The apostle Paul said to his generation, “I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19, NKJV), and he described the “fully preached” gospel as one of words and deeds. “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed. In mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel” (Romans 15:18-19).
If Paul had preached and taught without signs and wonders following, his message would not have had its full impact. He said to the Corinthians, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12).
Note Paul’s words in this verse: signs, wonders, mighty deeds. Most Christians today cringe when they hear these words. Why? Because the words have been given a watered-down spin by unscrupulous preachers and teachers. The great tragedy is that this has caused many God-fearing pastors, evangelists and laypeople to turn away from the truth of a fully preached gospel.
Beloved, God is still God, and he still works miracles. He is still our healer, and he wants to show himself strong on behalf of those who trust in him. Supernatural events took place in the New Testament church without any perversions, without advertising, showmanship or any person claiming all the credit.
The ministry of Paul is an example. At Troas, while Paul was preaching a long message, a young man fell asleep while sitting on a windowsill and fell three stories to the ground. The Bible says the young man was “taken up dead” (see Acts 20:9-12). When Paul got to where the boy was, he quieted everyone. Then he lifted up the body, and suddenly life came back into the young man. The boy had been raised from the dead. What a mighty miracle!
After this happened, Paul didn’t send everyone out to spread the news that a miracle had taken place. No, everyone simply went back to the third floor, took communion, and Paul continued preaching. Scripture doesn’t mention the young man again. Why? Because the church expected supernatural works to happen! They preached a full gospel with signs and wonders following.