Signs and Wonders
-Aug. 28 2004-
http://stargods.org/SignsAndWonders.htm
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new 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. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:17-20 Jesus here is instructing His future Apostles that would bare witness to new testament revelation from God with signs and wonders. There is no indication that this was for the general public. In fact the Bible says that the miracles were used by them to prove that the New Testament revelation was from God Himself and not just from their imagination.
"Truly the signs of an apostle were (PAST TENSE) accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds." 2 Cor 12:12 It does not say signs of believers. The Church was not built on the foundation of believers, it was built on the foundation of the Apostles. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Eph 2:20 "God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?" Heb 2:4
God bore witness through the Apostles with signs and wonders that the New Testament knowledge being introduced was in fact from God. This NT knowledge was never given before. So it was the Apostles through miracles that confirmed it as being from God Himself. It was a sign that they were Apostles of the true God. "Truly the signs of an apostle were (PAST TENSE) accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds." 2 Cor 12:12
"And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." Acts 2:43 So why is the age of miracles past? Because we now have had the New Testament knowledge revealed, confirmed and written down in the Bible. Now we have entered from the age of miracles to the age of faith. We now seek Christ in faith through His written Word and not the Apostles and their miracles. Charismatics say that we are all Apostles of Christ, yet the Bible is Clear that to be an apostle you had to have walked with Him and to have been a witness of the Resurrection. "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Acts 1:20-26 Notice there was only 11 Apostles at the time and not thousands of believers calling themselves Apostles. Miracles were wrought by the Apostles and not all the believers in Christ.
Since we now come to Jesus by faith and not sight, the age of miracles has passed and been replaced by faith. But did you know that this age of miracles will come again.
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." Mark 13:22-23
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." II Th 2:8-9 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Matt 7:22-23 Wow! Here Jesus says that because these people practice casting out demons that they are in reality practicing lawlessness (wickedness!). Why? Because the age of miracles is past and "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." Matt 12:39 No Sign will be given except faith in the resurrected Christ and faith in His resurrection and forgiveness sin. Yes an age of miracles is coming for all that seek a sign. The Charismatics preach that a great revival is coming, yet the Bible says only a Falling Away (apostasy and rebellion against God) is coming. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." II Th 2:3 As we speak people like Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, and many others are preparing the people for the final deception that is coming. The world is being prepared for the antichrist who will pretend to be the Second Coming of the true Messiah and will confirm this lie with signs and wonders. The age of miracles will begin and the Charismatics with hands in the air will glory in the coming of the wicked one. Also they will fit right in with the New Age movement that also promotes healing, miracles, charms, and praises to god the universial spirit. Do miracles bring people to Christ? "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him." John 12:37 Though out the New Testament a clear pattern is seen concerning miracles. Often Jesus was upset with the people because they were seeking miracles and not seeking His salvation. "When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." John 4:47-48 If you are seeking miracles, then you are seeking the coming false Christ. If you are seeking faith in Jesus Christ, then you are seeking salvation in the Lord. The time of miracles is past and the time of apostacy is at the door. There is no revival coming, only a New Age of strong delusion.
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