SIGNS FROM GOD [PART 1]

1 Cor 1:20-24
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the
wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

HERE’S YOUR SIGN.

I. JESUS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

A. Attested by the Scriptures.
1. Matt 12:38-40
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall
no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth.

2. Matt 28:5-7
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women [Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, and
Salome], Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into
Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

3. 1 Cor 15:3-8
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to
the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this
present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

4. Acts 2:22-24
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and
wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be
holden of it.

II. THE COMMITMENT OF THE APOSTLES AND OTHERS.

A. Signs of dedication.
1. 2 Tim 1:11-12
1
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2. Acts 7:57-60
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet,
whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen , calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had
said this, he fell asleep.

3. Acts 8:3-5
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed
them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

III. THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD.

A. Words put into force at such a cost will stand until the end of time.
1. Heb 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image
of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as
he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

B. Considering that, we should give heed to God’s word.

1. Heb 2:1-4
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we
should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just
recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Ghost, according to his own will?

IV. SIGNS THAT SAY “BELIEVE!”

A. Because we must.
1. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

V. SIGNS THAT SAY “REPENT!”

A. Jesus held this before the Jews.
1. Luke 13:1-5
2
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with
their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans,
because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above
all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

B. Peter repeated it on Pentecost Day.

1. Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to
the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.

C. And again.
1. Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

D. Paul included all.

1. Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every
where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness
by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead.

VI. SIGNS POINTING OUT THE DANGERS OF LACK OF COMMITMENT

A. We must not waver.
1. Luke 9:61-62
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at
my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom
of God.

B. Keep our dedication fired up.

1. Rev 3:14-19
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered for you.
3
 SIGNS FROM GOD [PART 2]

1 Cor 1:20-24
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the
wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

VII.. WE ARE SIGNS FROM GOD.

A. We are observed by others.
1. 2 Cor 3:1-3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or
letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but
with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

B. We point the way.

1. 1 Peter 3:14-16
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be
troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh
you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that
falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

VII. DETOUR SIGNS

A. Check the map.
1. 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

B. Avoid certain people.

1. Rom 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

C. Avoid pointless discussions.

1. Titus 3:8-11
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in
God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are
unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

D. Avoid even the appearance of evil.

4
 1. 1 Thess 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

E. Avoid conforming to the world.

1. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

IX. CAUTION SIGNS.

A. Be vigilant to resist the devil.
1. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober , be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

B. Be diligent to contend earnestly for the faith.

1. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.

C. Be careful to speak only the words we have from God.

1. 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom
be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2. Gal 1:6-12
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the
servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

X. SIGNS THAT SAY “WORK IN PROGRESS!”

A. Works are a sign of faith.
1. James 2:19-24
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe , and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

B. Works are a sign of discipleship.

1. Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called
Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

C. Works are a sign of knowledge.

5
 1. 2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works .

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered for you.