The Daily Word: Sunday, September 12th, 2021
Isaiah 10:1-11:16
2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Psalm 56:1-13
Proverbs 23:6-8
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. – 2 Cor. 12:12
Paul didn’t have to convince anyone that he was an apostle. People knew he was an apostle. Why? Because the power of God flowed out of him everywhere he went:
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. – 1 Cor. 2:4-5
When Paul encountered a sorcerer who tried to prevent him from preaching the Gospel, Paul spoke and the sorcerer went blind (Acts 13:11). When Paul saw a man who had “faith to be healed” (Acts 14:9), he commanded the man to get up and leap and walk; and the man was healed! God worked “unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 19:11-12). Eutychus fell from a third story window but Paul embraced him and he came back to life (Acts 20:10). Poisonous serpents could not kill Paul (Acts 28:5), and an entire island came to Jesus after Paul prayed for a wealthy man (Acts 28:8). Yes, Paul was smart! But even more importantly, his 1) knowledge of the Scriptures and 2) intimacy with Jesus caused the power of God to flow through him everywhere he went!
What will be the mark of your ministry? Do you want to be known for wise words? Or do you want to be known for “signs and wonders and mighty deeds”? God will meet you at your level of faith!
“According to your faith let it be to you.” – Matt. 9:29
Prayer:
Father, I want the mark of my ministry to be the power of God. I pray that You would move through me with miracle-working power, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.