Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying Signs. Amen.

 

Everywhere Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel of Christ, people were Saved and Miracles, Signs, and Wonders followed. This is God’s way of confirming Who He is. Anyone can get up before a crowd of people and speak, but when they see a true Miracle occur, they believe God is in their midst and what they are hearing is true.

 

This is the way Jesus ministered to the people. He taught the Word of God and told the people Who He was but it was the Miracles, Signs, and Wonders that caused them to believe. The Apostles followed in His footsteps as He had instructed them. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the Works that I do he will do also; and greater Works than these will he do, because I go to My Father. (Mark 14:21)

 

Paul and Barnabas knew this and they continued with the same Divine Pattern, performing Miracles to substantiate the Gospel. We are given an example of this in the 14th Chapter of the Book of Acts. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed. Said with a loud voice, stand upright on your feet, and he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:8-10)

 

The Gospel Message had been preached by Paul, who noticed a crippled man sitting there. The Bible tells us that Paul spoke to the man in a loud voice. The Holy Spirit wanted everyone present that day to witness this Miracle so Paul spoke loud enough for everyone to hear and said, stand upright on your feet.

 

The crippled man had heard the Gospel and he believed it. The moment he believed, he was Saved and born again. Paul never touched him or helped him to stand up. Because of his faith in Christ, he was immediately healed in totality! This man had never walked before. He was born crippled but no more! He didn’t slowly get up with the help from others and stagger around for a while. No! he leaped and walked.

 

The people who witnessed this were astonished! And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. (Acts 14:11)

 

You see, God has placed in the heart of every human being the knowledge that He exists. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We are all born with this knowledge. Everyone knows that God is real but until they hear the Gospel of Christ they will worship false gods. The people of Lycaonia were all Gentiles. They had no prior religious training other than what they were born with so they worshiped many gods in search of the truth. On that day, they heard the Truth of the One Living God and they believed! Hallelujah!

 

Preach the Gospel. Miracles will follow and God will……..….turn the tide……..in this world.

 

God’s Pattern is perfect.         Doreen

 

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