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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is proclamation and demonstration. Proclamation is the communication of the message of repentance and salvation. Demonstration, on the other hand, is an act of showing that something exists or is true by giving proof or evidence. In Matthew 4:23-25 Jesus proclaimed the Good News (message of repentance and salvation) and demonstrated (proved) the power of God at work in Him in transforming lives through healing and deliverance. We observe the combined effect of proclamation and demonstration in the transformation of those who came to Jesus. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23)

Dear friend in the Lord, Jesus teaches us through His proclamation of the Good News and the demonstration of His life-transforming healing power that everywhere the Church or His believers are found there must be a spiritual and physical transformation of those who respond to the preaching of the Good News. It is for this reason, Jesus said to the disciples “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Beloved in the Lord, as we go to make disciples of all nations, Jesus promised to demonstrate His power through us for the healing or deliverance of many in the world, therefore, He said to the disciples “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This power was demonstrated in the Apostles through the healing of those who were sick, for example in Act 3:6-7, Peter said to the lame beggar at the temple gate “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Historically, there are many ways the Church has proclaimed the Good News of Christ and demonstrated the transformational power of the Holy Spirit through missionary activities. In other words, Christian missionaries not did only proclaim the Good News but also transformed the lives of people through education, vocational skills and hospitals.

It is now our turn in the twenty-first century to avail ourselves fully to the proclamation of the Good News and the demonstration of Jesus’ life-transforming power through the Holy Spirit. How are we also proclaiming the Good News and demonstrating to the world that the power of God is still moving and transforming those who come to Jesus? It is important to mention that most Churches in the twenty-first century are more interested in the formation of fellowships and the building of Chapels than the proclamation of the Good News, once fellowship and chapel buildings become our priority then the world will experience less of the demonstration of God’s power because we have limited the experience of the power of the Holy Spirit to only the confines of our fellowships or Chapels. Meanwhile, in Matthew 28:18-20 and Act 1:8, we have been given the authority by our Lord Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go out there to proclaim the Good News so that the world will believe and experience the demonstration of God’s power at work in Christ. In some Churches, the demonstration of Jesus’ healing power is being over-emphasised and prioritised over the proclamation of the Good News. Let us remember that Jesus started His ministry with and often does the proclamation of the Good News before the demonstration of His healing power. (Matthew 4:17,23) Jesus said to the disciples “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Most Christians in our time are more interested in experiencing the demonstration of Jesus’ deliverance than listening to the proclamation of His Word. In other words, some Christians prefer prayer of physical deliverance to regular attendance of Bible Studies to know and understand the Word of God that truly liberate and paves way for the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives through our faith. When we observe most Christian revival programs, the attention is on prayer and deliverance than proclamation and the study of the Word of God. Dear friend, repentance and faith come from the proclamation of the Good News and out of faith, we truly receive the demonstration of miracles through the working of the Holy Spirit. Let us approach God always ready to read, study, hear and obey the proclamation of His Word then out of our faith we shall experience the demonstration of His power in our lives. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, lead us to repent and grow spiritually through the teaching and proclamation of the Good News and may our faith be made strong to experience the demonstration of Your transformational power in our lives. Amen.