The Reason for Signs and Wonders

We all love some “good preaching”, but how do we know it's true? God left us His holy Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us (2nd Timothy 3:16), but did He also leave a way to confirm that Word? He most certainly did; miracles, signs, and wonders.

Before the Lord Jesus left this earth, He commanded His disciples to go preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:15). After He said this, He said that certain “signs” would accompany the work.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well”.  -Mark 16:17-18

After the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, these “signs” were given to confirm the preaching.

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”  -Mark 16:20

Notice that signs and wonders did two things when it came to the preaching of the Word; they confirmed the Word, and they accompanied the Word. This continued in the book of Acts.

“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”  -Acts 2:43

“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.”  -Acts 14:3

When the Word is preached, we know it is true because the Lord confirms it with signs and wonders (Hebrews 2:4). What makes a sermon great? Diligent preparation? Eloquent speaking? Great communication skills? Illustrations that connect the hearers with the message? What about the ability to make the Word relevant and applicable to everyday life? Personally I want to be able to say what what the Apostle Paul said,

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power”  -1st Corinthians 2:4

Let me ask you, when you hear the Word preached, is it a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power”, or just a “good sermon”? Does God confirm the Word with signs and wonders? When the Word is preached, signs should follow just as Jesus said they would.

Educator and Assemblies of God Executive Presbyter D.W. Kerr said, “A signless gospel is a spineless gospel.” When someone walks into your church, they come hungry for a word from the Lord that will change their life. If we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to supernaturally use us and display His power in our services, our preaching will be empty and fruitless, and so will their response to our message. If we allow the Holy Spirit to move however, their response will be like those who heard Philip.

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. –Acts 8:6-8

I am personally believing that will happen for Columbia, Tyrrell County, and all of Eastern NC. When we preach with the Spirit’s power, and allow the Lord to confirm His Word with miracles, signs, and wonders, the multitudes will pay close attention to the Gospel and there WILL be GREAT JOY in this city!

This community, which others have said is a “dying community” will experience the resurrection power of Christ and suddenly be a LIVING community! Join me in this prayer saints; Lord, enable your servants to speak your Word with boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and do many miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your Son Jesus Christ! Amen.