SignsandWonders IntheNewTestament

TimAttaway

Copyright1998byTimAttaway,AllRightsReserved

Unlessotherwisestated,theBibletranslationusedinthiscommentaryistakenfromtheHOLYBIBLE: NEWINTERNATIONALVERSIONcopyright@1978bytheNewYorkInternationalBibleSociety.

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SignsandWondersintheNewTestament

SignsandWondersinNewTestament
ThetermPowerEvangelismhasbeencoinedtodescribeaPROCLAMATIONoftheKingdomofGod accompaniedbyaDEMONSTRATIONofthepoweroftheKingdomofGod. IsPowerEvangelismjusta goodideaorisitinfactaBiblicalconcept?DothestoriesoftheNewTestamentactuallygiveusamodel thatwouldimplythatPROCLAMATIONoftheWordofGodaccompaniedbyDEMONSTRATIONofthe powerofGodistheoptimalpathforbringingpeopleintotheKingdomofGod?DidJesusdoit?Didthe apostlesdoit?Arewesupposedtodoit? Theanswertoallthreequestionsisyes.ThewordsoftheNewTestamentbearthisoutoverandover. ThebestplacetolookforexamplesisinthehistoricalbooksoftheNewTestament Matthew,Mark, Luke,John,andActs.ItiseasytopullexamplesfromtheGospelsbecause therearesomanygoodones there.Anysubsetthatonemightchoosewillleaveoutsomeotherverygoodexamples. SignsandwonderswereapartofeverythingthatJesusdid. NearlyonefifthoftheGospelaccountsisdevotedtoJesushealingministryandthediscussion occasionedbyit.Outof3,779versesinthefourGospels,727relatespecificallytothehealingof physicalandmentalillnessandtheresurrectionofthedead.Exceptforadiscussionofmiraclesin general,theattentiondevotedto thehealingministryofJesusisfargreaterthanthatdevotedtoany 1 onekindofexperience. LetslooktoScriptureforsomeexamples. (Matthew4:2325)JesuswentthroughoutGalilee,teachingintheirsynagogues,preachingthegood newsofthekingdom,andhealingeverydiseaseandsicknessamongthepeople.Newsabouthim spreadalloverSyria,andpeoplebroughttohimallwhowereillwithvariousdiseases,thosesuffering severepain,thedemonpossessed,thosehavingseizures,andtheparalyzed,andhehealedthem. LargecrowdsfromGalilee,theDecapolis,Jerusalem,JudeaandtheregionacrosstheJordanfollowed him. Jesuswentaboutteachingandpreaching(proclaiming)thegoodnewsabouttheKingdomofGod.Ashe did,healsohealeddisease,castoutdemons,relievedphysicalsuffering,etc.,demonstratingthepowerof theKingdomofGod.HiswordschallengedthekingdomofSatan.Hisactionswereaphysicalassault againstthekingdomofSatan. Jesusdidnotcomemerelytomeetpeoplesspiritualneeds.Hecametomeettheirphysicalneedsaswell. Godsoriginalplanwastoprovideperfectlyforallofmansneedsspiritualandphysical.Sindisrupted bothprovisions.Satanhasbroughtdestructioninbotharenas.WhentheKingdomofGodadvances,it bringsrestorationinbothareas. NoticethereactionofthepeopletoJesus.Theyfollowedhim.Thisformofministryattractedthem.They hadgrownaccustomedtoareligioussystemwheretheleadersusedtheirauthoritytokeeppeopleintheir places.Jesususedhisauthoritytoserveratherthantobeserved.Theyrecognizedhiscareandconcernfor thembecausehedemonstrateditinatangibleway byrelievingtheirsuffering.Thiscare this demonstrationofthepowerof theKingdom ledtotheirtrustandbeliefinthemessagethatJesus proclaimed. SomeofJesusearliermiraclesweredonestrictlyforthebenefitofhisdisciples.Becauseofthecritical rolethattheywouldplay,theyneededafirmfoundationfortheirfaith.Godgraciouslyprovidedthem theseprivateopportunitiestoseewhoJesuswas.

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(Luke5:111)OnedayasJesuswasstandingbytheLakeofGennesaret,withthepeoplecrowding aroundhimandlisteningtothewordofGod,hesawatthewater'sedgetwoboats,lefttherebythe fishermen,whowerewashingtheirnets.Hegotintooneoftheboats,theonebelongingtoSimon,and askedhimtoputoutalittlefromshore.Thenhesatdownandtaughtthepeoplefromtheboat. Whenhehadfinishedspeaking,hesaidtoSimon,"Putoutintodeepwater,andletdownthenetsfora catch." Simonanswered,"Master,we'veworkedhardallnightandhaven'tcaughtanything.Butbecauseyou sayso,Iwillletdownthenets." Whentheyhaddoneso,theycaughtsuchalargenumberoffishthattheirnetsbegantobreak.Sothey signaledtheirpartnersintheotherboattocomeandhelpthem,andtheycameandfilledbothboatsso fullthattheybegantosink.WhenSimonPetersawthis,hefellatJesus'kneesandsaid,"Goaway fromme,LordIamasinfulman!"Forheandallhiscompanionswereastonishedatthecatchoffish theyhadtaken,andsowereJamesandJohn,thesonsofZebedee,Simon'spartners.ThenJesussaidto Simon,"Don'tbeafraidfromnowonyouwillcatchmen."Sotheypulledtheirboatsuponshore,left everythingandfollowedhim. (John2:111)OnthethirddayaweddingtookplaceatCanainGalilee.Jesus'motherwasthere,and Jesusandhisdiscipleshadalsobeeninvited tothewedding.Whenthewinewasgone,Jesus'mother saidtohim,"Theyhavenomorewine.""Dearwoman,whydoyouinvolveme?"Jesusreplied."My timehasnotyetcome."Hismothersaidtotheservants,"Dowhateverhetellsyou." Nearbystoodsixstonewaterjars,thekindusedbytheJewsforceremonialwashing,eachholding fromtwentytothirtygallons.Jesussaidtotheservants,"Fillthejarswithwater"sotheyfilledthem tothebrim.Thenhetoldthem,"Nowdrawsomeoutandtakeitto themasterofthebanquet."They didso,andthemasterofthebanquettastedthewaterthathadbeenturnedintowine.Hedidnot realizewhereithadcomefrom,thoughtheservantswhohaddrawnthewaterknew.Thenhecalled thebridegroomasideandsaid,"Everyonebringsoutthechoicewinefirstandthenthecheaperwine aftertheguestshavehadtoomuchtodrinkbutyouhavesavedthebesttillnow."This,thefirstofhis miraculoussigns,JesusperformedatCanainGalilee.Hethusrevealedhisglory,andhisdisciplesput theirfaithinhim. (Mark4:3741)Afurioussquallcameup,andthewavesbrokeovertheboat,sothatitwasnearly swamped.Jesuswasinthestern,sleepingonacushion.Thediscipleswokehimandsaidtohim, "Teacher,don'tyoucareifwedrown?"Hegotup,rebukedthewindandsaidtothewaves,"Quiet! Bestill!"Thenthewinddieddownanditwascompletelycalm.Hesaidtohisdisciples,"Whyare yousoafraid?Doyoustillhavenofaith?"Theywereterrifiedandaskedeachother,"Whoisthis? Eventhewindandthewavesobeyhim!" (Matthew14:2533)DuringthefourthwatchofthenightJesuswentouttothem,walkingonthelake. Whenthedisciplessawhimwalkingonthelake,theywereterrified. "It'saghost,"theysaid,andcried outinfear.ButJesusimmediatelysaidtothem:"Takecourage!ItisI.Don'tbeafraid." "Lord,ifit'syou,"Peterreplied,"tellmetocometoyouonthewater." "Come,"hesaid.ThenPetergotdownoutofthe boat,walkedonthewaterandcametowardJesus. Butwhenhesawthewind,hewasafraidand,beginningtosink,criedout,"Lord,saveme!" ImmediatelyJesusreachedouthishandandcaughthim."Youoflittlefaith,"hesaid,"whydidyou doubt?"And whentheyclimbedintotheboat,thewinddieddown.Thenthosewhowereintheboat worshipedhim,saying,"TrulyyouaretheSonofGod." ThesemiracleswereprivateglimpsesoftheLord,revealedtothedisciples.Thefirstonewasgivento Peter,Andrew,James,andJohninordertogivethemsufficientfaithtobecomedisciples.Weknowfrom otherGospelaccountsthatthiswasnottheirfirstmeeting.ThesemenhadalreadyheardJesusspeak Page 4 Copyright@1998,TimAttaway AllRightsReserved

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multipletimes.Theyhadbecomepersonallyacquaintedwithhim.Withthisoneact,however,Jesuswas abletoshowthemthathewaspartofsomethingthatwasgreaterthananythingtheywerepartof.They werefishermen.Theyweresuccessfulatit,evidencedbythefactthattheyhadafleetofboats.Jesus, however,hadamasteryevenoverthefish.Hehandedthemamiraclerightintheirplaceofbusiness. Theywereimpressed.ThistangibledisplayofthepoweroftheKingdomofGodhelpedthemto understandthethingsthattheyhadheardJesusteachabouttheKingdom.Itconvincedthemtoabandonall andtofollowhim. ThemiracleattheweddinginCanawasalsofortheprivatebenefitofthedisciples.Eventhoughothers benefitedfromthewine,thedisciplesweretheonlyoneswhoknewhowitwasproduced.Attheendof thataccountitsaysthatthedisciplesputtheirfaithinhim.Thatistheeffectofsignsandwonders.It buildsfaith.ThiswasreinforcedwhenJesuscalmedthestormandagainwhenhewalkedonwater. Itisinterestingto notethatlongafterthesemenhaddecidedtofollowJesus,Godwasstillgivingthem miraclestokeeptheirfaithstrong.Hewasstillusingsignsandwonderstoteachthemmoreandmore abouttheKingdom.ThisisnotatechniquethatGodusestogetyouinthedoor.Infact,asyougrowin yourmaturityandunderstanding(andinyourfaith),yourcapacitytoreceiveincreases.Godisableto workgreaterandgreatersignsandwondersforyouandthroughyoubecauseyouhaveanincreased capacityto receiveandappreciatewhatisgiven. Jesusoftentaughtinthesynagogue.Attimeshewouldpunctuatehisteachingwiththemiraculousinorder tovalidatewhathewassaying. (Mark1:2126)TheywenttoCapernaum,andwhentheSabbathcame,Jesuswentintothesynagogue andbegantoteach.Thepeoplewereamazedathisteaching,becausehetaughtthemasonewhohad authority,notastheteachersofthelaw.Justthenamanintheirsynagoguewhowaspossessedbyan evilspiritcriedout,"Whatdoyouwantwithus,JesusofNazareth?Haveyoucometodestroyus?I knowwhoyouare theHolyOneofGod!" "Bequiet!"saidJesussternly."Comeoutofhim!" Theevilspiritshookthemanviolentlyandcameoutofhimwithashriek.Thepeoplewere allso amazedthattheyaskedeachother,"Whatisthis?Anewteaching andwithauthority!Heeven givesorderstoevilspiritsandtheyobeyhim."Newsabouthimspreadquicklyoverthewholeregion ofGalilee. (Luke13:1017)OnaSabbathJesuswasteachinginoneofthesynagogues,andawomanwasthere whohadbeencrippledbyaspiritforeighteenyears.Shewasbentoverandcouldnotstraightenupat all.WhenJesussawher,hecalledherforwardandsaidtoher,"Woman,youaresetfreefromyour infirmity."Thenheputhishandsonher,andimmediatelyshestraightenedupandpraisedGod. IndignantbecauseJesushadhealedontheSabbath,thesynagoguerulersaidtothepeople,"Thereare sixdaysforwork.Socomeandbehealedonthosedays,notontheSabbath." TheLordansweredhim,"Youhypocrites!Doesn'teachofyouontheSabbathuntiehisoxordonkey fromthestallandleaditouttogiveitwater?Thenshouldnotthiswoman,adaughterofAbraham, whomSatanhaskeptbound foreighteenlongyears,besetfreeontheSabbathdayfromwhatbound her?"Whenhesaidthis,allhisopponentswerehumiliated,butthepeopleweredelightedwithallthe wonderfulthingshewasdoing. IfJesuswasgoingtoteachthepeopleaboutthe KingdomofGod,thatwouldbringthemrelieffromtheir suffering,thenthelogicalthingwastoshowthemthatKingdomatthesametime.Inbothofthese instances,hedeliveredsomeonefrombondageimposeduponthembySatan,thusadvancingtheKingdom ofGodintheirverymidst.

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IntheLuke13passageabove,thisbroughtaboutaconfrontationwiththesynagogueleadershipbecause thehealingtookplaceonaSabbath.JesuswouldusethepoweroftheKingdomofGodinorderto confrontthemisguidedteachingsofthePhariseessurroundingtheSabbath.Hedidthisrepeatedlyin Scripture.Sometimesittookplaceinthesynagogue,asitdidabove.Othertimesittookplaceoutsidethe synagogue,suchasitdidatthePoolofBethesdainJohn5.Eitherway,JesusshowedthattheKingdom operatedinamannercontrarytotheexpectationsofthoseincharge.Heusedademonstrationofthe KingdomtocorrectteachingsabouttheKingdom.AnotherexampleofthisiswhenJesushealedthe paralyticwhowasloweredthroughtheroofofPetershouse(Mark2).Hebeganbypronouncing forgivenessforthemanssins anactthatinfuriatedtheJewishleaderswhowerepresent.Toprovethat hehadtheauthoritytopronouncethisforgiveness,hethenhealedthemansparalysis.Thisact authenticatedtheteachinghehadjustgiven. ThesignsandwondersintheministryofJesuswerenotalwaysforthepurposeofconfrontingtheJewish leadership.QuiteoftenthepurposewastoconfrontthestrongholdofSataninthelivesofindividual people oneatatime.InMark5,Jesuscastalegionofdemonsoutofamanandintoaherdofpigs. Theresultwasamanfreedfromtheinsanityanduncontrollableviolentbehaviorimposeduponhimbythe demons.HewasreleasedfromthebondageofSatanandbecameafollowerofJesus.Heaskedtobecome adisciplebutinsteadJesustoldhimtogoabouttellingpeoplewhatGodhaddoneforhim.Hebecamean impassionedwitnessfortheKingdombecausethepoweroftheKingdomhadchangedhislife. InLukeweread, (Luke18:3541)AsJesusapproachedJericho,ablindmanwassittingbytheroadsidebegging.When heheardthecrowdgoingby,heaskedwhatwashappening.Theytoldhim,"JesusofNazarethis passingby."He calledout,"Jesus,SonofDavid,havemercyonme!"Thosewholedtheway rebukedhimandtoldhimtobequiet,butheshoutedallthemore,"SonofDavid,havemercyonme!" Jesusstoppedandorderedthemantobebroughttohim.Whenhecamenear,Jesusaskedhim,"What doyouwantmetodoforyou?""Lord,Iwanttosee,"hereplied.Jesussaidtohim,"Receiveyour sightyourfaithhashealedyou."ImmediatelyhereceivedhissightandfollowedJesus,praisingGod. Whenallthepeoplesawit,theyalsopraisedGod. Jesusfreedthismanfromthebondageofblindness.ThroughthepoweroftheKingdomofGod,hemeta physicalneedinthelifeofthismanandrelievedhissuffering.TheresultwasthatthemanfollowedJesus andpraisedGod.The peoplewhowitnessedtheeventalsopraisedGod.Ademonstrationofthepowerof theKingdombringspraisetotheKing. HealingwasnottheonlyspiritualgiftthatJesususedtofreepeoplefromtheirsuffering.InJohn4we havethestoryofJesusencounterwiththeSamaritanwomanatthewell.Hereitwasawordofknowledge thatultimatelybroughtfreedomandforgivenesstothiswoman.Jesushadstartedaconversationwithher andhadbeguntotellheraboutlivingwater,thatcouldkeepherfromeverthirstingagain. (Luke4:1519)Thewomansaidtohim,"Sir,givemethiswatersothatIwon'tgetthirstyandhaveto keepcomingheretodrawwater."Hetoldher,"Go,callyourhusbandandcomeback.""Ihaveno husband,"shereplied.Jesussaidtoher,"Youarerightwhenyousayyouhavenohusband.Thefact is,youhavehadfivehusbands,andthemanyounowhaveisnotyourhusband.Whatyouhavejust saidisquitetrue.""Sir,"thewomansaid,"Icanseethatyouareaprophet. Awordofknowledgerevealedamajorareaofsininherlife.Yetinhavingitexposed,shestillfound herselfaccepted.JesuscontinuedtotellherabouttheKingdomofGod,whereshecouldfindreleasefrom therejectionthatshetypicallylived.Thewordsbroughtherrefreshmentandrelease.LiketheGadarene demoniac,shebecameanimpassionedwitnessforthethingsoftheKingdom. (John4:2830,3943)Then,leavingherwaterjar,thewomanwentbacktothetownandsaidtothe people,"Come,seeamanwhotoldmeeverythingIeverdid.CouldthisbetheChrist?"Theycame outofthetownandmadetheirwaytowardhim. Page 6 Copyright@1998,TimAttaway AllRightsReserved

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ManyoftheSamaritansfromthattownbelievedinhimbecauseofthewoman'stestimony,"Hetold meeverythingIeverdid."SowhentheSamaritanscametohim,theyurgedhimtostaywiththem, andhestayedtwodays.Andbecauseofhiswordsmanymorebecamebelievers.Theysaidtothe woman,"Wenolongerbelievejustbecauseofwhatyousaidnowwehaveheardforourselves,and weknowthatthismanreallyistheSavioroftheworld."AfterthetwodaysheleftforGalilee. Basedonhertestimony,theycametohearJesus.Basedonhiswordstheybecamebelievers. AsimilarthinghappenedinthestoryofZacchaeus. (Luke19:16)JesusenteredJerichoandwaspassingthrough.Amanwastherebythenameof Zacchaeushewasachieftaxcollectorandwaswealthy.HewantedtoseewhoJesuswas,butbeinga shortmanhecouldnot,becauseofthecrowd.Soheranaheadandclimbedasycamorefigtreetosee him,sinceJesuswascomingthatway.WhenJesusreachedthespot,helookedupandsaidtohim, "Zacchaeus,comedownimmediately.Imuststayatyourhousetoday."Sohecamedownatonceand welcomedhimgladly. Allthepeoplesawthisandbegantomutter,"Hehasgonetobetheguestofa'sinner.'"ButZacchaeus stoodupandsaidtotheLord,"Look,Lord!HereandnowIgivehalfofmypossessionstothepoor, andifIhavecheatedanybodyoutofanything,Iwillpaybackfourtimestheamount." Likethewomanatthewell,Zacchaeuswasanoutcastinhissociety.Helivedalifeofrejection.Jesus receivedawordofknowledge,identifyingZacchaeusbynameandidentifyingtheconditioninhislife. JesusreactedtothewordandreachedouttoZacchaeus,offeringhimacceptance.Thissimpleactreleased thegripofSatanonhislife.Itchangedhisnature.HebecameafollowerofJesus. Severaltimes,JesusgavetheultimateshowofpoweroftheKingdomofGodoverthekingdomofSatan. (Matthew9:2326)WhenJesusenteredtheruler'shouseandsawthefluteplayersandthenoisy crowd,hesaid,"Goaway.Thegirlisnotdeadbutasleep."Buttheylaughedathim.Afterthecrowd hadbeenputoutside,hewentinandtookthegirlbythehand,andshegotup.Newsofthisspread throughallthatregion. (Luke7:1117)Soonafterward,JesuswenttoatowncalledNain,andhisdisciplesandalargecrowd wentalongwithhim.Asheapproachedthetowngate, adeadpersonwasbeingcarriedout theonly sonofhismother,andshewasawidow.Andalargecrowdfromthetownwaswithher.Whenthe Lordsawher,hisheartwentouttoherandhesaid,"Don'tcry."Thenhewentupandtouchedthe coffin,and thosecarryingitstoodstill.Hesaid,"Youngman,Isaytoyou,getup!"Thedeadmansat upandbegantotalk,andJesusgavehimbacktohismother.Theywereallfilledwithaweandpraised God."Agreatprophethasappearedamongus,"theysaid. "Godhascometohelphispeople."This newsaboutJesusspreadthroughoutJudeaandthesurroundingcountry. (John11:4345)Whenhehadsaidthis,Jesuscalledinaloudvoice,"Lazarus,comeout!"Thedead mancameout,hishandsandfeetwrappedwithstripsoflinen,andaclotharoundhisface.Jesussaid tothem,"Takeoffthegraveclothesandlethimgo."ThereforemanyoftheJewswhohadcometo visitMary,andhadseenwhatJesusdid,puttheirfaithinhim. Theseeventswereextraordinary,evenamongthemanymiraclesthatJesusdid.Hecametoteachabouta Kingdomthatwoulddefeatdeath.Tohimitwasonlylogicaltoshowdeathdefeated.Thisobviously culminatedinhisownresurrection.Thepeoplewereamazedatthis.Ineachcaseitbroughtfaithand newsaboutJesusspreadthroughoutJudeaandthesurroundingcountry.Wordofwhatwashappening withJesusmadeittoveryhighplaces.

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(Mark6:14)KingHerodheardaboutthis,forJesus'namehadbecomewellknown.Somewere saying,"JohntheBaptisthasbeenraisedfromthedead,andthatiswhymiraculouspowersareatwork inhim." Thatistheeffectofasignsandwondersministry.GodwantseveryonetoknowabouttheKingdom.His desireisforalltocometoreconciliation.Hehasprovidedspiritualgiftsinordertoedifythebodyandthat edificationincludestheenlargementofthebody.PeopleareimpressedwhenthepowerofGodispresent. Peoplearebroughttofaith.Theirlivesarechanged. NotethatJesushimselfsaidthatthesortofmiraclesthatwerepresentinhisministryweretangible evidencethattheKingdomofGodhadactuallyarrived. (Matthew11:26)WhenJohnheardinprisonwhatChristwasdoing,hesenthisdisciplestoaskhim, "Areyoutheonewhowastocome,orshouldweexpectsomeoneelse?"Jesusreplied,"Gobackand reporttoJohnwhatyouhearandsee:Theblindreceivesight,thelamewalk,thosewhohaveleprosy arecured,thedeafhear,thedeadareraised,andthegoodnewsispreachedtothepoor.Blessedisthe manwhodoesnotfallawayonaccountofme." (Matthew12:28)ButifIdriveoutdemonsbytheSpiritofGod,thenthekingdomofGodhascome uponyou. WheretheKingdomofGodispresent,weshouldseetheblindgivensight,thelamemadetowalk,lepers cured,thedeafgivensight,thedeadraised,theGospelpreached,demonscastout,etc.Thatiswhat happenswhentheKingdomofGodwinsbattlesagainstthekingdomofSatan.Darknessisdefeated. Sufferingisrelieved.Freedomiswon. JesusmodeledthepatternofproclamationofthemessageoftheKingdomofGodaccompaniedby demonstrationofthepower.Healsocommissionedhisfollowerstocarryoutthissamepattern. (Matthew10:18)Hecalledhistwelve disciplestohimandgavethemauthoritytodriveoutevil spiritsandtohealeverydiseaseandsickness.Thesearethenamesofthetwelveapostles:first,Simon (whoiscalledPeter)andhisbrotherAndrewJamessonofZebedee,andhisbrotherJohnPhilipand BartholomewThomasandMatthewthetaxcollectorJamessonofAlphaeus,andThaddaeusSimon theZealotandJudasIscariot,whobetrayedhim.ThesetwelveJesussentoutwiththefollowing instructions:"DonotgoamongtheGentilesorenteranytownoftheSamaritans.Gorathertothelost sheepofIsrael.Asyougo,preachthismessage:'Thekingdomofheavenisnear.'Healthesick,raise thedead,cleansethosewhohaveleprosy,driveoutdemons.Freelyyouhavereceived,freelygive. (John14:1215)Itellyouthetruth,anyonewhohasfaithinmewilldowhatIhavebeendoing.He willdoevengreaterthingsthanthese,becauseIamgoingtotheFather.AndIwilldowhateveryou askinmyname,sothattheSonmaybringglorytotheFather.Youmayaskmeforanythinginmy name,andIwilldoit."Ifyouloveme,youwillobeywhatIcommand.AndIwillasktheFather,and hewillgiveyouanotherCounselortobewithyouforever theSpiritoftruth.Theworldcannot accepthim,becauseitneitherseeshimnorknowshim.Butyouknowhim,forheliveswithyouand willbeinyou. (Matthew28:1820)ThenJesuscametothemandsaid,"Allauthorityinheavenandonearthhasbeen giventome.Thereforegoandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather andoftheSonandoftheHolySpirit,andteachingthemtoobeyeverythingIhavecommandedyou. AndsurelyIamwithyoualways,totheveryendoftheage." InMatthew10,JesustoldhisdisciplestogoaboutpreachingthattheKingdomofGodisnear.Theywere todemonstratethattheKingdomwasathandbyhealing,raisingthedead,castingoutdemons,etc.InJohn 14attheLastSupper,JesustoldhisdisciplesthattheHolySpiritwouldbegiventothemasapermanent presenceandthatitwouldequipthemtodoevengreaterworksthantheyhaveseenJesusperform.In Matthew28,justbeforetheascension,Jesustoldhisdisciplestogoforthtoallnationsandtomake Page 8 Copyright@1998,TimAttaway AllRightsReserved

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disciplesofthem.TheyweretoteachthemthethingsthatJesustaughthisdisciples,whichincluded operatinginthepoweroftheKingdom(rememberthatonefifthoftheversesintheGospelsdealdirectly withhealing!) Atthebeginningofthissection,severalquestionswereasked.IsPowerEvangelismjustagoodideaoris itinfactaBiblicalconcept?DothestoriesoftheNewTestamentactuallygiveusamodelthatwould implythatPROCLAMATIONoftheWordofGodaccompaniedbyDEMONSTRATIONofthepowerof Godisthe optimalpathforbringingpeopleintotheKingdomofGod?DidJesusdoit?Didtheapostles doit?Arewesupposedtodoit? PowerEvangelismisathoroughlyBiblicalconcept.Jesusdidit.Hecommandedhisfollowerstodoit. Heempoweredustodo it.ThepagesofActssupportthefactthattheearlychurchwasfaithfultocarryon thisactivity.ThefirstmajorshowofPowerEvangelisminActsoccursinthesecondchapter,atthedayof Pentecost. TheHolySpiritwaspouredoutonthebelieverswhowerewaitingintheupperroom.Theywere empoweredtospeakinnaturallanguagesthattheyhadneverlearned.Theywentoutintothecrowd,which wascomposedofmenfrommanynations.Whentheypreached,everyonecouldunderstandinhisown language.ItwasamiraculousshowofthepowerofGod.Peoplewereimpressed.Peterpreacheda sermon,validatingthefactthatJesuswasthelongawaitedMessiah.Wereadtheconclusion. (Acts2:4143)Thosewhoacceptedhismessagewerebaptized,andaboutthreethousandwereadded totheirnumberthatday.Theydevotedthemselvestotheapostles'teachingandtothefellowship,to thebreakingofbreadandtoprayer.Everyonewasfilledwithawe,andmanywondersandmiraculous signsweredonebythe apostles. Asignsandwondersministrywaspresentinthenewchurchtovalidatetheteachingsofthechurch.Itwas nodifferentthanitwaswhenJesustaught.Itshouldbenodifferentthanitiswithus.Ifourteachingsare stilltrue,thenGodwillcontinuetovalidatethemamongthepeople. Acts3tellsofatimewhenPeterandJohnwereatthetemple.Therewasalamebeggaratthetemplegate. PetersubmittedtothepoweroftheHolySpiritandbroughthealingtotheman.Themanwasecstatic.The crowdsofpeoplewhohadseenthislamemanforyearswerequiteimpressedandtheygatheredaround. PetergaveglorytoJesusforthehealing.HeusedtheoccasiontopreachtothemaboutJesus.Weread, (Acts4:4)Butmanywhoheardthemessagebelieved,andthenumberofmengrewtoaboutfive thousand. Again,thedemonstrationofthepoweroftheKingdomcreatedareceptivitytothemessageofthe Kingdom.Theresultwasasignificantincreaseintheyoungchurch.Thepatterncontinued. (Acts5:1216)Theapostlesperformedmanymiraculoussignsandwondersamongthepeople.And allthebelieversusedtomeettogetherinSolomon'sColonnade.Nooneelsedaredjointhem,even thoughtheywerehighlyregardedbythepeople.Nevertheless,moreandmoremenandwomen believedintheLordandwereaddedtotheirnumber.Asaresult,peoplebroughtthesickintothe streetsandlaidthemonbedsandmatssothatatleastPeter'sshadowmightfallonsomeofthemashe passedby.CrowdsgatheredalsofromthetownsaroundJerusalem,bringingtheirsickandthose tormentedbyevilspirits,andallofthemwerehealed. (Acts8:58)PhilipwentdowntoacityinSamariaandproclaimedtheChristthere.Whenthecrowds heardPhilipandsaw themiraculoussignshedid,theyallpaidcloseattentiontowhathesaid.With shrieks,evilspiritscameoutofmany,andmanyparalyticsandcrippleswerehealed.Sotherewas greatjoyinthatcity. (Acts9:3242)AsPetertraveledaboutthecountry,hewenttovisitthesaintsinLydda.Therehe foundamannamedAeneas,aparalyticwhohadbeenbedriddenforeightyears."Aeneas,"Petersaid Copyright@1998,TimAttaway AllRightsReserved Page 9

SignsandWondersintheNewTestament

tohim,"JesusChristhealsyou.Getupandtakecareofyourmat."ImmediatelyAeneasgotup.All thosewholivedinLyddaandSharonsawhimandturnedtotheLord. InJoppatherewasadisciplenamedTabitha(which,whentranslated,isDorcas),whowasalways doinggoodandhelpingthepoor.Aboutthattimeshebecamesickanddied,andherbodywaswashed andplacedinanupstairsroom.LyddawasnearJoppasowhenthedisciplesheardthatPeterwasin Lydda,theysenttwomentohimandurgedhim,"Pleasecomeatonce!"Peterwentwiththem,and whenhearrivedhewastakenupstairstotheroom. Allthewidowsstoodaroundhim,cryingand showinghimtherobesandotherclothingthatDorcashadmadewhileshewasstillwiththem.Peter sentthemalloutoftheroomthenhegotdownonhiskneesandprayed.Turningtowardthedead woman,hesaid,"Tabitha,getup."Sheopenedhereyes,andseeingPetershesatup.Hetookherby thehandandhelpedhertoherfeet.Thenhecalledthebelieversandthewidowsandpresentedherto themalive.ThisbecameknownalloverJoppa,andmanypeople believedintheLord. ThepatterncontinuedonintotheministryofPaul. (Acts14:13)AtIconiumPaulandBarnabaswentasusualintotheJewishsynagogue.Therethey spokesoeffectivelythatagreatnumberofJewsandGentilesbelieved.ButtheJewswhorefusedto believestirreduptheGentilesandpoisonedtheirmindsagainstthebrothers.SoPaulandBarnabas spentconsiderabletimethere,speakingboldlyfortheLord,whoconfirmedthemessageofhisgrace byenablingthemtodomiraculoussignsandwonders. OperatinginthepowerofGodwasnotananomaly.Itwasthenorm.Noticethatthesignsandwonders: Relievedhumansuffering. ValidatedthemessageoftheKingdomofGod. Attractedpeople. IncreasedthesizeoftheKingdomofGod. BroughtpraisetotheFather.

PowerevangelismwasawellestablishedpracticeintheministryofJesusandintheministryoftheearly church.TheBiblicalrecordsupportsit.Itisthereineverypage. IfwearetobedisciplesofChrist,growinginhisimageanddoingthethingsthathetoldustodo,thenwe mustconsiderthisasapatternthatwemustfollow.Itwasgiventousto: Relievehumansuffering ValidatethemessageoftheKingdomofGod. Attractpeople. IncreasethesizeoftheKingdomof God. BringpraisetotheFather.

Itisnotjustagoodidea.

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