The wonder of the gospel that went forth across the earth after the ascension of Jesus was accompanied with signs, wonders, miracles, and supernatural guidance, the assistance of angels, persecution and martyrdom. It lovingly but firmly confronted both the pagan misrepresentation of the nature of God, the humanistic world order of the day and even false misrepresentations of the Bible Message itself.

For several decades there has been an effort among those who recognize the place and power of the Holy Spirit to recover the supernatural element of Christianity, which is often notably absent in the intellectual, religious philosophy that accompanies the name of ‘evangelical Christianity’.

But has the pendulum swung too far? Have we become overly focused on signs, wonders, miracles, prophecy, supernatural guidance, dreams, visions, shakings, falling down at the expense of the gospel itself?

We certainly are in favor of all genuine supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit ‘comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and .. to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:7-8)

The Wonder of the Gospel Itself

The problem is not that we have reacted to the intellectual formalism of many churches by focusing too much on the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit. The problem is that our focus on the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit has itself gone out of focus. In focusing on the supernatural signs that accompany the gospel we have in large measure forgotten the power wonder of the gospel itself. We have isolated signs and wonders from the supernatural accompaniment of the gospel, the gospel itself.

The power that Jesus gave His disciples was not primarily the power for signs and wonders – it was the power to comprehend, communicate and be transformed by the gospel. As we proclaim it in all its glory and wonder it will be accompanied by the miraculous evidence of God’s Holy Spirit. The signs are not the message. They are the smile of heaven on the message but they are not the message.

The message of the first believers was not that God works signs and wonders, or that angels are being used in guidance. Their message was: “Jesus Is Lord “He has ascended on high after taking the judgment for our sin on the Cross, reconciling us to God, and giving us a share in His Resurrection Life through the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Our mission is to present this wonderful ‘gospel’ to all so that they can put their faith in this redemption and receive its benefits.

Much of the church has actually become bored with the gospel because they have reduced it to a mere message of pardon from sin. To add excitement to jaded worshippers it has resorted to a wide variety of supplements, including political and social activism, speculation about end times (mostly fear centered) and endless search for another experience, which will prove to me that I really am special. While consumed with these diversions many churches have no program of evangelism whatsoever.

How could the church become bored with the glorious gospel? Because it is not focused on it and does not really appreciate the awesome dimensions of it. (Some Bible colleges and denominations are actually organized to conceal some dimensions of the gospel, lest it threaten their wine-skin)