Offering message texts: Luke 6:38; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-25; Gen. 8:15-20. Sermon: God wants all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). His power is still available, and He needs His representatives (us) to take His power to show His goodness and signs and wonders to people. How does God work through men? One way He works is through miracles and the gifts of the Spirit, but these are not daily happenings. The second way is through divine healing. Read these Scriptures, and you’ll see how these people received healing: Mark 2:1-5; 3:7-8, 10; 5:21-28; 7:31-37; 9:14-22; 10:46-52. How did they get healed? They were healed through their own faith. Jesus did not pursue anyone who was sick, but they sick came and aggressively pursued Him. It’s not our prayer or our faith that makes people well. You can’t push your faith or anointing on someone who is sick. A person can be healed when that person draws on the healing anointing. We release God’s healing power that’s in us. People must seek Jesus; IT’S THEIR OWN FAITH THAT HEALS THEM. Don’t have altar calls for the sick, but allow the sick person to come to you. If people know the anointing, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel are in you, they can expect to receive. Ed shares several testimonies of healing miracles that people received by their own faith. Expect and anticipate in faith (Acts 1:8-9 and Heb. 11:6). Rethink how you present the Gospel: I have the goods, but they must make the request. People are not healed by your faith, but by their own faith.

All other religions fear what we have. Pharaoh finally had to bless the Israelites because he experienced God’s power. The prophets of Baal saw that the true God answers by fire when Elijah called on God’s power. Paul said that the Gospel is God’s power for salvation for everyone who believes. The cross is the symbol of the power of God. We are authorized dealers of God’s power through the Holy Spirit. Why is the power needed? Jesus changed water to wine, and His disciples believed in Him. Nicodemus believed in Him because of the signs. Other Scriptures witnessing God’s power and causing people to believe in Him are: John 6:1, 4; 7:30-31; 10:24, 3; 11:47 (Lazarus raised from the dead); John 12:9; 20:30-31. Ed shared of a lumberman who died and was completely healed. Jesus’ signs demonstrated His love and compassion for people. He is the door and the way. Other religions are trying to get to heaven and to find the answer, but Jesus is the only way, the only answer. Why aren’t more coming in? Satan has blinded the eyes of most of the church so that it denies the power of God. There will be opposition even with signs and wonders. When God’s power is demonstrated, people will come. Believe God to use you to demonstrate His power to one person. The Holy Spirit is the sign of the power of God. Ed challenged us to print Acts 1:8 on index cards and stand in front of the mirror and read it aloud and pray in tongues. Keep refreshing yourself. God wants to use you to do signs and wonders.

Ed Black ministers on how the power of God in signs, wonders, and miracles was and is to get peoples? attention and to minister God to them. He uses personal testimonies and both Old and New Testament examples to show how God’s power ministered as a witness of His greatness.