The nation of Israel was expelled from the nation of Egypt after the tenth plague. Exodus 12: 29-33 (NKJV), “And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the first born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he (Pharaoh) called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead. ” ” (insert mine)
There were no deaths of the firstborn in the households of the nation of Israel. They had obeyed Moses’ instruction: they had slain a lamb without blemish, and applied the blood of the lamb putting “it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the house where they eat it.” (Exodus 12:7b, NKJV)
The nation of Israel was under the blood of the lamb. God said, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:12-13, NKJV) (emphasis mine)
Consider this: God’s people, the nation of Israel had lived through ten plagues. They heard, saw, and encountered the word that was ‘preached’ by Moses and Aaron, and experienced the signs and wonders that God performed confirming the words Moses and Aaron had spoken to Pharaoh. I submit that the nation of Israel became believers in the spoken words of Moses and Aaron as they lived through the experience of the ten plagues. I also submit that as the plagues happened sequentially there was a growing TENsion in the air. People were stressed out, worried, and anxious. I wonder if there was great fear and trepidation as the nation of Israel prepared for the tenth plague. Is this going to really work? kill a lamb, sprinkle it’s blood on the door posts and lintel, eat the lamb, and be dressed to go. What made the difference for the nation of Israel to be able to leave Egypt? they believed the word that they had been instructed to follow and they were under the blood of a lamb. What is going to make the difference for believers in Christ today, the Body of Christ, the Israel of God, when Jesus comes? They will believe the Word of the Gospel and be under the Blood of God’s Lamb, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God is the Christ, the Lamb of God, who poured out His Blood so that we experience ‘passover’ from death to life. In Christ, we have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
Writing to the Colossian Church, Paul says, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV), “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it (their love in the Spirit, Col. 1:8), do not cease to pray for you, and ask that you maybe filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened will all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who as qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (insert mine)
I believe in signs and wonders. I believe that God is “the same, yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). As Malachi 3:6 declares, “I am the LORD, I do not change.” God used signs and wonders to confirm the word spoken by Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh. God used signs and wonders to confirm the word spoken by His Son. Jesus told His disciples that He would confirm their words with signs and wonders. (Mark 16:15-18) How many signs and wonders are spoken about in Revelation? God is going to use signs and wonders to confirm His Word as He completes His salvific plan of redemption.
Question: When will God begin? Fact is, He has never stopped.
What got the Apostles of Christ in trouble with the Jewish leaders after the Day of Pentecost? Acts 3:1-10 (NKJV) “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they had laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms from those who entered the temple, who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive somethings from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple–walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
It is amazing to me that this man was not healed when Jesus ministered in Jerusalem as He went in and out of the Temple. There has to be a simple, but profound, explanation. Let’s rest in Jesus’ words about His ministry. Jesus said, (John 5:19, NKJV), ” Most assuredly, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner…”
The Father had not instructed Jesus to heal the lame man that Peter and John healed. Peter and John experienced what Jesus had told His disciples He would do. He would confirm their words with signs and wonders. In this instance, the miracle happen prior to the preaching of God’s Word. Peter, John and the lame man entered the Temple area. The people recognized the man as the one whom they daily passed by on their way to the temple. He had been healed.
What happened next? The healing drew a crowd.
Acts 3:11-16, (NKJV), “Now as the lame man who was healed held onto Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why to you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we ha made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
Many years ago, I don’t exactly remember when, probably late 70’s, early 80’s, the Lord impressed upon me that before the return of His Son, there was going to be an incredible manifestation of the Presence of God through signs and wonders. Humanity was going to witness such an outpouring of God’s Presence confirming His Word that individuals would be without any excuse regarding the existence of the Almighty God. God’s Divine intervention would come through His Church. What Jesus told His disciples in Mark 16:15-20 will again come to pass prior to His return. A great harvest of souls is coming. Through out the history of the Church, signs and wonders have taken place. Even today, miracles occur. Unfortunately, they are not readily communicated among believers; and in many instances they are questioned because, many Christians do not believe that such things are still occurring today in and through the Church.
May I remind you, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
Malachi 3:6 tells us, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…”
Get ready, change is coming. Tension is rising in our nation and the world.
I am still asking the Lord to fulfill Psalm 64. I believe God has shot His arrow. I am asking the Lord for A Righteous Revelation Of Wrong-doing.
Psalm 64:7-10 (NKJV), “But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their won tongue; All who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.”
Is the Church ready for a Divine visitation from the Lord. Jesus is going to speak mightily through His Church. The Word of God is going to be powerfully preached and spoken. Lives are going to be changed. Many are going to be saved. And the glory of the Lord will fill the earth. Get ready!
Hebrews 12:25-27 (NKJV), Hear the admonition of the Word, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more”, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Jesus, writing to seven churches, as recorded in the Revelation, ends each letter with this statement: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
How’s your hearing?
blessings, a brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 