Kingdom Credentials

Rom 15:18-19

I dare not boast of anything else. I have brought the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them. 19 I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God--all by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ all the way from Jerusalem clear over into Illyricum.

NLT

According to the Bible, the Good News of Jesus Christ is powerful and is never to be communicated in word only. The testimony of the Cross of Christ is to be made effective not only by proclamation but also in demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost.

Listen to Paul: "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

Elsewhere Paul again declares, 1Thessalonians 1:5, " Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake."

When the Lord Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, the message He heralded came not only by proclamation but also in demonstration of the Spirit. Luke 8:1 reads, "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God...."

Mark 1:39 affirms, "And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils."

When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent representa-tives requesting that Jesus testify truthfully whether He was the coming Messiah, Israel’s and the world’s Savior. Jesus concedes that He is indeed the Savior of the world by pointing to the miraculous power of God accompanying Him. "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see : "The blind see 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" (Luke 7:22).

Jesus’ ministry credentials was the anointing of the Holy Spirit and power:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor" (Luke 4:18-19).

What power Jesus possessed! Luke 4:40 says of Him, "When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Again we read in Matt 8:16, "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed ALL the sick."

Now that which makes the gospel relevant to us today is that this same Jesus who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil long ago, is still alive and is manifesting the love and power of God! The gospel has not changed! Christ commissioned His followers including us to present the gospel to the world in Holy Spirit power and might. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (but that’s not all Jesus says. He continues, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:1, 7-8).

The Early Christians, like Jesus continued in the same anointing and power preaching with authority, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, casting out devils and even raising the dead! Know as well that it is the will of God for you and me to both experience and be employed in the miraculous today. Jesus said to His followers, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he shall do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).

There are at least four reasons revealed in the Bible as to why we can expect to experience and be used by the Lord in the miraculous today.

1. THE COMPASSION OF GOD

Every miracle and healing Jesus performed was motivated by his great mercy. Consider the following references in the New Testament and be assured that God loves you the same!

Matt 14:14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."