The revered teacher and author, Martyn Lloyd Jones, was quoted as saying, “It is perfectly clear that in New Testament times, the gospel was authenticated in this way by signs, wonders and miracles of various characters and descriptions… Was it only meant to be true of the early church? … The Scriptures never anywhere say that these things were only temporary—never! There is no such statement anywhere.” Signs and wonders heralded by purity are the insignia of the Church Age.

Our text details the supernatural flow of power from believers in the early church to accomplish divine counsel. The downpour of pentecostal power on those early believers led to an unprecedented ingathering of souls who would ordinarily not believe the gospel. Expectedly, “many signs and wonders were wrought among the people”. More staggering was the result that followed the miracles: “Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women”. It is obvious then that the divine, unassailable purpose of power manifestation principally is to shatter the shell of disinterest, shame the jeers of cynicism, and smash the shield of false religion. Power heralds the word of grace, softens the hardened heart, and wings the gospel into the heart of sinners. Wherever the true soul-saving gospel is preached, the miraculous comes to authenticate it to the glory of God.

Many believers today think that miracles are on par with the word of His grace. That is a fallacy. Signs and wonders do not save. They are not the power of God unto salvation; the gospel is! God’s power to work wonders neither competes with His Word nor contradicts it. It is not above the Word, either. Signs, wonders and miracles are divine witnesses to the value, necessity, and centrality of the Word.

You have the privilege of a beautiful blend of benefits for a Godpleasing life and fruitful service today. The word of His grace that emphasises and teaches the necessity of the new birth and the purity of life is at your disposal. Added to this is the promise of enduement with power to confirm the Word in soul-winning, which follows a consecrated thirst and tarrying to receive.