Miracles and Signs

Should the modern Church expect to see signs and miracles today?

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16:17-20).

Jesus said in this verse that signs will follow them that believe. He did not limit it just to the apostles, or just to the early church. Jesus said signs will follow THEM THAT BELIEVE. These signs and miracles serve a purpose, not just to demonstrate God's power alone, but to also confirm and prove the words which Jesus' followers speak. Mark closed his gospel stating that the apostles went forth preaching everywhere, and signs confirmed the word which they spoke. Peter said in his Pentecost sermon that it was through miracles and wonders that Jesus showed He was approved of God (Acts 2:22). The Book of Acts is filled with the works and wonders of the early church and the apostles. "Fear came upon every soul," Luke tells us, "and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." (Acts 2:43). These signs and wonders were not the purpose nor the focus of their ministry. Their focus was strictly to tell the world about Jesus and to make disciples of all nations, and the words which they spoke were confirmed by the signs and works they done. In Acts 8:5 we read that "Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord," the writer tells us, "gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." Jesus also expressed this thought to the crowd that had gathered around Him and a man which suffered from the palsy. "Which is easier to say," Jesus said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, then saith he to the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." (Matthew 9:4-8).

Jesus had given His disciples power to cast out devils, to heal all manner of diseases and all manner of sicknesses (Matthew 10:1). But, Jesus expressed frustration when His disciples failed to cast out a demon from a little boy. "O faithless and perverse generation," Jesus lamented, "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? (Matthew 17:17). After Jesus casted the demon out of the boy, his disciples came to Him and asked Him why they could not cast the demon out. "Because of your unbelief," Jesus said. "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit," Jesus added, "this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:19-21). Perhaps this is why more signs and miracles are not seen today; a lack of prayer and fasting among God's people combined with a lack of faith. Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians that Jesus "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US." (Ephesians 3:20).

The Church today lacks power, hence the world today lacks manifestation of miracles. And I believe that Jesus is still frustrated over the Church's lack of belief. It is said that many years ago a leader of a major denomination took a visiting minister into a "secret" room near his office that contained millions of dollars in gold, money and treasures. While running his fingers through a chest of coins, the leader boasted, "The Church can no longer say, 'Silver and gold have I none,'" The visiting minister agreed, "Yes," he replied, "and it can no longer say, 'Such as I have, give I thee. Rise and walk.'" Let the people of God grab hold of Jesus' powerful promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and GREATER works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14).

Satan always attempts to mimick or to display a similar but false version of anything that God performs. As the church is expected to have signs and miracles manifested in its midst, Satan also performs miracles to deceive and lead astray Christians. Many false prophets and preachers perform what seem to be wonderful works and healings. Jesus said of them, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." He continues, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23).

. <