Fool for Christ

Seeing Signs and Wonders?

Why doesn’t God just speak out the message like He did in the past – a voice from Heaven saying, “I am the Lord, and this is my will.” - tablets written in stone, a burning bush, a talking ass, visitors at an evening camp fire pausing for a meal before the destruction of Sodom, a cloud of smoke and a pillar of fire?

Perhaps the reason lies in the purpose of God speaking in the first place.

Jesus said, just before He raised Lazarus from the dead, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

For the true believer, it doesn’t really make any difference if God speaks or not – the manifestation of the Spirit is more often for the unbeliever and the scoffer. Even the miracles of Jesus are limited – and even when He had done many miracles among them – he upbraided them by saying, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” Jn 4:48

God is not out to put on a show – He is trying to reach us in our hearts and minds.

For the believer, this is an ongoing relationship that needs no additional theatrics – anything more than we are already treated to on a daily basis – the wind and the rain, sunshine, the stars and the heavens, loving friends and family, health, babies, our many blessings and our daily bread.

Interestingly enough, theatrics really don’t help the unbeliever that much either.

When Jesus spoke of signs and wonders – He was referring to two different aspects of the same event – two different purposes for a miracle taking place.

“Signs” being God’s signature or authentication of the messenger, those observing the miracle know that only one sent from God is able to perform such a miracle – and “wonders” being the sensational aspects of the event that draws the attention of the masses and fills them with awe so that they can have their hearts and minds opened to receive the truth.

Although there are many places in the Bible where you can find the record of God’s supernatural intervention – the grandest sequence of signs and wonders is associated with the children of Israel in Egypt – and the Exodus; the wandering for 40 years in the Wilderness, and entering the Promised Land.

In all the records of these events – Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.

It is interesting to note that of the 29 times that “signs and wonders” appears together in the King James Bible – 12 of them are specific mentions of the signs and wonders done in Egypt.

The second period of a “water shed event” concerning “signs and wonders” was the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In these, the Last Days or the Endtime – we are expecting an increase of miraculous events – for these have been promised throughout the prophecies concerning these times. Here are a couple of references.

Concerning God’s Children:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:” (Act 2:17 – 20)

Concerning the AntiChrist :

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Mat 24:24

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.” Mar 13:22

“[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 2Th 2:9

So then, “signs and wonders” have a specific purpose, and it is not usually for the edification of those who already believe. It is rather, for the setting of the stage for specific times and events.

In the case of Jesus of Nazareth, though God did many signs and wonders by Him and the Apostles of the Early Church – it still did not result in many more believers and followers. In fact, the greatest seed or source of dedicated new believers was often the result of the martyrdom of public witnesses.

In fact, it was largely for this reason that even Jesus did not speak plainly unto unbelievers when He was sharing the truth with them.

Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

You can read the words of Jesus when he did speak plainly to them in Matthew 23 – a sermon which he closed with the words, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Mat 23:38

The reaction of the Jewish leaders was to plot his death.

For the unbeliever, theatrics complicate the problem to the point of complete and utter rejection – rejection that brings forth violence and the murder of the messengers of truth. This was true of Pharaoh, it was true of the Jewish leaders concerning Jesus, and it will be true of the AntiChrist and his followers.

When God begins to do public miracles by your hand, and you come out full force against the scribes and the Pharisees, then you better be ready to be crucified.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Around the Town. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.