tprim40

The Prophecy Revealed In Matthew

Lesson Forty: by turtle

How often does one want proof God and has that proof right in front of them, but are to blind to see it. Just the intricate design of nature should be
enough, but if you live in a place where few trees exist it might not be that big a deal to you. In cities you see streets of pavement and tall huge buildings
that seem to tower with no end, yet far above these building is the heavens. I remember my first city skyscraper where there was more then one building.
It was in Fort Worth Texas, and I remember feeling that lost feeling and feeling as if those buildings would cave in on me. I was only eight. One could
barely see the sky with all those buildings. God’s creation covered up all the way to the sky almost. How many on city streets not even knowing a tree, or
animal, or a bird, other then a rat or pesky fly long to see evidence of God. On 911 we seen the destruction done by man. Yet in the mist of the storm
many fond God that day despite the inability to see God. Four days ago our country killed our enemy Osama Bin Laden. Yet we seen the force of God
and the force of man in the past ten years like no one ever imagined. Yet our war was about keeping people safe from terrorist according to our
government and God destruction an act of nature‘s fury, a natural cause and effect. God has allowed many to live in the brink of disaster by nature‘s
forces, yet man has killed more people then God, except maybe natural death, based on one‘s time to die do to age, or illness. Yet instead of praising
God for mercy, we see people saying where is God, and yet our enemy fall and our nation cheers not to God but for man. People wonder why few signs
are given in this age and why others get more proof then they deserve. Our time is no different then when Christ walked this earth.

.Matthew 16:1-4 KJV
(1) The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
(2) He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
(3) And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not
discern the signs of the times?
(4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them,
and departed.

Let’s start at verse four. No sign would be give but the sign of the prophet Jonas meaning Jonah. Spelling changes from Greek to Hebrew. What was the
sign of Jonah, he was preacher of repentance, not a miracle worker. In our day many would say Billy Graham was like Jonah a preacher of repentance.
However there seems to be many signs and wonders happening around our world with this generation. Is it of God? Some things are, something not.
How does one know the difference, by studying God’s word to know if it happened in Biblical times, One question to ask does it glorify God or is it
about the seeking of money. These signs mentioned tot he Pharisees, were signs that happened on a regular bases through nature. It something that could
be learned through observation of nature. I am going to point out a verse in Roman’s today concerning what Paul preached in scripture through His letters.

Romans 1:17-23 KJV
(17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
(19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
(20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power
and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened.
(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things.

Now scripture in Old Testament speaks these same things about signs and wonders and the purpose of them.

Deuteronomy 4:10-20 KJV
(10) Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will
make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
(11) And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick
darkness.
(12) And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
(13) And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of
stone.
(14) And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
(15) Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the
midst of the fire:
(16) Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
(17) The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
(18) The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
(19) And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be
driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
(20) But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are
this day.

The signs and wonders that are happening across our land is about calling us not only to repentance but for us to be reminded of who God is and that
God exist. That Jesus Christ is real. Without the signs of outpouring of the Holy Spirit a generation would be lost without God. Why because the
generation before is failing at teaching the word of God in the land. Many do not know God because scripture was removed from school and in daily lives
of growing up in church hearing the word of God. Not only was scripture removed from school but worse from our homes. Scripture would never been
removed from public buildings if we had not taken it out of our homes.

The next portion of scripture Jesus speaks to his disciples of those seeking the miracles but not the truth of the word of God.

Matthew 16:5-12 KJV
(5) And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
(6) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
(7) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
(8) Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
(9) Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
(10) Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
(11) How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees?
(12) Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

I do not know what is worse in our day and time those that seek after signs and wonders alone or only seek after the false doctrines of the ministers.
Jesus spoke about both and yet those who believe the Bible are offend if anyone else speaks about these things. Why, my conclusion they believe not the
word of God and like the profit they gain from false miracles as well as false doctrines. With big brother at its finest in today’s world miracles are
produced. For example a check in the mail from someone you did not know, to someone in a wheelchair healed on stage and not really being crippled.
All things done to boost a person faith. Yet it is worse then this. It is false teachers speaking lies about the word of God claiming things that are not there
in scripture. Most ministers understand how it works. However good ministers will never stoop to these levels of showmanship if they know that what
they are. A miracle of God is done for a purpose to glorify His name in the mist of unbelievers. False doctrines are taught by charlatans to get money and
to cause terrorist acts of violence. It is used to deceive people.

Make it clear what you are today. That you are a believer of righteousness and not of Satan. Make it clear you do not need signs to encourage your faith.
About seven years ago it was God speaking to my heart though I had miracles in previous years that moved me out in faith for Him. It is still that way for
me. God’s word speaks to my heart louder then anything anyone else could say. Follow God and His Word today and you can not and will not be
deceived. You might fall short a few times, but I guarantee He keep you from slipping to the bottomless pit.