If you desire powerful signs and wonders read this.

Act 14:3  So they stayed there for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting miraculous signs and wonders to be performed through their hands.

Why do we not have the miracles they had in the first century? I know, there are some that insist we do but in reality that is not true. I'm not saying there are never miraculous healings, but many of the modern day faith healing ministries are suspect to say the least. So let's answer the above question.

Look at the passage from the fourteenth chapter of Acts. There you find that the miracles have a very specific purpose. The purpose was to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel of grace. With so few ministries emphasizing the gospel of grace, it is little wonder that there is not an outpouring of miracles. In fact, Paul speaks in a place of lying signs and wonders. Satan the accuser of the brethren/sisters can perform lying signs and wonders. He can also take them back. Perhaps the reason that some people who seem to be miraculously healed fall back into the same ailment later is because they were performed by a ministry that is accusing the brothers and sister rather than proclaiming the gospel of grace.

If current evangelical doctrine is as I think it is, the strong delusion of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, then lying signs and wonders would be a natural product of the phenomenon. Remember, the man of lawlessness sets himself up in the temple of God, pretending to be God. Surely many church leaders have set themselves up in the temple and claim to speak for God. The Pope claims to speak ex-cathedra and many of the pastors that I have known claim to speak for God. This fulfills 2 Thess 2:4 does it not?

Perhaps if the current ministers would repent from their legalistic gospel and begin to preach the pure pristine gospel of grace, then God would once again testify of the message of his grace with true signs and wonders!