I love to see the Lord move powerfully. In the last few weeks, we have had people delivered of various problems and bondages; some have been healed, heard this morning that someone who has stuttered for years due to an accident no longer stutters. Backs have been healed; families are being restored. I love it! But there is a danger to be a seeker of signs and wonders rather than He who does them.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9
I have been in places around the world where Satan has "healed," a stronger demonic force has replaced a weaker on, and it appeared to bring healing. Satan has "prophetically" spoken over people. It is not a prophecy at all. Instead, a demon speaks to a situation then causes it to happen. The anti-Christ will do these types of things.
The anti-Christ will function within the realm and authority of the angel of light, Lucifer. He has certain authority, and he will grant it to the anti-Christ. The word interpreted "sign" here means a beacon that points in a direction. The anti-Christ will do things that will point to himself as being the one full of power and being god!
He will do "lying wonders" these are the things that amaze people. miracles that make people marvel and say, "Wow!" Jesus warns that in the last days, there will be people that will do this. There have been people with this ability for ever. Jesus warned us that things like this would happen in Matthew 24:24, "For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Satan will do whatever he can to deceive people to attempt to destroy them in a way to hurt God. He will use these things to draw people away from God who do not know how to discern what is God and what is the devil.
Signs, wonders, prophecy, and other gifts do not necessarily mean the Lord is doing something. As I said earlier, I like when they happen, but the last day's church will be surrounded by things like this happening because people want the "magic" and not intimacy with the Lord. How do we know something is of God or not. Jesus told us how. Matthew 7:15,16 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits."
When we are filled with the Spirit, gifts are a natural outgrowth of the Spirit being alive in us. They are, after all, "gifts" that the Lord pours out freely. Anyone can have them and use them to impact the lives of others. However, fruit is the work we allow the Lord to perform on our character. He teaches us to live: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control. These are things a mature Christian chooses to example in their lives. Even an immature or baby Christian can flow in the gifts, but the nature of the fruit is that it is time tested.
I have really upset people in the past when I have not just accepted them because a particular gift or gifts are flowing through them. I hunger for integrity and for what is real. Someone can move in a powerful gift today and fall very badly tomorrow, but they will still possess the gift God gave them. Satan still has his gifts because God does not take them back. Fruit is something that assures life from every gift. Watch for the fruit when you see gifts flowing. If the fruit is good rejoice and join in. If the fruit is bad, stay away, trouble is coming.
Seek the Lord, never the gifts. The gifts will come if you seek Him. He desires to give good gifts to His children, and He desires for the world to know He is real!
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