Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay (Matthew 10:8)

Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you (Luke 10:9)

Mark 3: 13-15; Acts 4: 29-30; 5:11-15: 14:3; Mark 16:19-20; 1 Cor. 2: 1-5

Recurrent Thought

The miraculous usually accompanies the preaching of the Gospel. As You present it,  invoke the Power and Presence of the Spirit in the space of your delivery. 

Jesus gave the Church the mandate of Winning Souls and Discipling the believers. When one reviews all the Commissions  Jesus gave throughout his ministry, he directed the Church to regularly preach the Good News of the Kingdom (Math. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:14-15; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:21, Acts 1:8). He also showed that entry into the kingdom was the work of the Spirit. Only those who are born twice, by flesh and by the Spirit, are eligible to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:6). Additionally, Jesus also indicated that the core task of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom would be accompanied by signs and wonders.

The heart of the Spirit-led ministry is to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Spirit. This means the Gospel is demonstrated in power. This is the same way Luke summarizes the ministry of Jesus: He came to do and to teach (Acts 1:1); to demonstrate and to proclaim. Jesus also demanded for the community of believers to follow the same model. Reflect on the following missional mandates Mathew 10:7-8; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 10: 8-9)

Power Evangelism is witnessing accompanied by the miraculous. A miracle is an event or activity that is extraordinary and supernatural in nature; although experienced on the human and natural plane, a miracle is not exercised by human power or by any natural agency. The phrase “Signs and Wonders” is commonly used in the Scriptures to depict the miraculous done by the working of supernatural entities, especially God. However, you will note that the devil (Rev. 16:4) and his human workers such called false prophets (Math. 24:24. Mark 13:22; 2 Thess. 2:9) also have the power to produce these miraculous.

As You pray for the miraculous, know that God (Yahweh) is the initiator and source of all true miracles. It does not matter how many miracles you perform, the author is God. Understand that God wants to supernaturally use the Church through Spiritual Gifts given severally by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11). Faith in God is usually essential when expecting the miraculous; ultimately, however, it depends on the sovereignty of God. The Christians responsibility is to pray and believe; do not despair nor feel guilt if it does not happen.

Miracles are vehicles for the Gospel, but they are not the gospel. Miracles are key to open doors for evangelism. They have ability to build faith in others: They gave heed . . . seeing the miracles which he did (Acts 8:6). It is God who wills and performs the miraculous. However, it is essential receive guidance and direction from the Spirit of God as we walk in the supernatural (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2; 16:6-10).

Four Essential Elements on the Signs and Wonders in the Space of Evangelism

1. Signs and Wonders are demonstrated to authenticate the Gospel (Mark 16:19-20)
   • Signs and wonders are not the gospel, but they accompany the gospel. 
   • Signs and Wonders bear witness to the Grace of the Word of God (14: 3). They testify on the authenticity of the Grace in the Word being preached.
   • God confirms the Word with signs and wonders. In this sense, the Signs are the tokens of divine authority at work during the proclamation of the Gospel.
   • The demonstration of Signs and Wonders reveals the power of God at work.
2. Signs and Wonders are usually prayed into the space of Evangelism (Acts 4: 29-30) 
   • Signs and wonders break into our lives following desperate Prayers (they cried Acts 4: 28-30).
   • Although Signs and Wonder are a prerogative of Yahweh, they only come following His Children praying them in. John Wesley wrote that God does nothing except in response to believing prayer
   • Although Signs and wonders are a privilege of God, they are unleashed through human instrumentality.
3. Signs and Wonders are demonstrated to establish the Faith of People in the Power of God (1 Cor. 2:5)
   • Signs and Wonders by their essence (nature) draw people. As “signs”, miracles declare that God is at Work; and as “Wonders” they make people marvel at the power of God.
   • A holy Fear is unleashed by signs and wonders; they create a solemn assembly!
   • Signs and Wonders open people up to the saving faith in Jesus. Note how many people become added to the church after experiencing signs and wonders (Acts 5: 11-15).
   • Sign and Wonders ensures that People’s faith rest in the power of God, and not in human beings (1 Cor. 2: 5)
   • The effect of Signs and Wonders in drawing people to God is a pattern in the Acts of the Apostles. There are at least 17 times where a miracle leads to conversions: The miracle of Pentecost leads to 3,000 converts; and the miracle of the lame man in (3:6) leads to 2,000 converts (4:4). When Peter heals Aeneas (9:34–35) Luke writes that, "And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord." When he raises Tabitha from the dead (9:40, 42), "It became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."
   • Let us be clear here, Signs and Wonders do not make one born again. They draw people to the truth. The Gospel is powerful in itself and has  capacity to change the lives of people (Rom. 1: 16)
4. Signs and Wonders are unleashed through people who recognize their unworthiness to perform them. (1Cor. 2: 1-5)
   • The Vessels of God used by God recognize that they are mere instruments, the power is of God.
   • They do not trust their eloquence or superiority of their words.
   • They are determined only to know Christ and Him crucified.
   • Vessels that God uses for signs and wonders always remember that it is better to establish people in God’s power instead of man’s wisdom.
   • When Signs and Wonders are done well, they don’t compete with the Gospel. So it is totally unhealthy to demonstrate power without preaching the gospel.

Altar Time

• Let me be Your Instrument
• Make me be sensitive to Your Presence 

Further Instructions of How to Heal the Sick

1. Fan the faith and expectation from the candidate
   • Act 3:4  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us. Act 3:5   And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them
   • Many times increasing someone’s faith is through teaching the word of God. In Acts 14:8 shows that the crippled man listened to Paul’s teaching and his Faith for healing increased.
   • The key in Evangelism is for you to volunteer prayers for the Sick, or any challenge and inform the persons to trust the Lord.  
2. Command the Sick to do what they could not do in their Power
   •  Peter to the Sick “Rise up and walk.” The apostle requests or commands the sick to do the very thing they would fell to do naturally. He also helped him to rise up. The ankle bones became well as Peter raised him up.
   • Paul commanded him stand on your feet (14:10)
3. Command the Sick to respond in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3)
   • This implies you are doing this in the authority and power of Jesus
   • It also implies that we follow his values in the area of the Miracles
4. Regularly learn to Lay hands on the Sick
   • This is the admonition of Jesus (Mark 16)
   • Paul laid hands on Publius father who was sick (28:3-10).
   • Note that the discipline of laying on hands is regarded as basic for all.