1 Corinthians 1:22 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:".
Today there is much discussion in Christendom about signs, miracles, and wonders. Charismatic preachers filled with the supposed "Holy Ghost" claim they cast out devils, handle snakes, speak in tongues, heal the sick, and, yes, allegedly raise the dead! The Bible does teach these practices, but they are NOT the way God is working today. The grace dispensation in operation today focuses on faith and trusting Gods Word, not by relying on signs and wonders.
Unquestionably, the Lord Jesus Christ told His apostles to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" (Matthew 10:8). He instructed them to "cast out devils," "speak with new tongues," "take up serpents," drink poison, and "lay hands on the sick [so] they shall recover" (Mark 16:17,18). But, notice the context—Jesus is sending His apostles with "signs" to lost Israel (Matthew 10:5-7; Mark 16:17,20). Jews will only believe if they first witness God's miracles.
Signs, miracles, and wonders were significant in Israel's program. Jews always "required signs". The Lord Jesus said (John 4:48): "Except ye [Israel] see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Miracles in Israel first appear in Exodus 4:1-9, when God gave Moses the ability to heal sickness and handle snakes (to teach Israel that he was God's servant to deliver them from Egypt). Verses 30 and 31 explain that once Israel saw these signs, "the people believed" (cf. John 4:48). God made a covenant with Israel to do signs, see Exo.34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry to prove to Israel that He was God's servant, their Messiah-King, the God whom their fathers worshipped. Sadly, sinful Israel crucified Him in unbelief.
When God began turning to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul, these miracles continued through Paul for a short while during the transition from the Kingdom program (for the Jews) to the Grace program (for the Gentiles), effectively teaching Israel that God was now working amongst the Gentiles (Romans 11:11,12; 1 Corinthians 14:21,22). Eventually, when Israel's program ceased, the miracles faded, and towards the close of Paul's ministry, he could no longer heal or pray over handkerchiefs or raise the dead (1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20).
Today, in this age of grace, the focus is not on signs and miracles. They didn't do anything for Israel, so why would they do anything more for the Gentiles? God is not working through signs and miracles today because that modus operandi belonged to Israel's dispensation.
1 Cor.13:8 Charity [Agape love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
The modus operandi for today is 'faith'. God has given us His completed Word in which He has said all He needs to say. He has provided advice, direction, salvation, an indwelling Spirit, and even revealed future events. There is no need for God to reveal Himself in signs and wonders. The twisted minds of today's humanity will simply account that to magic and other mystic sources anyways. We are called to believe in God, to believe in His Word and to walk according to what He has revealed in it.
Jn.20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
2 Cor.5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Col.2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [by faith], so walk ye in him [by that same faith]:
Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
When our Grace program closes (when the Body of Christ is raptured), this will restart the Kingdom program that was blinded (or temporarily put on hold). At the restart of this Kingdom program, the modus operandi of God will resume with signs and wonders. Simply open the book of Revelation which takes you through the 7-years of Tribulation. Almost every page has supernatural events in it, albeit mostly from Satan and his false prophet. Revelation refers to miracles like fire from heaven, water turning to blood, the sun and moon going dark, resurrections, the return of Christ, deserts blooming, a city of gold from heaven, etc.
All these will happen again during the kingdom program, but until then, God will continue to speak through His Word and whisper in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
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