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As we continue this study into the New
Testament it will become obvious that the most miracles worked by or through
anyone, are those which came through Jesus the Son of God, He being
responsible for about thirty five that are recorded.
The miracles
that Jesus worked as well as those worked by others are of four kinds;
►Nature miracles (the winds and the waves obey
him—Lk.8:22-25)
►Exorcisms (the casting out of demons—Lk.8:26-39)
►Healings (Lk.22:47-51)
►Resuscitations ( Jn.11:1-45)
A close
investigation of each one will show, without a doubt that they were all done
for one purpose and one purpose alone.
We learn of
that purpose towards the end of the gospel of John. We are told the
following there; “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of
his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” John
20:30-31 N. I. V.
Please notice
that the purpose of these was for no other reason but to make believers.
The nature and scope of them did exactly that.
Some days
after Jesus rose from the dead, he sent eleven men into the world to tell
others about the things he had done and about his death, burial and
resurrection for our sins.
In order that
the world might know that he had sent them he gave them power much like the
power he possessed, however in a more limited degree. In Mk. 16:16-18 he
tells them that they would be able to cast out demons, speak in languages
they did not know, pick up poisonous reptiles and drink deadly poison
without any harm coming to them, and lay hands on the sick, with the promise
that the sick would recover. Not might recover, should recover or would
recover in some cases, but will recover, every one on whom they lay their
hands.
This was quite a task for mostly uneducated,
illiterate, common men. In that same chapter of Mark we are told however
that what they were told to do they did. Again in the chapter, in verse 20,
we can see the purpose of these signs, wonders, or miracles: “the Lord
worked with them and confirmed
the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.”
This is
exactly the same purpose we saw in the Old Testament miracles, and also
those of Jesus as stated by John. Read this statement well and I challenge
anyone to show one exception to it. “God has never healed, raised anyone
from the dead, or caused any other miracle solely for the benefit of the one
or thing in which the miracle occurred.”
How then, did
these miracles occur, how could these men do these things, is it still
possible or even needful that these things take place today.
In order to
understand how it did will take some understanding of what scripture teaches
about the Holy Spirit of God, and the different ways in which the Holy
Spirit is given.
No one today
possesses the Spirit as Jesus possessed the Spirit. “For the one God has
sent speaks the words of God; to him God gives the Spirit without limit.”
John 3:34. As other versions render it; “without measure.” To everyone else
it is given in limited ways or in limited measures.
See Rom.12:3-8
Is there
anyone else who can calm the sea, still the winds, raise a dead friend, or
replace an ear removed by an angry sword? Hey, this is the real thing!
For some of
the early believers, such as the eleven (later there were two more) Jesus
sent out there was a measure of the Spirit known as “the baptism of the Holy
Spirit.” It was through the laying on of their hands that the gifts they
possessed were transmitted to others. For a study of this you should take a
long hard look at Acts 8 and we will refer back to this later in another
article.
Think about
the following things:
It is evident that it was only
to the ones Jesus sent forth as recorded in Mk.16 (two others later) that
would have these powers. It is also obvious that these men did not just
possess one of these powers but each one of them possessed them all.
They had the power to transmit one or more of these gifts to others by the
laying on of their hands. See Acts 8:14-19
Notice also
that these same ones could raise the dead, as we find in later studies,
Acts 9:32-42 and Acts 20:7-12.
There is
another power or gift that these same men possessed that strangely today we
never hear anyone claiming that they possess, and that is the power of
punishment by a miracle. There is just such a case found in your New
Testament and you need to read it and then ask if those today who claim to
be like these men are for real or counterfeit. The case is found in Acts
13:4-12. Many believe that the tragic case of Ananias and Sapphira found in
Acts 5 is another such case.
The first
miracle performed in the New Testament church age occurred on the first
Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus. It is perhaps the most
misunderstood event in the New Testament.
There are many
teaching that every believer is to receive the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”
and this will be shown by “speaking in tongues.” The event we referred to is
found in Acts chapters one and two and this is where it is alleged that this
is taught. I believe however with an open Bible and an open mind we will be
able to see that this is simply a false teaching and should be rejected by
those who wish to stay with what Gods’ book says. If you will notice
carefully those two chapters the following facts will be found.
There were
about one hundred and twenty present in the upper room (1:15) yet when the
power of the Holy Spirit came (on whom ever it came) there were thousands
present as evidenced by the fact that the portion of the crowd that accepted
the message that was spoken to them in “tongues” and responded
was three thousand people (2:41) Now think, how could these thousands
have been in “the upper room” which was probably the same one used by Jesus
and the disciples for the last supper and which was in a private house? We
are specifically told (2:14) that it was “Peter standing with the eleven”
who was doing the speaking in tongues and not all one hundred and twenty
brethren.
It is clear
when we use the reasoning powers God has given us that when the miracle
occurred it was not in the upper room at all but was in the gathering
place of those who had come from many nations to celebrate Pentecost, that
is, the court of the temple. We are told that after they became disciples
they continued to meet at this same location. Acts 2:46
The bulk of
the one hundred and twenty who were in the upper room were not
participants in this phenomena, but only the apostles and I might add
that this miracle was for the same purpose as we saw before of all miracles
and that was to make believers. As Paul later states it; “So then,
the gift of speaking in strange tongues is proof for unbelievers, not for
believers,” 1 Cor.14:22 T.E.V.
In upcoming articles we will look at
the questions:
Are believers today baptized with or in
the Holy Spirit?
Have miracles ceased?
I certainly hope you have not been
offended by anything that has been said in the series thus far and will
continue with me as we study this subject further. Again feel free to enter
your comments or criticisms on the
“Guest Book”. Your views will be respected and your freedom to disagree.
There is but one Bible. That one Bible does not teach both the views I hold
and the contrary views on this or any other subject. I want to believe and
teach what God says about it, don’t you?
Please feel free to email me
thornsandnails@avsia.com
God bless---Gerald
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