How great are His signs! And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.
– Daniel 4:3, AMPC
It has been said that “God gives us signs to make us wonder,” and that’s so true! Many
people fi nd themselves with questions after encountering the seemingly unexplainable
marvels sent from God. All throughout history God has used signs and wonders as one
of the ways He speaks to His people and displays His glory in the earth. In order to fully
comprehend the meaning behind such divinely supernatural activity, let’s ask ourselves a few specific questions and search the Scriptures for further answers.
1. What Defines a Sign and a Wonder? Signs and wonders are miraculous events that
occur through the intervention of God. They are used to confi rm the authenticity of His
message and to demonstrate His power and authority. Signs most commonly occur on
the earth, while wonders most commonly occur in the heavens. (See Acts 2:19.) Based
on my personal perspective, there are so many signs and wonders mentioned in the
Bible that the exact number is diffi cult to determine. Some scholars estimate that there
are more than seventy miracles recorded in the New Testament alone, in addition to numerous other supernatural events and unexplainable phenomena mentioned throughout the Old Testament.
2. What Is the Purpose of Signs and Wonders? Signs and Wonders are used to point people to God and to help them believe in Him. We might say that signs are for the unbelievers, but they are also used to bring comfort and healing to those who are suffering and to demonstrate God’s love and care for His people. Our friend, Harold McDougal, likes to call them “tokens of God’s love,” and they certainly are. In many ways, God uses signs and wonders to remind us of His goodness. “God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose” (Hebrews 2:4, NLT).
3. How Have Signs and Wonders Been Displayed in the Bible? Signs and wonders
are seen throughout the Bible, from the plagues in Egypt (including water turning to
blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the angel
of death—see Exodus chapters 7-11), to the parting of the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:16-26), to Jesus performing many signs and wonders (including healing the sick, feeding the
hungry, and even raising the dead). And He commissioned us to do the same! “Cure
the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay)
you have received, freely (without charge) give” (Matthew 10:8, AMPC).
4. How Can We Discern True Signs and Wonders from False Ones? The Bible warns us
that false prophets and false signs and wonders will arise. We can discern true signs
and wonders by examining their fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20), testing them against the
Scriptures (see 1 John 4:1), and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians
12:10).
5. How Should We Respond to Signs and Wonders? Signs and wonders should lead us
to worship and glorify God. We must be careful not to worship the sign or the wonder.
Signs and wonders should also inspire us to share the Gospel with others and to seek
God’s will for our lives. We should approach signs and wonders with humility and a
willingness to learn from God, rather than seeking them for our own gain or as a sign
of our own spirituality.
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