Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit: Signs And Wonders Proof Of Disciples Commission.
God's Messenger: The Disciples.
Bible Location: Jerusalem.
Bible Text: Acts 2:43/ 5:12-16/ Mark 16:20 KJV
Acts 2:43 KJV
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 5:12-16 KJV
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:12-16 NLT
12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade.
13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.
14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.
15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.
16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Mark 16:20 KJV
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Luke tells us that amidst the miraculous workings of God, “...fear came upon every soul...”
If there is one thing the Church of Jesus Christ needs today among its complacency, smugness, and self-satisfaction, it is the fear of God.
Under Jonathan Edwards, 18th Century revivalist, a great spiritual awakening occurred when the pastor preached his now famous sermon “Sinners in the hand of an angry God.”
Philippians 2:12 KJV
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear* and trembling*.
Fear: Greek-Phobos (Fob-os): To be put in fear. Alarm or fright:-be afraid-exceedingly, fear, terror.
Trembling: Greek-Trope (Trop-ay): A trembling, i.e. quaking with fear.
Leviticus 19:30 KJV (26:2)
Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence* My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
Reverence-Hebrew Yare (Yaw-ray): To fear; to revere; to frighten, affright, be (make) afraid, dread-(put in) fear.
Job 1:8 NLT
Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed My servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Psalm 2:11,12 KJV
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
Psalm 89:7 KJV
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.
Psalm 99:1-3 KJV
1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people.
3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
Jeremiah 5:22 KJV
Fear ye not Me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at My presence..."
Jonah 1:16 KJV
Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Acts 9:31 KJV
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Romans 11:20 KJV
"...Be not high minded, but fear."
II Corinthians 5:10,11 KJV
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror* of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Terror-Greek Phobos (Fob-os): To be put in fear. Alarm or fright: be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.
Ephesians 6:5 KJV
Servants, be obedient..., with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Hebrews 12:28 KJV
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Next Sunday, when you are at your church, look around for signs of reverence, are there any? Is the altar a hallowed place? Is the pastor respected for his calling, consecration, and office?
We will “never,” see the miraculous workings of God, until we as a people have deep reverence and Godly fear.
Miracles in the early church came by the working of God the Holy Spirit, yes, but through individuals who were totally consecrated to the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
And the throngs of people who came to worship, and reverence the living God, venerated His disciples because of their close association with Him!
What do you think that did to the faith of all these people?
Acts 5:15 KJV
“...they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.”
The commission of the disciples was more than validated by the signs and wonders that followed them.
And the working of miracles no matter how wonderful and necessary, was second in their commission, to that of preaching and teaching the word of God.
And what was the result of this consecration and reverence?
Acts 5:16 NLT
Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 2:41 KJV
Then they that gladly received his (Peter's) word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Some today, wonder why their church is so spiritually dead, while all they need to do is to read the book of Acts.
Acts 2:38,39 KJV
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the Promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Now, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is “still called,” to do the works of God.
Mark 16:15-20 KJV (Jesus)
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 ...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions (Spiritual symbols of Satan and his spirits.), and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
When we are God's consecrated disciples, doing His work, what a wonderful promise He has given us.
Mark 16:20 KJV
“... the Lord working with them...”
We do not work alone! Opposition, oh yes, the disciples were thrown in jail for their sacred work, and we too may expect the enemies opposition!
But.....
I John 4:4 KJV
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
II Timothy 4:5 KJV
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
