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| The power of the gospel is missing without this. |
Signs and
Wonders
Why It’s Imperative We Walk
in Signs and Wonders in Our Day
J.D.
King
Throughout the pages of the
New Testament, the word "sign" (semeion) refers to
miracles functioning as evidence of divine authority.
The accompanying term, "wonders"
(teras) denotes an
unusual occurrence; causing one to marvel.
Whereas a sign appeals to
understanding, a wonder appeals to the imagination.
"Signs
and wonders" (semeia kai terata)
are synonymous with other words such as:
· Acts of power, miracles (dunamis)
· Miraculous works (ergon)
· Wonders (thaumata, thaumasia)
· Energy, power in exercise (energeia)
· Force, violent power (bis)
· Strength, especially physical (ischus)
· Might, manifested power (kratos)
· Acts of power, miracles (dunamis)
· Miraculous works (ergon)
· Wonders (thaumata, thaumasia)
· Energy, power in exercise (energeia)
· Force, violent power (bis)
· Strength, especially physical (ischus)
· Might, manifested power (kratos)
Signs and wonders could be
described as heightened spiritual expressions that confirm God's Word and
reveal His purposes within creation.
In Scripture,
these amazing displays are not distinguished from other aspects of Jesus'
unfolding revelation. In fact, they were central to the Messiah's
self-disclosure and identity.
Jesus often invited people to encounter
Him through a direct experience with the miraculous. Consider the following
from the Gospel of John:
"If I am not doing the works of My
Father, do not believe Me. But if I do them, though you do not believe Me,
believe the works"
(John 10:37-38a).
"Believe Me that I am in the
Father, and the Father is in Me. Or else believe Me on account of the works
themselves" (John 14:11).
Elsewhere, Jesus affirms the following
to the disciples of John the Baptist.
"Go and tell John what you hear and
see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel
preached to them"
(Matthew 11:4-5).
In each of these passages, individuals
were brought into a place of revelation and understanding through a direct
supernatural encounter.
Jesus demonstrates that it is not just
what is heard - but also what is seen - that shapes the life of faith.
Despite the significance of signs and
wonders in the Bible, many consider them unnecessary - products of
sensationalism and charismatic excess.
However, that is not how the early
apostles understood things.
They recognized a symbiotic relationship
between preaching and miracles.
For them, proclamation and demonstration
were simply different sides of the same coin.
An example of this line of thinking
is found in the book of Hebrews:
"How shall we escape if we neglect
such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed
to us by those who heard Him? God also bore them witness with signs and wonders
and diverse miracles and with gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to
His own will" (Hebrews 2:3-4).
Signs and wonders were just as much a
testimony to the gospel as the accompanying verbal proclamation.
The apostle Paul understood this truth.
He declared the following:
"For I will not dare to speak of
anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, to make the Gentiles
obedient, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of
the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum, I
have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:18-19).
To Paul, the "full proclamation of the
gospel" necessitated signs and miracles.
Persuasion did not just come through
speech, but also by what was on display.
People need a proclamation and a
demonstration of Spirit's power.
Contrary to popular sentiment, miracles are not peripheral.
Contrary to popular sentiment, miracles are not peripheral.
They are not distractions or foolish
excursions. They are a tangible expression of Christ's work in the midst of
creation.
I want to invite you to embrace
a reality of glory and power.
God is positioning His family
to dynamically confirm the gospel.
This outworking of grace is
not just an overflow of words. It's rooted in incredible displays of power.
Miracles
are certainly part of the vast provision that God has made available for you.
Whether
a miracle occurs instantaneously or by process of time, God does heal
yesterday, today, and forever!
Talk
to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way
you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask
God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I
admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to
turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You. Please
forgive me.
You know the situation I am in right now. I lay everything at Your
feet, fully believing that You are in control. I accept Your free gift of
salvation.
I
now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose
from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my
Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Romans 10:13).
I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and
no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord
Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I
thank You that you have given me eternal life.
Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now born again, and I
am now a child of God.
I take Your promise that by Your stripes I am healed.
Heavenly
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now to help me
live a new life pleasing to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
I
surrender my life to You.
Use
me for Your glory.
In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
If
you have just put your trust in Jesus Christ, you have been born into God’s
family.
As a spiritual baby, you need to grow by
feeding on God’s Word – the Bible (1
Peter 2:2).
You
must have a good modern translation Bible and begin prayerfully reading it. Start
in the New Testament, such as the Gospel of John or Paul’s letters to the
Ephesians.
As you read, ask two questions: “What are You, Lord?” “What do You want me to do?”
Also,
you need to join a Christian fellowship where the Bible is taught and where God
is truly worshiped.
God
bless you as you begin your new life with Him!
J.D. King is
director of the World Revival Network and associate pastor of World Revival
Church.
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