POWER CONFIRMS GOD’S WORD

“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” – Mark 16:20

One of the key reasons that God gives Power for signs and wonders to His people is to CONFIRM the HIS WORD – the GOSPEL. This was true in the Old Testament even as it is true in the New. Moses and Elijah were clear examples. God performed signs and wonders in Egypt which confirmed that Moses was His messenger to Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Similarly, God’s Power working through Elijah and others of the prophets dramatically testified that they were speaking for Him.

It was the miracles that Jesus performed that made people accept the words that He was speaking as being from God: “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did” (Jh.2:23). In a similar manner, Paul said repeatedly that as he preached the gospel, it was not just with words, but also there was a demonstration of the Power of God in signs and wonders, to validate that his preaching was from God: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1Cor.2:4). Again, he said, “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in Power” (1Cor.4:20).

The Power of God is not meant for showmanship or mere exhibition within the four walls of the church. It is not meant for ‘spiri-tainment’ or to satisfy the signs-seeking cravings of curious spectators. Many of God’s people are into “supermarket Christianity” shopping for extraordinary displays; few are willing to pay the price to understand the workings of God’s Power. Not many believers are willing to step out of their comfort zone of spiritual complacency and reach out to the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They want to witness God’s Power while warming the church pews. They want to enjoy His Power in the cosy atmosphere of church or through hand-laying by anointed “Spiritual Superstars”! God wants you to know how His Power is activated, triggered and released.

God’s Supernatural Power is more relevant among sinful and hurting humanity than within the confines of the church. From the accounts of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, it is apparent that the demonstrations and manifestations of God’s power are more visible and tangible in the lives of believers who are “on the move” practising and preaching the Gospel with passion. It is in going with the Gospel to those who need to hear it that we see more of God’s power in vivid manifestation through us than ever before. The main Arena of Power encounters, demonstrations, and manifestations is not within the confines of concrete cathedrals, but out in the marketplace – in the fields of the world that are ripe and ready for the harvests of the ages!

God’s Power is activated, ignited and released for performance, by making a demand on it. You may not be able to tell by how you feel whether His Power is in you, but as soon as a demand is made on it, there’ll be an outflow of His Power. Preaching the Gospel – releasing the Word – is the primary avenue to trigger the current of His Power. It was as the disciples went EVERYWHERE preaching God’s Word that He WORKED WITH them and CONFIRMED the WORD with signs. Without the Word, there is nothing for God to confirm. Signs follow the preaching of the Word. Miracles do not hang around lazy Christians as they loaf at home or warm the pews. Beloved, if you desire to see God’s Power made manifest in and through you, then awake from slumber, arise and begin to preach, practise, and live by God’s Word, by His Grace!