"We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long." —Psa. 74:9
The absence of their signs was evidence Israel had drifted from GOD, lost His favor & Presence, and their unique identity among the nations. But hundreds of years later the promised Messiah came. And after the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit entered the world, and the NT Church was born with the supernatural Signs of GOD’s Presence flowing out from within it.
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"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a ...
"We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long." —Psa. 74:9
The absence of their signs was evidence Israel had drifted from GOD, lost His favor & Presence, and their unique identity among the nations. But hundreds of years later the promised Messiah came. And after the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit entered the world, and the NT Church was born with the supernatural Signs of GOD’s Presence flowing out from within it.
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"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may SHOW FORTH the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." —1Pet. 2:9
The OT Signs indicated the GOD of Heaven was among them. But these NT Signs, flowing from within us, declare we are the House of GOD, and that, God is in the house! Many churches today are more concerned with maintaining their denominational and theological signs than GOD’s signs. But there is no scriptural evidence that God ever intended to turn His Heaven-Born Spirit-Connected Church over to an earthly institution. WE are called to be MORE than signs of what we believe. We are called to be Living Signs of what GOD is DOING. Therefore until He returns These SIGNS of GOD should flow from us. If we don’t see these signs today we should cry out in prayer to GOD for reconnection, until our SIGNS manifest once again.
#7 Laying On Of Hands
The 7th sign on my list is Laying On Of Hands. This sign is a divine function of the Holy Spirit. It’s not a religious symbol but an impartation of Anointing.
"Do not neglect the gift which is in you, which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance WHEN the elders laid their hands upon you." —1 Tim. 4:14
Through Laying On Of Hands the Holy Spirit installs Ministry-gifts in people, imparts Healing, Miracles, Deliverance, and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." —Acts 19:6
You can lay your hands on people as a gesture of approval or sympathy for them, but it’s not The Sign of Laying On Of Hands unless there’s an Impartation of transforming power from GOD that changes them!
"…they will lay their hands on the sick, and they WILL recover." —Mark 16:18
God could certainly have avoided the problems with human pride and misuse, and chosen to impart His power without using the agency of man...
"Then they laid their hands on them, and they RECEIVED the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money," —Acts 8:17-18
...But that would have bypassed His entire purpose, which is to demonstrate GOD’s ONENESS With His Body.
The sorcerer saw what GOD wanted seen: that GOD was in people, operating through them…
"That we should SHOW FORTH THE GLORY OF HIM…" —1Pe 2:9
Simon’s error was wanting GOD’s power w/o GOD.
GOD fearlessly risks applying His authority through the vulnerable vessels of mankind, because He is confident of His influence over us. GOD will have it no other way, but to let the world see Jesus working through OUR hands.
The key to Laying on Hands is Understanding that you are designed and ordained by GOD to GIVE.
You must be FERTILE, like the earth that GIVES its produce after it receives the seed and rain. Live and Work with GOD daily as a Receiver of His blessings. And you will come to know experientially (not just theologically), that Jesus is with you, your Jehovah-Shammah, blessing your efforts. THEN you will know that you HAVE Him, and that you can GIVE Him to others.
#8 Preaching
As suddenly as the Holy Ghost fell upon the believers, Preaching came forth. No Sign, other than prayer, is more common to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit than Preaching.
Because sermonizing is a learned skill we forget that real Gospel preaching is supernatural. Preaching doesn’t come from talent, education, or even human zeal. It’s produced by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"And (pray) for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel…" —Eph. 6:19
Paul called preaching Utterance, and prayed to be empowered with it, because he knew it came from GOD.
Preaching Isn’t Teaching — Teaching is Explaining but Preaching is Proclaiming.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to Preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to Preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to Preach the year of the Lord’s favor." —Luke 4:18-19
Explaining may lead to understanding. But understanding, doesn’t lead to a decision. Proclaiming leads to a decision.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” —Matt. 4:17
No amount of information can force a decision. Proclamation leads to Decisions.
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom KNEW NOT God, it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe." —1 Cor. 1:21
Preaching is the Voice of LIFE piercing the shroud of death hanging over an unbeliever’s heart.
Preaching Isn’t just for “ministers”
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how are they to preach unless they are SENT?" —Rom. 10:13-15
The Holy Spirit produces Sending, which produces Preaching, which produces Salvations. So Pray for Sending!
Where’s the desire to Preach today? Increasing numbers of young Christians seek ministry positions as musicians, entertainers, community workers, and administrators. But where is the burning desire to Preach the Gospel?
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power (dunamis) of God for salvation to everyone who believes," —Rom. 1:16
The more Christians need to be accepted by people that don’t like to be confronted, the less the Gospel will be preached. But don’t let Satan steal your most effective tool in leading the lost to Christ! The Sign of Preaching needs Christians who are Alive enough with the love of GOD, to be Dead enough to the pressures of Political Correctness, and become Brave enough to Preach the Gospel.
Preaching is the spiritual homing beacon for lost hearts, adrift in the darkness of sin. Man thinks with his head but sees with his heart.
Preaching cuts to the heart.
