One of my best friends, who is called Michael (just like me) is an inspiring example of the combination of signs and wonders with peace and justice. He is a peacemaker, active in the Swedish Christian Peace Movement and a prophetic voice for nonviolence and pacifism. We have made som films advocating for an international, strong, binding trade agreement on arms, since arms are lessed regulated than for example bananas in the international trade. An example of such a film is viewed below.

While Michael thus is a passionate activist, he is also a passionate Charismatic. He prophecies, lays his hands on the sick, speak in tongues and pray for revival. He has realised that Christians should follow Jesus so that the signs that characterised Jesus’ life: miracles and care for the poor, will characterise their life. Jesus said:

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. (Mt 11:5)

The good news, the Gospel, thus not only included tickets to Heaven but also care for the poor’s need here and now. That’s why we read that the apostles combined miracles with poverty reduction:

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. (Acts 2:43-44)

Now, Michael has experienced a dramatic event in which signs and wonders was combined with poverty reduction. In the clip below which I recommend you to see, he tells about a trip he made to Bangalore, India, after he had recieved a prophecy which said that he had the “hands of a miracle worker”, and that he would see autistic children and youths be healed. In Bangalore he came to a church in which the pastor called him out by name (although they haven’t met before) and asked him to pray for a bunch of really poor autistic children that the church took care of. And some of the children were indeed healed, along with other poor people suffering of for example leprosy. These healings not only give them their health but also chances to take themselves out of poverty. He makes it clear that miracles are expressions of the love of God and that it is equally important to work for peace and justice.