The Gospel of the Kingdom includes Signs and Wonders
Many people afraid of making a mistake begin to be afraid of signs and wonders and miracles they decide to play it safe. They replace displays of power with religious traditions, Christian activities and even Bible studies. They become satisfied with head knowledge.
Signs have a purpose. They are not the end game. Signs are designed by God to get our attention and point us to a greater reality.
Signs illustrate scripture, all the while pointing to Jesus the Son of God.
Signs also confirm to a believer who has embraced an authentic gospel that they are going the right direction. —Adapted from When Heaven Invades Earth, Johnson
Jesus promised that signs would follow those who believe.
Why are signs and wonders important?
- Signs and wonders help people to see the nature of God.
- Signs and wonders expose the heart and bring people to a decision. (Peter and the catch of fish)
- Signs build courage
- Miracles reveal the greatness and glory of God
- Signs direct people to give God glory
- Signs themselves give glory to God
- Miracles and Signs unify the generations
- Signs and wonders show that Jesus is alive and that Jesus is God
- Signs, wonders and miracles help people to hear from God
- Signs, wonders and miracles help people to obey God
- Signs, wonders and miracles validate the church Jesus is building.
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
Psa 145:4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.
Psa 145:5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.
Psa 145:6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness.
Psa 145:7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Psa 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psa 145:10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You.
Psa 145:11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power,
Psa 145:12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Psa 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. —Psal 145
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1. I
to believe, Show me a sign.
Mar 8:11-16 (NIV)
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To
12 He
13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
- Jesus refused to gratify the Pharisees, who challenged him to give them a sign from heaven.
- They didn’t come with the purpose of understanding but they came to trap Him.
- They were driven by UNBELIEF
- The lump (leaven) of the Pharisees is religious pride, religious tradition,
- The leaven of Herod was opportunism. Herod, and his courtiers were generally Sadducees, that is, deists, men of no religion but they weren’t above leveraging for political gain.
(Rabbit trail) Contrast test in Mark 8 and Malachi 3
Mal 3:10 (NIV)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
2. I
believe, please show me a sign.
Signs as confirmation and comfort.
John 20:24-27 (NIV)
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
- Thomas was for some reason missing when Jesus appeared yet he hung around for a week.
- There is a revelation of the real Jesus waiting for those who don’t quit!
- From time to time God sends us signs to get us moving or set us free.
- I believe God wants to set people free with the proofs and signs and wonders that follow us.
- If you are here this morning and you are just holding on “Don’t quit” Jesus is on His way!
- Thomas was driven by a desire to believe but oppressed by the trauma of the crucifixion etc.
3. I
, signs will follow me.
Signs as a confirmation
Mat 28:16-20 (NIV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mar 16:17-18 (NKJV)
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
- Signs and wonders follow when we are driven by belief
-* God backs up His word and His followers with Signs is because ALL
has been given to Jesus and HE has
us.*
Mar 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Act 4:29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
Act 4:30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”- Act 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
- Acts 8:6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
- 1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1Co 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.