This post is continuing a series of asking the question "What did Jesus do on earth for the forty days that He was still here after He resurrected? So I am looking at each of the four gospels and Acts. In the gospel of Mark beginning in chapter 16 verse 9 that early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene saw Him and afterward He appeared to two of His other followers as they were walking and later He appeared to the eleven disciples. As each gospel is written by different witnesses, each one remembered what was impressed in their minds and hearts. Here is the version of the Great Commission in Mark:
"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These Miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drank anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.
And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs." Mark 16: 15-20 NLT
The apostle Paul got bit by a poisonous snake when he was on the island of Malta, after being shipwrecked. When he did not swell up or suddenly drop dead, the people of the island thought he was a God. While he was there, he healed many people. All through out the book of Acts, people were healed and miracles took place. This gave the gospel message the authority of being from God. People were in awe and listened to the message.
As believers today, we hear of some miraculous signs in our time, yet this is not common place in our churches today. Why is this not happening today as it did then? If miraculous signs were accompanying the preaching of the gospel today, as it did then; I believe the message would be better received here in our country. What is missing? Does God have gifts for us to accompany His gospel that we are missing? How should we pray?
I asked all these questions to a dear friend and have included her thoughtful response below this post. I pray you will be inspired as I was.
1 comment:
As I have sought the Lord, I have seen this time we are in as one of purging and testing, a time of reckoning--He is drawing those that will to Himself in a way that will bring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. A time that will bring understanding of His Word and the ability to KNOW God. This awakening, if you will, is a work of His Spirit in the willing heart, a quiet work between God and His Beloved... the passionate, persistent, pursuer of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior by His Holy Spirit which brings His transformation in the inner man.
Do you see the church His Body transformed like Peter was? He has called us to new birth in Him. Jesus Christ is the author of a faith which purifies and gives victory over sin.
His timing is perfect, who can hold the Glory of the Lord that brings forth the anointing which will bring His signs and wonders that will follow His Word (truth)... We see in Acts, as they all waited in one accorded seeking the Lord, having relinquished all to Him, the Lord brought to them the baptism of fire that brought forth the power of God through them.
With all my heart, I believe that we shall see the powerful, anointed move of God through His Body, His Church, the question is to all of us is... what or who has your heart?
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