Where do Signs and Wonders and Miracles fit in?

[Christine]

Comparison of Programs...Signs Wonders and Miracles


Judaism =

A truth that is confusing to many beleivers concerns the proper place of signs, wonders and miracles. Is God blessing the ministry of the Word by 'signs' today?

Under the gospel of the Kingdom, signs were an important part of that ministry. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 1;22 that the JEWS require a SIGN, and the Greeks (Gentiles) seek after wisdom. SIGNS have been the case all through Israel's history. The first SIGN for Israel was circumcision given to Abram, the father of Israel (Gen. 17:10 compared with Romans 4:11)

The abundance of signs varied more or less in Israel's history as the need arose, but probably the greatest concentration of them is found during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the early chapters of the book of Acts. Healing, the multiplying of food, raising the dead, etc. all attested to the fact that the triune God was working among His people, Israel. They were the outward manifestations of the Gospel of the KINGDOM. (Matthew 9:35)

The passages that have confused most people about signs are Mark 16:15-18 and Acts 2:4. Verse 17 Mark 16 starts out by stating: "and these SIGNS shall follow them that believe..." and 5 signs are given - casting out of demons, speaking in new tongues, takin up of serpents, drinking deadly fluids, and healing the sick. And Acts 2:4 states: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Because of wrongly dividing the Bible, that is, putting the Body of Christ on the Day of Pentecost and teaching that Mark 16:15-18 is OUR great commission, many,many sincere and zealous believers expect these signs to follow after they are saved. And because they DON'T follow, they either have nervous breakdowns trying to GET them to follow, or lose ALL faith in the Word of God. Christians MUST BE TAUGHT that signs belong to Israel and to its Divine program.


Christianity =


Today, according to the Gospel of the Grace of God, there are NO outward signs, wonders and miracles like those that existed during Israel's economy.

The signs mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 and 14 were limited to the time of the Acts period. We know this from 1 Cor 13:8,10 where it is mentioned that tongues and other SIGN gifts would cease, and they DID cease in Acts 28 when God temporarily SET ASIDE His program for Israel.

The miracle that God works today is the SPIRITUAL miracle of salvation that is wrought in a human heart by the Holy Spirit. Those who are saved are to witness by word of mouth about their salvation (Romans 10:9,10) rather than to depend upon an outward miracleor sign to others that they are saved. Beleivers are to walk by FAITH and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)

Any so called signs that follow salvation today are counterfeit signs, and according to 2 Thess. 2:9 Satan has the power to work signs and LYING wonders.


God's will for the believer is that he might be "FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING"...Col.1:9

The wisdom of God is contained in the MYSTERY revealed to Paul (1 Cor. 2:7)

Please note:

The Church that had an abundance of signs happened to be the most carnal (1 Cor. 1;7 compared with 3:1)

[Christine]

I had a lady ask me today, as we stood over a dear friend dying of cancer, "Don't you believe that God could heal her?"

Now this sounds like a very "spiritual question", does it not? However, what the asker didn't recognize is that while God CAN heal anyone He chooses, it is NOT the manner in which He is working in todays economy, or dispensation. In todays program of GRACE, God tells us that "my GRACE is sufficient for you...", and doesn't promise to heal everyone who asks. Healing was a part of the Nation Israels program in times PAST, as they were the SIGN natiion and the scriptures tell us that "Israel required a SIGN". Since God has SET ASIDE Israels law program temporarily, the SIGN GIFTS are set aside as well; thus Gods admonition to we who are the Body of Christ being DIFFERENT. He tells US that we are "to walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT."

Paul himself said that "to LIVE is Christ, but to die is GAIN." Is our mindset that of God, or do we look at death from a fleshly point of view? Do we really BELIEVE that to die is gain?

From a true believers point of view, death IS a gain as 'When absent from the body, we are present with the Lord."

This world is NOT our home, folks...we are but visitors in a foreign land. My friends homegoing will be one of much fanfare, as her entrance into His glory will be personally attended by the ONE who redeemed her. Hallelujah!

[ecorpe]

This looks like a good place to post this theory that I have been thinking about for about 2 weeks now. I will start this from the book of Acts.

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

In thinking about this verse, I feel that the Lord did give to Paul and Barnabas (their), the power to perform the signs and wonders that Israel was always looking for. Since they would go first to the synagogue to preach their message, then they needed something extra to prove that they had the word from God. To prove this theory, the following 3 verses bare this out:

Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

All of the above verses tell me that yes, Paul did have this power to do the signs and wonders that the people of Israel was looking for. However, as you read further on, you see that Paul has lost this power when he spent more time preaching to the Gentiles. Your references to 1 Cor 12 and 14 helps to prove this point out. However, the best verse I like to prove this out is:

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

While I would assume that Paul knew he longer had this power, he did continue to preach the grace message.

[Christine]

Yes, Earl. This explains WHY there were signs and wonders and why they STOPPED when God changed programs...

The signs mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 and 14 were limited to the time of the Acts period. We know this from 1 Cor 13:8,10 where it is mentioned that tongues and other SIGN gifts would cease, and they DID cease in Acts 28 when God temporarily SET ASIDE His program for Israel.

The miracle that God works today is the SPIRITUAL miracle of salvation that is wrought in a human heart by the Holy Spirit. Those who are saved are to witness by word of mouth about their salvation (Romans 10:9,10) rather than to depend upon an outward miracleor sign to others that they are saved. Beleivers are to walk by FAITH and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)

Any so called signs that follow salvation today are counterfeit signs, and according to 2 Thess. 2:9 Satan has the power to work signs and LYING wonders.


God's will for the believer is that he might be "FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING"...Col.1:9

The wisdom of God is contained in the MYSTERY revealed to Paul (1 Cor. 2:7)