“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14:3, ESV)
Focus on the Family ministry shared this about a 5-year-old African-American boy:
“Gracie Schaeffler, took care of this lad during the latter days of his life. He was dying of lung cancer, which is a terrifying disease in its final stages. The lungs fill with fluid, and the patient is unable to breathe. It is terribly claustrophobic, especially for a small child.
This little boy had a Christian mother who loved him and stayed by his side through the long ordeal. She cradled him on her lap and talked softly about the Lord. Instinctively, the woman was preparing her son for the final hours to come. Gracie told me that she entered his room one day as death approached, and she heard this lad talking about hearing bells.
“The bells are ringing, Mommie,” he said. “I can hear them.”
Gracie thought he was hallucinating because he was already slipping away. She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing bells ringing. The nurse said to his mother, ‘I’m sure you know your baby is hearing things that aren’t there. He is hallucinating because of the sickness.”
The mother pulled her son closer to her chest, smiled and said, “No, Miss Schaeffler. He is not hallucinating. I told him when he was frightened—when he couldn’t breathe—if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. That is what he’s been talking about all day.
That precious child died on his mother’s lap later that evening, and he was still talking about the bells of heaven when the angels came to take him. What a brave little trooper he was!” (p. 3, “Focus on the Family”, September 1993).
This little boy was able to share the “signs and wonders” he was experiencing in his last hours of life. Even though afraid of leaving his family, the boy was given these signs and wonders by God in order to ease his way to eternal life.
When God deems it important, God will often accompany HIS presence with “signs and wonders”. Acts 14:3, our scripture for today, mentions that when Paul and Barnabas preached at Iconium in Asia Minor, they “spoke boldly for the Lord”. As they shared the gospel, “bearing witness to the word of HIS grace”, God “granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. The power and glory of the Lord is well known to show up from time to time among those who truly believe.
When I spoke with a pastor last week, he mentioned some amazing things that happened recently in his church. One member was healed of a long-term illness just days after x-rays showed evidence of it attacking his body. Further x-rays proved the illness just disappeared. Another member of the pastor’s congregation had depression for close to six years. After several months of counseling and prayer, the depression lifted for the first time. While speaking excitedly about these events, the pastor ended our conversation extolling the grace of God, speaking of three more miracles among members in the past weeks. That conversation with the pastor brought joy to my heart as it did to the members of his church.
God often brings signs and wonders not only to accompany faithful ministry, but God also pours out such miracles upon any who are in need. Little signs and wonders that are sprinkled throughout life are there to remind believers and non-believers alike that God works in “mysterious ways” and is not above healing, miracles, and acts of grace.
Regrettably, there are warnings about signs and wonders that need to be emphasized. Jesus was highly critical of the Jews who followed HIM only to look for “signs and wonders” for selfish purposes (John 4:48). Even when seeing signs and wonders, they didn’t believe. On the other hand, atheists today often explain away signs and wonders as “coincidence”, luck, good genes, savvy choices, or well-deserved rewards. They all refuse to acknowledge God’s hand in pouring forth blessings.
Jesus and Paul and John of Patmos added more warnings against those who would use signs or wonders to cause people to fall away from God. Jesus mentioned in the gospel of Mark that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead people astray”, especially those of the faith (Mark 13:22). Paul wrote that those under Satan’s sway will display “all power and false signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). John of Patmos, in writing of the end times, shared that the beast of Revelation, false prophets, and demonic spirits will use their power to “perform signs” and thus deceive the world into believing in satanic ideologies (Revelation 16:14, 19:20).
Don’t place your faith in false signs and promises meant only to deceive you. At the same time, make sure to look for God’s blessings among the signs and wonders HE gives. Don’t use signs and wonders to solidify your faith. Instead, let them push you to praise God and extol the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Enjoy those moments when God’s presence brings about little miracles and blessings that add spice to your day. Offer thanksgiving to God for the signs and wonders that accompany faithful work. Celebrate that where God is present, there will always be evidence of HIS love!
“Gracie Schaeffler, took care of this lad during the latter days of his life. He was dying of lung cancer, which is a terrifying disease in its final stages. The lungs fill with fluid, and the patient is unable to breathe. It is terribly claustrophobic, especially for a small child.
This little boy had a Christian mother who loved him and stayed by his side through the long ordeal. She cradled him on her lap and talked softly about the Lord. Instinctively, the woman was preparing her son for the final hours to come. Gracie told me that she entered his room one day as death approached, and she heard this lad talking about hearing bells.
“The bells are ringing, Mommie,” he said. “I can hear them.”
Gracie thought he was hallucinating because he was already slipping away. She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing bells ringing. The nurse said to his mother, ‘I’m sure you know your baby is hearing things that aren’t there. He is hallucinating because of the sickness.”
The mother pulled her son closer to her chest, smiled and said, “No, Miss Schaeffler. He is not hallucinating. I told him when he was frightened—when he couldn’t breathe—if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. That is what he’s been talking about all day.
That precious child died on his mother’s lap later that evening, and he was still talking about the bells of heaven when the angels came to take him. What a brave little trooper he was!” (p. 3, “Focus on the Family”, September 1993).
This little boy was able to share the “signs and wonders” he was experiencing in his last hours of life. Even though afraid of leaving his family, the boy was given these signs and wonders by God in order to ease his way to eternal life.
When God deems it important, God will often accompany HIS presence with “signs and wonders”. Acts 14:3, our scripture for today, mentions that when Paul and Barnabas preached at Iconium in Asia Minor, they “spoke boldly for the Lord”. As they shared the gospel, “bearing witness to the word of HIS grace”, God “granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. The power and glory of the Lord is well known to show up from time to time among those who truly believe.
When I spoke with a pastor last week, he mentioned some amazing things that happened recently in his church. One member was healed of a long-term illness just days after x-rays showed evidence of it attacking his body. Further x-rays proved the illness just disappeared. Another member of the pastor’s congregation had depression for close to six years. After several months of counseling and prayer, the depression lifted for the first time. While speaking excitedly about these events, the pastor ended our conversation extolling the grace of God, speaking of three more miracles among members in the past weeks. That conversation with the pastor brought joy to my heart as it did to the members of his church.
God often brings signs and wonders not only to accompany faithful ministry, but God also pours out such miracles upon any who are in need. Little signs and wonders that are sprinkled throughout life are there to remind believers and non-believers alike that God works in “mysterious ways” and is not above healing, miracles, and acts of grace.
Regrettably, there are warnings about signs and wonders that need to be emphasized. Jesus was highly critical of the Jews who followed HIM only to look for “signs and wonders” for selfish purposes (John 4:48). Even when seeing signs and wonders, they didn’t believe. On the other hand, atheists today often explain away signs and wonders as “coincidence”, luck, good genes, savvy choices, or well-deserved rewards. They all refuse to acknowledge God’s hand in pouring forth blessings.
Jesus and Paul and John of Patmos added more warnings against those who would use signs or wonders to cause people to fall away from God. Jesus mentioned in the gospel of Mark that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead people astray”, especially those of the faith (Mark 13:22). Paul wrote that those under Satan’s sway will display “all power and false signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). John of Patmos, in writing of the end times, shared that the beast of Revelation, false prophets, and demonic spirits will use their power to “perform signs” and thus deceive the world into believing in satanic ideologies (Revelation 16:14, 19:20).
Don’t place your faith in false signs and promises meant only to deceive you. At the same time, make sure to look for God’s blessings among the signs and wonders HE gives. Don’t use signs and wonders to solidify your faith. Instead, let them push you to praise God and extol the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Enjoy those moments when God’s presence brings about little miracles and blessings that add spice to your day. Offer thanksgiving to God for the signs and wonders that accompany faithful work. Celebrate that where God is present, there will always be evidence of HIS love!