Miracles and The Gifts of The Holy Spirit David FieldJanuary 18, 2010
The prevalent thinking in the modern church is that since the bible is finished, 1) the prophets are all dead, so there is no one to perform miracles today, 2) God is the only one performing miracles, so we must beg him in our prayers to do our bidding for us. We all know that many biblical characters performed miracles using the power of the most-high God, and not just Jesus. Among them were Moses, and Daniel, and many others, in the Old Testament, and many in the New Testament after the death of Jesus. All the instructions given to the twelve, the church today takes to heart, but why not Jesus commanding us to perform these miracles in his name?
Why is it so hard to accept the truth that both of these are falsehoods? Why do preachers teach this if it were wrong? This is a very deep question for which I only have guesses. But one thing is obvious. How can a preacher, as a spiritual leader, teach something he doesn’t possess the faith to exercise, and still maintain respect? Or it is simply the path most taken is easier path to take, and has been propagated through the seminars for years without question. But this would cause some to move out of their comfort zone. Any preacher taking on this theology would be facing a huge dilemma. Either he would loose his job by being voted out, or lose half the congregation. But who do you serve, God or man?
God is our father. Fathers wish their children to grow in maturity. Not that God is troubled by helping us but he knows that our satisfaction is gained more from our doing things ourselves as we mature. So fathers sometimes let there children try and fail, so they can learn. How would you teach your child to ride a bicycle if you never let go and let them fall, even though it may skin their knee? He bought us the bicycle for us to ride. He gave us the earth for us to overcome, and take dominion over. I am sure he helps us occasionally, but ultimately we are expected to try on our own.
The only biblical argument I’ve been given against the miraculous gifts of the spirit is in 1 Corinthians (below). This preacher’s interpretation was that the bible was the perfect word of God, so prophecy is now not needed, and therefore done away with. But the Word of God or the Holy Bible is not mentioned here; what is spoken of is perfect knowledge. No one on earth possesses perfect knowledge. We may possess perfect knowledge when we go to heaven, and that is when prophecy will no longer be needed…when Jesus comes again.
1 Corinthians 13 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
I do however find a host of scripture telling us that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for us today. Notice in Corinthians the Apostle Paul was speaking to Gentiles.
John 14:16(Jesus speaking) I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever;
John 14:12 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.
Mark 16:17(Jesus speaking) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Acts 19 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
I Corinthians 12 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 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. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 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: