John 7:31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?”

Miracles have a purpose, and that is to confirm the Gospel. (Mark 16:20) The religious leaders were so caught up in their theology that they couldn’t recognize the Son of God, but the “uneducated” populace didn’t have such a problem. However, that’s a double-edged sword, because there are demonic “signs and wonders” as well. The Bible is certainly the ultimate physical authority at this point, but we must not throw the baby out with the bath water. Heidi Baker and others have had massively effective ministries among people who couldn’t care less about millenial theories and the like. As I wrote in a paper for Systematic Theology way back in my seminary days, the whole Cessationist position is a mind game to excuse the absence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in churches today. It doesn’t take much spiritual sensitivity to be aware that we are in the Last Days. I and many others believe God wants to use all of the things Jesus did in His ministry, and more, (John 14:12) to bring in a massive harvest of souls in these last days.

Having written that, I have to confess a paucity of signs and wonders in my own ministry. It’s not that there haven’t been any, but rather that there haven’t been very many. I don’t feel I’m to run around focusing on such things, and especially not trying to “work them up,” (as if I could!) but I need to have an active expectation of God doing things through me that are completely beyond my ability, for the specific purpose of demonstrating His reality to people so that they may believe and be saved. That’s not going to happen if I am focused on the material, on the problems rather than on Christ who is the solution. It all boils down to intimacy with and availability to Him. I am not to seek signs and wonders per se, but rather God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and leave everything else in His hands.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the many times I have had of seeing You do things, hearing You say things, through me that I knew didn’t originate in me. Help me be so in tune with You that You are free to do through me whatever You would like, drawing people into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!