Is Performing Signs And Wonders The Identifying Test Of Yah'shuah's Servants?
By Isaac Aluochier
All scripture quotations are from the World English Bible published at http://www.ebible.org/Bible/WEB/.
CONTENTS
Signs Accompanying Believers In Yah'shuah
Mark 16:15-20 reads,
16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; 16:18they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."16:19
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 16:20They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.It is clear from Yah'shuah's words that the signs he spoke about in 16:17 would accompany those who believe. 16:20 confirms that the signs that Yah'shuah spoke about indeed accompanied this servants, for Yah'shuah in heaven performed those signs through his servants on earth who preached his word wherever they preached.
Are All Those Who Perform Signs In Yah'shuah's Name His Servants?
Seeing the testimony of 16:17 and 16:20, is it correct to conclude that if a person preaches Yah'shuah and performs these signs mentioned in 16:17 that he is indeed a servant of Yah'shuah? Are all who preach Yah'shuah and perform these signs mentioned in 16:17 his servants?
The Scribes And Pharisees Sought A Sign From Yah'shuah
Matthew 12:38-40 reads,
12:38
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."12:39
But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Yah'shuah does not perform signs simply because it is a great spectacle to behold.
Then why does he perform signs? What is their purpose?
The Pharisees And Sadducees Sought A Sign From Yah'shuah
Matthew 16:1-4 reads,
16:1
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 16:2But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 16:3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! 16:4An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah."He left them, and departed.
The Pharisees And Sadducees Failed To Discern The Signs Around Them
Yah'shuah's answer to the Pharisees and Sadducees indicates that there were signs around them that they could see, but they did not have the discernment to see them. This implies that there are some with the discernment to see the signs around them, and there are others without that discernment. These others do not therefore see the real signs around them.
Hypocrites, Evil And Adulterous People Do Not Have The Discernment To See Signs Around Them
Yah'shuah's words also imply that those who are hypocrites, those who are evil and adulterous, do not have the discernment to see the real signs around them. Therefore, to have discernment to see the real signs around one, a person must indeed be living righteously, forsaking hypocrisy, evil and adultery.
Yah'shuah's Disciples Sought A Sign From Him
Matthew 24:1-3 reads,
24:1
Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 24:2But he answered them, "Don’t you see all of these things? Most assuredly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down."24:3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?"It should be noted from 24:3 that the disciples went to Yah'shuah PRIVATELY. Earlier on it was seen that Yah'shuah was not keen to give hypocritical, evil and adulterous people a sign that they sought. But here it was his own disciples who were seeking a sign from him. Did he give them the sign that they sought?
It should also be noted that the disciples asked Yah'shuah TWO questions. The first concerned the timing of the events Yah'shuah spoke about, that is when the buildings of the temple would be destroyed. The second concerned the sign of his coming and of the end of the world, indicating and implying that Yah'shuah's coming would take place at the end of the world.
Yah'shuah's Disciples Were Righteous
Matthew 24:4-14 reads,
24:4
Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. 24:5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 24:6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 24:7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 24:8But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 24:9Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 24:10Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 24:11Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 24:12Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 24:13But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 24:14This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.That Yah'shuah answered his disciples' questions regarding signs implies that his disciples were not as the Pharisees and the Sadducees whom he refused to give the signs they sought from him. His disciples were not hypocrites, evil or adulterous, but lived righteous lives. Therefore, to receive answers to questions we put to Yah'shuah we must indeed be living righteous lives as his disciples lived.
Many Are Led Astray By Many Professing That Yah'shuah Is The Christ
It should be noted from 24:4-5 that MANY would come in Yah'shuah's name, affirming that Yah'shuah was indeed the Christ. Nevertheless, despite affirming that Yah'shuah indeed was the Christ they would still lead many astray. Implying that one effective method by which many would be led astray is by someone affirming to them that Yah'shuah indeed was the Christ. In other words, affirming a truth, even a fundamental truth as Yah'shuah being the Christ, is no guarantee that the person so affirming is walking in righteousness. That is, just because a person affirms that Yah'shuah indeed is the Christ is no guarantee that the person will not lead another astray.
Professing That Yah'shuah Is The Christ Does Not Make One His Servant
It should therefore be clear that affirming that Yah'shuah is the Christ is NOT a definitive method of assessing whether a person walks in righteousness or in the path that he ought to walk. There is more involved to walking in righteousness or in the path that one ought to walk other than affirming that Yah'shuah is the Christ.
That Yah'shuah gave this sign indicated that many would come to believe that he Yah'shuah was indeed the Christ, and after so doing be receptive to the words and works of those who so professed. Nevertheless, mere profession that Yah'shuah is the Christ is not and ought not to be sufficient for one to follow the words or works of the one so professing. There is more involved to walking in the path that one ought to walk than mere profession that Yah'shuah is the Christ.
What is involved in walking in the path one ought to walk?
Yah'shuah's True Servants Will Be Delivered Up To Oppression
24:9 shows that Yah'shuah's true servants will be delivered up to oppression and be killed, and will be hated by all nations. Seeing that Yah'shuah has already said that there will be many who will not truly be serving him, but will cause many others to go astray, it is plausible that these false servants and followers of Yah'shuah will escape the oppression and death that Yah'shuah's true servants and followers will undergo. It is plausible that Yah'shuah's false servants will not be hated as his true servants will be hated.
Many Of Yah'shuah's Servants Will Stumble
That 24:10 shows that many will stumble, and will deliver up one another and hate one another, implies that those spoken about here will have been together in the same group prior to these events. In other words, those who will stumble will have been those who prior to their stumbling had been apparently walking in Yah'shuah's way and following him. But when the oppression against Yah'shuah's true servants commences there will be a separation among those who profess to follow Yah'shuah. Some will remain steadfast to Yah'shuah and suffer the consequences that Yah'shuah has prophesied. But others will deny Yah'shuah and his way and inflict suffering upon Yah'shuah's true servants. This will be a time for separation, between those truly and those not truly serving Yah'shuah.
24:11 reiterates the point made in 24:4-5, of false servants of Yah'shuah arising and leading many astray.
Normal Human Activities Will Continue On To The Time Of The End
Matthew 24:15-22 reads,
24:15
When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24:16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 24:17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 24:18Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 24:19But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 24:20Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 24:21for then will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 24:22Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened.24:19 shows that the human life cycle of bearing children and nursing them will continue and exist even in the days of the end of the age. 24:20 shows that the seasonal and climatic cycle including winter and summer would continue and exist even in the days of the end of the age. It also shows that in Judea the observance of the Sabbath would exist even in the days of the end of the age.
24:22 implies that the intensity of the oppression of those days would be so great that if no intervention were made all flesh - man, animals, birds, fish, crawling things, etc. - would be exterminated. In other words, the oppression of those days includes great environmental harm.
False Christs And Prophets Will Perform Great Signs And Wonders
Matthew 24:23-24 reads,
24:23
"Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24:24For there will arise false Christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.Yah'shuah shows that the purpose of the prophesied false Christs and false prophets performing great signs and wonders is to lead people astray! In other words, a purpose for the performance of signs and wonders is to influence people to act in a given desired manner.
Performance Of Signs And Wonders Is Not Definitive In Assessing The Veracity Of Their Performer
Seeing that signs and wonders are used by false Christs and prophets to lead astray those faithfully serving Yah'shuah, it should indeed be noted that performing signs and wonders is NOT definitive in assessing whether or not a particular person is a true servant of Yah'shuah. Yah'shuah's servants should therefore not determine the veracity of anyone by means of observing the signs and wonders performed by that person.
Matthew 24:25-31 reads,
24:25
"Behold, I have told you beforehand. 24:26If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it. 24:27For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 24:28For wherever the carcass is, there will the vultures be gathered together. 24:29But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 24:30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 24:31He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
The End Time A Period Of Great Falsehoods
It should be noted that the time of the end will be a time of great falsehoods. For many will be performing various works and speaking various words in order to deceive Yah'shuah's true servants to join them in their falsehoods. They will come in Yah'shuah's name, acknowledging that Yah'shuah indeed is the Christ, and will perform great signs and wonders, purportedly in Yah'shuah's name. Nevertheless they will be false, for they will not walk in the path that they ought to walk, and will seek to cause Yah'shuah's true servants to walk with them in their strayed path. It is therefore incumbent that Yah'shuah's servants must know the path that they ought to walk in, and resolutely remain in it.
Fundamental Aspects Of Yah'shuah's Way
24:12 encapsulates fundamental aspects of Yah'shuah's way. It is a way devoid of iniquity. It is a way full of love. Yah'shuah's true servants are those who walk in love and righteousness. The false servants are those who, despite professing Yah'shuah as the Christ, and performing great signs and wonders in his name, do not walk in love and righteousness. It is therefore imperative that Yah'shuah's true servants steadfastly remain in the way of love and righteousness, even in the face of great signs and wonders being done before them in order to draw them away from this way.
Yah'shuah's Words Will Not Pass Away
Matthew 24:32-36 reads,
24:32
"Now from the fig tree learn her parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 24:33Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 24:34Most assuredly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 24:36But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
By Their Fruits You Will Know Them
Matthew 7:13-23 reads,
7:13
"Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 7:14How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.7:15
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 7:16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 7:18A good tree can’t bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 7:19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 7:20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.7:21
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 7:22Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy by your name, by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works?’ 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’What are the fruits that Yah'shuah speaks about in 7:15-20?
False Prophets Appear Harmless But Are Very Harmful
In 7:15 Yah'shuah's shows that false prophets appear to be harmless, but, in reality, they are very harmful.
When trees begin to grow it takes time for them to reach maturity and yield fruit. At that stage it is clear whether their fruit is good or bad. It would therefore appear that false prophets might not be clearly apparent at the commencement of their works. But, in time, after their maturity and the results of their prophesying have become apparent, it should be clear whether they are true or false. For the results of their prophesying reveal whether they are evil or good.
Lip Service Is Insufficient For Entering The Kingdom Of Heaven
In 7:21-23 Yah'shuah shows that lip service is not sufficient for him to grant a person entry into the kingdom of heaven. To enter the kingdom of heaven requires ACTION - specifically doing the will of Yah'shuah's Father who is in heaven. Therefore those who do not do Yah'shuah's Father's will are not accorded entry into the kingdom of heaven.
Doing Mighty Works In Yah'shuah's Name Insufficient For Entering The Kingdom Of Heaven
7:22 notes that lip service might also involve doing various works in Yah'shuah's name, such as prophesying, casting out demons and many mighty works. Nevertheless, just because one prophesies, casts out demons and does many mighty works in Yah'shuah's name does not guarantee that Yah'shuah knows that one. For in 7:23 Yah'shuah says that he will tell MANY who have done all of these things in his name that he NEVER knew them! It should be noted that it is not the case that he knew them at a point in time and then lost knowledge of them. It is the case that he NEVER knew them. In other words, these many who did all these many mighty works in Yah'shuah's name were NEVER his servants!
Working Iniquity Is Not Doing Yah'shuah's Father's Will
In 7:23 Yah'shuah also says that these MANY are those who work iniquity. In other words, working iniquity is the opposite of doing the will of Yah'shuah's Father. Therefore doing the will of Yah'shuah's Father entails working righteousness. It is also implied that those whom Yah'shuah knows are those who work righteousness, which includes abiding by his word.
Do Not Receive Someone Simply Because He Comes And Works In Yah'shuah's Name
Yah'shuah's true servants should therefore clearly understand that just because someone comes to them in Yah'shuah's name, acknowledging that Yah'shuah is the Christ, prophesies in Yah'shuah's name, casts out demons in Yah'shuah's name, and does many mighty works in Yah'shuah's name, they should not automatically believe that one. For undertaking all of these works in Yah'shuah's name does not prove that a person is truly Yah'shuah's servant and is known by him. Those who are truly Yah'shuah's servants also do the will of Yah'shuah's Father and abide by Yah'shuah's words. Therefore, if one performs all of these works in Yah'shuah's name, yet does not do the Father's will or abide by Yah'shuah's words, that one is not a true servant of Yah'shuah but a false one. Such a person should not be associated with or followed, for such a person seeks to lead astray those who truly seek and follow Yah'shuah.
Matthew 7:24-27 reads,
7:24
"Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.7:25The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 7:26Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. 7:27The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell — and great was its fall."
Why People Are Given Power To Perform Signs And Wonders
It should be noted that Yah'shuah has indeed given his true servants power and authority to perform signs and wonders in his name. This is for the cause of influencing those who see their works and hear their words into believing that they have been sent by Yah'shuah and are truly serving him. Nevertheless, there are also those who do not belong to Yah'shuah who also preach Yah'shuah and perform many signs and wonders in Yah'shuah's name. This they do to influence those among whom they work to follow after the way they desire that they follow. The world is therefore divided between true and false servants of Yah'shuah, both professing to work in Yah'shuah's name, and preaching him and doing their works in his name.
What Path Do The Performers Of Signs And Wonders Cause Their Audience To Walk In?
To distinguish between the true and false servants of Yah'shuah one should not look at the signs both of these groups of servants perform. One should look at the paths they seek to cause those among whom they work to follow. Yah'shuah's true servants seek to cause their audience to do the will of Yah'shuah's Father and to abide by Yah'shuah's words. Yah'shuah's false servants seek to cause their audience to disobey the will of Yah'shuah's Father and Yah'shuah's words through wickedness and iniquity.
The Working Of Love And Righteousness Determines True Servants Of Yah'shuah
It therefore appears that the fundamental test of true or false servants is not the working of signs and wonders, but rather the working of love and righteousness. Those who come in the way of love and righteousness, doing Yah'shuah's Father's will and abiding in Yah'shuah's words are true servants. Those who come in the way of callousness, selfishness and iniquity, doing wickedness and not listening to Yah'shuah's words, are false servants. The working of signs and wonders is therefore not a definitive test in assessing the veracity of Yah'shuah's servants.
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