And he (Jesus) went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
This is our ministry reference. On every mission trip, I plan a programme that includes both preaching and teaching and healing. So we preach in evangelistic meetings while teaching is usually done in the context of a seminar or conference.
After every message we make an opportunity for people to respond not to the message, but to the work of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we wait in silence together until the Holy Spirit begins to move and sometimes we lay hands on people or minister in other ways as the Spirit leads. We have learnt that unless the Holy Spirit confirms the teaching with signs and wonders, then transformation will be unlikely.
We are not alone in this experience. Jesus was once trying to convince his disciples and he said that if they don’t believe his words for the sake of the words, then they should at least believe him because of the miracles.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:11-14 ESV)
