Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:12
Apostle is a word derived from the Greek word 'Apostolos.' It means a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel.
Jesus, the Son of God, was born into this world like every other person. However, He was sent by God and is called The Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1). He looked exactly like an average Jewish person of His day, but He was far from average.
In fact, the Prophet Isaiah said, "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2). Like Moses, He needed to prove to the people that God sent Him; otherwise, He would face rejection.
God called Moses at the backside of the wilderness and sent him to rescue the Children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3-4). It is important at this point to note that when God called Moses, nobody else was there. When Moses complained to God that the Hebrews in Egypt would not believe him, God did not say, "Just go they will believe you," instead, He gave him two miraculous signs to prove he was God-sent (Exodus 4:1-9). So the miraculous signs were the only way that Moses could prove his calling.
The prove Jesus had, to show the people also was the miraculous. He said to Philip in John 14:11, "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."
Nicodemus was a wise scholar who watched Jesus from afar. He assessed the miracles that Jesus performed, and concluded: "No one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."
(John 3:2).
In Exodus's book, the magicians of Pharaoh were able to do somethings that Moses did, until Moses went into performing creative miracles. He began to turn dust into lice, and the magicians were stuck. They could not perform creative miracles!
"Then the magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. This is the finger of God," they exclaimed to Pharaoh..." (Exodus 8:18-19). They knew that there are some miracles that only God could do. Hallelujah!
Nicodemus was aware of this historical event, so while he was watching Jesus and saw Him healing the maimed and making them whole, he concluded in his heart, "This has to be God!"
"Sir," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miracles are proof enough of this." (John 3:2 TLB).
Apostle Paul faced the same challenge that all true Apostles face. They didn't accept him as an Apostle. Well, he did not argue with them. The Bible says in Acts 19:11-12, "And God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles, so that even when his handkerchiefs or parts of his clothing were placed upon sick people, they were healed, and any demons within them came out."
When the other Apostles who understood spiritual things saw the spectacular miracles that Paul performed in the name of Jesus, they agreed that he was God-sent (Galatians 2:8-9)
A little over seven years ago [May 28, 2013], an angel came to me in my dream and told me that the Lord was sending me on a special assignment. Then he laid his hands on me and said, "I was sent by the Father and the Son, to bless you with the Spirit." Like My Lord Jesus, Moses, and Paul, I also faced very stiff opposition when I came out initially. But when they began to see the spectacular miracles God consistently performed by our hands (the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, etc.), they agreed that this could only be God's work. Like Paul, I can boldly say, "...even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you." (2 Corinthians 12:11-12)
May God open our eyes to see and receive the genuine men and women that God has sent to us, for Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me." John 13:20
GLORY TO JESUS!