Preaching Miracles

At Pentecost, miracles accompanied the preaching of the Word in such a way as to authenticate the message. At the birth of the New Testament church of Jesus Christ, there was a surge in supernatural power that captured the attention of the devout men in Jerusalem. Today, there is a question as to whether God still works miracles in the church, especially in the preaching event.

First, we must see the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon that first group of believers as a unique event. The elements for the occasion included: a gathering of believers in a house in Jerusalem, the supernatural entrance of a violent wind, visible tongues of fire being distributed upon each one, the emergence of the group into a public place, where they preached the mighty deeds of God to a very large multiethnic crowd, who heard the Gospel in their native languages, resulting in some bewilderment and some skepticism. There is no subsequent event recorded in church history to match this extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a precursor to three thousand being added to the church that day (Acts 2:1–13).

The message at that event, on that special day, was that God was fulfilling His promises spoken through the prophets. The supernatural dimensions of the event were accompanied by Peter’s explanation of the signs and wonders marking a new dispensation in God’s work of salvation. This gathering of nations showed the Jews that Jesus was the seed of Abraham, who continues to be a blessing to the nations beginning at Jerusalem. The new covenant between God and Jesus found its first application.

Today, Christians reflect on Pentecost with various explanations. It is important for us not to deny the supernatural work of God, while refraining from irresponsibly promoting miracles, signs, and wonders. Simply put, the message of Pentecost is far more important than the miracles validating the event.

Since that day, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached by those sent by God (Acts 1:8; Rom 10:15). In response to the message, each Christian has experienced his or her own Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit baptized them through regeneration — a literal occupation of the Spirit, who opens the heart (Acts 16:14) and takes up residence in the chosen person (Jn 3:1–8; 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; 11:5; 2 Cor 4:6; 5:5; Eph 1:4–5; 2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:19).

This personal indwelling by the Spirit of God, at the point of conversion, is a miraculous interruption to the ongoing life of a sinner. The Holy Spirit has already been at work in that person’s life through God’s provision of a preacher (Rom 10:13–17; 2 Tim 4:2), who proclaims the person and work of Christ in saving sinners (1 Cor 2:2).

Faith in Christ comes by hearing the Word of God preached in Spirit and in truth (Rom 10:17). God prepares the harvest of that soul in the season following seasons of cultivating, planting, and watering the seed of the Word by preachers (Mt 13:18–23; Jas 1:21).

Besides the miracle of conversion itself, sometimes God conjoins other miracles to the distribution of the Gospel — getting the attention of unbelievers and for the edification of believers. Love and obedience compel us to preach Christ and Him crucified — and this we do, hoping and praying for a miracle in those who have been given ears to hear.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 21, 2021