Sermon Central
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The Ministry Of Signs And Wonders
Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Sep 2, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus said the supernatural Signs and Wonders are to “accompany those who believe” (Mark 16:17a NIV), and they should be fully understood by every Christian that they are to accompany them wherever they are.
"He saw a great multitude and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14 NIV).
Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (Luke 11:20 NIV)
Nicodemus approached Jesus because he understood the true meaning of His signs;
"Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (Jihn 3:2 NIV)
Signs and Wonders validate the message and the messenger of salvation. They help to open the door and remove roadblocks to faith by provoking the spiritual seeker to consider the claims presented by the messenger. Signs, wonders, miracles, and the nine supernatural manifestation gifts illustrate the reality of the presence and power of God to save.
An example of this is the time when Peter visited the farming community of Lydda and came upon a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. Peter, without preaching any message and without any hesitation, said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.' The man was healed immediately and, as a result, everyone who lived in “Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord” (Acts 9:32-35 NIV).
Another example is when Luke tells us about a woman named Dorcas who had died. He went to her side and spoke to her in the authority of Jesus name, and she was raised from the dead. Luke called for the Christians and the widows in the town and “presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord" (Acts 9:40-43 NIV). The impact of these two miracles shows that Signs and Wonders are just as viable for evangelistic impact as the preaching of the Word.
Signs and Wonders, however, are not the primary keys for the Christian to effectively preach and overcome the lies and strongholds of the enemy. The primary keys are a threefold cord not easiky broken; first, the Christian overcomes the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb,” then, by the “word of their testimony,” and finally, through humility for “they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11 NIV).
Ministering naturally in the supernatural manifestation gifts, along with Signs and Wonders, cannot happen if there is not direct and constant communication and dialogue with the Giver of the gifts through prayer.
