Daily Bread - Oct 18 2006

Acts 2:22 - "Men of Israel listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth a man accredited by God to you through power and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst as you yourselves know."

God's divine testimony or accreditation of the ministry of Jesus comes by way of the mighty deeds or miracles called 'dynameis' or 'dunameis' which He did. This is the same power that the disciples were promised in Acts 1:8. This power to do mighty deeds was given so that those who are in bondage to sin, sickness, and poverty might go free. The power to do mighty deeds has been made available to everyone who will believe. The promise was first made to the general audience that John the Baptist addressed when he first spoke of the ministry of Jesus and proclaimed that Jesus would be the one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit and Fire (Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 19:4). Jesus said these mighty deeds would follow those who believe as signs (Mark 16:17). These are the same mighty deeds manifested in Steven's life in Acts 6:8, in Philip's ministry in Acts 8:13, and also in Paul's ministry in Acts 19:11.

Today, all one has to do is believe and they will receive the authority to be sons of God. The promise of being endued with the Holy Spirit and power is just as fresh and certain today as it was when Jesus said, "If any man is thirsty let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me as the scriptures have said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37). The voice of God can still be heard right now saying, "nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org