What About Signs and Wonders

# 772- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." What are we to do with these verses? For the most part these signs are very foreign to what we could call American Christianity. First of all, let's establish a definition of signs. Without getting too technical with the Greek language, these signs spoken of here point beyond themselves to something that is far higher, of which it (the sign) is a specific indication. Simply stated they point to the presence and power of the ascended Jesus. They validated the gospel message. These signs were credentials for the apostles and their message, proving it genuine and exhibiting the fact that Jesus is indeed living and risen, and living and working through His church in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the only purpose of these signs. Heb 2:3,4 says, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? What's being said here? Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection and ascension when He walked this earth. This message was passed along by those who personally heard Him and witnessed it. God showed that He agreed with their testimony or witness through these various signs worked through the early church. Quite frankly they are no longer needed, for we have the witness of the New Testament.. Does that mean that God has stopped using signs? That would be foolish for me to say, especially with the evidence of tongue speaking, healing, and demonic deliverance (the latter especially evident in third world countries) still occurring. He can do as He wills. Just remember to be very cautious with signs. Remember that they are not for some glorious display of the flesh, they are given by God for the purpose of pointing to Jesus and validating the message. As Jesus said in Mt 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Guard yourself from deception. Learn to trust the Word of God, for there is nothing false or deceptive in it. In light of what Jesus said in Mt 24:24, we can't say the same thing about signs and wonders.