MEMBERS of His MIRACULOUS MINISTRY

©Herman Asafo-Agyei

Good morning friends and ‘fellow workers’’.   My thanks to Dr Ken for giving me another opportunity to speak God’s word, this time, on the subject of the miracles in Mark chapter 5.I would first of all like to invite you to look at a series of relevant scriptures from the synoptic gospels namely Matthew chapters 4:22-24; 9:35-8; 12:25-28 and John 14:9-13, by way of plotting our route into Mark 5, which is our theme text for today.   Put those scriptures together and one cannot fail to see the emergence of a revolutionary, breathtaking and inspiring picture concerning Jesus ministry: Revolutionary because multitudes could now see and experience the working of impossible miracles by the Son of God himself; Breathtaking because not only Pharisees but ‘ordinary’ men had direct access to and contact with the One whom even the winds and waves obey and Inspiring because you and I could now appreciate and celebrate our inclusion among the privileged partakers of His divine nature.   Moreover He empowers us to apprehend the divine truth that we can do even greater works, because He goes to the Father.   Unquestionably, that long-awaited miracle worker, King of kings and only begotten Son of God had finally arrived on the surface of the earth in the fullness of time to seek and save that which was lost as spoken by the prophets.   The Kingdom of God was truly at hand to mark the birth of His Miraculous Ministry. My objective this morning, therefore, is to have it established in our hearts, once and for all hopefully, that we are indeed members of Jesus miraculous ministry with the same entitlement as those believers at the time of His earthly ministry, to receive All, not just some, of the privileges and benefits associated with membership of this all-inclusive spiritual family of God.The apostolic demonstration of those miracles performed by Peter and John; Phillip and Paul as narrated respectively in the book of Acts chapters 3:1-8; 8:4-7 and 19:11, 12, just to name a few, clearly stand out as attestations that we are the continuation of His miraculous ministry. [So please do not doubt what these hankies I have brought with me today can do as I proclaim the power inherent in the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom].  Would you believe that at some point during those glorious days, people laid the sick on beds, mats and couches in the streets so that at least Peter’s passing shadow might fall on some of them? The aforementioned ‘signs and wonders’ and countless others, appear to have given rise, in this present age, to 3 major schools of thought which I have reproduced from page 24 of Gerald Coates book, He Gives Us Signs – Understanding Miracles, as follows:1. The miracles recorded in scripture did not happen then, so they don’t happen today either2. The Old and New Testament miracles did happen, but as we now have the scriptures, miracles are unnecessary so they don’t happen today3. The miracles recorded in both Old and New Testament did happen and as God’s nature hasn’t changed miracles must therefore happen today  On the question of which of the schools of thought one finds plausible enough to subscribe to, I have not the slightest hesitation in declaring that, as true members of Christ’s Church, our allegiance to the 3^rd school is a non-negotiable option.   This is where we belong, and where I believe we must remain till His glorious appearing.   After all our Lord Jesus lays it down in no uncertain terms in John 8:31 that we are His disciples indeed, if we continue in his word.   As identifiable members of Christ’s miraculous ministry therefore, we are entitled to enjoy the privileges of salvation – good health, prosperity, joy, peace, deliverance, longsuffering etc.   I exhort you once again to work hard at apprehending this truth.    Hence, I believe that, against the weight of distractions which the secularized world bombards us with, we must unreservedly embrace the miraculous business of casting out demons and showing to the principalities and rulers of darkness the excellence and invincibility of the light of the gospel of Christ.   That’s why Paul has unequivocally stated that he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation.The apostle Paul’s description of the brethren as ‘fellow workers with God’ was not exclusive to the assembly at Corinth.   Rather it is inclusive of the whole Church.   Being fellow workers with God is a very exciting concept because it involves us directly in what He is doing.   It implies a close working relationship with Him to attain specific outcomes and, for me, the narrative in Acts 5, where the Lord’s angel opens the prison gates at night to free those members of His miraculous ministry to preach the message of this new life, is a compelling case in point.   After all, has God not entrusted us with the Great Commission [Mark 16:15-18] and is it not His intent that we the church should make His manifold wisdom known to the principalities and rulers of darkness? [Eph 3:10, 11] In the light of this, l will ask you to release your individual faith simultaneously as I speak also to stir up our corporate faith.   This way we stand to maximize the miraculous benefits His Holy Spirit has in store for us today in Jesus name.   When one carefully studies how in Mark Chapter 2, Jesus ‘saw their faith’ before the paralytic gained his healing, I cannot help but to consider corporate faith as an essential, perhaps even indispensable ingredient in our capacity to receive from the Kingdom of God.Mark 5 is no doubt notable for those 3-recorded miracles, but I have to say that I have developed a deeper interest not so much in the miracles per se, but in the attitude Jesus shows towards those works.   For me, our Lord’s attitude appears to provide us with guidelines, lessons or principles – call it what you may – in the art of problem solving.   We all experience, on a daily basis, a plethora of matters arising, spiritual or otherwise, requiring some methodology to dealing with them.   This becomes clearer when one reads Mark 5 against the backdrop of the life-threatening storm Jesus and his disciples encountered at the end of Mark 4.   Remember, Jesus had not long ago alighted from a boat, having calmed a tempestuous storm, which would have threatened the safety of the boat and its crew, only to be confronted by a man possessed by demons.   How do you think the average person would have reacted in these circumstances?   Most probably with a sense of anger, contempt and disdain at the fact that yet another problem rears its ugly head so soon after a previous one has been dealt with.   Nonetheless, our Saviour demonstrates a ‘no- situation-is-too-difficult’ mentality and appears to embrace responsibility with a ‘can do’ approach.   He teaches us that our food, like His, must be to do the will of our Father who has sent us without complaining.   I also note a common thread that appears to run through all 3 miracles: the suffering and oppressed recognize who He is and appeal to him for help. [The demon-possessed man walked straight to Him; the woman suffering from long-term hemorrhage went to Him, so did Jairus who approached Him on behalf of his dead daughter]. So why hesitate in releasing your faith and allowing Him to free you today from any bondage you may have been subjected to?   If I may enquire further, do you feel bound by or engulfed in a sea of debt-ridden problems? Are you being enticed into a lifestyle of substance abuse or do you have a compulsive affinity to pornography?   Teenage delinquency/rebellion is another area I feel prepared to confront today.   Make no mistake; demons do inhabit the body of men – Christians very much so – intending to gain indefinite residence there.   Nevertheless, authority has been conferred unto us from heavenly places to expel unclean spirits and we must refrain at all costs from negotiating with them, otherwise they will not leave easily.   My observation, and I hope you are able to support it, is that Jesus did not enter into negotiations with them.   Instead, He cast them out by issuing a command for them to take occupation at a place of his designation.   Let us emulate our Master by issuing similar commands. Thanks for listening, but before we bring our business today to a close, I would like to zero in on Jesus words to the demon-possessed man, now in his right mind, in Mark 5:19: ’Go home to your family and friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you’.   Why do you think Jesus might have asked the man to go home?   You see I believe that God has strategically placed us where we are in order to reach those around us, starting from within and telling each other and our community about His kindness and what He has done in our lives.   By taking this course of action we participate in the business and Ministry of Reconciliation and in His Name, we too can loose the oppressed, the depressed and the suppressed from those ruling dark perpetual strongholds and torments of unclean spirits as we invoke the Spirit of Peace into every situation and circumstance.

Let us arise and shine, fellow workers, for our light has come.   May this message bear fruit in Jesus name, please do not hesitate to help yourselves to a hankie each, as the Spirit directs you.   God Bless you, Amen.