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Confirming the Word with Signs and Wonders

By Steve Hill

Jesus never ceases to amaze me. When a crack addict bound by a $300-a-day habit comes to the altar, weeps in repentance over his lost condition, receives prayer, and walks away, never to return again to his former addiction, I am amazed. When a cancer patient is anointed with oil, prayed over, X-rayed the next day and the tumor has disappeared, I am amazed. When a New Ager saturated with 20 years of false indoctrination slips into a service, makes her way to the altar, opens up to the King of kings and Lord of lords, and rises in love with Jesus, never to return to the metaphysical, I am amazed. When a prostitute cries out to God, receives forgiveness, and walks away, arm in arm with the Lover of her soul, I am amazed. When a new believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives him utterance, I am amazed. When the demon possessed scream out as they are confronted by the authority in Jesus' name and pass from torment to peace within seconds, I am amazed.

Reports of supernatural wonders are pouring in from all over the world. God's anointing is flowing. Wherever revival winds are blowing, wherever God's fire is burning, and wherever Jesus' name is exalted, miracles, signs, and wonders are evidenced among God's people. Everything God does outside our realm of understanding—beyond the natural—is supernatural. It's a mystery. Unexplainable. Mind-boggling. I love to see God in action. My response is in harmony with the Psalmist's: "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23).

Miracles are intended to grip the attention of those in attendance and to point them to their unseen Savior. Miracles will take place. When we become holy, when we allow the purifying fire of God to burn away all the chaff in our lives, when we allow God freedom to expose every secret place, when we become pliable in His hands, then God's supernatural works will follow. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:7,8). Believers should expect these supernatural works.

God has often used people as His vessels through whom to flow supernaturally—lives such as the apostles Paul, Peter, and John; Charles Finney; Evan Roberts; George Jeffreys; Smith Wigglesworth; Kathryn Kuhlman; and a host of others. But as a healing or deliverance occurs, pride has a tendency to well up.

For example, whenever a major miracle takes place in a church, in come the army of onlookers and reporters. They begin to interrogate everyone. "How did it happen?" "Where did it occur?" "Who was the instrument?" "What kind of prayer was prayed?" Everyone points to the pastor, the evangelist, or another servant of God. The one responsible for speaking the prayer of faith is singled out. "He's the one." "She did it." "There's the man God used to heal that cancer." "She's the one that laid hands on the demoniac." Like metal to a magnet, people are drawn to individuals used by God. Those used by God have the responsibility to deflect any honor and glory off of themselves and onto the One who is the rightful recipient of praise—Jesus Christ.

A prime example of people deflecting any glory over God's supernatural acts is found in Acts 14:1–18. With a loud voice, Paul said to a cripple, "Stand upright on thy feet." The Bible reports a total healing, a supernatural act of God. The cripple jumped up and walked. Verse 11 records the crowd's response: "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." Paul and Barnabas were treated as gods, even to the point of being called Jupiter and Mercurius. The locals were about to offer a sacrifice to them when they deflected all praise and gave the glory to Jesus. They even used this opportunity to preach repentance. Their message contained a strong admonition to the people to turn from their vanities unto the living God.
Another scriptural example is Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost when all were marveling at the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Rather than elevating those involved or the unusual manifestations they were experiencing, Peter responded with a strong message of repentance.

Likewise, evangelists must move quickly within the atmosphere of a miracle to relate spiritual truths that lead people to the knowledge of Christ. In this way supernatural wonders serve as doors to the unknown. They are a direct link to the plan and purpose of God.

Scripture also records the repercussions of not deflecting the honor due to God. Another man was treated as a god but failed miserably in his responsibility. Herod relished the praises of men: "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost" (Acts 12:21–23). Herod sought the honor of man above the honor of God. The worms of pride and self-conceit destroyed him as he failed to give God the glory.

In the eyes of people, the evangelist's homiletical expertise, dynamic messages, reasoning powers, talents, and singing skills may seem worthy of the highest praise; but in God's eyes, the true picture is seen. It is not our personality, platform, or program that gets the job done; it is the power of Almighty God.

God gives evangelists the breath to sing and ability to preach. He created the hands we use to lay on the sick. If we are handsome in stature, it was God who knit us together in our mother's womb. If our messages move the masses, it is because Jesus saved us, and the Holy Spirit anointing produced such clarity of thought and awesome results. If God uses us mightily in healings, if supernatural acts swirl around our ministries, remember, Jesus took the beatings; He was bruised; He was wounded; He gave His life on the cruel, rugged cross, not us.

God's supernatural works are once again evident in our services. We are at the beginning of a powerful spiritual awakening where major miracles will be commonplace. God is confirming His Word: "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" (Mark 16:20).

Let's learn a lesson from Paul, Barnabas, and Herod. Stay humble. Give the glory to God.

We serve a supernatural God who performs supernatural acts. They should be expected. The power of God is flowing. Lives are being touched. But as evangelists of the gospel, we must determine in our hearts to make disciples. I want to know that people who have been touched by God are living for God—that they are Blood-washed, consecrated, Holy Spirit-filled, on-fire, bold witnesses for Jesus Christ.