Is a miracle from above or below?

In Matthew 12:38-42 we find the scribes and Pharisees seeking after a sign that would confirm Jesus' claims that He was the Son of God. Jesus had already performed numerous miracles in their midst. The scribes and the Pharisees believed that these wondrous works were wrought with the help of the powers of darkness. This attitude brought a stern rebuke back in verse 32. "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

God gives us signs and miracles on a daily basis but not all can see or experience them. Jesus said that in the end times, false christs would arise and perform great signs and wonders. Matthew 24:24. So how can we tell if a sign or a wonder is from heaven or from below?

Signs and wonders from above are meant to confirm the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:20...And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
In Deuteronomy verses 1-3... God allows signs, miracles and even paranormal phenomena to prove us, to know whether we love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul. If the person who is effecting the miracle or sign is not using his ability to glorify the true God and confirm His word, then that person is leading people into a false religion. If the paranormal activity doesn't point people to Christ, repentance, and a right relationship with the living God, then the activity is leading people into a false religion. Verses 5-18... Any one or thing that would "thrust" us out of the way which the Lord has commanded us to walk must be identified and revealed. The Christian must divorce himself from such and refuse to acknowledge a person or phenomena that is not glorifying God.

Make The Tree Good

In Matthew 12:33-37 Jesus continues upbraiding the Pharisees. Their mouths had revealed the intent of their hearts as being venomous. This venom would be injected into unsuspecting prey through ungodly blasphemous words. Jesus says that we will be judged by our words. In verse 36 we discover that even an idle word can provoke judgment.

Idle here is Argos (G692) which means lazy or useless. The wicked and injurious accusations of the Pharisees would invoke divine judgment but Jesus takes the argument a step further. "I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

If we call ourselves Christians, then judge by the fruit if it is true. We've learned that our words reflect the state of our heart. Do our words build up? Do they give grace to those who here them? (Eph. 4:29) Is our speech seasoned with salt so that we may know how to answer a person? (Col. 4:6) Do we guard our mouths and preserve our lives? Or do we open wide our lips and come to ruin? (Proverbs 13:3)

We have a choice. Make the tree good and it's fruit good or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. (Mat. 12:33) Making bad fruit is easy. We've all done it. Making good fruit is more difficult. For this we must surrender our heart and our will to the Lord Jesus. Without repentance, good fruit is impossible. Good fruit will reflect a repentant heart. "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." (Luke 3:8)