In The Garden
"The Church That Believes"
Pastor
Wayne Clabaugh
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Scripture text: "And
by the hands of the Apostles many signs and
wonders were done among the people."
Acts 5:12a
The scripture for today's devotional
mentions 3 vital areas of concern for any
church body truly serious about seeing their
church grow. I must warn you, what the Bible
shows us is not popular, and often "thrown
out" with the baptismal water, because it
doesn't fit the doctrine they have known and
have professed for so many years.
Yet, what we are going to speak of here
today is Bible, and whether it be popular to
man's ears, or not, we must speak what the
Bible says to us, as it is God's Word - not
man's.
I have heard Pastor after Pastor "rail in
lament" before the Lord, seeking what "they"
could do to grow their church. They may even
spend time before the Lord seeking His
guidance and when God the Holy Spirit speaks
to them about some of the things we are
going to talk about today, they turn a deaf
ear because they know that their pulpit is
not their own and the "powers-to-be" have
not agreed to this kind of action. So they
become distraught and bound by their loyalty
to denomination rather than listening to the
voice of God's Spirit. Maybe this would be a
good place to point out that it was
"denomination-type" that crucified our Lord
in the first place.
The first Marks of a the New Testament
Church was "signs and wonders".
Now, I want to make it perfectly clear that
the Marks of a New Testament Church or a
"thriving" Church is not made up of a group
of "super-natural" people doing
"super-natural" things. The Marks of a New
Testament church in any age is a church body
made up of common folk, who have to eat,
sleep and brush their teeth just as you and
I do everyday. The difference is - that in
those people who are truly being used of
God, there is an unabashed, unapologetic
surrender to God's will in their lives
concerning The Holy Spirit. In other words,
you can't razz them. They know what they
believe and there's nothing you can say or
do that will move them to doubt it.
Verse 12 tells us that there were "many"
signs and wonders being done by the hands of
the Apostles and the best way to describe a
"Biblical sign" is to say that it is an
outward evidence of the inner workings of
the Spirit of God. "Wonders" then, were the
signs that caused one to be gripped by awe
as they watched something take place that
was beyond the ability of the human touch or
workings of man.
Years ago I read that Billy Graham once
stood in face to face with a Communist who
wished to debate him on what Communism could
do as opposed to Christianity. The Communist
advocate said, "see that man over there?" -
pointing to a man who was what we would
refer to as homeless today, "Communism can
put a new suit of clothes on that man".
Billy Graham, prodded by God's Holy Spirit,
quickly responded, "Well My God can put a
NEW MAN in that suit of clothes". Talk about
signs and wonders . . .Salvation is always
the most awesome miracle of all!
So what super-natural occurrence took place
in your service last Sunday? Were your
altars lined with people who were captivated
by the "move" of God the Holy Spirit? If so,
then I would say that your church is on
right track. If not, maybe it is time to
begin asking what part of your program, or
what part of your church ministry needs a
refreshing touch of God the Holy Spirit and
see what you can do to light the fire.
Tomorrow we're going to talk about the
Church that is ALIVE! Don't miss it! For now
let's pray.
Father: We have received you into our hearts
and lives by Jesus Your Son. Within our
heart of hearts we ask for a stirring up of
the flame that burns humble in prayer and
yet fervent in praise. O God, we are ready
to be a witness for Thy Name. Give us the
faith to believe and the courage to receive.
Let us in these last days see signs and
wonders that will move the church and the
world to the portal of heaven itself. In
Jesus Name Amen
