Hebrews 2:3-4 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"
We are not to neglect (turn away, ignore) the word "which at the first
began to be spoken by the Lord." What is this word? It is the good
news, the Gospel, of unconditional love and eternal salvation through the
finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Most of us have heard this
message of salvation for all our lives, but can you imagine going into a place
where the name of Jesus had never been heard? Jesus commanded the
disciples to "be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Surely people had heard about Jesus for the most part in Jerusalem and
Judaea. Even in Samaria, many of them had heard about Jesus. Remember the
Samaritan woman? "Come, see a man, which told me all things that
ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (John 4:29)
But when they went into the uttermost part of the earth, we can be certain
those people had never heard about Jesus. And now, the disciples were
going into lands filled with idolatrous worship and telling the people to
believe upon someone they knew nothing about. To tell them that Jesus was
crucified, buried, and raised again was beyond their ability to
comprehend. And then to tell them that He did that for them? How
possibly could they turn from their idols to worship One of Whom they knew
nothing?
How did God equip these disciples to be able to show power in their
preaching? First, we must know that only true powerful preaching can happen
as the result of the Holy Spirit empowering the man to preach. But then,
the Holy Spirit gave them gifts that would show in a visible manner the power
of their words being spoken. God bore them witness as they bore witness of the
Risen Christ. How? "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and
wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to
his own will." He gave the Apostles special gifts as they went into
strange lands. He gave them the gift to be able to speak in tongues. How
was that gift manifested? These men, who were considered ignorant and
unlearned, were able to speak in the language of the land. They spake in the
language of the people. They were given the gift of healing. They could lay
hands on the sick and restore them back to health.
Paul speaks of those gifts in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. He tells
us in verses 8-10 these gifts shall cease, as they were known in that day.
There would come a time when the gift of speaking in other languages, as the
apostles did, would not be needed. The Word of God would have its effect on the
people and they would be converted to the understanding of the true Gospel
message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone. But for the
beginning, these signs and knowledge were necessary. Paul tells us again in the
letter to the Corinthians that the Jews seek after a sign and the Greeks seek
after knowledge. God knew what would be required for the people to receive the
good news of Jesus Christ. He provided.
I realize this is longer than usual, but I cannot stop without acknowledging we
are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our day and time. Are we able to
speak in other languages? Well, we have many resources to be able to learn
other languages, if the need arises. But, in preaching the Gospel, we must be
able to speak in the language of the people to whom we are preaching. I
would not go into the middle of New York City and use "raising
peanuts" as an illustration. We are to speak on the level of the people to
whom we are preaching. We cannot lay hands on another and heal them, but
our God is able to do all things. I have learned in my ministry there is great
help and peace when I place my hand on the shoulder of the one laying in the
hospital bed for whom I am praying. There is great peace in holding the hand of
the one for whom I am praying. So, in a sense, we can speak in tongues and we
can lay hands on the sick. It is the Lord Who gives the increase. He gives the
understanding. He gives the peace and comfort. God uses us to bear
witness of the power of His Word. Never underestimate His power.