Known For It
Wk6: Signs and Wonders

(Acts 2:42–43) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

His Message—The Kingdom of God has come.

(Mark 1:14–15) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

(Luke 4:43) But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

The Kingdom of God had come in Christ. Invading the usurped realm of Satan, God had come to claim what was rightfully His.

(1 John 3:8b) …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil

His method was two-fold—First, he the good news of the Kingdom. Then, he the Kingdom by healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead—signs and wonders.

The pattern of proclamation and demonstration  was repeated everywhere Jesus went.

(Matthew 4:23) Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

(Matthew 9:35) Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

(Mark 1:39) So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

(Luke 4:18–19) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then Jesus commissioned his to go and do the same.

(Luke 9:1, 6) When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Then he commissioned a to go and do the same.

(Luke 10:1) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

(Luke 10:8-9)“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

(Luke 10:17–18) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Finally, he commissioned , including you and me, to go and do the same.

(Mark 16:15–20) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 1

9 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

So how do we pursue the supernatural lives that the early church enjoyed?

1. Pursue intimacy with God through and and . Seek His presence first.

(James 4:8a) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

(Acts 13:2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

2. Pursue a life of and .

(2 Timothy 2:21) Therefore if anyone cleanses himself…he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

3. Hunger and for His Holy Spirit to come upon you in power, and for the gifts of the Spirit to enable you to proclaim and demonstrate His Kingdom, both in the church and in your world around you.

(Acts 1:8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(1 Corinthians 14:1) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Pray the prayer that first church prayed, a prayer that God would empower them to both proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom of God…

 “Now, Lord…enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

(Acts 4:29–30 NIV84)