06/11/2018 - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SIGNS

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Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. John 2.23

We must take notice of the fact that Jesus performed various signs during His days on Earth.  These acts were executed for our benefit and teaching.  Therefore, if we ignore His teaching, we will not be able to carry out our mission correctly.  When we do not give credit to the details of the Word we are not given the understanding of the divine will.  According to Hosea, the people were destroyed for lack of knowledge of the Word (Hosea 4.6). This will change your life.  

During those days, the Master took the advantage that Jerusalem was crowded with people who had gone there to participate in the Passover festivities, to teach them the importance of practicing the Word.  Besides learning that God is unchangeable, they were also healed and delivered.  Due to this, the Name of Christ spread and grew in fame.  The prodigies and signs that were done in the name of Jesus are the best testimonies to Truth!

Later on, John wrote that great multitudes followed the Master because of the signs that He worked among the infirm (John 6:2).  If Jesus had not performed them, the people that accompanied Him would have fallen behind and not followed Him.  In the same manner, if the church ignores the command to expel the demons and heal the sick, it will empty out.  The signs worked in the name of Jesus entice even the leaders of other religions to follow Him. 

Although he did not see Jesus personally, Paul gave credit to the success of the Gospel due to the power that accompanied Him saying: Truly the signs of my ministry were manifested among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds (2 Corinthians 12:12). The preacher that refuses to use the signs, prodigies and wonders will achieve very little and then when he digs up the talent tied in a handkerchief, he will be held accountable at the Judgment (Luke 19:20).

In defense of his ministry, the apostle wrote: For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:18,19).  There is no replacement at the level of the Name that is above all names.

As you read and meditate on Hebrews 2:1-4, you will see that our obligation is to preach the entire Gospel, just like the Lord did, unless we do not fear the judgment.  If the Savior showed us how to announce the Word successfully by His own example, why not believe in what He says and do likewise?  Otherwise, we may be condemned for disobedience.  We must make His Name known!

No matter who you are, consider yourself warned.  Jesus worked signs, prodigies and wonders and the crowds followed Him.  If there were a better way to reach the lost, He that knows all things would have taught or shown us.  Don’t let Satan deceive you any longer, be prepared and consecrate yourself to do God’s will just like Christ commanded.  He gave us the example (John 13:15).

In Christ, with Love

R. R. Soares