Miracles have ALWAYS been as closely related to the operation of the Spirit of God as smoke is to fire. Where there is fire there will be smoke. Where the Spirit of God is at work there will be miracles.
Now, I could just stop here and call it quits, but I want to prove this assertion without any possible question or doubt by anyone that may question or doubt this assertion. Furthermore, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that we validate the “genuine” and expose the “counterfeit.”
The scripture that I have been referring throughout this study about “trying the spirits whether they are of God” ( 1 John 4:1), precedes something EXTREMELY important for every child of God to know and understand.
The very next two verses read: “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.”
In EVERY situation (or debate) that I have encountered someone who denies miracles, THEY ALSO DENIED THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS GOD MANIFESTED (OR COME) IN THE FLESH. That one single common denominator has been present EACH AND EVERY TIME. NEVER have I encountered a person who embraced the APOSTLES’ ONE GOD MONOTHEISTIC DOCTRINE who didn’t also believe in miracles. Now that is truly amazing, isn’t it?
Are all miracles of God, or can satan also work in the supernatural?
Have miracles ended? If so, when, why and how?
If not, what part, if any, does miracles happen in the New Testament Church today?
Can only a select few be partakers of miracles, or does God work in supernatural ways in the life of a believer? By the way, as far as miracles in general are concerned, God does “rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Can God miraculously spare the life of a sinner in a life threatening situation?
Are miracles to be flaunted before men in an exercise of superiority, or are they to be sincerely and confidently sought for, yet humbly appreciated and embraced? Well, let’s just see exactly what the Bible has to say about all of this business of miracles (the “genuine” works of God and the “counterfeit” works of satan) BEFORE we talk about whether God can, can’t, does or does not work “miracles” today.
GENUINE:
Exodus 7:8-10 “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
COUNTERFEIT:
Exodus 7:11-12 “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.”
GENUINE:
Exodus 7:20 “And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood.
COUNTERFEIT:
Exodus 7:22 “And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.”
GENUINE:
Exodus 8:6 “And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.”
COUNTERFEIT:
Exodus 8:7 “And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.”
GENUINE:
Exodus 8:16-17 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”
COUNTERFEIT (attempted, but failed):
Exodus 8:18 “And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.”
(Before the exodus from Egypt, God wrought 8 more miracles: flies, death of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of all the first born…except where the blood was applied)
St. John 2:23 “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw they miracles which he did.”
St. John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
St. John 5:16-20 “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
St. John 6:2 “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which He did on them that were diseased.”
St. John 9:16 “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
St. John 12:37 “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him.”
St. John 14:8-12 “Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hast seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I so shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
Mark 16:15-18 “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. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Acts 2:22-23 “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: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”
1 Corinthians 12:1-14 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
It is obvious to me that miracles should be as natural today in the “True Church” as preaching is. Furthermore, without a doubt it is here proven that God actually placed miracles in the Church. However, there are some today who have taken miracles out of their Church, and who insist that there are no more miracles today except for the counterfeit lying signs and wonders of satan. I will agree with these same people that we MUST be on guard against the works of the devil, but it is not wise to burn down your barn to get rid of the rats…..just get a cat. Miracles are for us today. To say anything other than that would be calling God a liar, and God is no liar! I have debated these people who claim to be so spiritually astute, wise and cunning in the Word of God, and have found them to be liars! Sure, there are counterfeit works of darkness that we must beware of. In Matthew 7:20-23 Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Some use this passage to say, “See I told you miracles were of the devil.” But what they ignorantly overlook is that these people were presenting their “credentials” to the Lord to gain entrance, but the Lord recognized their credentials as being “counterfeit” credentials and rejected them.
The one lone scriptural setting in the Bible that these “so called” Bible scholars use to attempt to condemn and discredit any and all miracles today is:
1 Corinthians 13:8-12 “Charity never faileth: but whether there by prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.”
This is how these misguided people explain this passage of scripture:
All miracles became extinct when the written Word of God was completed and we have gone on to maturity and “manhood” and have put away “childish” things like tongues and miracles.” They reject these and want to hang on to just about everything else, though. Is that selectively applying the Word of God, or what?
My dear friend, what Paul was speaking of “when that which is perfect is come” was not the written Word (as great and wonderful as it is). He was talking about Heaven. When we make it to Heaven that which is in “part” shall be done away with because we will have obtained our full inheritance, and the purchased possession of God will be complete. The Greek word translated “part” here means to get as a section or allotment; a division or share, piece, portion. In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul uses another Greek word which was translated “earnest” which also means a pledge, part of the purchase – money or property given in advance as security for the rest. Here’s what Paul said in Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”
It was a common practice then, and still is even today, for one to place a pledge (earnest money or something of value) towards a purchase to held until the purchase transaction is completed. Here, Paul is using the analogy of the Holy Ghost in the life of the believer being like God’s “earnest” until our enheritance…HIS PURCHASE, is completed, when His bride, the Church (which He purchased with His own blood)is gathered to Him in the Glory World of Heaven.
Furthermore, the Holy Ghost is referred to here as being a “seal” also. In the Bible, as is still done today, a “seal” was a stamp which was placed on a document signifying its authenticity. Seals were also “signs” of a covenant (promise) between two people, or between God and an individual. God gave Noah the sign of the rainbow, and circumcision was a seal God gave to Abraham. God always validates what He does, PERIOD!
If a person doesn’t believe in miracles, doesn’t want miracles, or even if they hate miracles, that’s their business. I can deal with that. But, where I draw the line is when they say things like: “God doesn’t perform miracles today.” …or… “Anything miraculous or supernatural today is of the devil.”
Here’s what I’ll put in their face in a heart beat:
In 2 Timothy Chapter 3 Paul starts off with a description of conditions in the last days, which very accurately describes the day in which you and I live. In verse 5 he says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
These people will have a form a godliness. They will appear to be religious, but they will deny the “power” thereof. That Greek word translated “power” here is translated “miracles” in other places in the New Testament such as: 1 Corithians 12:10 and in 1 Corinthains 12:28 where it says:
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
This is precisely what these people are so adamantly opposed to and DENY.
Now my question is:
Does the Word of God back them in their contempt for and denial of anything miraculous, or does the Word of God back me in acknowledging that there are miraculous works of God, and there are also the “counterfeit” works of darkness which the child of God MUST be able to distinguish between? You know which it is!
It is my most sincere prayer that this study has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been for me. For is has been like “fire shut up in my bones.” But now, Thank God, I can share it with the whole world! If you have not done so already, please find you a “ONENESS” APOSTOLIC CHURCH where Bible teaching and preaching is not watered down by the doctrines and traditions of man! You need to find such a church to affiliate yourself with. If you need help finding one, let me know. I’ll see if I can help you find one. Time is running out and we must tell the world about God’s plan of salvation:
Acts 2:38 “…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.”