Purpose of Signs, Wonders, and Miracles?
Do you have any area of your life where you desire to see signs, wonders, and miracles operate in?
The man in Lystra employed five steps to experience life-changing signs, wonders, and miracles. He operated with authority!
Follow his identical process and experience it too.
In Iconium, Apostles Paul and Barnabas fled from a mob of unbelieving Jews and they ended up in Lystra.
As these apostles are obedient to the call of God, He continues to demonstrate signs, wonders, and miracles to the people who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they teach.
Signs, wonders, and miracles have a profound influence on people who hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus. It has a great impact on those who believe the Word.
There is a certain feature present in most, if not all, cases that involve the genuine power of God. This characteristic is present in the account of the crippled man below.
Miracles, Signs, and Wonders Follow Believers
Read the following verse of Scripture and attempt to identify what you think I’m hinting at!
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked,” (Acts 14:8).
So, this man has never walked. And we could deduce that the residents of Lystra knew this. They knew him since he was a child and now he is grown.
Subsequently, this crippled man heard Paul preached and he believed him.
Paul looked intently at him and recognized that he believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that he could receive healing.
Whose Faith Healed Whom?
“The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, (Acts 14:9).
As a result, he commanded the crippled man to stand up. But he did much more.
So, Paul “Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked,” (Acts 14:10).
How we conduct ourselves when we hear the Word of God reveals our faith in Him, concerning the Word that we just heard.
This is what Apostle Paul saw in this crippled man in Lystra. And he spoke to his situation and God acted on his behalf.
Only Believers Vessels of God for Signs, Wonders, and Miracles?
When the residents observed the miracle that Paul just performed, they reacted. However, take note of Paul and Barnabas’ reaction to the people, for it’s eye-opening.
“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,” (Acts 14:11).
They elevated these disciples of Christ from men to “gods”. Then, they ranked them in order of leader and disciple.
“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker,” (Acts 14:12).
The Promotion of Paul
Again, here we witness that the Lord has indeed promoted Paul over Barnabas. He reversed the order of their names. First, it appeared as Barnabas and Paul thus making the former the leader.
However, now it’s Paul and Barnabas. The Lord promoted Paul. And these citizens recognized Paul, a stranger, as the leader of this two-man team.
“Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people,” (Acts 14:13).
We also are men of like passions with you
Instantly, the Lystraians recognized something different about this duo. They had powers that were not of the earth. So, they thought that these men are gods. What do people do to gods? Yes, they worship them!
“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,” (Acts 14:14).
These apostles of the Most-High would have no part of this. So they quickly and loudly attempted to stop this act of worship before it even began.
They Tore Their Clothes to Express What?
They tearing or renting their clothes expresses their disapproval. This was a popular Jewish custom.
Additionally, both of these apostles seized this opportunity to preach Jesus Christ to these heathen residents.
First, they declared that they were not gods, but ordinary men like the citizens. Second, they introduced them to the Lord.
“And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein,” (Acts 14:15).
Third, they told these people about the Lord. They explained that He is the Creator or all things.
Next, they informed them that things have changed. In times gone by, this Lord that we preach to you would allow you to do these things but now Christ makes the difference.
Utilize Your Chances Wisely
“Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways,” (Acts 14:16).
Finally, they explained how Jesus Christ achieved this transformation.
“Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness,” (Acts 14:17).
And that they are witnesses of these things that the Lord has done.
“And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them,” (Acts 14:18).
CONCLUSION
That certain quality that I hinted at the start of this article is the fact that God only
Usually, when God heals someone, cuch a one would have been in that helpless and hopeless state for a long time.
For instance, the man at Gate Beautiful; the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years; the man who for thirty-eight years waited by the pool; and now this man in Lystria. And there are many more.
Employ This Procedure to Experience Signs, Wonders, and Miracles
The crippled man in Lystra utilized the following procedure and experienced the supernatural.
He heard, accepted, believed, and obeyed the Word of God from Apostle Paul.
But how he demonstrated his acceptance and confidence in the Word that he heard were crucial to his healing.
Consequently, he wasn’t timid and uncertain, but bold, audacious, and anticipating “the move of God.”
Everyone who knew the crippled man knew that he couldn’t walk. They grew up with him or they had known him all his life.
Therefore, when Paul commanded him to stand, they glorify God. They knew this wasn’t the act of a man, not even Paul’s. But they were ignorant of the true and Living God, Christ Jesus our Lord. That’s why they wanted to worship them.
And this provides an opportunity for these disciples to introduce them to the true God.
If Apostle Paul and Barnabas were members of the Roman Catholic Church they wouldn’t mind. They would accept the worship that rightly belongs to God.
Hunanity is the vessel that God uses to show signs, wonders, and miracles, but He is the doer of them. So the glory belongs to Him.
The Real Purpose of Signs, Wonders, And Miracles
However, they are not Catholics but Apostles of Jesus Christ. Consequently, they knew and they demonstrated that we don’t worship men of “like passion” we worship only the living God.
This is the primary reason King Herod was eaten of worms while he was alive. And it was also the chief reason the Lord banished King Nebuchadnezzar to live as a wild beast with other animals of the forest for a set time.
Finally, folks, don’t kiss any man’s ring and bow to him and worship him. Reserve your worship only for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord. His name is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Satan always attempts to entice and to misdirect, to himself, the worship that belongs to the Lord.
He even tried to get Jesus to worship him when he was weak physically after his long fasting.
Therefore, all that do similarly are diabolical and satanic. Only worship God.
And if we aren’t worshipping Jesus Christ, how can we be worshipping God? He’s the only way to God!!
