Worship

“Too Good to Not Believe” by Cody Carnes

Scripture

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.” -Mark 16:20, ESV

“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” -Acts 2:43, ESV

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” -Acts 4:29-31, ESV, emphasis added

“The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” -Acts 5:16, ESV, emphasis added

“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.” -Acts 8:4,6-7, ESV, emphasis added

“There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ‘Aeneas,’ Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.’ Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” -Acts 9:33-35, emphasis added

“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” -Acts 14:3, emphasis added

I want to give you a little snapshot of what is in store for our 30 days in April together. This was part of one of the devotionals I wrote that fueled so much excitement in me because the Scriptures above are so powerful! Jesus’ shed blood not only made healing possible, but enabled His followers to be conduits of the very power of God!

If you have not signed up for this devotional series from April 1-30, don’t wait. Go to www.eastwest.org/ariseeaster. Consider taking five women with you into a month of intentional pursuit as we “Look at His Face.” You can watch the short video here about why we are even doing this. It’s going to be a significant month, and I believe it will launch you into the passion of Jesus at the cross and into His destiny for you. There’s a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on in this hour—the hour you have been made ready for!

The Connection Between Signs and Salvation

Healing, miracles, signs, and wonders are possible in Christ-followers!

This is the life Jesus made possible! It testifies to His goodness and His wonder. Can you even imagine this baby Church in Acts just beginning to walk, and there she goes, moving in signs and wonders and miracles? All of it testified, pointed to, and gave glory to Jesus! All of this gave context to the finished work of the cross. Many were saved because they could see the miracles with their very eyes. Somehow, we have settled for a powerless gospel as long as we have “truth”—but that’s the definition of religion. The truth of the matter is that these wonders and miracles draw us deeply into the heart of Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. He goes out of His way to display wonder upon wonder (Isaiah 29:14)!

For a harvest to take place, you better believe it takes a demonstration and proclamation of the gospel! They go hand in hand for us just like they did for Paul, Peter, and the early Church. People need to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and perceive with their spirits the depth of the goodness of God. Jesus can work through us to accompany our preaching with signs and wonders.

The Great Commission’s Purpose

We have the privilege of putting the power of Jesus on display!

When Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations, it’s not because He wanted us to have a routine life of boring religion! He wanted us to live the greatest adventure of a lifetime—faith accompanied with the power of the Spirit, flowing like a gushing river out of our lives!

“When we live in the river of God, totally immersed in His heart, healing is released through us. Rich life springs up along the banks and shores of our lives. Pure water from God transforms and purifies any other murky waters we may face. It makes salty or bitter waters fresh.” –Heidi Baker, “Birthing the Miraculous”

Boldness in preaching the gospel or praying for the sick is a gift from God to release the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.

It is possible for believers to move in this power and pray for this power. The early Christians prayed that God would send signs and wonders, and He answered them. This is our glorious partnership with Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit! Even as persecution ensued for the early Church, these sudden missionaries were sent out, and their very lives released the Kingdom. “… wherever they went (Acts 8:4)” indicates they weren’t hiding inside the four walls of their churches, hoping the lost would come to them. The persecution that was ensuing was sending them forth, and the Church was growing.

Even as persecution increased for the early Church, these first missionaries continued sharing their faith. Acts 8:4 shows they weren’t confined within church walls waiting for people to come to them. The persecution actually propelled them forward, resulting in Church growth.

According to my missionary friends, Roland and Shirin, missiologists are naming Iran the fastest growing Church in the world. In fact, Iranian believers are now leading Afghan refugees to the Lord in the hundreds. (If you have never watched “Sheep Among Wolves Part Two,” it will stir your heart in expectation!) Persecution is shaking the walls of the Christian Church just like it did in Acts 4, but the gospel is not being held back and stifled because of our unwillingness to go. Sometimes He just has to shake the nest and get us to move! More than 3.2 billion people who have never heard the gospel need us to move!

“In every church where there is really the power of the Spirit of God, the Lord will cause it to be spread abroad, more or less. He never means that a church should be like a nut shut up in a shell; nor like ointment enclosed in a box. The precious perfume of the gospel must be poured forth to sweeten the air.” -Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “All at It”

God’s Unlimited Power

Do not limit what or who God will fill as a conduit of His power and grace.

Whether it be the robe of Jesus, the shadow of Peter, the handkerchief of Paul, or the very rocks crying out in the Earth, God will use anything and everything to bring Himself glory. He’s not a respecter of people or position. He merely wants the gift of our faith and our worship. There will be times we are urged by the Spirit to walk up to a stranger to pray for healing because the Lord is continually training us in faithful partnership and obedience, and other times our presence in a place may release the presence of God to heal or bring the miraculous. Let’s just get to the point where we don’t box Him in with our limited perspective and unbelief. He’s the God of the impossible!

Get ready for a life of miracles, signs, and wonders! Come with me into April to get this stirred up. Let’s be commissioned to walk in this life of freedom that Jesus made possible!