SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2025
An In-Depth Look at the Power of a Believer and the Ministry of Signs and Wonders
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:
- MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23, KJV)
- READ: Mark 16:17-18
- BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 21-22
MESSAGE: GOD CAN USE YOU
The greatest challenge for many Christians is a lack of confidence in their spiritual identity. They believe God can do great things, but they often struggle to believe He can do them through them. The Gospel, however, is clear: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to every single believer. Today’s message is a powerful reminder that you are a perfect candidate for God to use in a mighty way.
The Bible is full of examples of ordinary people who were used by God to do extraordinary things. The key wasn’t their perfection, but their willingness and their faith.
The Transformation of Imperfect People
The Apostle Paul is one of the most remarkable examples of God’s transformative power. Before his conversion, he was a ruthless persecutor of the church. The Bible tells us he dragged men and women from their homes and threw them into prison (Acts 8:3). He himself admitted to being the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Yet, God chose him. He completely turned Paul’s life around, transforming him from a destroyer of the church into its most passionate builder.
The book of Acts records that through Paul, God performed “special miracles” (Acts 19:11-12). These weren’t just ordinary miracles; they were so powerful that handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his body were taken to the sick, and they were healed, and evil spirits departed from them. If God could use a man who was once a terrorist against His church, He can certainly use you.
The story of Peter offers an equally compelling testimony. This was the same Peter who, filled with fear, denied Jesus not once, but three times (Luke 22:54-62). Yet, after his restoration, God began to use him mightily. Acts 5:14-16 tells us that the anointing on Peter was so strong that people laid the sick in the streets of Jerusalem, and as Peter’s shadow fell on them, they were healed. Peter’s story is proof that God’s restoration is complete. He doesn’t hold your past failures against you. If God could use Peter, He can use you too.
The Authority and Power of a Believer
The authority that was on Paul and Peter is not exclusive to them. It is a promise to all who believe. Our foundational Bible reading in Mark 16:17-18 is not just a historical account; it is a promise and a command for every follower of Christ:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
This passage is a clear statement of your spiritual identity as a believer. You have been given the authority to operate in the supernatural. When you believe in Jesus Christ, you are a perfect candidate for God to use to perform signs and wonders.
God’s Power Through an Ordinary Believer
The account of the woman at the Holy Ghost Service is a powerful, modern-day example of this truth in action. This woman was not a famous preacher or a well-known prophet; she was an ordinary believer who had faith in the name of Jesus and the power of God’s anointing.
When she received the phone call that her daughter and twin grandchildren had died, she didn’t collapse in despair. Her faith immediately took over. She ran to the hospital, not to mourn, but to minister. She used a bottle of anointing oil and a prayer handkerchief, which were tangible points of contact for her faith, and she spoke words of authority in the name of Jesus.
Her confession was not a polite request; it was a command born of faith: “Come back here; who told you that you could die?” The results were undeniable. The first baby came back to life, then the second. The entire hospital was in a state of “pandemonium” because a natural law had been broken by a spiritual one. She then took the same faith and commanded her daughter’s dead body to live, and her daughter immediately came back to life and sat up. In one day, God used a seemingly ordinary woman to bring three people back from the dead.
This miracle is a testament to the fact that God is not looking for perfect people; He is looking for people with faith. Your history doesn’t matter, your education doesn’t matter, and your social status doesn’t matter. What matters is your willingness to believe and your confidence in His ability to work through you.
Embrace Your Role in God’s Kingdom
Today’s message is a call to action. Stop disqualifying yourself. Stop thinking you are not “holy enough” or “qualified enough” for God to use. Your qualification comes from your belief in Jesus Christ.
The hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” is a perfect response to this message. It is a surrender of your entire being—your life, moments, hands, feet, voice, and will—to be used by God. When you truly believe and fully surrender, you become an open vessel for God’s power. Be confident of His ability in you, and He will do great and marvelous things through you in the mighty name of Jesus.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, I believe in You, and I surrender myself for Your use. Use me for Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What does it mean for “signs to follow them that believe?
A: This means that signs and wonders are a natural part of the life of a believer. They are not reserved for a select few but are meant to accompany the ministry of every person who truly believes in Jesus. They are a confirmation of the Gospel message.
Q2: Is the story of the woman at the Holy Ghost Service a rare occurrence?
A: While the circumstances are extraordinary, the principle is not. The story serves as a powerful reminder that God is still in the business of performing miracles through ordinary people who have extraordinary faith. The Bible says these signs shall follow them that believe, which means they are meant to be a normal part of the Christian life.
Q3: Why is a lack of confidence in one’s spiritual identity a problem?
A: A lack of confidence is a problem because it hinders God’s ability to work through you. Your faith is the catalyst for God’s power. If you don’t believe you can be used, you will never step out and try, and you will never see God work through you.
Question and Answer
Q1: According to the article, what was Paul’s life like before he was used by God?
A: Before God used him, Paul was a persecutor of Christians, who threw some of them into prison.
Q2: What happened to the sick people when Peter’s shadow fell on them?
A: The sick people would be healed when Peter’s shadow fell on them.
Q3: In the story of the woman at the Holy Ghost Service, how many people did God use her to bring back to life in one day?
A: God used her to bring three people back to life in one day (her daughter and the two twin babies).
Q4: According to Mark 16, what are some of the signs that will follow believers?
A: The signs that will follow believers include casting out devils, speaking in new tongues, taking up serpents, drinking deadly things without being hurt, and laying hands on the sick for them to recover.