Acts 8:1-3 "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison."

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ 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."

The scattered believers were like fire brands starting fires where driven. Among the signs that accompanied their witness was divine healing. Holy Spirit channels for gifts of healing are "those who believe", not some special class. Every one of the Lord's people can be involved in power outreach.

Those used to spearhead witness to the world, did so with the working of miracles.

Hebrews 2:4 "God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"

This is evident in the example of Jesus and those He used in the Acts!

	Jesus (Matthew 4:23-24 ).
	Peter (Acts 3:7; 9:34,40 ).
	Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:11; 20:10 ).
	Stephen (Acts 6:8 ).
	Philip (Acts 8:6-7 ).

God the Holy Spirit - the world Field Director of Operations, separating those He has called to missionise the world in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2 ). God has given the Church power over all the power of Satan (Matthew 18:18; Luke 10:19; John 14:12; Acts 1:8 ). The Church is intended to out do all the power of Satan (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ).

The greater works of creative miracles will become more in evidence in these climatic days. Satan's working will be challenged and overcome by a generation of the Lord's people doing "greater works" (John 14:12 ).

Matthew 4:23-24 "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ²⁴ And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."

He continues His ministry by His Holy Spirit through the Church.

Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Power outreach has drawing power:

John 6:2 "And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased."

Acts 3:11 "And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering."

Acts 8:6 "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."

Acts 14:11 "And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."

His people multiply through power outreach as evident in the early chapters Acts - first in thousands then - a multitude of them that believed. The multiplication took place in spite of the severest persecution.

Acts 3:15,16 "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

It was impossible for death to hold on to the "Prince of Life" (Acts 2:24 ). A proof that He is indeed the Christ. The powerful means of the miracle is said to be "His Name". The man was healed by the presence and power of the risen Lord.

Mark 2:12 "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

There is a price to pay for power outreach, in healing and miracles that glorify God. It will cost us individually and collectively - in misrepresentation and persecution.