It is interesting, to say the least, that in biblical times miracles validated the messenger but in today's world, that is not necessarily the case. Why?
In the book of Acts and the epistles, the vast majority of the miraculous signs and wonders were performed by THE apostles or those closely associated with them. This is what 2 Corinthians 12:12 says:
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
This clearly shows that one of the signs of a true apostle was signs and wonders. When I say true apostle, I am talking about an original apostle...one of the 11, after Judas had gone to do what he was going to do. And Paul...he can be thrown into this mix because he was an eyewitness of the Lord Jesus according to Acts 9. Does this mean that ordinary people cannot perform miraculous things with the help of the Holy Spirit? No, I am not saying that at all. I am saying that those occurrences are the exception, not the norm. These things are not something that need to be, or should be, sought out. God can do what He wants to do whenever He feels like He wants to do it. But, according to His recorded Word, the miraculous signs and wonders were something that followed the apostles, not Joe Smith on Main Street.
According to the Scripture, in Acts 2:22, Jesus was a man "approved of God" by miraculous things:
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know
I will say no more about this. I don't need to say anything further. It speaks for itself. Jesus was "approved of God" because of the "miracles and wonders and signs" which God did through Him. Further along in Acts, chapter 14 and verse 3, Paul and Barnabas were confirmed as genuine messengers of God.....because of the signs they did:
Therefore they spent a long time there, speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.
Now, again, these verses DO NOT prove that God doesn’t give His miraculous gifts to just anybody. He can do what He feels like doing when He feels like doing it. But, these verses also DO NOT say that miraculous signs are for just any believer. If anybody outside of those people had these miraculous gifts, it was the exception, not the norm. All of these verses speak to God's apostles....or to Jesus Himself. Therefore, we can conclude that miraculous signs were given to the apostles, and Christ, at this time to CONFIRM the message of God and the Gospel.
Also, another thing to keep in mind is this:
At this time, there was no Word of God. There was no Bible. We could not look to what God had to say to us. He was speaking new revelation to people because He needed to do this. He was doing miraculous things because He needed to do these things. Now, we don't need this. We have His word. He has given to us all we need. Here is how I know this:
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Notice the tense....this is in past tense. "after He spoke long ago....". "...last days has spoken....". These verbs are in the past tense. It's been done. It's not something that He is doing. He has done it. He HAS SPOKEN to His people. Also, 2 Peter 1:19:
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place
Peter, James and John had a legitimate experience on the mount of Transfiguration. They saw the Lord Jesus in all His glory. They saw Moses and Elijah. They asked if they should put up a tent for them, for heaven's sake. They saw these men. It was a legitimate thing that happened to them. But, Peter pointed his audience to God's Word. That is our anchor. Let me tell you why this needs to be our anchor...2 Corinthians 11:13-14:
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light
This passage is talking about false teachers, in context. But, it also can be applied to false spirits, masquerading as messengers of Jesus, leading people astray because that's what they want...miraculous signs and wonders. Pauls goes on, verse 15:
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
He is saying not to be surprised when demons and devils disguise themselves as angels of light. Why? Because it is their job. They are here to betray. They are here to mislead. They are here to deceive. In Matthew, chapter 24, our Lord himself said this:
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:11)
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
These signs and wonders, AND PROPHETIC UTTERANCES, will be so convincing so as to even deceive those that are elect of the Father, if that were possible to do. That, of course, is not possible. But to those who fall into this category, who rely on these things; to those, this is going to happen....and it is the most terrifying passage in all of Scripture, I think. Matthew 7:21-23 says this......take heed:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 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 [n]miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
There are a ton of things that are done in the "name of Jesus". There are a ton of good works that are done in the "name of Jesus". That does not necessarily mean it is of Jesus.
There are a lot of videos floating around on the internet of prophecies and dreams of political things and raptures. There are people who literally post something new everyday. They mean no harm. They think they are speaking for God. They think they have received a "word" from the Lord. Maybe, maybe not. They may be 100%, absolutely correct in everything they "say" they have received from God. So what? That does not, and I mean DOES NOT, mean it is from the Lord Jesus, God the Father or the Holy Spirit. Satan is ready to deceive. We cannot place any hope in these things. As we have read, Satan is more than ready to lead astray those who place their hope in miraculous signs and wonders....because they are placing their hope and trust in miraculous signs and wonders....not Jesus Himself. I know that sounds harsh. It's just true.
There's one place to place your hope. It's in His word. Period. Look to the Word. And nowhere else. Your soul depends on it.
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