Ask Brother Rick what he thinks: Signs, Miracles and Wonders, Lesson 1

Signs, Miracles and Wonders, Lesson 1

I find the people who pretend themselves to be faith healers to be destructive, detestable, unscriptural, misleading, hurtful, damning, and a great help to the Devil and his work.

These fake healers have linked well with Bible correctors because they have gotten to the point that they only “use” the Bible on occasions.

I have no ax to grind with individuals in denominations, but I will not refrain from naming people whom I believe to be destructive.

I believe that what we are seeing in many churches today is an influence of this movement that detracts from what God told us to do.

The ministry and music of many churches lines up with the “emotionalism” and “I know what I have experienced,” unscriptural teachings going on in this movement.

I submit to you that your feelings and your experiences don’t mean anything unless they line up with what the word of God says.

I tell you also that you cannot have the same experiences of many in the Bible because you live in a different time period.

We have a growing trend of men and women who claim that God has given them special revelations and people are flocking to them and believing every word they say.

I stand before you today with a Bible and I will show you Bible for what I say and many people are not the least interested.

I believe that the need of the hour is for churches to get back to the Bible and refute everything in this movement with “thus saith the LORD.”

There are those who will label everything done in a church connected to this movement as being strictly of the Devil and then there are those who say that anything done in the name of the Lord is good.

Somewhere between those two extremes is the truth.

I am fully aware that this subject is almost as controversial as the subject of versions of the Bible.

Just to make sure that I don’t leave anyone out I intend to throw two stones at the same time.

I shall be as dogmatic and emphatic as those who preach false doctrine.

I shall state the Scriptures with confidence as did those who have gone before me.

Acts 24:14 (KJV)

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”

Psalms 12:6 (KJV)

“The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalms 12:7 (KJV)

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

Psalms 138:2 (KJV)

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

The Lord Jesus Christ lived nearly 2,000 years after the original manuscripts written by Moses had disappeared from the face of the earth.

He read from copies of copies of copies which the people had and never one time corrected them or suggested that there were any errors in them.

Instead he made these statements:

Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:18 (KJV)

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Matthew 24:35 (KJV)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

We live now some 2,000 years from the time of the Lord Jesus Christ and the writings of the original New Testament but we shall follow His example and believe that we do have a copy of the very words of the LORD.

In this study we will abide by two primary rules of Bible study set forth for us in the Bible itself.

1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13 (KJV)

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Every false teaching is the result of violating these rules.

The Apostolic Gift of Tongues

Matthew 11:13 (KJV)

“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”

It is clear that John the Baptist marks a time of transition in the word of God.

John’s preaching is clearly different than our preaching today which would say to me that John the Baptist is not one I could pattern my preaching after.

Mark 1:4 (KJV)

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

John preached repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

John the Baptist’s ministry is primarily a Jewish ministry.

John 1:29 (KJV)

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:30 (KJV)

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John 1:31 (KJV)

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”

John’s baptism was to manifest Christ to Israel.

This is some of that rightly dividing that you better learn if you truly want to rightly divide the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJV)

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”

In the Holy Scriptures there are three separate and distinct groups of people and they are not to be mixed.

Doctrinally every verse of scripture applies either to the Jews, the Gentiles, or the church of God.

When I say “Doctrine” I am not talking about such shallow definitions as “teaching.”

Doctrine in the word of God “teaches” that every verse of scripture is written to a specific group of people {Jews, Gentiles, or the church of God} during a specific period of time for a specific purpose.

Not every verse of scripture applies doctrinally to the church of God. [Example: Leviticus chapter 11]. Notice the scripture is written to “the children of Israel.” The children of Israel would be the Jews.

Notice the contrast between what John the Baptist had been preaching and the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:4 (KJV)

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

Mark 1:15 (KJV)

“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

There is no reference to John the Baptist preaching the gospel which is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 at any time in his ministry.

Throughout his ministry he preached repentance and baptism for the remission of sins.

It was John the Baptist ministry to prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke 16:16 (KJV)

“The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

This is another one of those things that a true Bible student will pay attention too.

The kingdom of heaven is a phrase only found in the Book of Matthew which is a Book written to present Jesus Christ as “King of the Jews.”

The “kingdom of heaven is a literal, visible, physical kingdom that can be seen just as one can look up and see “heaven.”

The “kingdom of God” is a spiritual kingdom that cannot be seen at this time. One enters into this kingdom by being born again {John chapter 3}.

When the Lord Jesus Christ came on the scene He began expounding on the Old Testament law that the Jews were very familiar with.

Matthew 5:21 (KJV)

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Matthew 5:22 (KJV)

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

Matthew 5:27 (KJV)

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matthew 5:28 (KJV)

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

The Lord Jesus expounded upon the law and thereby manifest the great truth that no man could keep the law and then pointed to Himself and said:

Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

You can only imagine how mad those religious leaders were when the Lord Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and then said I came to fulfill the law.

Yes, they got so mad at Him that they wanted to kill Him.

John 5:17 (KJV)

“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

John 5:18 (KJV)

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

He did exactly what He said He came to do and then went to the cross, died, was buried and rose again.

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”

1 Peter 2:22 (KJV)

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

“For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Yes, God was manifest in the flesh and lived perfectly according to the law and the prophets.

1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly established a new message called the gospel, but until after His resurrection you cannot find anyone who is preaching it.

In the first seven chapters of the Book of Acts we find that John the Baptist’ message of repentance and baptism is still being preached.

Prior to Acts chapter 8 no one preached that salvation was solely on the merits of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In acts chapter 8 we have the conversion of a son of Ham, a Gentile.

When you read Acts chapter 8 it is an Ethiopian Eunuch that is being preached to by Philip and in his sermon he preaches the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Using Isaiah 53 as his Scripture).

The Ethiopian Eunuch was saved by grace, through faith, and baptized afterwards.

The Scriptures clearly teach that his baptism was after his conversion.

Acts 8:36 (KJV)

“And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 8:37 (KJV)

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

In acts chapter 9 we have a conversion of a son of Shem, a Jew.

The Apostle Paul is saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and is called to be the apostle to the Gentiles.

Romans 11:13 (KJV)

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:”

His gospel message is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

1 Corinthians 15:1 (KJV)

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Corinthians 15:2 (KJV)

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:4 (KJV)

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

These great truths of the suffering Saviour who pays for the sins of the world with His own precious blood are found throughout the Old Testament, but prior to the conversion of the Apostle Paul they were hid from the hearts and minds of men.

Colossians 1:24 (KJV)

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Colossians 1:25 (KJV)

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Colossians 1:26 (KJV)

[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:”

If you do not know that God hides things from people then you have not been paying attention to what you read.

The salvation by grace through faith that we preach, the church and the body of Christ were all mysteries until the Apostle Paul.

The salvation of the soul through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is taught all through the Old Testament but it was not revealed until the Holy Spirit unveiled it through the writings of the Apostle Paul.

1 Peter 1:10 (KJV)

“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:

1 Peter 1:11 (KJV)

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

When you read the book of Acts there are no New Testament books that reveal the truth about the church.