MORE OF JESUS

I can’t read the book of Acts without feeling ashamed. The apostles lived and ministered in the realm of the miraculous. Even laymen such as Stephen and Philip, men who served tables, were mighty in the Holy Ghost, working miracles and stirring entire cities. Angels appeared to them, unlocked their chains, and walked them out of high security prisons. They had mighty visions, clear and detailed.

Peter was so full of the Holy Ghost that the sick were brought into the streets on beds and couches so that his shadow would fall on them for healing (Acts 5:15). Cripples were healed and went leaping through the temple, and miracles are recorded: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12).

Why are we not living today in such a realm? God has not changed; we have! The same Lord is with us; we have the same promises; and God is more than willing to do it again. But regrettably, there is an idea today that we don’t need the miraculous. It is said, “This generation has a greater revelation; it’s more educated, more knowledgeable. We are not to expect the Lord to work like that today, as that was only necessary to establish the church.”

My answer to that is, if miracles were needed to establish the church, they are even more needed in the closing of the church age. Evil men have waxed worse and worse as sin has abounded many times over. Seducers have increased, violence has broken out beyond control, and hell has enlarged its borders. Satan has come down with great wrath. As doctrines of demons come in like a flood, apostasy grows worse.

We are in the great falling away. Abortion has filled the land with blood-guiltiness. Our youth are out of control with cocaine, crack, heroin and alcohol spreading throughout schools, devastating and killing, turning teenagers into sick, crazed thieves and murderers. New diseases are spreading death worldwide.

We need more of Jesus, more of His saving, healing power, than any past generation! The apostles knew the cost of the miraculous and eagerly paid it, but we have not been willing to pay the price.