Tag Archives: signs and wonders

ACTS THE SEQUEL…ENTER STEPHEN – 14a

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“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people…”

Stephen, one of the men selected to serve, rose to prominence among the Seven. Not only did he serve faithfully but he also served powerfully as the Holy Spirit worked through him to demonstrate the works of the kingdom of God among them. Signs and wonders…the very things Jesus promised would  happen through those who believe…

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…were multiplying through Stephen…

…and some didn’t like it. 

Well…that set the cat among the pigeons! Persecution! Some fanatical Jews from out of town…Hellenistic Jews who would feature big in this story…faced off with Stephen. Problem was…they had no answer for the powerful works of the Holy Spirit. 

“Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some people didn’t like what Stephen was doing…so they told him, in no uncertain terms! 

Argue…yes, but even arguing with Stephen didn’t work. You see, Stephen had the weapon of truth in his heart, and it came out of his mouth…and truth in the Spirit’s power cannot be defeated!

The arguments were hot and fierce. The trouble was that arguing would never solve the problem. You see, the issue was not about who could win by a better argument. The real issue was a matter of the heart. Those who opposed Stephen had no intention of believing in the one who was doing the miracles through Stephen, or the message to which the signs were pointing. Like their leaders, their hearts were as hard as granite. 

So…they did what they did best to discredit Stephen…they lied. They did the devil’s work. Character assassination! If you can’t win the argument fairly, throw stones at your opponent! Of course, they had allies…friends in high places.  They falsely accused him of blasphemy…just like those who accused Jesus. They lined up and briefed false witnesses to testify against him. They did everything by the book! Two or three witnesses. They played to the gallery…the religious leaders who were only too willing to fall in with their scheme. 

“So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hearsay is not evidence so, to conform to the law, these hypocrites produced their “witnesses”.  This sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it?  Only a short while before, Stephen’s Lord had suffered the same treatment…and the same fate…but, his Lord’s promise was to be with him. 

As Stephen stood before his accusers, something strange, unusual, unearthly, even scary began to happen…

To be continued

“Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Stephen was arrested and hauled before the Sanhedrin…

To be continued

BRAGGING ON GOD

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BRAGGING ON GOD

“Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done – by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written, ‘Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.'” Romans 15:17-21.

What place is there for boasting in the work of God’s kingdom? Was it right for Paul to boast about his accomplishments?

First of all, let’s look as Paul’s motive. What was he trying to prove? Was he, like the little boy in the nursery rhyme, patting himself on the back and saying, “What a good boy am I?” It could be if we do not take into account what it cost Paul to do what he was doing. The list of hardships he suffered for the sake of the gospel was far more that most of us have ever had to go through, including beatings, shipwreck, imprisonment and persecution at the hands of his own people. What sane person would choose to endure these things unless he were committed to something or Someone much bigger than himself?

Secondly, was Paul taking the credit for what he had done? How could he when he was just a man? His was a partnership with the Holy Spirit where he did the preaching and the Holy Spirit confirmed His word with the power of signs and wonders. Had Paul preached anything other than the truth, he would have been on his own. It was God’s word that was confirmed to be the truth by the miracles that happened.

Strange, isn’t it that Luke said very little in his story about miracles! They were happening, but he did not major on them because they had their place in a much bigger story. The Book of Acts is not primarily about what the apostles accomplished but about a much bigger miracle, the church, beginning and growing in hostile soil and yet flourishing against all odds because it was the work of God, not a new religion started by man.

Thirdly, Paul’s ambition was about serving God, not himself. Oh yes, he had ambitions, but they were not self-seeking, self-exalting plans to make a name for himself. His ambition was to go where no one else had to gone to make Christ known where He was unknown. That meant that Paul had to take risks and travel to the farthest ends of the Roman Empire, but always in the will and under the supervision of the Holy Spirit.

The story of Acts reveals that he was not only ambitious but obedient. He went where the Spirit directed him. On the other hand, he didn’t sit around waiting for detailed marching orders. He made his plans and got on with the job. The Holy Spirit was there to redirect him when He wanted him to move in another direction.

So Paul could brag about his accomplishments with confidence because he was not bragging about himself as much as he was bragging on God. He could take no credit to himself for what had been accomplished. Without the Holy Spirit he was nothing but an empty shell, a mere human with no engine and no GPS.

One thing Luke’s story makes very clear. Paul and his fellow apostles were not in it for what they could get out of it. They had an assignment to complete regardless of the hazards they encountered along the way. It was not about how easy they could make it for themselves, but how faithfully they would carry out their commission until it was completed.

Paul’s words to his young partner, Timothy, at the end of his life are testimony to a job well done, words of confidence and assurance because he had fulfilled his side of the bargain.

“For I am ready to be poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6, 7.

Another boast? Yes, but a boast based on a life of faithfulness and obedience. What boast is there in saying, “I have done what I was told to do”? He did his duty; that was all. As for him, so for us. We shall receive our full reward if we have done our duty.

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – FALSE MESSIAHS AND FALSE PROPHETS ABOUND

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FALSE MESSIAHS AND FALSE PROPHETS ABOUND

21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. Mark 13:21-23

Once again Jesus clearly illustrates the difference between Himself and the false messiahs that will abound in the last days. He drew attention to His character as the evidence of who He was. “I am gentle and humble in heart.” He is the true shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The false shepherd is a hireling who is in it for what he can get out of it. When danger threatens, he is the first to get out, abandoning the sheep to the wolves.

False messiahs will come in droves, calling attention to their impressive credentials and mighty acts as proof of their identity. Jesus warned, “This is Satan’s most potent and dangerous weapon; deception coats lies with enough truth to appear authentic but enough lies to draw people away from the truth.” What does deception play on?

  1. Leaders’ performance puts them on a pedestal so that anything they say or do is believed without being tested. They will often allow themselves to be hero-worshipped and accept glory without giving it back to God.
  2. Although their preaching may sound like the truth, there is a subtle shift away from God‑centred to man‑centred so that there is a pandering to man’s old nature e.g. the prosperity/faith message that subtly manipulates God through His word or the desire to be reverenced for our “holy” lives and powerful ministry.

These people may not necessarily claim messiahship but they accept a following and use it for their own ends. They often offer outstanding benefits for coming to their meetings as though God were obliged to reciprocate because He is advertised as doing certain things, e.g., healing, solving financial problems, marriage problems, family problems, business problems, without reference to the conditions which He clearly states in His word.

Jesus said, “Don’t be fooled. This is part of the end‑time strategy for Satan to lure as many people as possible away from the truth. If you want to be secure, stick with me and my way.”

THE BOOK OF ACTS – A WONDERFUL HARMONY

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A WONDERFUL HARMONY

“Everyone around was in awe — all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

“They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added daily those who were saved.” Acts 2:43-47 (The Message).

Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it! Everything happening in perfect harmony — no needs, no discord, no conflict with their neighbours, even the outsiders approving what was happening! Peace, joy, worship, praise, eating together, day after day after day!  Sounds like heaven!

Actually, it was a bit of heaven that had touched earth for a while. God intended it that way as a foretaste of the life to come. The kingdom of God was ruling in that little corner of the globe as the people who believed in Jesus were living out their kingdom lives in the middle of an ocean of selfishness, greed and ungodliness. Even the outsiders liked what they saw.

Unfortunately it did not last. The old nature in them saw to that. A few chapters later the apostles were in trouble with the authorities, a couple of hypocrites tried to buy the church’s approval and were nailed by the Holy Spirit and there was discontent in the ranks over racist practices.

But that’s how real life is. There is nothing idyllic in the Christian life this side of the grave. We have to live it out in the midst of a world system driven by greed, people who hate, fight and destroy, hypocrites who pretend to be who they are not, people who always want to be the centre of attention, others who are never satisfied, or divisive, and those who are just plain infantile.

That’s the beauty and glory of God’s kingdom. It flourishes in people who truly love Jesus and are submitted to Him regardless of their environment, in the midst of greed, selfishness, hypocrisy, discontent and divisiveness. The rest of the book of Acts bears witness to that.

There will always be those who are not real; those who are in it for what they can get out of it; those who use it to further their own ends, those who exploit it for fame or fortune; those who hide among its people but keep living their old sinful lives and those who go with the flow but never participate in displaying God’s splendour and bringing “up there down here.”

In spite of all that, what happened in the beginning keeps on happening in pockets all over the world as a testimony to God’s intention and power to restore His creation to its original purpose. There is an expression in Hebrew that says it all — tekkun olam — God is fixing everything that was broken, to the horizon.

As long as we live in the present scheme of things, God is at work, through His Holy Spirit restoring everything to its perfection. That does not mean that everyone will be saved but it does mean that He will consign to the rubbish heap everyone who chooses not to be a part of His rule on earth so that His creation will once again willingly and perfectly love and submit to Him.

It happened in embryo when the church was born and it will be completed and perfected when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom in earth forever — “olam”, to the horizon.