Good morning dear ones!

When we preach the Word of God they way the Bible tells us to, we shouldn’t stop at simply talking about it!  Jesus always spoke the truth and backed up His Word with action.  In Mark 16:15-20 we read,

  • And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe:  In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover”.  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and CONFIRMING THE WORD through the accompanying signs.  Amen.

Jesus sent His disciples out in teams, telling them to spread the Gospel and perform signs to CONFIRM THE WORD.  As believers, we’re commanded to do the same.  In John 14:12, Jesus said,

  • Most assuredly, I say to you, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

It’s not just enough to proclaim doctrine – we should follow up our proclamation with demonstration.  In Matthew 10:1, 7-8, it says,

  • And when He (Jesus) had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness, and all kinds of disease…”And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.”

So, in essence, Jesus said to proclaim the kingdom and then to demonstrate it.  This was made possible because the Lord was working with them.  

I love what Jesus tells us in Luke 10:19.  He said,

  • “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

The power and authority we have is real, but in order for it to work in our lives, we must believe in its reality.  Preaching and manifestation go hand in hand.  We must expect to see the manifestation.  God will always watch over His Word to perform it (see Jeremiah 1:12).  He said that He will never violate His covenant or alter what His lips have uttered (see Psalm 89:34).  

Numbers 23:19 (NIV) declares,

  • “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind.  Does He speak and then not act?  Does He promise and not fulfill?”

Also, God is not slow in keeping His promises to us.  He’s longsuffering, not willing that anyone should die (see 2 Peter 3:9).  It’s His will to heal, and for everyone to be saved.  Glory to God for His unchanging faithfulness!

Acting on the Word today,

Lisa Gordon

Jesus City Church

Glastonbury, CT