HOW TO RECEIVE A NOTABLE MIRACLE
HOW TO RECEIVE A NOTABLE MIRACLE
Act 18:1-11 KJV 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
The word notable means something that is worth -with, conspicuous, readily observed.
Worthy of note; remarkable; memorable; noted or distinguished.
Easily noted (without connotations of value); clearly noticeable, conspicuous. That can be observed; perceptible.
After this encounter, something worthy of note is happening to you, it’s happening to your family, husband, wife and children in Jesus name.
The text we read talked about the Apostle Paul’s experience at Ephesus after he left Athens. There was so much persecution and Paul was probably discouraged. The apostle was discouraged, otherwise God would not have come to speak a word of encouragement to him.
I don’t know what you are facing right now but that yoke of discouragement is broken in Jesus name.
God has given him assurance of protection that no matter what is happening, nobody will harm him. There is so much insecurity in our land but in the name of the Lord, you and your household shall be protected in Jesus name. You shall not be a victim, you shall not be unfortunate, you will not be at the right place at the wrong time in Jesus name.
There was a reason why God was encouraging Paul. Paul wanted to probably leave the town, run for his life and go somewhere else. But God had a purpose for him. God wanted him to stay back and preach the gospel.
In verse ten, God said the reason why I want you to stay back and keep preaching is because I have many people in this city. Even though it is an idolatrous city, I have many people who would be saved if only Paul could just wait, hold on and not leave.
Many people think it is up to God whether we be saved or not but here we see collaboration between humanity and divinity. It is God that saves people but He uses human agency to preach. In Rom 10, Paul himself said how can they hear except someone preach and how can they preach except when they are sent.
Whenever I read my people I ask questions. Where were the people God was talking about that he said he had in the city? How many were they? Who were they? How many were men and how many were women?
I found out that as at the time when God was talking to Paul, there were not many people. In fact, you will hardly find many Christian at Ephesus. Yet God says I have.
The word “have” means To possess, own. E.g. I have a house and a car. To hold, as something at someone’s disposal.
As at that time there were nobody or many at all yet God was confessing by faith. Jesus had died for these people. He paid the price for their salvation so God had the legitimate right to lay hold on them as His possession. He said I have. They are mine, they belong to me.
This is how God functions. He speaks by faith. He was already calling the Ephesians people His own and yet they were not saved so technically speaking they were not his but by faith.
God received the greatest miracle which is the miracle of salvation by faith. He spoke forth His faith.
CASE STUDY
This principle or law of faith is what Paul talks about in Rom 4: 17.
Rom 4:17 KJV (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Before Abraham and Sarah had Isaac, God had started calling them father and mother of nations Gen 17. And it took some time before Isaac was born but he kept calling him that name until it manifested.
Gen 17:4-5 KJV 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:15-16 KJV 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
This is how God works and functions.
From verse 9 of chapter 17, God started calling him Abraham and even in chapter 18 when He appeared unto them, He called them by their new names even when Sarah laughed and doubted, God was not moved, He still called them by their new names. It was in chapter 21 that it became a reality by consistency and persistence.
Don’t go by what your neighbour or anyone calls you. That is their opinion and they are entitled to it. Find out what God has called you and be firm in it. it will come to pass.
What God called them, they called themselves and eventually they became what they were called. This is a great principle.
Pauls’s admonition
Eph 5:1 KJV Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
The Greek word used for followers there is “mimetes” and it simply means an imitator.
To imitate is to follow as a model or a pattern; to make a copy, counterpart or semblance of. In order words, to mimic somebody. copy his style, talk, walk and act like the other person. Paul says imitate God. Talk like God.
God said I have and you say Pastor I don’t have. you are not acting or imitating God. You may be sincere but you are sincerely wrong. When God says I have, was He lying? nope. He was speaking His faith, giving expression to his faith. God is a God of faith.
If you will imitate God then talk like God, talk faith, call those things that “be not” as though they were. Don’t call those things that are presently- your situation, lack of money, house rent, school fees. Call those things that ought to be as if they are already here.
2Cor 5: 7 We walk by faith and not by appearances or sensory perception.
The things that you must know
1. You must know what you have in Christ Jesus. What his death, burial and resurrection procured for you. If you don’t, you will live life like a mere man or ordinary human being subjected to the experiences of men.
John tells his readers what they have. Not something that will be given unto them if they pray and fast but what they have as a present tense possession.
1Jn 5:13 KJV These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Peter’s experience
Peter understood this thing and when he encountered the lame man at the temple gate, this is what he said. Because this is how you will be able to be a blessing and help other people.
Act 3:6 KJV Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The Greek words they used for “have” are different. The first “have” in the statement, “silver and gold have i none” is “huparcho” and it means to come forth, hence to be there, be ready, be at hand. In order words, Peter was telling the lame I didn’t bring money along, the silver and gold are not with me right here. He was not saying I don’t have at all as some people teach to justify their lack of money.
The second “have” in the statement “such as i have” is “echo” and it means ̄to have, i.e. to hold, to have, i.e. own, possess; external things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc.
So, even though Peter did not bring money along, he still had something and that was the power in the name of Jesus.
What happens when you talk like this? When you talk like Peter?
1. You become an imitator and a follower of God Eph 5: 1. You are acting like your Father. like Father like a son.
Example of the Apostles in Acts
Act 4:13 KJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Act 11:26 KJV And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
2. You give heaven and angels something to run around for and something to work with. You engage them. You put your angel to work. Many of us our angels are idle because we don’t engage them at all.
Heb 1:14 KJV Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Psa 103:20-21 KJV Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. :21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
angels are not free moral agents like man. They were created to serve and do whatever is requested. They don’t have the power of will like man.
3. You put heaven on their feet. You put them into commitment.
Isa 65:24 KJV And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
They will make sure that what you say that you have becomes a reality. Heaven must not be put to shame. They that trust in the Lord shall not be put to shame. You put them into attention to make sure that all the promises of God in Christ JESUS are yea and amen.
4. You are activating the word. The word becomes Rhema when you speak it. you put the word to work
5. You set up yourself to receive notable miracles. Confession brings possession. What you say is what you get. He shall have what he says.
Mar 11:23 KJV For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
6. You are calling it into being. When you say i have, you are releasing it from the spirit realm into the physical.
Conclusion
What you have is what will produce what you seem not to have and what you can still use to help others.
In the parable of the sower we have a great principle of life:
Mat 13:12 KJV For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Luk 8:18 KJV Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
What do you have? Confess it,
Many confess to in order to make it come to pass. Not all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea and amen. We confess because the word says so. Confession is homologia in Greek and it means accent, concordance and agreement.
Declare it until your spirit gains dominion, until has the burden been removed, until you have no fear or reservation, until you have the evidence in you, until you have a note of victory in your heart, until there is joy unstoppable in your heart and until it manifests.