"Church of Supernatural Signs Part 2"

Church Of Supernatural Signs Part 2

We all are familiar with signs, everyday signs are part of our lives. Stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs, signs
that advertise, signs that warn. During the 60’s people held up peace signs. There are protest signs, and at
football games people hold up signs that show support of their team. Most churches have a sign out front that is
used to announce up-coming events, or give important information, or maybe have an inspiring quote for the
week. But more important than these signs: the church is supposed to have supernatural signs. As we read the book
of Acts, we find the church didn’t start out as an organization, but a living, on fire organism with signs and
wonders following the believers. Today, I want to encourage us as a church, to be the church of supernatural
signs.

You Ready… Let’s Go!!

An overview of the book of Acts clearly shows the disparity between the early church and the modern
church. In church today, appearance is more important than substance. Results are generally measured in
buildings and finance, over souls and miracles. I desire for TCC to be a church of supernatural signs and today
we will look at the important signs of an Acts church.

VI. Intense Praise, Worship and Intercession
Acts 4:31 (NLT)
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the
word of God with boldness.

Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were
listening.  26  Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors
immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Another supernatural sign of the church is intensity. If there is one major difference in the early church and the
modern church, it is in the area of intensity. The early believer worshipped the Lord with everything they had.
They didn’t believe a little dab will do ya.

Ill) College Girl—man slipped into dorm late one night, tried to get into her room, she screamed out, he ran off.
God spoke to her at that moment and said, when you want my anointing in your life as much as you wanted my
protection in your life, you will walk in a greater anointing.

a. worship should never be on a timer—many times we get into such a hurried life and schedule, God gets put on
a Master calendar. Addicted to hurry is a form of idolatry

b. If your prayer is done with a yawn and your worship is done with a nod, it won’t get the results you are hoping
for: here is a key, if our worship means little to us, it will mean little to God.

VII. Angelic Assistance
Acts 5:19-20 (NLT)
But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told
them,  20  “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

Another sign of the early church was angelic visitation, assistance and protection. In the modern church there has
been a move away from expecting supernatural encounter, so supernatural encounter is often unheard of in the
modern day church. I believe we will see angels, fight demons, and see spiritual warfare increase in the days
ahead.

VIII. Dynamic Leadership
Acts 6:5-8 (NLT)
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip,
Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).  6  These
seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. 7  So God’s message
continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests
were converted, too. 8  Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among
the people.

Another sign of the early church was this: power isn’t reserved for a prophetic few—but God is willing to use
the entire body of Christ.

a. take a good look at these early church leaders, they weren’t picked because of popularity or influence or
social standing, they were selected because of faith, power, wonders and miracles.

b. We need to realize that the Old Testament God moved on one man at one place at one time: the Prophet of God.
But now He pours out of His Spirit on all flesh. The power of God is available for every believer.

c. It doesn’t say call for the Pastor to lay hands on the sick so they will recover: it says call on the elders, (spiritually
mature Christians) and they can get results.

IX. Holy Spirit Impartation
Acts 8:14-20 (NLT)
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and
John there.  15  As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.  16  The Holy
Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  17  Then
Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18  When Simon saw that the
Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.  19  “Let
me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy
Spirit!” 20  But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!

The next supernatural sign is that people get filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.
That the people of God can impart into others the power of God if they are thirsty for the infilling of God.

a. Simon wanted to buy this great gift, but Peter said, this isn’t on sale. It was such a tremendous thing to see: that
people would receive the power of God, a new language from God, by the laying on of hands.

b. The message of Paul and Barnabus that rocked the Jewish believers was this: the same Spirit that has been
poured out on us, is now being poured out on the gentiles. This is God’s great revelation for the church: the Holy
Spirit isn’t owned by the Jewish nation or the Gentile nation or the denominational churches of America: the
Holy Spirit is a wind that will blow where He wants to: on your sons and daughters, on this generation, the next
generation and all generations: this is the promise of the Father.

X. Unstoppable Ministry
Acts 28:30-31 (NLT)
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him,  31  boldly
proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

I love these two verses because they are the last two verses of the book of Acts and there is no official ending.
Every book that has ever been written has some form of an ending, but the book of the ministry of the Holy Spirit
and church doesn’t end because it is still being written every day.

a. we are the chapter 29 generations.

b. Paul, the prisoner of the Lord, is still sharing Christ in Rome, people coming in and out of his house every day.
The ministry of the church is unstoppable, that is a supernatural sign, heaven and earth shall pass away, but
the Word will never pass away, Jesus will build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

c. Once in a while I will hear a television minister say, if you don’t send in your gift to this ministry this week, this
ministry will be through. I have good news, even if a church closes its doors, the Church of Jesus Christ will
remain open. Of this kingdom there shall never be an end.

Close
All roads lead to Jesus. If the message does not lead people to Calvary, it is the wrong message. It’s all about
Jesus and His bride, the church. An Acts church!

My question today:

Do you want to be part of the modern church or the early church?

Do you want to be the church on Sunday or the church of Jesus Christ?

I want you to be part of something big, a church with supernatural signs.