REPLY TO A QUESTION ON SIGN GIFTS

REPLY TO A QUESTION ON SIGN GIFTS

The Question Posed

he following was occasioned by an enquiry from my son about the following verses in Mark’s Gospel: - “He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that have believed: in thy name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing it shall not injure them; they shall lay their hands on the infirm and they shall be well.” Mark 16: 16 -18.

On the basis of the following two verses, 19 & 20 we can say that this scripture has been fulfilled. However the question raised was basically, “Do verses 16 – 18 not lead us to expect that our belief in the Lord Jesus will be confirmed by the continuation of similar acts of power in the present day?

The answer given is not an attempt to answer every question that could be raised with respect to sign gifts but rather to point in the direction where I feel the answers lie. This paper contains basically the reply given to my son’s question but it has evolved and expanded somewhat.

The Works of Power Performed by the Lord Jesus

After John the Baptist was put in prison the Lord was subjected to the temptation in the desert, where he defeated and in effect bound the strong man (Satan), Mat. 12: 29; he then continued preaching the same message as John namely, that the kingdom of the heavens (although it had not actually come) had come near. Unlike John, however, who was a voice and performed no miracle he, having bound Satan, proceeded to spoil his goods by means of works of power, healing every disease and bodily weakness among the people. He had come, in the first instance, to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel, (See Mat. 15: 24.) and by means of these works had demonstrated the power of the kingdom amongst them. However, at the end of the day they would have none of it and crucified him saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” Luke 19: 14.

These miracles were, I believe, a demonstration of the works of power of the coming age that are spoken about in Heb. 6: 5. In the days when the kingdom is established on the earth these will undo the works of the devil. The devil himself will be bound once more, this time for a thousand years. Rev. 20: 1 – 3.

The works performed by the Lord Jesus were also an accreditation of his ministry demonstrating that the kingdom had indeed come near. John 14: 11.

The Message Preached by the Lord’s Disciples and the Signs That Followed.

When we come to the end of Mark’s Gospel the Lord’s disciples are instructed to take the gospel beyond the boundaries of Israel to the whole world. (Those invited to the feast in the first instance had refused to come; there were others who would.) The preachers performed similar works of power to these carried out by the Lord while the message that they preached is not specified in detail. Mark 16: 15 -20. We do know that they did preach ‘The forgiveness of sins’ but the detailed teaching of Christianity and the truth of ‘The one body’ were not known at this time. For this we need to wait for the conversion and call of Saul of Tarsus. (Paul)

I would like to say three things about the signs that followed the disciples preaching.

1) They were a demonstration of the works of power of the coming age.

2) They were not inconsistent with the setting up of the kingdom on the earth.

3) They were not inconsistent with the inauguration of Christianity.

This was a transitional period and while these two things (i.e. the setting up of the kingdom on the earth and Christianity.) could not really run in parallel room is left for either. Luke, in writing the Book of Acts, tells us that after the resurrection the eleven disciples chosen by the Lord asked him if it was the time for him to restore the kingdom to Israel. His reply neither confirmed nor excluded that possibility and, in fact, an offer was actually made to Israel along these lines by Peter in his address in Acts Chapter 3: 20. He offered, on the basis of their repentance, the possibility of the return of the Lord Jesus to them. Although a goodly number did believe, the nation generally did not and consequently, “the time of the restitution of all things” Acts 3: 21, remains a future event. The Jews actually go further with their rejection of Jesus as the Christ by stoning Stephen opening up the way for the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. This makes way for the introduction of the truth of Christianity, i.e. Jew and Gentile reconciled to God in one body as a distinctive thing from all that had taken place in the past.

The kingdom was not then set up in power on the earth, being postponed because of Christ’s rejection, until a future day. The works of power of the coming age await that day for their full implementation and will bring about universal relief to the creature as we read in Rom. 8: 18- 23.

During the transitional period when the offer of the establishment of the kingdom was, in all fairness, being made to Israel these powers were in operation and overlapped into Christianity giving it accreditation in the eyes of the world.

The Use of Gifts in the Church. – Rom 12, 1Cor.14.

1) Tongues - What is Their Purpose?

The Jews require a sign says the scripture. 1 Cor. 1: 22, Mat. 12: 38 – 40. Paul writing to the Corinthian church says that it is written in the law, “By people of other tongues, and by strange lips, will I speak to this people; and neither thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.” 1 Cor. 14: 21 – 22. Why then, in the church, misuse this gift that was evidently a sign to the unbelieving Jew. If a gift is possessed, then it ought to be used in a scriptural manner that godly order might prevail in the church. In the days before, what I would call, the modern charismatic movement a young man connected with the Pentecostals, as they were then styled, said in relation to going into tongues that, “I cannot help myself.” Surely the principle that the scripture applies to the use of the prophetic gift is applicable here, namely that, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

Paul says that certain things had to do with the child state of things and not that which belongs to full manhood. 1 Cor. 13:11.

2) Prophecy – What is its Purpose?

Prophecy, on the other hand is a gift that can be used for edification. It may involve the foretelling of future events but this is not necessarily the case; its purpose is to produce a moral result in the lives of those addressed. See 2 Pet. 3: 10 – 11. It has, and I believe rightly, been described as a word for the moment, that is to meet the need of any particular moment in time. In Israel the prophet appeared, when failure had come in among the people as witness the case of Nathan the prophet with David over Bathsheba. The prophet’s mission was restoration and, similarly today the prophetic word has this end in view. Sometimes it has coming judgement in view but even here, if we consider the case of Jonah, a moral result from the prophetic word to the inhabitants of Nineveh was achieved and the judgement was withheld. It was either self judgement or coming judgement.

The addresses to the seven churches in the book of Revelation are typical examples of prophetic words where, in each case, the individual (We cannot escape individual responsibility when there is corporate failure.) is called to, “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” These addresses indeed constitute a word for the present day. Listen to what he says to one of these churches – “Thou hast a name that thou livest but art dead.”

3) Beware of False Prophets

Only a fraud would be so arrogant in the present day to say that he had a new revelation saying, “Thus saith the Lord,” in effect making an apostle of himself. The true present day prophet would take the written word and in the power of the Spirit apply it to the present situation and need. You say to me, “Surely people do not make such claims?” Indeed they do; here is an example: - “Then the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to me. I saw him as clearly as I would see you. He stood within three feet of me. He discussed things concerning my ministry and finances, and he even discussed things concerning our United States government. All these things came to pass ---- He said, “You are correct. My Spirit, the Holy Spirit, has endeavoured to get another sermon into your spirit, but you have failed to pick it up. While I am here, I will do what you ask. I will give you that sermon outline. Now get your pencil and paper and write it down.” #1Tell me, what moral lesson does this sort of thing teach us? How can people believe such rubbish? If it were true, what he wrote down would have the same absolute authority as the Bible and would be binding on all. As far as the exercise of the prophetic gift in the church is concerned let us listen to the scripture, “Let the prophets speak and let the others judge.” 1 Cor 14: 29. Yes God does speak to us today but it is from that written word that we call the Bible and those who sit under the sound of it have a responsibility to weigh up all that is said and where applicable apply it. Those who speak are not infallible and while what they say, on the whole, may be good and profitable their apprehension of things may be imperfect, hence the responsibility of the hearers to judge.

Many of the modern self-styled prophets are frequently pictured on the covers of glossy coloured magazines dressed in height of fashion suits with the blue of the eyes over emphasised. Their theology is often – ‘How to become wealthy.’ Reader, judge for your self! Is this what the apostle meant when he said about the Lord Jesus, “That though he were rich, yet for our sakes became poor that we through his poverty might become rich?”

Many years ago I saw another example of this arrogance and conceit from the charismatic movement. Walking up Hanover Street in the city of Glasgow I read this huge notice: - ‘Looking for the church of the New Testament – Here it is.’

I urge believers; don’t let us get carried away with every wind of doctrine and man’s persuasive words. The enemy is lying in wait to deceive with his counterfeits. Let us be on our guard.

4) Gift Ought to be Used in Subjection to the Lord

The ascended Lord gives gifts for the edification of the body and the recipient is responsible to the Lord as to how and when he uses them. These are distributions of the Spirit, 1Cor. 2: 11, not simply natural talents but the ascended Lord is the head of the body, he directs the church; to introduce man’s pre-arrangement as to who should speak or to set in order the meeting by the introduction of a clergyman, a chairman or a president is to usurp the position of both the Lord and the Spirit. It is most important that room is left for the exercise of gift when the church comes together. This in no way sets aside the liberty of a brother or brethren to arrange or conduct meetings to fulfil a particular exercise that the Lord has laid on them. In that case, they have a responsibility to fulfil it.

We hear much these days about platform and conference speakers. Does this not just feed the ego of the flesh? Does this not spring from man’s pre-arrangement? Did not Paul say that when he came to the Corinthians that it was not with, “enticing words of man’s wisdom?” 1 Cor. 2 1 – 5. We read about Apollos being eloquent in the scriptures but I don’t recall reading about there being a gift of eloquence. There is a danger, I believe, in all this that some real gift from the Lord could be despised and the Spirit quenched. We need to get a right estimate of ourselves, and then we wont speak about platform or conference speakers or indeed about taking meetings but, more modestly perhaps, happy on occasion participate together with our brethren. Paul says, “Consider your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not many high born. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things etc. ---- so that no flesh should boast before God.” 1 Cor. 1: 26 – 29.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Cor. 4: 7. O that we might be nothing and Christ everything!

Returning to the subject of sign gifts, - while the Lord is sovereign and is not limited to time and place, I have seen no present evidence of these gifts and neither do I expect to see them in the present day. However, I have seen much that passes itself off for them, in vain babblings and astonishing claims that are evidently not of God. It is dangerous to trifle with these things; remember King Saul and his ignominious end, 1 Sam. 28 - 31, (They said of him, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 1 Sam. 10: 11.) Also, remember Charlie English’s story of the young woman#2 in Edinburgh and how she finished up. It is with good reason that scripture warns us to, “beware of false prophets”

Healing Powers

Paul used healing powers as he pushed the gospel westwards through new territories. Acts 28: 7 – 10. As time went on the Apostles seem to speak less and less of these sign gifts and they were not used in the case of Epaphroditus nor in that of Trophemus at Miletum. Php. 2: 25 – 28, and 2 Tim. 4: 20.

In the Epistle of James, the prayer of faith that heals the sick appears to be in relation to sins that have been committed and these believers still seem to be attached to the synagogue, in other words still in the transitional period.

The Future and the Present

The future is spoken about in the following terms: - “For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ following cleverly imagined fables but having been eye witnesses of his majesty ---- etc.” 2 Peter 1: 16. Here then the indication is given that the future kingdom will be established on the earth in power whereas today his “strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The Present is spoken about thus: - “I John your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience,#3 in Jesus.” Rev.1: 9. This is what characterises the present day rather than displays of outward power not so suitable in a day of general departure from God and his word. e.g. The recognition of headship in the covering of the women’s head and their silence in the church, which seems to be totally ignored by the modern charismatic movement. 1 Cor. 14. 34. For those who hanker after such displays remember Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5.

GWD November 2004

#1 ‘How to write your own ticket with God’ Kenneth E. Hagin.