THE RECIPIENT OF PRAISE

CONFIRMING THE WORD WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS

BY STEVE HILL

Jesus never ceases to amaze me.

When a crack addict bound by a

 $300-a-day habit comes to the altar,

weeps in repentance over his lost condition,

receives prayer, and walks away,

never to return again to his former addiction,

I am amazed. When a cancer patient

is anointed with oil, prayed over,

X-rayed the next day and the

tumor has disappeared,

I am amazed.

When a New Ager saturated with

20 years of false indoctrination slips into a service,

makes her way to the altar,

opens up to the King of kings and Lord of lords,

and rises in love with Jesus,

never to return to the metaphysical,

I am amazed. When a prostitute cries out to God,

receives forgiveness, and walks away,

 arm in arm with the Lover of her soul,

I am amazed. When a new believer

is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins speaking

in other tongues as the Spirit gives him utterance,

I am amazed.

 When the demon possessed scream out as

they are confronted by the authority in Jesus' name

and pass from torment to peace within seconds,

 I am amazed.

Reports of supernatural wonders are pouring in

from all over the world. God's anointing is flowing.

Wherever revival winds are blowing,

wherever God's fire is burning,

and wherever Jesus' name is exalted,

miracles, signs, and wonders are

evidenced among God's people.

Everything God does outside our

realm of understanding

beyond the natural—is supernatural.

It's a mystery. Unexplainable. Mind-boggling.

I love to see God in action.

My response is in harmony with the Psalmist's:

 "This is the Lord's doing; 

it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23).

Miracles are intended to grip the attention

of those in attendance and to point them to

 their unseen Savior. Miracles will take place.

When we become holy, when we allow the

purifying fire of God to burn away all the

chaff in our lives, when we allow God freedom

to expose every secret place, when we become

pliable in His hands, then God's supernatural

works will follow. Jesus said,

"The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,

cast out devils: freely ye have received,

freely give" (Matthew 10:7,8).

Believers should expect these supernatural works.

God has often used people as His vessels

through whom to flow supernaturally—lives

such as the apostles Paul, Peter, and John;

Charles Finney; Evan Roberts; George Jeffreys;

Smith Wigglesworth; Kathryn Kuhlman;

and a host of others. But as a healing or deliverance occurs,

pride has a tendency to well up.

For example, whenever a major

miracle takes place in a church,

in come the army of onlookers and reporters.

They begin to interrogate everyone.

 "How did it happen?" "Where did it occur?"

"Who was the instrument?"

"What kind of prayer was prayed?"

Everyone points to the pastor, the evangelist,

or another servant of God.

The one responsible for speaking the prayer of

faith is singled out. "He's the one." "She did it."

 "There's the man God used to heal that cancer."

"She's the one that laid hands on the demoniac."

Like metal to a magnet, people are drawn to

individuals used by God.

Those used by God have the responsibility to

deflect any honor and glory off of themselves

and onto the One who is the rightful

recipient of praise—Jesus Christ.

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199901/038_signs_wonders.cfm