|
|
SIGN
Something that points to, or represents, something larger or more important than itself. The word is used in this way to refer to a wide variety of things in the Bible. But by far the most important use of the word is in reference to the acts of God. Thus, it is often linked with "wonders." In the Old Testament most references point to the miracles produced by God to help deliver the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt <Ex. 7:3; Is. 8:18>.
In the New Testament the word signs is linked with both "wonders" and "miracles" <Acts 2:22; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4>. Signs point primarily to the powerful, saving activity of God as experienced through the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. The word occurs frequently in the Gospel of John, pointing to the deeper, symbolic meaning of the miracles performed by Jesus. Throughout the Bible the true significance of a sign is understood only through faith.
(from Nelson's Illustrated
Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986,
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
More....
Since there has been a new round of sign phenomena beginning to be heard about, particularly the incredible appearance of gold dust, gold flakes and even golden fillings appearing in people's mouths; and since there has been some discussion about it on this list, I have felt compelled to share some principles about signs and wonders. It could have been predicted, (not prophesied - well, maybe prophesied too) that there would quickly arise a polarization within the Body of Christ about whether these signs and wonders were divine or counterfeit.
The fact is, it could
be either in any given case. What would you answer to this question? Someone
turns a rod into a serpent - is it a divine sign and wonder.. or counterfeit?
Well, in Scripture we see it could be either, as in the case of Moses and
the Egyptian magicians.
A sign is an abnormal,
unusual attention-getter, designed to point to something.
Here, where I live in Northwest Florida, there are lots and
lots of trees. In fact
I live in the midst of miles and miles of pine forests.
If I were to tell someone to drive down the road for a few
miles until they saw
the pine tree on the left and turn there, they would
most certainly become lost since there are hundreds of trees all
looking pretty much
the same. If, on the other hand I said, "look for the
pine tree that has been sawed into planks, nailed together, painted
white and has an arrow
on it pointing left", (i.e. a sign) it would be much
easier to find the destination the sign points to.
The fact is, a sign is simply that, an unusual "something" that gets our attention. A sign is of necessity an unusual, abnormal phenomena, otherwise is would not serve its purpose. The validity of the sign is found in not what the sign is, but what the sign points to. The sign phenomena itself cannot be the solo criteria by which we judge whether it is divine or counterfeit. A sign is meant to point to something. What it points to makes all the difference.
And that leads to another principle. The sign is not the destination, but points us to the destination. Which, in all cases should be Jesus.
THAT is the criteria by which to judge. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 states:
"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, "and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'-- which you have not known--' and let us serve them,' "you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
The accuracy of a
word, validity of a sign or anything else is not measured
by whether it is an authentic miracle, but rather, if it
glorifies Jesus. Can
God give golden fillings to people's teeth? Absolutely.
Can the enemy counterfeit? Quite probably. In the meetings
being described, is
the name of Jesus being lifted up? In the gospel being
preached? Are people being provoked to deeper devotion to Jesus.
Are they recovering
their first love for the Lord? These are the real
criteria. I would
venture to say from group to group those criteria may be
different. Lets not judge it by the phenomena itself but by the
criteria of what the
signs and wonders are pointing to.
Jim Wies <jimmy@cornerstonemin.org>
Website <http://www.cornerstonemin.org>
Click on the 'back' button to return to where you were.
