We have separated the gospel from God's power. For most the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of salvation in repentance from sin. The gospel has been reduced to getting people saved as in a ticket to the kingdom of God.
We have gotten the idea that God's word is for peace, right living, and doing what pleases God. These are good things; however, the power of God's transformation, deliverance from the curse, healing, and freedom is almost forgotten. There is no question that being born again is the most important miracle of Jesus; however, it is the signs, wonders, and miracles of healing and deliverance that bring people to salvation! The power of God makes the word of God real, meaningful, believable; leading unbelievers to believe!
Paul wrote:
I Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
We have gotten the idea that God's word is for peace, right living, and doing what pleases God. These are good things; however, the power of God's transformation, deliverance from the curse, healing, and freedom is almost forgotten. There is no question that being born again is the most important miracle of Jesus; however, it is the signs, wonders, and miracles of healing and deliverance that bring people to salvation! The power of God makes the word of God real, meaningful, believable; leading unbelievers to believe!
Paul wrote:
I Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Paul exhorts us to put our faith in the power of God! It seems the enemy has done an effective job of getting us to limit the gospel. The Great Commission is seen primarily as making disciples; yet,
Matt. 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
This would include what Jesus commanded the twelve and then the seventy-two He sent out:
Mt 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Lu 9:2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Lu 10:9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
When we examine the book of Acts what is often overlooked is how often the gospel is accompanied by signs, wonders, and miracles. It was not just the preaching of the apostles that turned the then known world upside down, it was as Mark 16:20 reports, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."
For example, on the Day of Pentecost three thousand were saved but let's not forget what they all saw! They heard the rushing mighty wind and then heard the disciples speaking in tongues (many in their own languages), then they saw the flames of fire over their heads...furthermore, some of them had seen the strange events of the crucifixion, the earthquake, the dead raised, the blood moon, the darkness, and rumors of the resurrection...six or so weeks before.
From that time on there were souls being added daily as many signs and wonders were being done by the apostles.
Peter and John healed the lame man and everyone knew about it and many believed the word resulting in the number of believers reaching five thousand.
Re-examine these verses:
Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Ac 4:30 "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
Ac 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
Ac 14:3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Then later with Paul,
Ro 15:19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
To fully preach the gospel it must be presented with God's will to heal, forgive, deliver from the curse of the law, set free from addition, cast out demons, and set at liberty all who are oppressed.
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
I have never read or heard of anyone listing the reasons for signs, wonders, and miracles, except to say that they were to prove that Jesus is the Christ. Certainly, that is true; however, in my booklet "Why Signs?" I list fourteen more. Each of these reasons still exist today! God wants us living and abiding in the supernatural life of the Spirit. When we abide in His love that is miraculous. When we speak the name of Jesus to destroy the works of the devil that is miraculous. We are sons and daughters of God having been translated into the kingdom of His Dear Son (Col. 1:13)--this is a miraculous kingdom!
I write this to encourage us to expect miracles everyday! We should understand that the life of the Spirit in us is God's will to operate daily in signs, wonders, and miracles. Preaching the gospel was never meant to be without the accompanying signs of God! Jesus said, (Joh 4:48) "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." If the Son of God needed signs and wonders to convince the lost how much more do we, His disciples, need them?
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