“That the Lord might dwell amongst them.” This is the sign to the lost world, that God is with us, the signs of His invisible presence. We are a people to be wondered at. “Here Father am I, and the children that thou hast given.” We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, that dwells in Zion—down here, not in heaven.
“He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. * * * He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4. 8, and 11. These imply, and include all the gifts, and workings of the Holy Ghost.
Why did he send this power and gifts to men, to his brethren, and to the church? He says for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ. To make the saints, God’s men, perfect; to lead them in the same Pentecostal power and gifts.
The ministers need it, and they must have the seal of the Holy Ghost, with all these signs, and gifts, to encourage them. They are the visible signs to the world, and seals to them, that God is with them, working together with them, confirming the word, with visible signs.
When the disciples were put into prison and their lives were threatened, on account of the great power with them, in healing, and miracles, they were forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus; for they saw the power came through His name.
They came together, and they knew it was the power of God that caused all their persecution. They knew if they had a form of religion, and denied the power, that they would have no more trouble. But, beloved, they said, “We will be true to God. We will preach the word if we die.” Then they prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant to thy servants, boldness to preach thy word, by stretching forth thy hand to heal, and grant that signs and wonders may be done in the name of the Holy Child Jesus.”
You see these ministers needed power to give them boldness to stand up for Jesus, to preach all the words of this life.
When they preached they knew they must see the signs in the meeting of the presence of the invisible Christ, who will ‘be present to confirm the word, and their message. Jesus had said, “I will be with you all the way even to the end of the age.”
