The Miracle Grid

Do you believe in miracles? Do miracles of healing still happen today? 

I first became aware of “The Miracle Grid” when my daughter, Shelly, and granddaughter, Rachel,  and I visited Transform Church in Andover where my other daughter, LaDawn, and her husband, Mike, attend. Pastor Mark Katzenberger introduced the congregation to what he calls “The Miracle Grid.” 

Pastor Mark spoke on the book of Acts chapter 3 which details the first of 40 miracles of healing recorded in Acts. The scene opens with Peter and John, who were devout Jews, going to the temple to pray and worship.  All devout Jews were required to pray three times a day – 9:00am, 3:00pm, and sunset. Not only devout Jews observed the three times of daily prayer, but so did the believing Gentiles. Peter and John entered through the gate called Beautiful at 3:00pm. It was the main gate to the temple. It was not uncommon to have beggars who suffered with various ailments to sit at the gate and beg for money.

Peter and John encountered a man who had been lame from birth begging for money. ⁶Peter replied, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Then he took the man by the hand and helped him to stand. The beggar’s feet and ankles instantly became strong. ⁸He leaped and jumped and praised God as he entered the temple courts with Peter and John. 

The people who witnesed the miracle were astonished!  Word spread instantansously and many came running to see for themselves the miracle of healing. 

When Peter saw this he said, ¹²“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers has glorified His servant Jesus.” ^16″By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can see.” He went on to say, ¹⁹“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.”

According to verse 8, who did the beggar praise? Peter? John?  Or God? According to vs. 12-13, to whom did Peter give the glory? Himself? John? or Jesus?

“The Miracle Grid”

Upward –  It’s all about Jesus – the miracles validate the message of Jesus. (v. 16) 

          Forward –  Millions of people suffer withvarious diseases but it won’t always be this way.
                              (vs. 16, & Isaiah 35:6) Our physical needs matter, but that is secondary
                               to our critical spiritual need.

                    Inward – We have an even greater need – to be made right with God and receive eternal life.
(vs. 19-20) 

My take away on The Miracle Grid, is that we are to look upward – it’s all about Jesus! We are to look forward to healing either on earth or in heaven. We are to look inward to our greater spiritual need – to be forgiven our sins and restored to a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are to be in awe of the One who has the power and gives the power to do miracles rather than the miracles themselves!

And, yes, I believe that miracles of healing still happen today and still validate the message of Jesus Christ as Lord over sin, death, disease, the enemy, and the world and Savior of all who trust in Him for salvation.