Morning Moments

Chapter Three

CONSIDERATION OF SUBJECTS

At this point, I think that there are some extremely important general observations to make about the Bible before we proceed.  Going back to our initial thought of the picture puzzle, we are forced to step back and carefully observe some things about the overall picture before seeking explore and explain where and why and when each piece fits.

One thing that I find of extreme importance that most ignore is the time and place of signs and wonders, and diverse miracles.  It is, to me, of major importance in gaining spiritual understanding.  Let me see if I can explain clearly what I mean.

In the first place, when I read Hebrews chapter eleven in the New Testament, which records several people of faith from the Old Testament, I only find one of those listed whose ministry was ever accompanied by signs, wonders, and diverse miracles, and that was Moses.  It is not to say that God did not perform miracles in one way or another, at one time or another, but the man or woman of God didn’t do it - except for MOSES.  Abel did not!  Enoch did not!  Noah did not!  Abraham and Sarah did not! Joseph did not! Joshua did not!  Rahab did not!  Those of whom the world was not worthy did not!  WHY NOT?

The answer lies in God’s purpose for those things, which are to affirm the initiation establishment of a new work of God.  Let me explain - When we back away from the Bible (the puzzle) and look at the big picture we discover five distinct time in the Bible that God initiated a new work and so affirmed it:

1. The Establishment of the Law with Moses
2. The Establishment of the Prophets with Elijah and Elisha
3. The Establishment of the Ministry of Jesus Christ
4. The Establishment of the Church with the Apostles
5. The Regathering of the Redeemed of the nation Israel during the 70th Week of Daniel.

AFTER the establishment of these periods or stages or epochs or whatever else one might wish to call them, the signs and wonders, and diverse miracles decreased.  One cannot attribute this to a lack of faith for certainly there are accounts or many Biblical saints, as well as saints in Church History who were GODLY, but never performed any of these things.

Let me hasten to say that there have been validated reports of amazing miraculous events that both have happened since and even are happening, BUT they happen in areas where there is the initiation of the Gospel and not where a place has been saturated with the Gospel for years.

My point here is that we are looking at the BIBLE to discover TRUTH rather than a commentary or commentator about the Bible.  If we had nothing but the Bible, what could we learn from it? - THAT is the point.

So, for the moment, we discover from what we have observed that God does things through certain human instruments at certain times for certain purposes that He may not do all the time with every one.  ALL of those listed in Hebrews 11 were people of faith, but God used a very few of the untold multitudes through the centuries to initiate and affirm His work through signs, wonders, and diverse miracles.  THIS is an important SUBJECT!  THESE ARE THE FACTS and ANYONE contradicting them is simply deceived!

BLESSINGS!