3/4/26

Are you looking for a sign?

The world has always looked for a sign. Yet no one really tries to understand them. Even plainly written signs are seldom followed correctly. We are all guilty. We tug on a door with a sign reading, 'Use other door.' We turn left with a sign reading, "No left turn." The label says, "Eat before taking," yet we take it on an empty stomach. The sign says, "May cause cancer," yet we sue the company when we get it.

Either we don't read the sign or we don't understand it. Then there is the other option we just don't care. Yet we always desire a sign. Jesus speaks against seeking signs. Matthew 16:4 NASB1995 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

When you look at your own life and history you will see that signs have not been a great revealer. Jesus did many signs, yet they accused Him of blasphemy and sent Him to the cross. He fed thousands, and the people didn't follow Him because He was the Messiah but instead to be fed.

Then in our text today Paul had just completed an amazing sign. He healed a lame man. A man lame from birth had now been able to stand up and walk. What a sign. Then what happened?

They attempted to worship Paul and when he stopped them, our text says, Acts 14:19 NASB95 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

That was the reward of his sign. Stoned, knocked out cold, and then dragged out of the city supposing that he was dead. Then left there.

I have seen many Christians by the power of God do some miraculous signs and then get maligned.

The truth is, that signs don't cause people to be saved. Instead, it is the gospel that is the power of God for salvation. It is the Grace of God through faith that saves. People are not saved because of signs and wonders. They are not saved through gimmicks and social media posts. People are not saved by prizes and festivals. Satan, sin, and death, cause lostness but people can overcome them. Revelation 12:11 NASB95 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

I am not saying that we should not provide signs, wonders, gimmicks, social media posts, prizes, and festivals. What I am saying is they need to be considered as the opening of the door for the revealing of the gospel, Sharing the Way of Jesus. It is through His blood and the word of our testimony that they will overcome, sin and death.

The sign in Lystra brought tribulation to Paul but if we read further, we see that this didn't stop him from preaching the gospel. Acts 14:21-22 NASB95 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

As Christians, we shouldn't think there needs to be a miracle or a sign to see someone saved. Instead, pray that God will enable you to boldly and compassionately preach the gospel. Share the Way.

Come to think of it, in that process, we see two miracles, or signs of God. The giving to you the power to Share the Way, and the salvation of a lost soul.

So I guess God is saying, "Here's your sign."

Love Bro. Scott