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The Signs of God (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeJesus Christ, in Matthew 12:39, declares that an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, responding to the people testing Him by demanding a sign from heaven, as noted in Luke 11:16, 29. Despite having performed numerous miracles, these individuals likely sought a personal, undeniable display, yet Jesus refuses to indulge their whims, indicating that if they do not believe His prior works, they should look to the sign of Jonah—His burial and resurrection. He labels them as evil and adulterous due to their unfaithfulness, suggesting that faithful obedience would have aligned their minds correctly and reduced enmity toward the Messiah. Jesus is not opposed to signs, as they reveal God and His faithfulness, evident in the deliberate structure of signs in the gospel of John and throughout the Old Testament. However, He rebukes the hardness of heart that demands entertainment or sensory thrill over genuine belief, asserting that even a great miracle would not instill true faith when ample evidence has already been provided. God-given signs in the Old Testament, if believed, would have prepared the people of Christ's day to recognize their Savior. When God provides a sign, He expects it to be carefully considered as a foundation for future decisions, linking disbelief in His signs to a rejection of Him. Forgetting God's signs leads to forgetting Him. A sign, primarily from the Hebrew word 'owth, communicates meaning as a symbol, mark, miracle, or token, though not all signs carry equal significance. In Deuteronomy 11:18, God emphasizes His words as a major sign, instructing that they be laid up in the heart and soul, bound as a sign on the hand, symbolizing activity and work. This binding ensures that every action is guided by His instructions, communicating meaningful divine revelation. Obedience to God's instructions serves as a sign to the follower, reminding him of God's covenant and the best way to live, while also testifying to a God who desires His people to emulate His way of life. Binding His instructions to our hands signifies the pursuit of living like the Son of God, marking a profound sign of the goal we strive toward.
The Signs of God
Sermonette byJesus Christ is not against signs; the book of John is structured around eight signs. The Old Testament is full of signs that the Pharisees missed.
Discerning Signs and Redeeming Time
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod's people have an obligation to awaken out of their complacency, realizing that their allotted time for repenting and overcoming is drawing to its close.
Is Speaking in Tongues the Only Sign?
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingIn Pentecostalism, speaking in 'tongues' is the worshipped sign that God has accepted a person. Yet the miracle of Pentecost was not the speaking gibberish.
The Miracles of Jesus Christ (Part One)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsJesus' miracles did far more than merely excite His audience: They declared the Source of His power and His message.
Where Is God Working?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeAre numeric growth or miraculous signs sure indicators of God's presence? Before trying to determine where God is working, we must understand what God is doing.
Matthew (Part Eighteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIf we ask God for protection from demonic influence, we cannot sit back passively; Satan always counterattacks. Evil must be displaced with good.
Is God a Magician?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTechnology makes us susceptible to the 'quick fix' mentality, expecting miraculous solutions to all problems, making us susceptible to false miracles.
Pentecost and Speaking In Tongues
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe apostle Paul teaches that tongues (languages) are only used to communicate intelligently, not gibberish. Tongues originally served as a sign for unbelievers.
The Pharisees (Part 1)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHaving their origin in the days of Ezra, the Scribes and Pharisees were extremely zealous for the law, separating themselves for this exclusive purpose.