Signs and Wonders

In his article titled “The Power of God’s Kingdom and Ministry,” J.P. Moreland wrote about the growth of Christianity in the latter part of the 20th century and the early part of this century. He quoted Philip Jenkins saying, “the church is exploding at unprecedented rates in the so-called Third World” (Ministry; International Journal for Pastors. The Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh Day Adventist. May 2009 pg 6).
Mr. Moreland states: “At the core of this explosion has been an outbreak of ‘signs and wonders’ as expressions of the power of the kingdom of God” (ibid). Isn’t that what happened with the apostles? The Apostle Paul spoke of Christ working through him “by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:18, 19 Revised Standard Version). In Acts 2 we learn that the disciples spoke in different languages after the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. Peter and John healed a crippled man at the Temple gate. Peter claimed that Jesus of Nazareth was “attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him” (Acts 2:22 New King James Version). Jesus himself promised “these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues … and they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17, 18 New International Version).
Mr. Moreland states that “with rare exceptions, the Western church has lagged behind in seeing such power compared to the church in the Third World. Part of the reason … is the naturalist worldview in the West, a worldview that has affected us all and is more distant from a biblical worldview than the more supernaturalist perspective of those in the Third World” (Moreland, pg 6). I wondered, “what is a naturalist worldview?” According to Donald K. McKim’s Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms it is a “philosophical view that the universe exists as a self-contained whole and that it is self-directing. There is thus no supernatural element” (© 1996, pg 183). According to George Barna’s book Think Like Jesus a naturalist worldview was championed by Bertrand Russell, Karl Marx, and “comes in two popular flavors, secular humanism and Marxism” (© 2003, p 32). He goes on to say that “Naturalists contend that God does not exist … and there are no interventions such as miracles or diving direction” (pg 33). So, one might say that our beliefs affect (or effect) our reality – or at least what happens divinely in our world. I am not saying that if we believe something enough then it will always happen.
But consider this: Jesus “was deeply involved in action: healing, delivering, performing other sorts of miracles, and confronting various forms of evil and injustice” (Moreland, pg 6). But there were limits to his accomplishments (or successfulness). One Sabbath Jesus “came to his own country” and “began to teach in the synagogue” (Mark 6:1, 2 Revised Standard Version). The people in the congregation took offense at him and “he could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And He marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5, 6 New King James Version). Once he declared, "No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God"(John 5:44 New Living Translation). On the other hand, he frequently told people “your faith has made you well.”
Jesus did those “signs and wonders” to direct people’s attention to the grace of God and the kingdom of God. He said, "my teachings and my miracles; the Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me" (John 5:36 New Living Translation). Jesus told the people: "I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do" (John 5:19 Contemporary English Version).
So Jesus wanted people to experience the “kingdom of God.” In his book The Secret Message of Jesus, Brian D. McLaren describes the kingdom of God as having “an interactive relationship with the only true God and with Jesus Christ …” (©2006, pg 37). The kingdom of God might also be described as “an extraordinary life to the full centered in a relationship with God” (ibid).
Donald McKim defines kingdom of God as “God’s sovereign reign and rule” (McKim, pg 154). J.P. Moreland states that the kingdom of God “represents the realm of reality in which God’s rule is effective …” (Moreland, pg 8).
Whatever definition we use, they all indicate that “signs and wonders” and miracles happen in the kingdom of God. And, we believers are to be a part of it – not just merely spectators. Therefore we should “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here" (Matthew 4:17).
Do you believe in miracles?
Are you expecting a miracle?
What will it look like when it comes?