Tag: Edwin S. Harper

Text: Acts 10:34-48

(34)  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

(35)  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

(36)  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

(37)  That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

(38)  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

(39)  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

(40)  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

(41)  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

(42)  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

(43)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

(44)  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

(45)  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(46)  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

(47)  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

(48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The Miraculous Word

Bishop Harper made a statement, while teaching the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class, that has remained on my mind and that I am going to teach on tonight. He said,

The secret of the followers of Jesus is that that they brought to Jesus the sick, the lame and the bound. Then those people were healed and delivered. This is also the secret of the church – bring them to Jesus.[1]

It is still true that word of mouth will either grow or destroy a business.

Not too long one of my favorite local restaurants failed their Cabell-Huntington Health Department restaurant inspections.

Their priority violations, reported in the Herald-Dispatch[2] and on social media, listed that they were “associated with foodborne illness.”[3]

Now, I’m not going to get into what all that means, but I definitely have not been back.

In fact, they corrected all the violations quickly, but still, I have not been back.

That negative report is stuck in my mind.

I’ve been needing a pair of shoes that give good foot and ankle support.

My wife heard about a particular brand of shoes that everyone is raving about, and she, being the wonderful wife she is took me out on Friday night and bought me a pair.

And, now, I’m telling you, those shoes are fantastic.

It’s the same thing in the Church, we tend to focus on the negative or positive reports that are broadcast about a local house of worship.

I’d like to say that every congregation, every pastor, every saint receives rave reviews.

I’d like to believe that I personally have never acted in some way that would result in a failed spiritual inspection.

We all, I’m sure, want to be the first place people in the tristate think about when they need a safe place to heal, hear the Word, be loved, trust and to find victory.

How did the fame of Jesus spread? There was no television, internet, radio. It was word-of-mouth:

Matthew 4:24, “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”

It is noteworthy that the people who heard about Jesus brought the needy to Him to receive their deliverance:

Mark 1:32-34, “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.”

Acts 10:34-48, “….(38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him….”

Yes, but how does this message to Cornelius begin?

Acts 10:34-35, “ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said [here comes the miraculous word], Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

He is telling the Good News of Jesus Christ to people who are hungry and in need.

The result is a miraculous display of God’s salvation.

Maybe you went to school when they still required you to memorize that great poem The New Colossus, written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 and placed at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty:[4]

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”[5]

We, the Church, are to go and share The Miraculous Word of the Gospel, and when we do…when we bring them to Jesus…they are healed, delivered, saved, reborn and renewed.

You see The Miraculous Word is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church needs to be out in the open broadcasting The Miraculous Word:

In his book, The Every Day Church, Missionary Allan Calhoun writes, “We Belong in the Open.”[6]

Mark 16:15-20 (KJV), “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

The focus of our understanding of these scriptures is based on two parts: “these signs” and “believe”. Because “I believe,” “these signs” should be demonstrated in the Church. I believe, so where are the miracles?

Two other phrases in this passage are often entirely missed: “go ye” and “follow them.” It is a physical impossibility to “follow” something that is stationary.

Considering myself a believer is not enough to release the ministry of the miraculous; the catalyst that releases the potential is “go ye.”

The Miraculous Word was shared by the early Church and the same miracles – even greater works – of Jesus continued through apostles. The Acts of the Holy Ghost working through the Apostles, Acts 5:12-16:

(12)  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

(13)  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

(14)  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

(15)  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

(16)  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

If you want to see that response in our day, then you who believe need to go and share The Miraculous Word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and you’ll witness what they witnessed.

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[1] Edwin S. Harper. “Authority to Forgive” paraphrase. Sunday, June 4, 2023, 10:00 AM, ALC.

[2] Herald-Dispatch. (9/11/2022). Cabell County restaurant inspections. Accessed: https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/cabell-county-restaurant-inspections/article_f2eb2a07-d8fa-5e22-b5e4-b351997cf6a2.html

[3] Ibid.

[4] Emma Lazarus. (11/2/1883). The New Colossus. Accessed: https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/colossus.htm

[5] Mathew 11:28

[6] Allan Calhoun (2011). TheEvery Day Church. Self-published. p. 44-46