Two questions through this study:
- What is our priority as followers of Christ?
- Why are Signs and Wonders important and what is their purpose?
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
The scene here is that Christ is about to be taken up. This was His last physical conversation with the disciples.
I think it is interesting that Mark says He “UPBRAIDED” (scolded) them for their unbelief and HARDNESS of heart.
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples in the boat when the disciples thought they were going to perish? Oh ye of little faith. How long will I be with you? (Matthew 8;26)
They had enough faith to get in the boat with Jesus but the circumstances exposed their lack of faith and the fact he said, “Let’s go to the other side”.
In this final hour, Jesus was scolding the disciples on their lack of faith and their hardness of heart.
He told them in the account in Acts that THEY WOULD BE WITNESSES. But not if their faith in HIM lacked.
Our first priority is to GO AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. “16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
However, you cannot do this until YOU believe the gospel. Not just intellectually but fully trusting in the gospel. Not only through time alone with HIM in developing that intimacy but also committing to who He says He is.
The second thing here is “Hardness of their hearts
Hardness of Heart –
- hard-heartedness
- destitution of (spiritual) perception:
We need to pray, “RESET MY HEART” then “RESET MY MIND”
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in US,
Our first priority is to share Jesus Christ and why HE came and how HE is valid for today! And believe it to the point that our commitment to this message is the most important thing to us. The world will hear that message. It is as simple as John 3;16 and 17
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
If we are to effectively preach the Gospel then we must have a heart for the world.
Question – Does what you see going on today make you angry at the people and move you in to passing judgement or does it grieve your heart and move you in to a desire to share the gospel of .
Every Encounter that is recorded that Jesus had was from His heart.
The woman at the well, The woman caught in adultery, The woman with the issue of blood, The Leper, The Multitudes, the woman of the city Nain that was burying her son.
Do a word search of the phrase “Moved with compassion”
Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Luke 7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
WHY DID MESSIAH COME?
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
So many times we get the CART BEFORE THE HORSE. Why do you think today that we do not see the power of God manifested like we read about in the ACTS?
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
We want more, more, more! Why?
THAT WAS THE HORSE. NOW HERE IS THE CART.
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
Follow – To follow near, attend, confirm to. IF YOU BELIEVE IN WHO HE IS THEN THESE SIGNS WILL CONFIRM WHAT YOU SPEAK.
Your mission is not to heal the world but Gods Glory is demonstrated through healing.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Your mission is to “BE” “LIVE” and speak. GOD WILL CONFIRM WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING. That is the whole purpose of Signs and Wonders. It is to WOW the world by glorifying GOD.
John 9:25 He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
When the glory comes do not be distracted by it.
Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Over the years, Ronda and I have had the opportunity to be involved in many ministries. And by preaching and living the gospel I have seen God do most of these and more. I haven’t seen or done the snake reference but we are not done yet. I have seen the demons cast out, miraculous healings, words of knowledge, deliverances, ALL FOLLOWING. ALL CHANGING LIVES, ALL GLORIFYING GOD.
The Key to signs and wonders is the Gospel of Christ living and operating in you. Not just when we show up to church but in our everyday life. Make yourself available. GO IN TO THE WORLD. LISTEN TO HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS NOT YOU BUT WHO YOU TRUST.
If you live the gospel then EXPECT GOD to CONFIRM the GOSPEL with SIGNS FOLLOWING. And like a pastor friend of mine says, “Don’t Give Up On Your Suddenly”
Mark 16;20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Let me leave this with you – John 6:28
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
- What is our priority as followers of Christ?
- Preach the Gospel to every creature!
- Why are Signs and Wonders important and what is their purpose?
- These will follow the preaching of the Gospel to glorify God.
- Most importantly, the Gospel, and the preaching of, is paramount to signs and wonders. We follow the Gospel, not signs and wonders. Romans 1:16 KJV — For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.