1.  Power (vs. 12, 15-16)

    Are signs and wonders for today? (Rom. 1:16, Matt. 12:39)

“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.” Acts 14:3

2. Purity (vs. 13-14)

    2 Cor. 7:1

3. Persistence (vs. 29, 32, 42)

    If God delivers us from trouble, it is so we can give life (vs. 20); if God chooses not to, we are still to live   the life. (Dan.  3:17-18)

I. The Perils of Growing:
    1) Uncertainty of purpose.
    2) Fuzzy priority.
    3) Tendency toward professionalism.
    4) Loss of individual popularity.

II. The Procedure for Handling Needs:
    1) Address legitimate problems.
    2) Ensure solutions don’t detract from the main purpose (vs. 2, 4)
    3) Enlist qualified people (vs. 3)

Qualifications for Lay Leaders:
    a) Good reputation
    b) Wisdom
    c) Filled with the Holy Spirit

1. Rejoice in Partial Blessings.

“When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’”  Psalms 126:1-2 (NIV)

“Thank God for his Son – a gift too wonderful for words!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”  Psalms 126:3 (NIV)

1. Express gratitude to a friend.
2. Laugh a lot.
3. Be kind to someone.
4. Accent the positive.
5. Look forward instead of back.
6. Give your life to God

Miracles can happen in our lives but we must:

I.   Recognize the meaning of the “blessings” for Mary

a)  Gabriel’s “blessing” (vs. 28)
     “charitoo” - a conduit of grace
      Eph. 1:6

b)  Elizabeth’s “blessing” (vs. 42)
     “eulogeo” - a comforting assurance

c) Mary’s “blessing” (vs. 48)
   “makarios” - a corporate invitation

Simple faith and submission
Eph. 3:17b-20