[I have accomplished in bringing] the Gentiles to obedience–by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.Romans 15:18-19
A few months ago, I got a chance to visit Bethel Church.
It is a church known to be walking in the supernatural power of God, having testimonies after testimonies of powerful healings, creative miracles, and power encounters with the principalities. I myself saw such things when I went there and caught a vision and a passion to see the body of Christ move in such a direction.
While I appreciate and advocate their contributions in the body of Christ in America (Lord, raise up more Bethel churches!), they are by no means a new phenomenon.
That passage that I mentioned above at the end of the book of Romans reveals Paul’s strategy for bringing Gentiles into the kingdom of God. He didn’t have a justice campaign (although that’s good), or an attractive church program, his strategy in evangelism was to demonstrate the power of God through miracles.
Remember, this is found in the book of Romans, which conservatives will vouch as Paul’s most intentional construction of theology. He’s all about the purposes of God, but those things are transacted into his world not by a sermon series or a Bible study (although very important), but when he goes from city to city demonstrating the salvific purposes of God through the acts that are done through his hands by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This, I believe, is Paul’s evangelistic strategy. And I am earnestly wanting to make it my own as well.
