The Goodness of God (Chapter Thirteen)

Chapter Thirteen

Error Eleven: Miracles Have Ceased From The Church

In the church today, there are three views concerning miracles. The first view says that all miracles have passed away and God does not do them anymore. Some of these people even try to explain away the miracles in the Bible.

Most Evangelicals are starting to take hold of the second view. They believe that God MAY work a miracle such as heal a sick body, cast out a devil, or even allow someone to speak in tongues if it is His will. What this implies is that it may not always be the will of God to do these things.

The third view is what is commonly known as the Charismatic and/or Word of Faith view. This view says that all miracles are for today and it is the will of God to perform them in the life of every believer. Although I do not like to put labels or tags on myself (such as calling myself Charismatic or Word of Faith), I say without reservation that I hold to the third view.

The first view says that all miracles ceased after the apostolic age. We now have the full canon of Scripture so there is no longer any need for the miraculous. Miracles were for the infant church and we have gone beyond that stage now.[1]

We will look at the Scripture that is used to prove this view, but first let us establish a foundation. God has made it clear that He is a God that never changes:

"For I am the Lord, I change not....." (Mal. 3:6)

God does not change even in the area of His giving good and perfect gifts to the church:

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17; NIV)

Jesus Christ, who performed miracles before during His time on earth and after His resurrection and ascension (Mark 16:20) is still the same Jesus now as He was then:

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." (Heb. 13:8)

Lastly, God does not change His mind concerning the Word which He has spoken. His Word reveals His will for our lives:

"God is not a man. He will not lie. God is not a human being. He does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he keeps." (Num. 23:19; The Everyday Bible)

"God wanted to prove that his promise was true. He wanted to prove this to those who would get what he promised. He wanted them to understand clearly that HIS PURPOSES NEVER CHANGE. So God proved his promise by also making an oath." (Heb. 6:17; The Everyday Bible)

"God cannot tell lie! And so his promises and vows are two things that can NEVER BE CHANGED...." (Heb. 6:18; CEV)

Since God does not change His mind concerning those things that He promised, then miracles of healing, deliverance, supernatural provision, and the gifts and graces of the Spirit has to be for us today.

God has never changed. His Word has never changed. What has happened is that man has changed the concept of God to fit their denominational and theological beliefs. They have twisted God's Word to prove their incorrect doctrines.

Many of these men are truly born again, they love God, and are sincere. Many of them have even taught things from the Bible that have blessed my life and walk with Christ. Yet, these same men have a hard time accepting the fact that God did not withdraw His gifts and miracles. They have a difficult time believing that miracles are for the church today.

Others are not so sincere and will spend many of their waking hours trying to prove their "cessationist theology." Many of them twist the Scriptures to make them explain their doctrine. We will look at one of the most widely used Scriptures in the "cessation error":

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be 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 with." (1 Cor. 13:8-10)

This Scripture is used to prove that Paul was telling the Corinthian church that someday, all of these gifts would cease. They specially use this against us "tongue talkers." Speaking in tongues has had more attacks by fundamentalists and evangelicals than any other gift of the Spirit. Even many of those who believed that healing is for the church today has had a problem accepting the speaking in tongues. Most people in the Missionary Alliance church believe in the gifts but believe that the majority of tongues speaking that they have encountered were demonic.

Nevertheless, this is the foundation scripture for cessationist theology. They say that the time has come for "tongues" (as well as other miracles) to cease. Yet if we are going to translate one part of the Scripture this way, we must take the whole thing in context. We must also say that KNOWLEDGE has vanished away. Now isn't that ridiculous to say that there is no more knowledge today? If that does sound ridiculous then it is just as ridiculous to interpret the "ceasing of tongues" in such a manner.

In verse 10 we find the statement, "But when that which is perfect is come....." There are different opinions on what this mean. I believe that this refers to the second coming of the Lord. I will show you why I believe this in a moment. First, let's look at how the cessationists look at this verse.

Fundamentalists interpret this as the full canon of Scripture coming into being. In other words, when all of the Epistles were finally written and all sixty-six books of Scripture were compiled into one Bible, then this is that which was perfect. That which is perfect (the Bible) has come and now that which is in part (the miracles) have been done away with.

If this Scripture is to be interpreted that way then we have missed the boat. The Bible can only be perfect as far as God will empower it to work in our lives. Jesus showed us that God's Word and His power worked corporately:

"And Jesus answering said unto them, do ye not therefore err [I almost believe that He's speaking to modern day fundamentalists], because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" (Mark 12:24)

According to Strong's, the word power comes from the Greek word DUNAMIS (1411) {1} which means "miraculous power." If you do not know the Scriptures, it is highly unlikely that you will come to know God's miraculous intervention in your life.

The Scriptures open the door for the miraculous in our lives. When the disciples obeyed Jesus by preaching the Word of God, the Lord backed His WORD with miraculous power:

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming THE WORD WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING. Amen." (Mark 16:20)

Now the cessationist theologians have an argument for this too. They say that the original manuscripts did not contain Mark 16:9-20, so therefore they cannot be for us today. The devil sure comes up with some good ones.

There are over 4200 Greek manuscripts and only TWO do not include these verses. Two out of 4200 are not the best statistics that are sufficient to prove that God meant to leave the miraculous out of the church.

Many of the early church fathers quote from the disputed verses in their writings. This further indicates their genuineness. Furthermore, if we're going to exclude these passages based on TWO manuscripts out of 4200, then we must also reject other passages such as the first 46 chapters of Genesis,

Psalm 105-137, and Hebrews 9:14-13:25. These passages are found missing in some of the original manuscripts also.

Once again we see the ridiculousness of the cessationist argument. God continues even today to confirm His Word with signs following. People can argue all they like about Mark 16:20 but they can never deny Jeremiah 1:12:

".....for I hasten my word to PERFORM IT." (Jer. 1:12)

If 1 Corinthians 13:10 is speaking of the Scripture becoming a complete canon, then we should expect even more miracles because the Word of God is anointed to perform miracles. God will perform His promises of healing, deliverance, and other things because He must keep His Word. That's what makes His Word PERFECT.

I believe that 1 Corinthians 13:10 is speaking of the second coming of Christ. The Bible tells us that the miraculous gifts were not to cease until His coming:

"Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing his will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 1:7; The Living Bible)

God wants us to win the lost while we are waiting for His return. Sinners do not respond to one's great expository and expositional preaching skills. Sinners are not moved by sweet organ music and classical choir music. It is the miraculous that drawa the attention of most sinners.

If we preach salvation then God will save. If we preach healing then God will heal. If we preach on the other miracles God will perform them. I have personally seen Him do it. I desire to see even more and I refuse to let any theologian or fundamentalist talk me out of it.

If churches are not seeing the miraculous power of God displayed in their midst then there is only one reason for it, and that is unbelief:

"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matt. 13:58)

Jesus could not perform many mighty works due to unbelief while He was on earth. Even though He is in heaven now, He is still hindered by the unbelief of His people. We have been so indoctrinated that these things have passed away that it's hard for most people to believe otherwise.

Even those who do believe that God does such things today put their clause of unbelief on it: "If it be thy will." Of course it's His will if He told us that we must believe in order to see it:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

Faith can never go any further than God's revealed will. God has made His will known in His Word. It is by hearing His Word that we appropriate faith for the miraculous (Rom. 10:17).

The main reason for the lack of the miraculous in the church is a lack of knowledge. Paul did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1) and neither does God want you and I ignorant today. It has been a lack of knowledge that has destroyed the church in this area (Hos. 4:6).

Too many men do not see the importance of the miraculous. They believe that education and good sermon preparation is all that is necessary. Paul did not think so. He did not rely on his ability to preach or any other natural talent. He came to them demonstrating the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

Most sinners have a need to know that God is real. They are drawn to the miraculous. That's why many of them read horoscopes, join witches' covens, have seances, become New Agers, join cults, etc. They feel that the devil has more power than God has because he is doing miracles and God is not.

If we are to reach a lost world for Jesus we are going to have to rely on the miraculous intervention of God. We are going to have to lay hands on the sick and believe God to heal them. We are going to have to allow God to speak words through us to other people. Only God can reveal things that are in their lives that you and I know nothing about. We are going to have to trust God to make the miraculous work in our lives and in the lives of others so that they can cry out to us, "What must I do to be saved?"

Do not let the doctrines of men hinder your faith in God's Word. If what men say does not line up with what the Bible says. You must reject men and lay hold to the Bible. It is the Word of God. Paul told the Christians in Rome:

"For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:3-4)

The Bible tells us to COVET and DESIRE the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). Anyone who discourages you from doing other wise is teaching you something that is contrary to God's Word. God says that they are a liar. They may even be sincere, but they are a sincere liar.

Let God be true. Do not allow the unbelief of others make your faith ineffective. Believe God to do miracles, signs, and wonders. Ask for them. Pray for them. Expect them. Speak the Word of God concerning them and He will back up the Word of God that comes forth from your lips.

God's power did not cease in the earth after the apostolic age. It is still available to every Christian today who would but trust Him. God is good and in His goodness He is still doing the impossible.

E-mail: victoryword@yahoo.com

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