (Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 6:7; John 12:24; Romans 14:8; John 1:5)

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Have you decided that no matter what the opposition or intimidation, no matter who the audience is, and no matter what the potential cost or consequence maybe, that when the time comes, you will speak up for your faith and rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the right words? When the apostles were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they were not intimidated into being silent (Acts 4:18-21; Acts 5:42). We see in Acts 5:29-32, and many other times, that they taught:

• Who Jesus was
• How he was crucified to save us from our sins
• The power of his resurrection
• The need to repent and become obedient to God

The apostles were speaking to the religious rulers of their nation who, only weeks before, had Jesus arrested and crucified. But the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, were not afraid of them. When the religious leaders picked on Stephen and argued with him, Acts 6:10 says that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Instead of backing down, Stephen, anointed by the Holy Spirit, boldly declared how they were resisting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 7). Most probably Stephen would have been aware of what Jesus said in Luke 12:11-12. Today Christians face hostility, ridicule, peer pressure and bullying, as well as the threat of legal repercussions, which can all cause Christians to be reluctant to speak about their faith. But if we are going to see change in our nation we are going to have to step out of our fear and face down the intimidation through bold and clear testimony of the love, life and light of Jesus Christ. Whatever the opposition, just keep speaking about Jesus, just as the first Christians did.

Have you learnt not to let difficulties rob you of your joy? Through all that the apostles and first Christians faced, they never lost their joy. And nor must we ever lose our joy and become worried and sad. The apostles were clearly not discouraged, depressed or disillusioned for being imprisoned and flogged for sharing the gospel and seeing miraculous healings in Jesus’ name but rather rejoiced (Acts 5:41-42). They counted it a privilege to be persecuted for their association with Jesus and were delighted to be identified with Him. Jesus was their Saviour, their Lord, their greatest love and the source of their life. And they knew that when the Holy Spirit was with them, they could know the joy of the Lord in all situations (Romans 14:17). This joy, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is evident throughout the book of Acts as the gospel spread (Acts 8:8; Acts 16:25). The word 'rejoice' appears constantly in the New Testament. When the Holy Spirit is with us we are, as Hebrews 1:19 puts it, ‘anointed with the oil of gladness.’ Whether God delivers us from our problems (Acts 5:18-20), or whether He permits us to pay the ultimate price for our faith (Acts 7:60), God’s grace will always be sufficient for us (Romans 8:28). Whatever difficulties you face in your family, finances, health, ministry, work, studies or in any other area, learn this lesson from the first disciples and keep your joy in all circumstances.

Are you confident that the more of the Holy Spirit you receive, the more you can overcome and see God’s kingdom come and His will being done here on earth and in your circumstances, as it is in heaven? As the opposition increased to the early Christians, so did the number of those believing in Jesus (Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 6:7). One of the most significant figures in the future growth of the church was actually right there giving his support when Stephen was being stoned to death. His name was Saul, soon to become the apostle Paul. Stephen had the most amazing peace and revelation of Jesus before He died praying for his enemies. And God used this to further advance the conquest of the kingdom of God over the Kingdom of darkness (John 12:24). Our attitude should be like that of Paul (Romans 14:8). In other words, as the famous World War 2 poster instructed: Keep calm and carry on! For sure this world is the combat zone between the kingdoms of light and darkness. When you come out of the kingdom of darkness and start to live in the kingdom of light, the more there will be a reaction. But there is no need to be intimidated or discouraged when you or your family or the church face difficult times, for Jesus has conquered everything (John 1:5).