from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church http://bit.ly/2K8khUr
via IFTTT This is how it's it supposed to be! Signs and wonders along with preaching! Hearing and seeing by the hand and word of God. Over and over in the New testament we see this pattern. Where God moved, there were both physical signs, wonders of God's miracles in people's lives releiving suffering, along with annointed preaching of the Gospel. These two go together. In fact, Jesus Himself proclaimed that "these signs shall follow them who believe". Do you believe? Do the signs and wonders of God follow you? Are your words validated by mighty works of God touching people's lives? In your church do signs and wonders abound among the people? The teachers? The preacher? If not, why not? There was a time in Jesus life when He did not do many signs among a people due to their unbelief. The people who would receive, refused. That is certainly a possibility. When we are focused exclusively on the world and it's cures, the miracles of God can be refused. But that was only once in Jesus' life. Today we live in an age when this promise, this reality of the Gospel, seems nonexistent. The church does not heal the sick, doctors do. The church does not free the captives of demons or addictions, professional do, programs do. Churches are full of the same things as in the world, the same suffering. The people within the church run to the world for deliverance just like those in the world do. Where is this promise? That is a good question. And the answer, all answers, are to be found on your knees. Prayer. Seeking God. Giving up all selfish ambition, all evil motives, all dreams, goals, desires. Gone. Laid at the foot of the cross by a broken and contrite heart. The answer is found in the revelation that we are hopeless, powerless, useless without that cross. A deep understanding that the best works of the most accomplished and capable trained professional are but rubbish in the eyes of God. The answer is find with an end to praising the works of man in order to cherish the works of God. This is revival! All through history, when God brings revival to a society, that revival has 2 things: anointed preaching that changes hearts plus signs and wonders of God's power moving. But, it is not launched in a committee meeting, it is launched in a prayer meeting. The seeds of revival are planted when a group fall on their face, giving up everything of self and crying out to God to move. And persisting until He does. Then, when the preaching comes it is followed, validated, and advertised by mighty works of God's hands. You see, God's power only flows through a clean and transparent vessel. The more of us that exists, the less God's power will flow. He loves us too much to flow power through us when we might think we actually had something to do with it. When we think we are worthy, capable, trained. He will not use pride, only humility. He will not use self worth, only brokenness. Signs and wonders? They do follow them that believe. God is still desiring to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the crippled, set those captive free. And He does so to the extent His people seek Him first. He moves to the extent that eyes are on Jesus, not credentials. Would you be like Philip? Your words validated and advertised by mighty signs and wonders of people being touched physically, emotionally and spiritually? That is the call of God on your life. Not to become a preacher necessarily, but to live the Gospel. Many decades ago. When I was a young man, I was staying the weekend at Grandma's. At one point she had a need to climb a ladder, I forget why. It was just myself and grandma alone in the garage. I was maybe around 8 to 10 years old. As I watched her step down that ladder she tripped and fell, hurting her ankle quite badly so that she could not stand. I tried to help her up, but she wouldn't have it. She said "no, pray for me". I did, in my childish and untrained way. Immediately she smiled, stood up, thanked God, and walked out perfectly fine. I, on the other hand, was in shock! For her, it was normal life. She trusted God at His word and God showed up. This is the Christian Life. Know the heart of God so much by spending time with Him, by submitting to His will in everything, so that when He moves it is not a surprise. Miracles touching needs should be the norm, not the exception! Philip walked this life of signs and wonders along with powerful preaching. So can we. So can you. Philip was not "special", he was an example. God does not change, He waits. He waits for a clean and transparent vessel that will seek God's glory, God's praise, God's presence, God's power in all things. Be that saint, and touch the world for Christ!
