LYING SIGNS AND WONDERS

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose
coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11

St. Matthew 24, Exodus 7:9-12, Acts 8:9-25, 2 Thess 2:8-11, St. Luke 18: 35-42
PLEAST NOTE: False signs and wonders will pull you away from God and draw your
attention to individuals to glorify them, but true miracles that are from God will draw
you closer to God and lead you to the path of righteousness, they will ALWAYS glorify
GOD ALONE.

While we would really want God to walk in signs and wonders in biblical times, and
nothing is wrong with that, but we are not encouraged in scriptures to seek after signs
and wonder, they may accompany or follow, but that is not what we should be looking
for.

One main purpose of signs and wonders was to open the door to preach the gospel.
They were a means to an end.

Remember Jesus’ response to John the Baptist we looked at earlier. Notice he didn’t just
stop with who was getting healed, but he added the gospel was being preached. While
miraculous things can be great to see and experience, what good are they if the gospel
is not preached along with it? Without the preaching of the gospel, these signs have no

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eternal value. Jesus didn’t come just to wow people with his power. He came to save
people from their sins, the greatest miracle.

Two Warnings about Seeking Signs and Wonders

Warning 1: Signs and Wonders Don’t Always Produce Conversions or Disciples

As wonderful as signs and wonders can be, they don’t always lead to salvation. We saw
earlier in John 2:23 that many believed when they saw the miraculous signs. But look at
what Jesus said in the very next verse in John 2:
But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. (John 2:24)

Warning 2: Seeking Signs and Wonders Can Open You Up to Deception

We should note that Satan has the power to mimic and produce false signs and
wonders. In some places or churches that believe in signs and wonders, pursuing these
things takes precedence over preaching and teaching the word of God. When these
things happen, people become open to deception. If a person’s faith is built primarily on
signs and wonders and not the word of God, they are walking on a very shaky
foundation and are prone to deception. Because signs and wonders appear to be
present, people ignore things like a person’s character, their teaching, and can
participate in things not found in Scripture.

Even though the exhilaration can feel great, make sure an emphasis accompanies them
on discipleship, the preaching and teaching of God’s word, the proclamation of the
gospel, and the glory of Jesus (not the glory of the person producing the “signs”). If
these things are not present, there is plenty of room for deception.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

We live in an hour when there is an emphasis on things that are supernatural. Operating
in the supernatural, people want to showcase how powerful and gifted they are. The
enemy uses false signs and wonders to deceive us and pull us away from God.

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What does the word supernatural mean? It is referring to things that cannot be
explained with a scientific or natural explanation. It is beyond the natural, a wonder that
seemingly defies logic and is not explainable by the known forces or laws of nature.
There are two sources that supernatural phenomenon can come from. Supernatural
manifestations are actually things that have their source of power from the spiritual
world. The spiritual world has two active powers in existence: God and His angels
and Satan and his devils (also known as fallen angels).

God is not the only power that operates in the spirit realm, demons also operate from
this realm because the spirit realm is where all spiritual activities takes place, and thy
influence the outcomes on the earth.

How can demonic "signs" be distinguished from Godly signs?

While both signs are supernatural, they are distinguishable by what they point to.
Supernatural signs that point to, honor, serve and glorify Jesus are of God. Supernatural
signs that point to, honor, serve or glorify anything or anyone else, including pastors,
dead Christians, etc., are not of God.

Why did they "believe" (Acts 8:12) Philip, and what does it affirm?
Because he "he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ" (Acts 8:12). The Gospel and the name of Jesus Christ overpowers even
long-held demonic strongholds.

Not all signs and wonders are from God. The Church is experiencing a lot of miracles at
this time, but along with the true miracles of God there are also false gifts of power,
signs and lying wonders, that are not of God.
How do we discern the difference so that we do not get caught up in something that is
not of God which could lead us into error?

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Prove All Things: Most Christians want to receive those things that the Lord is doing that
are miraculous, however some of the so called miracles of God are not coming from Him
at all, but are glorifying men and not God. As Christians we cannot receive nor accept all
miracles, signs and wonders just because the word “God or the Bible” is attributed as to
being the source of those things. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good.”
We are told to prove all things, not to reject them because they might be strange or new
to us. However, we should not receive them either, until we first prove them.
How do we prove things?
All true Christians are in agreement that our standard is the Word of God, the Bible. God
left us this Book as a reference, standard, or gauge so we could know whether
something is good or evil, truth or error, right or wrong. “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Some questions we need to ask when proving things.

 Does the sign, miracle or wonder line up with the Word of God?
 Is God receiving the glory for this miracle or is a man or woman being exalted?
 Does the miracle draw attention to Christ or to the man performing the miracle?
 Does this wonder causes you love and worship God more?
 Do it draw you closer to God?
 What is the purpose for this miracle?
The Lord does not perform miracles just to exhibit His power to men. He does them for
specific purposes and reasons.

This is demonstrated by the account of Jesus’ temptation of the devil to perform a

supernatural feat so people would know He was God’s son. Look at Matthew 4:5-
7, “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the
temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is
written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall
bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It
is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

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The Purpose of Signs & Wonders
Jesus refused to do a miracle just to demonstrate He had power. He called this tempting
God. God displays His power, signs, wonders and miracles for His purposes. Here are
some of the reasons and purposes in the Bible where the Lord demonstrates His signs,
miracles or wonders. This is only a very small listing of miracles in the Bible:

 Wonders of Apprehension (There are accounts of many men and women

throughout the Bible who experienced supernatural happenings to them
individually when the Lord called them for a special purpose.)
 Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3) – In the presence of God, He experienced
God’s requirement for holiness.
 Saul on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9) – In the presence of God, Saul was shown
his rebellion.
 Miracles of Provision (When God’s people had a need that could not be met at
the moment in the natural.)
 Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:16-21)
 Provision of the Manna to the Israelites (Exodus 16:35)
 Miracles of Protection (God keeps His people with angelic protection when they
are in danger.)
 Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)

Three Hebrew Children in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)

 Miracles of Deliverance from Plotted Destruction (God sends angelic messengers

to warn His people of danger and the way of escape.)
 Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus (Matthew 2)
 Peter from Prison (Acts 11)

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  Miracles of Healing (God heals His people from all manner of disease and
suffering through miracles.)
 Healing of the Blind, Lame, Diseased and Sick by the Apostles (Book of Acts)
 Healing of the Demonized Gaderenes (Luke 8:26-39)
 Miracles of Divine Revelation (God gives divine understanding of His Word and
His plans.)
 Jesus Reveals the Scriptures to His Disciples (Luke 24:45)
 Daniel Receives Visions and Revelation from God (Daniel 10)

From these accounts of miracles, signs and wonders we can see that the purposes of
God were performed. Some of the supernatural manifestations that are occurring in the
present move of God do not come from God at all. They are from another source, the
devil. Some Christians do not recognize them as coming from the devil as they quote
having feelings of ecstasy in these meetings or feeling what they call the anointing or
glory of God. There is a true feeling of the presence and the anointing of God; however,
some of what is happening is not of God. Many Christians live in a feeling realm with
God and just go from meeting to meeting so they can “feel” good. God’s true anointing
and glory will cause men to change and be transformed, not merely feel good or nice
feeling. If you are in the presence of God’s true glory, you will begin to see your sins and
repent and desire to do His will. God’s true glory is a revelation of His nature and
attributes.

One of our major faults as Christians is that we tend to listen to men on certain subjects
instead of referring to the Book God gave us. We recognize that God gave us men to
lead us into the truths of God, but our problem becomes who are the true men of God
and who are the false ones that Christ warned us about? Sometimes we tend to
evaluate men according to the size of their ministries, their popularity with men, or their

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endowment of certain gifts, etc. The true test should be to test them by evaluating their
fruit according to Galatians 5:22-24, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

Not only are we to test or try the spirits in men, but we are to do the same with any
supernatural manifestations that we might experience. Today, when the world is being
exposed to so many false things we need to be careful not to expose our spirits to false
dreams, visions, revelations, prophecies, voices, signs, miracles, wonders, etc. The Word
of God definitely teaches that God can manifest Himself in any, or all, of the above
things; yet we are not to accept everything that comes in the name of Jesus. We need to
test or prove these also. One of Satan’s greatest devices is to counterfeit the real things
of God and come to us disguised as the working of the Holy Spirit.

One reason some people move too quickly to accept the things they believe to be God is
that they are fearful of disobeying Him, and thereby angering Him. They do not yet
understand the loving and patient nature of our Father. The Lord never minds us testing
or trying things to see if He is in them. It is only when we put God on trial that we do
wrong. If we come to Him with a humble and sincere heart, wanting to know the answer
to an honest question, He is more than willing to reveal to us the truth about the
matter. The only time we will not get an answer from God is when we approach Him
rebelliously, demanding an answer from Him.

Many Christians are hesitant about proving or testing things as they tend to categorize
this right along with “judging,” and they have been taught they are to judge no man.
Most of us are familiar with the Scripture in Matthew 7:1 that says, “Judge not, that ye
be not judged.” If we look at only this one verse, and we are trying to judge a situation,
we will feel guilty about making an evaluation. However, we should look at all the other

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Scriptures related to this one, so we know how we are to judge. Let us continue to read
the rest of this Scripture:

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it
shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou
say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in
thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then
shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Matthew 7:2-5

Examining all these Scriptures, we see that Jesus is not saying we are not to judge, but
rather how we are to judge. We are to judge mercifully and according to the Word of
God. We need to humbly submit the thing in question to the Lord and ask Him to show
us if it is of Him or if the sign or wonder is from the devil. We need to go to the Word of
God and seek the answer in the Bible. If the sign is from Him it will bear witness to our
spirit, we who have the Spirit of Truth within us will be able to witness to and hear that
truth. If we are uncomfortable about a sign, miracle or wonder, this could be the Holy
Spirit warning us to test this thing. If a service is reduced to a circus atmosphere with
weird things that don’t agree with God’s nature, His gifts and His Word, it simply isn’t
our Lord. Some things just don’t pass the test. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says “Let all things be
done decently and in order.”

Although things are different in certain services it does not mean it is not God however,
you will have a witness in your spirit that this is of God if you are seeking God with your
whole heart. Ask Him to show you the truth and be open to receiving all that is from
Him. On the other hand, ask Him to show you when something is not of God so that you
will not be deceived. Make it a practice to run everything through what I call “the Holy
Ghost filter”. Always ask the Lord to show you the truth about things. I trust the Lord to

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guide me and show me what is of Him and to change my ideas if they are wrong about
something. I also expect Him to confirm to me when I am right about things.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show
you things to come. John 16:13

A Final Thought on Signs and Wonders

A true outpouring of the Holy Spirit will lead to the conviction of sin, repentance,
salvation, and transformation. These are the signs we should desire more than
anything else. Let your heart be drawn to a true move of the Holy Spirit, and if signs
and wonders follow, that is fantastic. If they don’t, but people’s lives are genuinely
transformed, this may be the sign and wonder we should be seeking most of all.

Don’t run after signs and wonders. Run after God, and if signs and wonders follow
you, wonderful. If not, remember knowing him and fellowshipping with him should be
the prize we are after anyway. It is in knowing him we find eternal life, not by
experiencing the signs and wonders.

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