I Want to be Normal

This past Sunday we looked at Acts 19 and saw how "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul" (Acts 19.11). People were being freed from all manner of diseases and delivered from tormenting evil spirits. It was an exciting time in the life of the church. Are these types of miracles for the past only, or can we experience them in the present?

After Jesus' resurrection He appeared to the eleven disciples and admonished them for their unbelief because they would not believe those who said they had seen Jesus after His resurrection. Jesus then commissions them and instructs them to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mk 16.15). Jesus then says this to
them ...

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16.17-18).

Jesus said, "These signs WILL accompany those who have believed."He places no expiration date on this statement. I consider myself among those who have believed. If you are a Christian then you are also one of those who has believed. According to Jesus, the miraculous power of God is to be a normal part of a believer's life.

I want to be normal!

I want to experience and walk in all that God has for me personally and for our church. Mark 16.17-18 are two verses that I have committed to memory. I often quote these verses to myself to remind me of the inheritance I have in Christ Jesus. Laying hands on the sick, praying for them, and seeing them recover is part of my spiritual inheritance as a believer in Jesus Christ. If you have believed it is part of your spiritual inheritance as well.

Let me encourage you to take some time this week and memorize these verses and then quote them back to yourself frequently to build up your faith. As you do I believe you are going to see God do great things.

BE NORMAL!
Pastor Gary