Preaching, Miracles and Surrender

My Study Bible notes on Acts 4:30 (where the believers, after praying for boldness to declare the word,  pray that God would stretch out His hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders in the name of Jesus), says "Preaching and miracles belong together". The truth of this is found in the commands of Jesus when he sent out his disciples of  "practice runs" during His time on earth (Luke 9 & 10, Matt 10) where He told them to "drive out demons, heal the sick cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, preach the Kingdom of God". Clearly Jesus intended His church to mirror the kind of ministry He had since in Mark 16:15-20 reveals what will "accompany" His followers and the last verse states that they went out preaching "and the Lord worked with them by confirming the word with the signs that accompanied it".

This link will connect you to a newsletter update from Rolland Baker of Iris Ministries who are ministering in the pattern of Mark 16 and the Book of Acts. These leaders model humility and surrender for "the least of these" and what "Normal Christianity" looks like.
http://www.irismin.org/news/50.php

There are ministries around the world that are seeing the same demonstration of the Spirit's power as in Mozambique. Thank you Lord! Now, Lord, don't pass us by here in the northwest part of the U.S.A.! "They" tell us that over 90% of the places where God is moving in power around the world are also pentecostal/charismatic in experience and practice. Well, that should not surprise us since Jesus said to "wait until you are clothed with power from on high" before you go out! "They" also tell us that Mega-Churches in America have literally exploded over the last 30 years or so, and yet, "they" also say there has been no measureable Conversion growth in America for the last 20 years! We in the A/G are seeing our growth heading of a plateau more each year.

So, Lord, we need Your help! We believe in Your Word and the power of Your Spirit, but we have not seen in our days what used to characterize the Spirit-filled church of the first century and the first half of the 20th Century. We need a revival and maybe a humbling of ourselves as well. Hear us, "we will not be satisfied with anything ordinary - not at all - we just want You!"