10. Conclusion: The Power and Authority of God’s Word

In the ministry of Jesus and the early Church, healing and miracles were essential demonstrations that confirmed the truth of their message. If visible demonstrations of power were necessary then, they are certainly necessary now. While not all signs point to truth (Matthew 24:24), true Gospel ministry is still marked by the power of God in action.

Mark 2:10-11

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

John 10:37-38

If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Mark 16:20

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Acts 14:3

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

1 Corinthians 4:19-20

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Galatians 3:5

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

1 Thessalonians 1:5

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

Hebrews 2:3-4

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

For our sake, Jesus experienced great suffering and rejection. He loves us, and everything He did and endured was for us.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Isaiah 53:3-7 (NLT)

He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Mark 15:16-20

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshipped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

Luke 22:63-65

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

John 19:1

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

Isaiah 52:14 (NLT)

But many were amazed when they saw him.
His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.

1 John 4:9-10

In this the love of God was manifested towards us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

As has been made clear, salvation also includes physical healing and health. Many Christians do not believe in and experience this truth. What is even more tragic, is that many actually blame Jesus (or at least hold Him responsible) for sickness, disease, infirmities, and the associated suffering and oppression.

The Word of God is truth. As born-again believers, if God’s promises don’t manifest in our lives, instead of questioning God or His Word, we should look at ourselves and earnestly seek to understand what we are missing: What are we doing or believing to cause a disconnect between what we read in the Word and what we experience.

Romans 3:4 (ESV)

By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar…

Scripture is the ultimate authority, and no person’s experience is sufficient to refute what is written in the Word. Let us approach God’s Word with childlike faith, remain humble, and forever seek to deepen our understanding.