DAILY STIR 12-5-13 “WHERE ARE THE SIGNS? Mark 8:11-12 says, “Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” Mark 16:17-18 says, “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.” I believe Jesus is saying in these two passages not to seek signs but as believers let the signs follow you. Let’s look at a definition of signs in the dictionary. A sign is that by which anything is known or represented. The Greek word for sign is semeion, which means a sign, mark, indication, token, (a) of that which distinguished a person or thing from others, (b) of a sign as a warning or admonition, (c) of miraculous acts (1) as tokens of divine authority and power. John 2:23 says, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.” Mark 16:20 says, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Acts 5:12 says, “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.” Acts 6:8 says, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” As I was doing a study on signs I found several blogs & websites on the internet that state that the signs, wonders, and miracles of the New Testament have ceased. Well I don’t believe that, but as I was pondering that thought I believe the Holy Spirit showed me a picture of a city with no signs. I couldn’t tell what city I was in, I couldn’t tell what any of the businesses were, and I couldn’t even tell what highway or street I was on. Without signs you don’t know where you are and there is no direction. Another one of the definitions of the Greek word sign was indication. A label or a sign is an indication of what is inside the box, bottle, or container. Without a label and or sign to indicate what the content of your drink is, you could drink poison and think you were drinking Gatorade. What are the signs that cause the world to know that Jesus is living on the inside of you? I Corinthians 13:1-2 says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” ?I’m not down playing signs, wonders, and miracles. I lay hands on the sick, I speak in tongues, and I have cast out demons, but a sign without love won’t point them to Jesus. Be the sign of love, preach the Word, and God will confirm His Word with signs following. Chris
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:36:55 +0000
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