Because of their inability and refusal to rightly divide the word of truth
(II Tim. 2:15), the Charismatics operate under the false assumption
that these signs are still in effect today and that it is THEIR duty to
fulfill them. This is why we have charlatans like Oral Roberts and Jim
Baker living in mansions and begging people for money.
In their haste to make a dollar, the Charismatics consistently ignore the fact that Jesus said these were SIGNS, and that I Corinthians 1:22 tells us that SIGNS are for the JEWS. Israel began with signs (Rom. 4:11; Exo. 4:8 ,9, 17, 23, 28, 30; 7:3; 8:23; 10:1-2; 13:9; 31:13, 17; Deu. 4:34; 6:22), lived by signs (Deu. 11:18; Jos. 4:6; I Sam. 10:7; II Kgs. 19:29; Isa. 7:14; 38:7, 22; Eze. 4:3; 20:12, 20), and demanded signs from Christ
(Mat. 12:38; 24:3). There is more scripture to support the doctrine of
signs being for Israel than there is to support the Virgin Birth and the
Inspiration of Scripture combined! Anyone who ignores this truth is
absolutely unqualified to teach, preach, or write anything about the
Apostolic Signs. If you'll take a look at Hebrews 2:3-4 you will see
that the signs were used to CONFIRM the word of God, and you will also see that the signs are spoken of in the PAST TENSE. They are also spoken of in the past tense in II Corinthians 12:12. Those who insist that we should practice the signs today because they were practiced throughout the New Testament
haven't been reading (or believing) their Bible. They were not
practiced throughout the New Testament. In fact, Paul left Trophimus SICK
at Miletum (II Tim. 4:20); he gave Timothy medical advice instead of
healing him (I Tim. 5:23), and he had infirmities of his own from which
he could not be healed (II Cor. 11:30; 12:5-10). Now why all this
sickness if the Apostolic Signs were still in effect? Answer: They
WEREN'T still in effect, because they were only needed in the early
ministry of the Apostles for the purpose of confirming the truth to
Israel.
Now we firmly believe that God can still work
miracles and heal anyone He chooses, and we believe that the prayers of
God's people can move Him to work miracles, but let's not confuse
answered prayers with Apostolic Signs, because there's a vast
difference. We believe in healing; we just don't believe in healers.
You say, "Well what about speaking in unknown
tongues through the Holy Ghost? Do you deny that people today speak in
unknown tongues?" No, of course not. People have spoken in unknown
tongues for thousands of years. Ever read Genesis 11? Was that an
outpouring of the Holy Ghost? When the Church of Satan speaks in
unknown tongues (which they do), is that a work of the Holy Ghost? When
a psychologist can have you blubbering in unknown tongues within
fifteen minutes, is that an outpouring of the Holy Ghost? You see, too
many people have the idea that if something is highly abnormal or
miraculous that it MUST be of God. The coming Antichrist will have a
field day with such feeble minded people, because HE will work such "signs and lying wonders" that the entire world will follow after him (II Ths. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:13-14).
Nowhere in the New Testament did God command anyone to speak with unknown tongues. We do read about "new tongues" (Mar. 16:17), "other tongues" (Acts 2:4) and "divers kinds of tongues"
(I Cor. 12:10), but these are all FOREIGN LANGUAGES, not senseless
gibberish! There are no unknown tongues in Acts 2, and there is no
baptism of the Holy Ghost in I Corinthians 14. Instead of rightly
dividing the word of truth, the careless Charismatics wrest the
scriptures to their own destruction by ignoring the set divisions and
doctrines that the Holy Spirit has inspired in the scriptures. The
Apostolic Signs are not for today, because they were only for confirming
the word of God to the unbelieving Jews in the first century. The
Bible warns us to beware of anyone who professes to practice these signs
today (II Cor. 11:13-15; Mat. 7:15; 24:11; I Tim. 4:1-2), and the Lord
commends the church at Ephesus for trying out some professing apostles
and finding them to be LIARS (Rev. 2:2).
Friend, don't allow yourself to be led astray by
these wolves in sheep clothing. If you've never received Jesus Christ
as your Saviour, we urge you to do so right now. Turn from your sins
and trust Christ alone to save you.
Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, let us reason
together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool." All men are sinners and need to be cleansed from sin (Rom.
3:23), and that cleansing can only come through the precious Blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:14).
Consider Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast." Your only way to Heaven
is through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of your
sins (Luke 13:3) and trust Jesus Christ alone. Claim His promises and
trust Him to save you while there's still time. Romans 10:13 says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:9 says, "That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Why not turn to Him right now? Tomorrow could be too late.
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