Whom Do We Listen To? Part 19

Whom Do We Listen To? Part 19
Friday, May 22, 2026 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Apologetics / Apostasy / Contemporary issues / Scripture discussion / Spiritual deception / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today / Truth telling

Are we captivated by signs and wonders? How do we respond to spiritual gifts, especially those recorded in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14?

If you’ve been around long enough, at some point you’ve probably heard teachings from at least some fundamentalists that after the time of the apostles, the gifts ceased. The Bible had come, and as it is perfect, the so-called sign gifts were no longer needed. They based their position on the last couple of verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. That chapter does not precisely define who or what the “perfect” refers to. Personally, I’d suggest that it most likely refers to the return of Jesus Christ.

Have the gifts ceased? Once more, I’d argue that they have not. Nowhere does Scripture state that they’ve been abolished. Are people sometimes still miraculously healed? Yes. Are people still being delivered from demonic oppression and even possession? Yes. Are dreams and visions still taking place? Yes. The book of Joel even states that in the last days they will increase. One thinks of the many Muslims who’ve had visions and dreams of the real Jesus, visions and dreams that lead to their coming to faith in the genuine Jesus Christ.

In essence the gifts are a normal part of Christian life, neither to be ignored nor magnified, hence the word “normal.” Our focus is to remain on Jesus, not the gifts. Consider: What happened when the seventy Jesus had sent out, returned? They were focused on spiritual gifts, how they had operated in those gifts, the power and authority they had through Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:17 (NAU): “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”

How did Jesus respond? Luke 10:20 (NAU): “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Jesus made it clear that the focus wasn’t to be on what they had done, but on their relationship with Him, specifically their eternal destination, that their names were written in heaven.

Consider Matthew 7:22–23 (NAU): “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

What does that tell us? First, it is possible to perform all sorts of miracles and have deliverance ministries without truly knowing Christ, without being in a real relationship with Him. Second, performing signs and wonders is no guarantee that a person is ministering in the truth of Christ. Third, note how the speakers all focus on “their” ministries, not on Jesus. As Scripture repeatedly warns us, Satan will deceive the world through performing false signs and wonders (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10).

That is the big concern with the NAR’s emphasis on signs and wonders. They say the world will come to faith through the performance of signs and wonders. While in the book of Acts signs and wonders confirmed apostolic ministry, Scripture states that the world will ultimately be deceived through (false) signs and wonders. If we are pursuing them for their own sake, we are in grave danger.

Has the Holy Spirit provided spiritual gifts? Yes. Should they be part of our lives? As God directs us, yes. But if they have become our focus, what we are actively pursuing, we are at risk of being deceived by the arrival of false signs and wonders. Better that we stay focused on Jesus Christ, trusting Him to give us the spiritual gifts we need when we need them, and to operate in them accordingly.

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