Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

Paul says that when the Holy Spirit shows up, He does things we call miracles. They’re inexplicable, apart from the supernatural. Miracles are things that don’t happen unless God shows up.

Paul talks about “the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God” (v. 19). We live here on the earth in the seen realm. There is also the Kingdom of God in the unseen realm. Signs, wonders, and powers of the Holy Spirit are what happens on the earth when the Kingdom shows up and shows off. These things are impossible, humanly speaking.

Before mentioning signs and wonders, Paul says, “by word and deed” (v. 18). The Kingdom of God is about word and deed. “Word” refers to teaching, encouraging, blessing, worshipping, singing, and praying. “Deed” refers to powerful signs, wonders, miracles, and the supernatural. People come into relationship with God and grow in one of two ways — persuasion (word), asking a lot of questions, and doing a lot of research before they join Team Jesus or power (deed) where they witness a healing, vision, dream, something supernatural convincing them God is real.

I once spoke with a husband and wife who got saved around the same time. God’s timing was remarkably interesting. The husband met Jesus through persuasion as God overcame his many questions, objections, and philosophical obstacles. On the other hand, the wife prayed, and God miraculously answered. She knew He was real right away. God worked through persuasion, power, word, and deed to win this couple over.

When it comes to signs and wonders and the power of the Spirit of God, three things matter:

1. We don’t chase signs and wonders. Christians can become so excited about signs and wonders that they forget about God. Jesus said in Matthew 12:39, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” Instead of chasing signs and wonders, we need to chase God.

2. We test signs and wonders. In 1 Thessalonians 2:9–10, Paul writes about the “activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders.” Remember, whatever God creates, Satan counterfeits. The enemy will use every kind of evil deception. God will do real signs, wonders, and miracles, and then Satan will do counterfeit versions to deceive people. The enemy will “heal” your body to damn your soul. He will send an “angel” that is really a demon.

Early in my ministry, I met a woman who had become a Christian, but her mom was a literal witch who ran a witchcraft shop and coven. This young woman knew Jesus, but a spirit had been with her since she was a child. It was her invisible friend, not imaginary but spiritual. One day, I met with this young woman, and she manifested a completely different personality. I asked, “Who are you?” The spirit speaking through her replied, “My name is Jesus.” I said, “Are you Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary?” She got this wicked smile I will never forget, and she said, “No, not that Jesus.” This demon had used the name of Jesus to deceive her since she was a little girl, and now that she was a Christian, she was confused by this demon calling itself “Jesus.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul says Satan will masquerade himself as an angel of light; the enemy will pretend to be holy when he is unholy.

3. We expect signs and wonders to follow us as we follow God. Sometimes, the supernatural happens, and an angel shows up. People get miracles, healing, or dreams, and they wonder if it was God, Satan, or something they ate. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God...” I’ve seen people get saved, healed, and delivered. I’ve had prophetic visions and dreams, and I’ve also had demonic counterfeits. Our goal is not to chase power but to be filled with God’s power and expect the supernatural to follow us as we follow Him.

Today’s Reflection

Where have you seen the supernatural show up in your life, for good or bad? How did you test the spirit to see if it was from God?