“Lord Jesus, we pray that we will be one with You, as You accomplish signs and wonders through Your church. Help us see that this is to bring many to faith in You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and *many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
The Lord told us that he who believes in Him, the works that He does, we would do and do greater works because Jesus has gone to the Father.
John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
We see, repeatedly, that wonders and signs took place through the early church.
Here are a few. Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. / Acts 5:15-16 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (16) Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. / Acts 9:33-35 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. (34) And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. (35) *So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:40(The healing of Tabitha), 14:3(The ministry of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium, with signs and wonders), 14:8-10 (The healing of the lame man in Lystra), 16:18 (The deliverance of the slave girl from an evil spirit in Philippa), 19:11-12 (Unusual miracles through the hands of Paul).
As we read about these incidents, we realise that signs and wonders were part of the spread of the Gospel. God is reconciling man and creation to Himself and this is the heart of God.
Let us look closely into the healing of the lame man.
Acts 3:6-10 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. (9) And all the people saw him walking and praising God. (10) Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of Peter and John to address the need of this lame man, which was his healing. This is how the Holy Spirit will alert us of needs around us, and we must respond.
Peter and John were sure that this lame man would be healed. This was an awesome gift of faith that the Holy Spirit gave to the Apostles at that time. The Holy Spirit will give us special and specific evidence, for His purposes to be accomplished.
The man was healed in an instant and he went into the temple with Peter and John, walking, leaping and praising God. When signs and wonders take place, God will be praised.
The people in the temple were in wonder and amazement. God was causing the people to respond and return to Him, because of this miraculous work of healing.
Acts 3:11-13 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. (12) So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
Peter and John, under the enablement of the Holy Spirit, seized the opportunity and they preached the message of Jesus as the Christ. God will do signs, miracles, and wonders through His church but when these take place, we must take hold of the opportunity and bring people to faith in Jesus.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
People came to faith in Jesus. Act 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Let us move with His Holy Spirit to witness miracles that will bring people to faith in Jesus.