SIGNS & WONDERS SIGNS & WONDERS IN IN

MINISTRYMINISTRY

A. History of Pentecostal A. History of Pentecostal MovementMovement

Classical PentecostalsFirst WaveNT – Acts

Azusa Street-AG-PentUBible = rule for faith &

practice;Guided thru theo differences

(latter rain, personal prophecy, etc.)

First Wave = Classical

Pentecostals

New Testament – Acts

Azusa Street – A/G

Bible = authority for faith

and practice

B. Biblical Principles B. Biblical Principles never change.never change.

Theology = our interpretation Theology = our interpretation of Wordof Word

Methods must continually Methods must continually changechange

GAP between Beliefs GAP between Beliefs and Practicesand Practices

What do we believe?What do we believe?

GAP between Beliefs GAP between Beliefs and Practicesand Practices

What do we believe?What do we believe?Do our practices match Do our practices match our beliefs?our beliefs?

GAP between Beliefs GAP between Beliefs and Practicesand Practices

What do we believe?What do we believe?Do our practices match Do our practices match our beliefs?our beliefs?

Why the broad GAP?Why the broad GAP?

GAP between Beliefs GAP between Beliefs and Practicesand Practices

What do we believe?What do we believe? Do our practices match our Do our practices match our

beliefs?beliefs? Why the broad GAP?Why the broad GAP? What can we do to narrow What can we do to narrow

the GAP?the GAP?

I. NEED AND DESIRE FOR I. NEED AND DESIRE FOR SUPERNATURAL IN SUPERNATURAL IN

MINISTRYMINISTRY

A. Desperate for the A. Desperate for the Presence of GodPresence of God

Frightening to not sense Frightening to not sense the presence of Godthe presence of God His presence reveals His His presence reveals His

purposepurpose

God told Moses (Ex. 33:3) God told Moses (Ex. 33:3) that He would not go with that He would not go with a stiff-necked people.a stiff-necked people. Moses begged God to change Moses begged God to change

His mindHis mind He knew it was foolish to move He knew it was foolish to move

outside the presence of Godoutside the presence of God

B. Desperate for God’s B. Desperate for God’s AnointingAnointing

Jesus recognized the Jesus recognized the importance of anointing by importance of anointing by the Holy Spirit (Lu. 4:18)the Holy Spirit (Lu. 4:18) Ministry passed to disciples (Lu. Ministry passed to disciples (Lu.

9:1-2)9:1-2) Ministry committed to the Church Ministry committed to the Church

(Acts 1:8)(Acts 1:8)

Many hungry for more of Many hungry for more of God’s powerGod’s power l l Pentecostals can be like Pentecostals can be like

Pharisees with legalism, Pharisees with legalism, political agendas, controlpolitical agendas, control

Devil’s deception – deal with Devil’s deception – deal with outward, but ignore inward sins outward, but ignore inward sins

Price for anointingPrice for anointing Obeying the WordObeying the Word Remaining in the Presence of Remaining in the Presence of

GodGod Desiring His Presence above allDesiring His Presence above all Hungering and thirsting for Hungering and thirsting for

righteousnessrighteousness

C. Pentecostals at a C. Pentecostals at a CrossroadsCrossroads

Division among people and Division among people and pastorspastors

Satisfied with status quo—Satisfied with status quo—Pentecostalism tradition and Pentecostalism tradition and formalismformalism

Truths that help Truths that help meme

Truths that help meTruths that help me God is sovereign.God is sovereign.

Truths that help meTruths that help me God is sovereign.God is sovereign. God desires to bless His God desires to bless His

people.people.

Truths that help meTruths that help me God is sovereign.God is sovereign. God desires to bless His God desires to bless His

people.people. God cannot be placed in a God cannot be placed in a

box.box.

Truths that help meTruths that help me God is sovereign.God is sovereign. God desires to bless His God desires to bless His

people.people. God cannot be placed in a God cannot be placed in a

box.box. God may work in ways I have God may work in ways I have

not yet experienced.not yet experienced.

Truths that help meTruths that help me I must keep an open heart to I must keep an open heart to

what, when, and how He will what, when, and how He will work in me and the Church.work in me and the Church.

I must keep an open heart to I must keep an open heart to what, when, and how God will what, when, and how God will work.work.

I must follow Biblical principles I must follow Biblical principles in my search for God’s power in my search for God’s power and not give any place for the and not give any place for the enemy to slip in anything enemy to slip in anything fleshly or counterfeitfleshly or counterfeit..

God’s Word helps us God’s Word helps us keep in balancekeep in balance

Matthew 5:6 Matthew 5:6 John 7:37 John 7:37 Philippians 3:10Philippians 3:10

D. Desperate for More D. Desperate for More Evidence of the Spirit’s Evidence of the Spirit’s

PowerPower Some things cannot be Some things cannot be

accomplished without the accomplished without the Spirit’s work in signs and Spirit’s work in signs and wonderswonders

D. Desperate for More D. Desperate for More Evidence of the Spirit’s Evidence of the Spirit’s

PowerPower Some things cannot be Some things cannot be

accomplished without the accomplished without the Spirit’s work in signs and Spirit’s work in signs and wonderswonders

Many ministers seem to be Many ministers seem to be “post-Pentecostal”“post-Pentecostal”

We need a demonstration of We need a demonstration of God’s power that speaks to God’s power that speaks to power-conscious non-power-conscious non-ChristiansChristians

We need a demonstration of We need a demonstration of God’s power that speaks to God’s power that speaks to power-conscious non-power-conscious non-ChristiansChristians

We need an awakening in our We need an awakening in our community, nation, and worldcommunity, nation, and world

We need a demonstration of We need a demonstration of God’s power that speaks to God’s power that speaks to power-conscious non-Christianspower-conscious non-Christians

We need an awakening in our We need an awakening in our community, nation, and worldcommunity, nation, and world

We must not be satisfied with We must not be satisfied with title of “Pentecostal”—need title of “Pentecostal”—need realityreality

E. Why Pentecostals E. Why Pentecostals Need RevivalNeed Revival

E. Why Pentecostals E. Why Pentecostals Need RevivalNeed Revival

Influenced by Influenced by cessationistscessationists

E. Why Pentecostals Need E. Why Pentecostals Need RevivalRevival

Influenced by cessationistsInfluenced by cessationists Influenced by non-Influenced by non-

Pentecostal evangelical Pentecostal evangelical theologytheology

E. Why Pentecostals Need E. Why Pentecostals Need RevivalRevival

Influenced by cessationistsInfluenced by cessationists Influenced by non-Influenced by non-

Pentecostal evangelical Pentecostal evangelical theologytheology

Struggle with cultural Struggle with cultural accommodationaccommodation

G. Pentecostal churches G. Pentecostal churches desperately need a move of desperately need a move of

the Holy Spiritthe Holy Spirit

What is God saying to me? To His What is God saying to me? To His Church?Church?

How committed am I to move How committed am I to move with Him?with Him?

Holy Spirit power is Holy Spirit power is essential for effective essential for effective evangelism and church evangelism and church plantingplanting

I.I. Challenge to Desire and Challenge to Desire and Move in the SupernaturalMove in the Supernatural

Every generation must Every generation must rekindle the purifying flames rekindle the purifying flames of holiness and Pentecostal of holiness and Pentecostal powerpower

I. Challenge to Desire and I. Challenge to Desire and Move in the SupernaturalMove in the Supernatural

Every generation must rekindle Every generation must rekindle the purifying flames of holiness the purifying flames of holiness and Pente-costal powerand Pente-costal power

We must humble ourselves and We must humble ourselves and repent of pride and the spirit of repent of pride and the spirit of religionreligion

I. Challenge to Desire and I. Challenge to Desire and Move in the SupernaturalMove in the Supernatural

Every generation must rekindle the Every generation must rekindle the purifying flames of holiness and Pente-purifying flames of holiness and Pente-costal powercostal power

We must humble ourselves and repent We must humble ourselves and repent of pride and the spirit of religionof pride and the spirit of religion

David DuPlessis: “I’d rather calm down David DuPlessis: “I’d rather calm down a fanatic than try to raise the dead.”a fanatic than try to raise the dead.”