SUPERNATURAL SIGNS AND WONDERS
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch (Acts 5:12 KJV).
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them Acts 19:11-12 KJV.
When I remember Rev. S.K Beckley, I remember supernatural signs and wonders! It can also be said of you that by the hands of Rev. S.K Beckley were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. You were indeed, a man approved of God by many signs and wonders. The miraculous acts of God as demonstrated through your ministry is a divine witness to your apostolic calling. These signs are the trademarks of the apostles. “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds.” Your life justified the saying that anytime a man focuses on doing what God has called him to do, signs and wonders will naturally follow.
How many shall we say or write about the wonderful demonstration of God’s power through you? They are too numerous to document. But these are written so that men especially skeptics may believe that signs and wonders are still the credentials of Christ and his apostles. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know.” “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with news tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
I remember the case of a woman who was being followed by swam of flies everywhere she went. Then one day she rushed into the church at Olodo while the service was going on. At the instance of your prayer, those flies were turned back permanently and forever from following the woman!
In 1990, a couple got married in the church, only for the wife to discover that her husband was impotent! Like the woman of Shunem cried unto Elisha, the woman cried out to you in great disappointment and fear; but God heard your prayer over the man. After he had come and you have prayed for him, an instantaneous miracle took place in his life: he regained sexual potency and the union later produced male and female children!
Precisely, in December 1992, eye witnesses’ account has it that during the December Retreat of that year at All Saints Primary School, Ikereku Olodo, a woman came from Baba Pupa village to the retreat with a little girl of about 11 years. The first night of the retreat, at around 1 am, the girl was brought to where pastors were sleeping dead. Her corpse was dropped in the midst of the pastors. Immediately Rev. S.K Beckley woke everybody and prayer started. After moment of fervent prayer led by the Late Rev. Beckley, the girl suddenly sneezed. Thereafter, her name was called as Jesus called forth Lazarus from the grave. The girl woke up and was handed over to the distressed and weeping mother!
There was another woman who had a protruding fibroid; and the doctor, by their medical understanding and judgment gave the verdict that she could never have baby except a major operation was performed. But we know that with God all things are possible! And did God do it? God used Rev. S.K Beckley. Through the prayer of faith, without medical operation, the woman eventually gave birth to two male children. Many other women who have been barren for years received children from God.
There was the case of another woman who had long been troubled by strange stomach ache. But after one edition of the yearly anointing service, she excreted iron metal from her anus! Thereafter the stomach ache cease! I also remember vividly a relative who was attacked and suddenly became dumb! She was made whole and spoke again clearly after you prayed for her.
And what shall I more say of your many spiritual cum physical confrontations with the idol worshipers and their priest in Odeda Local Government? Time would fail me to recount the numerous battles you fought with these ancient forces of darkness who have for years put men under their yokes! The conversions of many from the worship of different idols to the knowledge of
the Lord Jesus provoked ferocious attack from their camp. But you stood as a brave soldier of the cross against the onslaughts of the enemies in defense of these young converts. In fact, the present location of the church camp ground was formerly the sacred and dreaded forest of the Igunuko worshipers. What an encounter to remember! Everyone who was around knew how fierce the battle for supremacy was between Christ and Belial! But it was another moment to prove that Christ, “…having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
the Lord Jesus provoked ferocious attack from their camp. But you stood as a brave soldier of the cross against the onslaughts of the enemies in defense of these young converts. In fact, the present location of the church camp ground was formerly the sacred and dreaded forest of the Igunuko worshipers. What an encounter to remember! Everyone who was around knew how fierce the battle for supremacy was between Christ and Belial! But it was another moment to prove that Christ, “…having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
Reverend S.K Beckley! Your physique matched your exploits. What shall I more say of many demon possessed that were delivered? Many women who had covenant with demons were set free by your prayers. Satan oppressed received their liberties. Miracles, signs and wonders followed you everywhere you went, confirming the Word of the risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The place of signs and wonders in the gospel of Jesus cannot be overemphasized. Signs is the root of the Emmanuel generation. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). God’s children are for signs and wonders: “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion” (Isaiah 8:18). Signs, wonders and miracles are the answers to the threat of the enemies of the gospel. “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Act 4: 23-31).
Signs and wonders are the credentials of Christ. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22 KJV). Miracles, signs and wonders are God’s trade marks for those He sends. “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? (Heb. 2:4KJV). Signs, miracles and wonders are the trademarks of the apostles-the sent ones. “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Cor. 12:12). Anytime you are doing what God has sent you to do, signs and wonders will follow. Signs and wonders are the authentic proof of God’s Presence. “And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 6:13).
And many other signs truly did God through the Late Rev. S.K. Beckley among many witnesses, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that miracles, signs and wonders are God’s trade marks for those He sends, among whom was Late Rev. S.K Beckley.
The tribute continues, watch out for the next episode…