am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ NLT

Paul was never ashamed to boast about the work he was doing among the Gentiles. After all, was he not a servant under authority, not only obeying what his Master told him to do…but also empowered by his Master and expecting the results of his obedience? Why should he not boast? But…he bragged about Jesus, not himself. 

The results of his labour were out of his hands. Paul understood his mission. He was in partnership with Jesus through the Holy Spirit in him. His role was to preach the message of Jesus and to anticipate a harvest because the gospel message which was entrusted to him, was powerful and effective in changing lives. 

Imagine that! In Paul, Jesus had a willing and obedient partner who had placed himself in the hands of the one who could do wonders through his words and deeds. We have, in Paul’s witness, a confirmation of the place of signs and wonders in the work of the gospel. 

As I have often mentioned, miracles, in the work of Jesus on earth…and in the ministry of those whim He sent to continue His work…was never to attract attention, to have healing campaigns, or to elevate certain “specially gifted” people. God worked miracles through humans, both through Jesus on earth and through those to whom He has entrusted His mandate, to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and to authenticate the ministry of His servants. Miracles were never an end in themselves but signs that pointed to someone and something bigger. 

First, miracles were signs that identified Jesus as the Son of God. 

“In biblical accounts, the miracles of Jesus were never intended to be mere magic tricks; they were deliberate, profound signs pointing to His true identity as the Messiah and the Son of God. These acts revealed His divine authority and fulfilled ancient Old Testament prophecies.” 

“The purpose of these miraculous signs can be understood in three main ways:

• Fulfillment of Prophecy: The miracles served as tangible proof that Jesus was the promised Messiah. When John the Baptist sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the one to come, Jesus pointed to His works: the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, and the dead being raised. These actions fulfilled specific prophecies, such as those in Isaiah 35. 
• Demonstration of Divine Power: Jesus displayed authority over every sphere of life. He commanded nature (calming the storm, walking on water), spiritual forces (casting out demons), sickness (healing the blind and paralyzed), and even death itself (resurrecting Lazarus). These acts proved that He possessed the power of God. 
• Invitations to Believe: In the Gospel of John, miracles are often explicitly called “signs”. They pointed beyond the physical act to a spiritual reality, challenging observers to recognize Him as the “Light of the World” or the “Resurrection and the Life”, ultimately inviting people to place their faith in Him for eternal life.” (Source: Google AI)

Second, miracles confirmed Jesus’ word. 

“The phrase “miracles confirmed the word” primarily refers to the biblical truth found in Mark 16:20, where it is recorded that the disciples went out and preached, and “the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs following.” 

In Christian theology, these miracles—such as healings, casting out demons, and supernatural signs—were not seen as ends in themselves. Instead, they served specific, vital purposes: 

• Authentication: They provided divine proof that the messengers were sent by God and that their message was true.
• Validation: They physically demonstrated the power of the Gospel, showing “show and tell” evidence that God’s kingdom had arrived.
• Expansion: They caught the attention of the public, leading thousands to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

(Source: Google AI)

Jesus said to the unbelieving Pharisees…

“But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬

…and promised His disciples…

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Third, miracles authenticated the ministry of the apostles…

“So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fourth, miracles are not intended to create faith but to follow faith…

“The phrase “do not seek signs and wonders” generally refers to Jesus rebuking people for demanding miraculous proof before they will believe. This sentiment appears in several key Bible verses: 

• Matthew 16:4: Jesus states, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah”. [1]
• John 4:48: Jesus says to a royal official, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will never believe”. 
• Matthew 12:38-39: When the Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign, Jesus replied that seeking signs from a place of disbelief characterizes an “evil and adulterous generation”. 

These verses are often interpreted as an encouragement to build faith based on God’s word and character rather than relying solely on supernatural spectacles for proof.” (Source: Google AI)

So, Paul was big on boasting but never because of his own power or spirituality. He was always glad to put His Master on display. He spoke much about himself but always as a servant, an instrument in God’s hands to accomplish God’s will in God’s way…whether it meant suffering or  loss in the process. 

“Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.”

Paul’s life was an offering to God…a sacrifice which he made gladly because he himself was the recipient of grace and mercy. What a motive and an intention to live by!

To be continued