Signs And Wonders

By Troy J. Edwards

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 every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:15-20)

God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Heb. 2:4).

In one church I attended I was privileged to teach a series of lessons on the gifts of the Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. When I had finished this series I began to breathe a sigh of relief, hoping to move on to a totally new subject. Nevertheless, the Lord seemed to have different plans as I felt Him speaking to my heart to begin a teaching on the signs that were to follow every believer as our Lord promised in Mark 16:9-20. As I studied this passage inpreparation for the class, I began to see the need for learning about the signs that should follow everyone that names the name of Christ.

It is not enough to teach on the gifts and signs. The last thing the church needs is an intellectual knowledge of the moving of God's Spirit. We should desire to be a part of the mighty move of God. Too many people in the church are what I call "pew warmers". They believe that if they are not in a pulpit ministry or if they are not singing then they are insignificant.

The thought of being "insignificant" or "unimportant" in the body of Christ is an attempt to be humble. Yet, God tells us that His signs are to follow every BELIEVER, not just every person called to a pulpit ministry. God believes that every believer is significant and he expects all of us to be used by Him in signs and wonders in reaching this lost world. Therefore, to think of oneself as "insignificant in the body of Christ is not humility, but ignorance.

Every feature of my physical body is useful to me or else God would not have put it there. Try cutting off your little toe and see how the rest of your body reacts. Your whole body feels the pain. The rest of the body now has to begin pulling the load that would have been a lot easier had you kept that little toe. That is exactly what we in the body of Christ are doing for members who are not pulling their weight because they feel that they are not significant.

How can little ol' you have some significance in this vast body of believers? By allowing God to use you in performing signs and wonders. You may say "Who me? But that's for the preacher?" No it is not. It is for you. As a preacher, I cannot reach everyone. There are people that you can reach that I will never be able to reach. God wants to operate his supernatural power through you.

"Well, I try to witness to people but I can't seem to get through to them." The reason this happens is because we try to win the sinner with intelligence and gimmicks and the latest evangelistic methods. They may work and they may not. Even if they do work do they have lasting effects? Not all the time. The world is tired of hearing about a wonderful God. They want some reality. They truly want you to prove it to them.

Do you know that God loves the sinner so much that He will reach out into the physical world to get a hold of him or her. Hebrews 2:4 tells us that, "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders..." In other words, the word of God that was preached was confirmed with signs and wonders (Mark 16:20). God not only wants you to give the sinner His word, but He also wants to use you as a vehicle to demonstrate His supernatural power to confirm the Word. God wants to bring signs and wonders to prove to the sinner the reality of God. Look at John 4:48:

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Although this passage can be taken as a rebuke, it still holds some positive significance for us. The nobleman whom Jesus was addressing had a child that was dying. The man wanted Jesus to come and heal the child. Jesus did not go to the man's house but told him to go his and that his lived (verse 50). When the nobleman got home, he found that his son began to get well from the moment that Jesus spoke. Jesus was condescending to the level of faith that this nobleman possessed.

Don't you know that what Jesus will still condescend to the sinner today? You talk to the average person who does not know Christ in the pardoning of their sin and he or she may tell you that they believe there is a God. However, that belief is not having any moral effect on their lives. They will tell you under the same breath, "I don't have to worship God the way you do, you worship Him your way and I'll do it my way way." They know that while they are making this statement that it's a lie because you could not be worshipping God and living in sin. Besides that, the Bible is the only standard for worship. Even further then that they couldn't worship God apart from the Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24).

You know that and I know that. But how can we convince the sinner of his error? You can argue with the sinner until you are blue in the face and will never make any ground with the person. But if you can demonstrate the supernatural power of God then you may have won a new convert. The average sinner wants to see something real. God knows that and has said himself that unless they see signs and wonders that they would by no means believe.

The devil knows that too. That is why people are flocking to CULTS and false messiahs that demonstrate these things. Are we surprised? We certainly should not be when the Bible makes it specifically clear that the devil would be doing such things in these last days:

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." (2 Thess. 2:9).

"And in those days there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt. 24:24).

The devil knows exactly what he is doing. He knows what will appeal to the average person. The first thing that Satan did was to get the leaders in the church to teach the false doctrine of cessationism – teaching that the Lord no longer does miracles in the modern day church. Afterwards, the devil begins to do them himself through cults, occult, astrology and all other nonsense. Yet it attracts the average person because they are looking for something real. They are looking for the supernatural.

Why do you think so many movies that deal with the supernatural seem to appeal to people? It's because man was created with a natural desire for the supernatural. This is also the reason why comic books, especially horror and superheroes are so popular. Cartoon shows like Pokemon, Digimon, and other demon inspired children's shows have reached an unbeleiveable height of popularity. Harry Potter's books, a series of stories about a boy who inherits supernatural "witch" powers are selling like hotcakes.

People naturally want the supernatural. Now if the church doesn't provide their needs then they will naturally turn to another source. Unfortunately, the only other source for supernatural manifestations is Satan, no matter what disguise it is under.

It is a shame that Satan has been able to set up respected Christian leaders to fight against the very thing that God wants us to use to combat the devil with. When a few Christians begin to realize the power that is made available to them through Christ then they get attacked. These attacks do not come from the World, they come from those that are in the church.

When God begins to use yielded servants in the area of the miraculous, unbelieving church leaders will accuse these genuine Christians who truly love Jesus of manifesting satanic power. That is blasphemy (Matt. 12:24-30). Why should the devil have all the miracles when the Bible tells us that we should be the ones operating in them? It certainly doesn't make sense to me. However some Christian leaders would rather be theologically and intelligently correct then to be Bibically wise.

The reason why Satan is quick to attack signs and wonders in the church today is because he knows that when we begin to operate in the power of God then we will be operating in a higher degree of power than he could ever manifest. Exodus chapters 4 through fourteen prove this. The power of God operating through Moses always overcame the satanic manifestations. We can see in the book of Exodus that satan can do nothing more than COPY God's power. We also see that there was a limit to his power. There were signs and wonders that God did through Moses that Satan couldn't copy. When you and I begin allowing God to perform His signs and wonders through us we will begin to overcome Satan at every corner, every station, and every place of business. We will operate in a higher degree of power that Satan nor those who follow him could ever think to operate in.

This is how Jesus did it. We know that Jesus overcame the devil in His earthly ministry. He did not do this by giving well prepared sermons and intelligent dissertations. He preached and taught the Word but He confirmed it through signs and wonders:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. (Acts 2:22).

How do we know that Jesus was a man approved of God. By the way He could deliver a speech in public? No, I don't think so. As one who speaks often and has many opportunities to teach the Word I can tell you that many will hear what you say and forget it the next day. However, whenever God has sovereignly chosen to do signs and wonders during my preaching or teaching, those were not so easily forgotten. People will forget what I preached but they will certainly remember the signs and wonders God performed through me.

How does God show His approval upon a man for other's to witness? The same way He did through His Son: by miracles and signs and wonders. Jesus told us that if we would believe, not only would we do what He did but we would do greater works (John 14:12). If Jesus said it then I believe that it is possible. If it is possible then we should stop sitting around begging God for a revival and begging Him for a harvest and begging Him to fill our churches. We need to do as Jesus did and demonstrate the power of God to the people.

The Apostles caught sight of this truth from the beginning and did not hesitate to operate in the power that was made available to them. Signs and wonders were a common occurrance in the early church. It also brought a true reverence for God amongst the people.

And FEAR came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. (Acts 2:43).

And great FEAR came upon all the church, and as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. (Acts 5:11-12).

The word fear used in these passages of scripture is not a "running away because I'm scared" type of fear. The word fear used in the King James Version of the Bible is brought to us from the 1611 vernacular. The word is correctly translated in modern English as reverence. It is a term used showing that the people had a reverance and a high degree of respect for God.

Don't you get tired of people blaspheming God's name? I know that I do. I hate hearing people use God's name or Jesus' name in a curse word. It's nothing more than the devil manifesting himself. People don't seem to have a reverance for God anymore. A sure way to bring the fear of God into people again is to allow God to use you in performing signs and wonders. This is what continually won the respect of people in the early church. They will see the reality of God. They will stop thinking of God as a concept. They will stop thinking of Jesus as another man in history. They will see that God is a real person and that Jesus is real.

It will also give many of our church members a new respect for God. A lot of us do our once or twice a week church "visit" and that's it. We make no real effort to live for God. We do not try to develop a relationship with Him. Some people want to make it to heaven and that's it. They want to do no more for their Redeemer while they are on earth.

Can we really blame them? Some of the blame would have to go on the church as a whole. When we lose our hunger for God we lose the supernatural power of God. When a man who is hungry and has a true fear of God and begins to move in signs and wonders it reminds others that they need to repent of their sins, their lukewarm Christian walk, and begin to live holy. When the power of God is demonstrated it will give our common pew warmers a new reverance for God. It will begin lighting some fires and get others moving for the Master.

The Apostles also were used to perform signs and wonders to overcome persecution in the early church:

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus... And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:29-30, 33).

How does one get boldness to speak up for God in the midst of persecution? It's easy to do when you know that God is confirming His Word with signs following. The Apostles knew the secret. They could endure the things that man would try to do to them because they knew that their Jesus was real. They served a ressurected Jesus.

The reason that so many Christians lack boldness could be due to the fact that they have no power to back up their witness. Some Christians shrivel in fear shrink when a an atheist request that they "prove that there truly is a God." Some people, as Jesus told us, just will not believe without signs and wonders being demonstrated

You can see that many in the world today have no respect for Christians. We are often portrayed in the movies and news media as either arrogant or wimpy. Most of the time we are portrayed as wimpy. If Christians want to make a bold stand for Jesus it's going to take more than bullhorns, picket signs, and marches. We are going to have to allow God to demonstrate His power. People will respect nothing but this. But it will prove to them that we are serving a God that is real.

Cessationists will dispute with me concerning all that I have written so far. These "orthodox" theologians will tell us that God only demonstrated His signs and wonders through the original Apostles. They will tell us that because the church was established by the Apostles and prophets (which is true) then signs and wonders are not needed today (which is not true). What they have they have failed to realize is that in the early church the Apostles were not the only ones being used in signs and wonders. As we continue in the book of Acts we see Phillip, who was NOT an Apostle, being used in the signs and wonders ministry:

"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the signs which were done." (Acts 8:13)

Some will say, "But Phillip was still an evangelist, so he was a minister." That's not entirely true. There is no mention of Phillip becoming an evangelist until the 21st chapter of the book of Acts (Acts 21:8). There is quite a number of years between chapters 8 and 21. However Acts 6:5 does show that Phillip was a "table waiter." This proves to me that God used an "insignificant" person in the church to do some great things for Him. The Bible never said that the signs would follow the Apostle and evangelist only. It said that signs would follow them that believe (Mark 16:17).

Of course if church leaders desire that signs and wonders manifest in the church then they are going to have to be the examples. A minister cannot expect his people to operate in an area he himself is not operating in. The apostles were an example to Phillip. As he spent time with them and saw how God moved through them this developed his faith. When it was time for him to launch out (Because of the persecution that hit the church) he was prepared. If we ministers want to see signs and wonders operating in the church we will have to be the first to be used in them.

As we study this chapter it will also confirm that the power of God is greater than that of Satan's. Simon, the one who believe and continued with Phillip, was a sorcerer and he bewitched people (Acts 8:9-11). But when Phillip came to town he gave all of that up to follow Jesus (He got a little silly later). Before that, he moved in satanic power. No one will give up the power they have for less power. The power of God demonstrated through Phillip had to have been greater than that which Simon moved in prior to his conversion.

Many times when we want to talk to those that are involved in cults we try to learn apologetics. We buy books that teach about these cults and we learn the Christian responses to them. There is nothing wrong with this in itself but this is still no guarantee that we will win anyone. All that the average cult follower knows is that his particular cult is demonstrating the supernatural and Christians are not. We have to do as Phillip did and show that the God we serve is greater than the God they serve.

Finally, signs and wonders can persuade others to be obedient to God and His Word:

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18-19).

As Paul was trying to iron out the misbehavior of the church at Corinth, he boldly reminded them that: "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. " (2 Cor. 12:12). Paul used the power of God made available to him to convince the sinners and churches to obey God.

For the sinner, obedience means being snatched out of hell. Again, we emphasize that if a sinner does not believe then he or she will not obey. Signs and wonders is the only way to convince some sinners to believe. If we can persuade them to believe then they will probably obey.

Signs and wonders in the church will help keep Christians from falling into sin. Because of their fear or reverance for God they will not desire to live a life of disobedience. They will know that there are a multitude of blessings that accrue from being obedient to the Word.

We do not use the power of God to lord it over or to dominate people. God will not make His power available for you and I to do that. But He will make it available that we may convince others that there is a God who is real and is worthy to be served.

God is full of love. He is looking for vessels to demonstrate that love through. He wants to establish His kingdom upon the earth and He has chosen to do it through His church. God wants to demonstrate His power through signs and wonders. He will not come back to earth and do it Himself. He wants to do it through you and me. We need to be yielded vessels to God. We need to cry out to God every day: "Lord, use me!"

Do not deemphasize the importance of signs and wonders. Living holy is important. Walking in love is important. These things are a must and are essential in Christian living. However, signs and wonders are just as important and should be a part of our Christian walk. Let's believe God for a manifestation of the supernatural in all of our preaching, teaching and witnessing.

E-mail: victoryword@yahoo.com

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