Nougat 6

Before His death, Y’shua advised that the disciples would manifest greater works than Himself (see John 14:13). Yet, many worshippers seem to avoid it. Are we missing out on an aspect of our calling? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 2:43 CEVDCI

[43] Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked.

Sent… to do miracles

It was a normal element of the Pentecostal outpouring. Whatever the anointed did was accompanied by proof of God’s presence: miracles and wonders followed. I say “normal” because it occurred with regularity; people could expect healing and deliverance when they were around, just like the days when Y’shua was physically present. Later in Acts, we realise that the acts included healing, deliverance from demons, and raising the dead. These came alongside the preaching, sharing (hospitality), and teaching of the apostles.

Self-Check

Are we open to Y’shua manifesting His anointing on us with wonders and miracles?

Digging Deeper

Throughout Acts and in the epistles (those were the letters, not wives, of the apostles), there is one sign that isn’t explicitly mentioned. Perhaps it is a wonder, at least in our times. I refer to the disciples’ humility. This is an extremely important aspect of the ministry. Some would say it is also absent in many spaces where signs have become normalised today. Why, I wonder. Have we become so puffed up about our ability to do what Jesus did (and commissioned us all to do in keeping with Luke 10)? If it’s a gift and an expectation for everyone, there’s no cause for arrogance.

Ironically, many of us who do not manifest gifts of God’s Spirit have managed to feel superior to some who do, because we have a solid theological base for our faith. I say siblings, both attitudes are wrong, as God’s gifts – including understanding profound spiritual mysteries – are available to all who call on God’s name.

Our brother Paul was an excellent teacher. He understood spiritual mysteries. His letters to the various churches could be seen as the first ‘Christian Education’ publications. The churches receiving His letters were truly blessed. By his own pen, so were churches served by Apollos (see 1 Corinthians 3). He saw their work as complementary, not competition. In Acts 13-20, Paul is also recorded as one who performed miracles. It was both … and, not either… or. Peter preached to the diaspora Jews at Pentecost, wrote at least two epistles, and performed miracles. Stephen started as a deacon. He was commissioned to help the widows and orphans. Yet Acts 6-7 tells us that he, too, was an evangelist who performed miracles. They were all clearly among God’s sent ones. There were also women like Dorcas, Nympha, and Lydia, who ministered and even taught some of the men.

Siblings, the call to follow Christ is not a call for business as usual. It includes being sent for business unusual … God’s business. We are required to discern what that is and get it done by God’s Spirit. Let’s align ourselves therefore, with Joel 2, Isaiah 61, Luke 4, Acts 1-2, and Matthew 28. In none of those texts is there an invitation to accept Christ as our Sovereign and sit comfortably, waiting on others to do God’s work for us.

As Y’shua said in John 9:4 (NRSV), We must work the works of [God] Who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. The ‘night’ to which Y’shua refers is death. That’s when our capacity to do and be is restricted. As God’s called, we are sent … making our priority that of doing God’s will as an act of praise. The signs that point to Y’shua will also draw new believers to Christ (see John 12:32). Even when we’re uncertain or afraid.

Point to Ponder

If a revised Acts of the Apostles that included believers in our time were published, what would it say about us?

p.s. God has written about us, but (thankfully), it isn’t published on earth (New Covenant examples include Hebrews 6:10 and Revelation 20:12), so there is time for improvement before the day is done.

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May all we seek be found in Christ