ACTS 4:30

The Scriptures are clear about the Early Church – that they were also a signs and wonders church. They were a church fully plugged into the supernatural. They were not, by any means or standard, an ordinary church. From their very inception and throughout their movements in the book of Acts, the miraculous and the mysterious confirmed their operations and their actions. With them, it could never be advertised “church as usual.” On the contrary, the unusual and the spectacular customarily transpired as they sought nothing but the glory of God. They were completely sold out! More than ever, they were a praying church. The more they prayed, the more the glory of God showed up and revival broke out everywhere.

It was evident that the presence of Jesus saturated the entire landscape and atmosphere of these early church saints. In a nutshell, they were truly a Jesus-Church. They wanted nothing less. It was all about Jesus – His glory, His power, His manifestations. They were true representatives and magnifiers of Jesus. They refused to waste time on the mundane and the secular. They were radical in their beliefs and their lifestyle. They were uncompromisingly committed. Luke bears record of this when he unequivocally documents, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles” (Acts 2:42,43.

Today we seem to have an aversion to praying for signs and wonders. However, it really doesn’t appear that the Early Church had any misgivings or hesitations about praying for and expecting signs and wonders. They unapologetically prayed for miracles and expected them to take place, as they endeavored to advance the cause of Christ. In Acts 4, they prayed fervently and in unison, saying, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29,30).

I deduce from our observations of our Early Church fathers and mothers that, if they saw the need to deliberately pray for signs and wonders, how much more should we. This world is going to need more than our mere words. They need to see the dynamic, supernatural power of God in demonstration. We need to see and feel His presence manifested amongst us again. Like these first-century saints, may we be willing to pay the price to be that church that shakes the powers of darkness and establishes the kingdom of God in the earth-realm again – A signs and wonders church!