The Search for Signs & Wonders
Throughout history people have been bombarded by religion. Many people believe only what they see with their own eyes. Faith is about believing without seeing.
If claims are made that miracles are taking place, there will be a flock of people trying to get a piece of the action! They are trying to gain experience of God. Surely the best way to serve God is to work among your own friends, church and community.
A religion based on experience is an isolated religion that will differ from other people's perceptions of Christianity and cannot be shared with anyone. Then only you can understand your own version of Christianity. However, if you have a Biblical faith and understanding, then you can obtain wisdom and share it with others. You can grow together as Christians as you can correct yourselves and each other by sharing information from the same scripture by which you live. A life based on experience cannot be corrected as only you have that 'experience' and anything contrary or challenging to it will personally offend, as this is due to 'A lack of experience'.
Jesus describes people who seek after signs of God
Jesus describes a generation that seeks signs and wonders as evidence of God as a wicked and adulterous generation, and one that will receive no signs or wonders from God.
"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 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, ..." (Matt 12:38-39)
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, ...." (Matt 16:4)
"And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation." (Mark 8:11-12)
The above verses suggest to me that if people seek signs and wonders as proof to base their own faith on, by tempting God for a miracle; and they receive a miracle, then that miracle did not come from God. They are not basing themselves in the truth of the scriptures, therefore they have no truth, or wisdom.
"... that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15)
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
Don't stand in God's way
The rule is that works have to be supported by the Bible, and if something new is happening that has never happened before, it has to be a fulfilment of prophecy, either from the Bible itself or from a true prophet who always gets everything right. Historically, God has never done anything without first revealing it to his prophets. Even the flood was no surprise because the news about Noah building his boat would have spread throughout the world. You can't obstruct the Holy Spirit just by demanding that something has to be Biblical, provided that you understand the Bible. The important thing is, do we take the Bible seriously and how much do we study it?
God worked through Elijah on the mount to prove God's power. Elijah was a true prophet who got everything right.
Deception by False Powers
Deception is subtle and not detected because of a lack of scripture and wisdom.
Let's carefully examine what the Bible says about things that look "good". A few examples to convey the point that deception looks "good" on the outside, but inside it is deadly:
Gen 13:10 - What did God describe as looking like the Garden of the Lord? SODOM (where exceedingly great sinners lived, v.13)
Mt 7: 15 - Who will come dressed as sheep on the outside, but inside are devouring wolves? False prophets...looking "good".
Acts 20:29-30 also speaks of ferocious wolves that come from "inside", from those thought to be in the flock of Christ.
Mt 23:27 - Who looked beautiful on the outside? The Pharisees who inside are full of dead men's bones and everything impure.
2 Cor 11: 14,15 - Who will come as an angel of light and as ministers of righteousness? Satan and his servants.
How to Discern and Avoid Deception
If you are suspicious of something, what does the Bible say about it? A good concordance will help. Be aware; what better way for the Devil to deceive people than through the Bible. Are you using a good Bible translation? Some newer translations leave a lot to be desired. I would recommend the Authorised Version. It is easy to get used to and is quite sound!
Live the Bible
God gave us the Bible on which to live our lives. If you have a Biblical Religion, people can correct you and help you rather than offend you because their 'experience' of Christianity may be different from yours. It is the only safe way to fight off deception and to do right by God.