“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19).
Nowhere in the Scriptures will you find an occasion in which miraculous power was ever employed by God’s spokesmen to entertain or amuse anyone.
At least one such occasion arose in the life of Christ. The ruler Herod had desired for some time to see Jesus and hoped to see in person some miracle done by Him (Luke 24:8). The Lord’s response to Herod’s wishes and questions was “nothing” (Luke 24:9).
Every time miraculous power was exercised by Christ and His apostles it served a twofold purpose.
First, the miracle(s) distinctly demonstrated God’s messenger as authentic and authoritative. This prophet speaks on behalf of the one true God. He is not a false apostle or a deceitful worker in league with Satan. Miracles uniquely and conclusively proved a prophet or apostle was legitimately Jesus’ authorized spokesman.
Because these men were God’s spokesmen, the second purpose of their miracles was to promote obedience to their proclamation of the gospel. The message delivered was not for their listeners’ carnal enjoyment or amusement; it was for their acceptance and obedience. Believe the facts, trust the promises, heed the warnings, and OBEY the commands which had been heralded.
Miracles confirmed the apostles’ word (Mark 16:20) and demonstrated the hearers’ need to obey the gospel.
