There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." (Exodus 3:2-4 NIV)
Billboards and signs are designed to be attention getters. They use catchy words and slick images that cause passersby to turn and look, pointing them to patronize a product, service, person or entity. The inspire the willingness to try something new. They expose to things that otherwise might be beyond our radar.
God also has His attention getters. In many instances, in both the New and Old Testament and even in our days, He has used signs and wonders to cause people to turn. He grabs people's attention by the display of His supernatural power. In our text today, God broke Moses' forty year shepherd monotony by creating a sight that compelled him to turn around, look and investigate, thus bringing him to a place where he heard the voice and the call of God.
Jesus did the same things in His earthly days. He performed signs that moved people to seek some more. Nicodemus is an example of this,
"He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:2 NIV)
The Samaritan woman at the well ran to her city proclaiming the sign she had seen Christ performed in telling her things about herself and won many to Him.
Phillip grabbed the attention of a whole city and compelled them to hear of Christ though the signs he performed.
"When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said." (Acts 8:6 NIV)
Signs work because God knows the nature of man. Man was born in the miraculous. His origin, God, is miraculous and he responds to the miraculous. This explains the constant fascination of the world with witchcraft, the paranormal and the supernatural. Some of the bestselling books and most watched movies are in this genre. The reason is because the supernatural speaks to the heart of man. It calls Him to where he originally belonged.
Since we are called to be witnesses in the world for Him, we need the attention of the world too. We need something that will break their fixation on the negative supernatural. We need to show that Moses' rod produces the stronger serpent that swallows the world's magicians'. We need to show the world that the supernatural gifts of the Spirit trump the psychic hotlines and new-age meditations.
We are already equipped with the authority to do this in His Mighty Name. Jesus said,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation...And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18 NIV)(
Expect signs today. Pray for the sick. Be bold like the early disciples. The power in not yours but His. It is in His name. It is part of your witnessing tool. He delegated the use of His name to you. It grabs the world's attention like no other thing can. Use it.
Decision of the Day
I know one of the purposes of the supernatural signs of God is to grab the world's attention. I also understand that faith in the Name of Jesus releases signs. I am a witness for Him. This is a tool in my arsenal of evangelism. I will not neglect or discount it. I will put it to use.
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