Saying this title out loud can label you under a few categories. You may charismatic, you believe miracles are just stories in the bible, you are crazy or you actually believe miracles are possible for today just as we read in the Gospels and Acts. Sadly, many will think you are crazy for believing the church should actually be doing just as Jesus did. People will think you are crazy because all they know is what the church, they attend has taught them. One of the questions many will raise is have you seen these miracles? When you say what we read in scripture should be happening in the church, that is where you lose them, so even if you have not seen them yet, you still believe. Now having said that many charismatics will say they believe in miracles but even in charismatic circles, what they are seeing does not look like scripture. The lack of miracles, healing, casting out demons can only mean one thing; God has turned His face from the church.
Last blog we talked about returning to God because He has given us the promise that if we do, He would return to us. Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” That is a very clear directive, but this is where the problem lies, not with the verse, but with most who will say I didn’t go anywhere so why should I repent. That is a common response, wrong, but common. Jeremiah 8:6 “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.” The new year is rolling along and will pick up speed and most will continue to pursue their course with great enthusiasm. Even the apostle Paul said Galatians 1:14 “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” But then in Acts we see everything change. Acts 9:17 “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” Paul said Galatians 1:17 “I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
So we have Saul (Paul) who was zealous for what he saw was truth, so much so he persecuted the church and even stood giving approval to the murder of Stephen. Acts 9:1 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Ananias was told, Acts 9:15 “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Jesus said to Paul Acts 26:15 “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
We also saw David celebrating before God when the ark was being brought to Jerusalem. 2 Samual 6:1 “David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.” It appeared to be a time of celebration, but it was not. 6 “When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.” So even though there was great celebration, it was wrong. 1 Chronicles 15:1 “After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever. 11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.”
Today the church is filled with people who are zealous for their faith and are celebrating before God with all their might and will continue to do so until the day they die. On the surface that appears to be a good thing. How could it be so wrong to be zealous for your faith? But it is as we saw above. The questions that need to be asked is, what have you been saved into? Who have you put your faith in or given your life to; Jesus or a different Jesus. What gospels have you been zealous for; the truth or other gospels? Obviously, most will say Jesus and the truth and then proceed to ignore His word, and not believe His word but adhere to the words of men and women and doctrines of demons. The Catholic will say this is the way, truth and life. The Baptist will say this is the way, truth and life. The Pentecostal will say this is the way, truth and life and so on and so. But that is impossible, as Jesus said there is only one way, not many. Just in the three listed, there are radical differences. If you go back to the Reformation, this was actually a detrimental time in church history as the church literally exploded into many differing groups who followed many different ways, and the church continues to divide. Because the church did not return to the word of God, all the churches combined were even worse than the Catholic Church the reformers were reforming from. The church should have repented and returned to the word of God but instead continued to turn away by each going their and way and then saying this ridiculous statement that they agree on the majors and disagree on the minors and we agree to disagree. Meanwhile each is following a different gospel but believing their gospel is truth and each group says the other is wrong. The reality is they are all wrong because there is no power from on High and the church looks nothing like the church Jesus is the head of.
This rebellion of following other gospels caused God to allow our enemies to decimate the church just as we were warned would happen and the church became powerless, yet still celebrates with all there might. As Paul said 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Paul also said 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
This means that not only has the church been deceived by satan, but it has also been deluded by God. Rebellion as Daniel prophesied would cause the abomination that causes desolation to destroy the church but not completely as per the promise to David. Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” What most are zealous for is not God or His word, but the deception of satan and delusion brought on by God. What people think they have been saved into is a different Jesus and other gospels. This means that God has turned His face from the church and the kingdom does not come near. When the kingdom does not come near, there is no power. When there is no power there are no true miracles, casting out of demons, signs and wonders. I say true because as we read above “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.” Also we are warned Matthew 24:23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.”
Basically, there are two groups in the church and then a whole lot in between. You have the charismatics and the non-charismatics and each one is as wrong as the other. The charismatics believed in signs and wonders but did not test the spirits and were deceived. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Supposedly in an effort to be like scripture where we see Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” The difference is the tongues of the charismatics is just babble with no power. The tongues Peter was talking about was this. Acts 2:5 “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?” This was followed with power. Acts 3:4 “Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” And not just apostles. Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.”
When I was part of the charismatic movement, there was lots of babble but no power as we see throughout the Gospels and Acts. There were manifestations, like people on their backs but no power. There was lots of babble but no healing or miracles. Many were deceived by manifestation that did not come from God. The power that was present was not God, but satan and because people did not test the spirits, they were deceived. If you stop and think about it, in the charismatic circles, speaking in tongues means being filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means God is present. So, if you have a church filled with people speaking in tongues, you then should have a church filled with the power of God and healings, miracles casting out of demons should be taking place all the time. It would not look like a Benny Hinn crusade, but this. It would then look just like Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”
The whole charismatic movement is off-track, and many have been deceived and deluded. Also many are opposed to the true power of God because of what they see happening with the charismatics. The non-charismatics then reject the power to heal, cast out demons and to perform miracles because of what they saw in the charismatic circles. This would be correct but were they also did not test the spirits is they rejected God’s word in doing do so. You then ended up with doctrines of demons like cessationism that says God does not do as we read in the Gospels. They say that power stopped with Paul but scripture does not say that. They then edited the bible to coincide with their own beliefs but we were warned not to do that but most churches do it anyways. Proverbs 30:6 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Here is an example of redaction. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Many even have trouble with a message of knowledge. But that is not what the passage states. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
Most non-charismatics would say if God so desired he would heal, but that is not happening very often and when it does, people outside the church are also being healed from sickness like cancer. But again, this is not what scripture states. God desires to heal but this was His plan. The first thing Jesus did was call disciples and then empower them to do as He was doing. Mark 6:1 “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Matthew said it this way. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Luke said Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” It was not just the twelve given this power. Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Then as we read above this power was given to the church and was supposed to continue.
Where the cessationists are right was the power did stop around the time of Paul, but not because it was no longer needed or available. It was because the church rebelled and rejected the word of God by following a different Jesus and other gospels that there is no power. But instead of repenting for rebelling, the church just adopted this lack of power as normal and transitioned into success from a worldly view even though Paul said, Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Miracles were still happening, they just were not listed.
This lack of power and finishing in the flesh is easily seen by just looking at what most call the church. It doesn’t matter whether you are charismatic or non-charismatic, there is no power. The power that may be present is either manmade (world’s view of success) or satan. The signs and wonders, miracles and demons cast out that we see throughout scripture are not seen in the church. If they are seen, it is very rare. Even king Nebuchadnezzar said, Daniel 4:3 “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” Since God’s kingdom is eternal, so are His signs and wonders. The church will begin to prepare for the next ritual on the cycle of the calendar and that is Easter for most. Yes, Lent is in there, but don’t wait for Lent to repent; now is the time! The church says they believe Jesus is risen from the dead, but does not act like. If Jesus is alive, He would still be calling disciples to carry on the work of defeating the work of the devil. The church can only defeat the work of the devil with power from on High and because of rebellion yet the church still believes after all this desolation that it can. God turned His face from the church and the church has been decimated and when God turns His face back, once again the church will be victorious against our enemies.
When it comes to miracles, to show the rejection of God’s word by the church, it looks like this. I remember hearing a sermon talking about Jesus healing the blind man. Instead of teaching that same power is available today, the preacher changed the account to only represent salvation but there are many accounts of Jesus healing, so many that John said, John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Yes, there are many who are spiritually blind but since this preacher’s church does not believe in miracles performed by a disciples, the account has to change to mean salvation. Scripture is modified to fit their own doctrines and theology. A person (did not believe in miracles performed by a disciples) said to me one time, and many believe this, the greatest miracle is salvation. The problem with that is if you do not believe in miracles performed by a disciple who has been given power and authority form on High, as we see in scripture and listed in the gifts of the spirit (to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit), you are rejecting the word of God and replacing God’s word with the words of man. Therefore, you are not saved and there is no miracle. This is rebellion.
The other day I was listening to music while I worked out and a song from the Newsboys came up called “Miracles.” The Newsboys are huge around the world and their words have impact. The strange thing is this is not a song about miracles, but unbelief. This song has done just as the minister did and change miracles to mean something else. The lyrics are, “You ever seen a brother or sister who could cure a disease? I hadn't but I wanted to show the world that nothing's impossible if they can believe, they're gonna see a miracle. I didn't know what to do, So I went running to you to find that cure, Now I know for sure, I'm done looking around I finally figured it out. It's more than metaphysical. You got me up from down, faith has shattered my doubts I believe in miracles. I knew what I wanted to do but just like gravity's pull, I always did the opposite. Life was a meaningless party, I started to fall into a bottomless hole, But then I got a miracle. Some people don't have a clue. If all of this could be true but take a look at me(take a look at me), I was blind but now I see. I'm done looking around I finally figured it out It's more than metaphysical You got me up from down, faith has shattered my doubts. I believe in miracles There's something that's missing. If we can't recognize that our own existence is the miracle before our eyes” I then came across an interview about the song. They said “When we come to know Christ and the Gospel, that changes us. If you would have told me three years ago our old lead singer was leaving and Michael was joining the band, I would have not believed any of it. To see what’s happened these last two years... we’re all living miracles from the result of Born Again. For that to be our biggest-selling album--when you get older and think maybe we’re winding down as a band after 20 years--God showed us grace and mercy as a band. God’s not done with Newsboys. We’re living proof that a Christian band can be sustained beyond the normal cycle. I can’t believe I still get to do what I love to do.”
As many people do, they used the verse Matthew 17:20 “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” But the left out what happened before. Matthew 17:14 “When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” What the Newsboys have done is while they say they believe in miracles, they do not. The first verse of the song raises the question most have, but most do not seek the answer which is repent for rebelling against God’s word. “You ever seen a brother or sister who could cure a disease? I hadn’t but I wanted to show the world that nothing’s impossible if they can believe.” That is what people are looking for but most in the church have relegated the power of God to heal to something that is more explainable. In this case it was their career and a best-selling album. Now I am not saying that God does not guide us but when you read about miracles, we saw how it should be as Jesus said to John’s disciples before John was murdered, Matthew 11:4 “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Leprosy could be any disease today and still could be leprosy. According to what we read in the Gospels; any disease can be immediately healed but the church usually has huge prayer lists. Many are on medication for their sickness and when someone dies, they say glory to God they are now healed. Where was the church when Covid hit? Mental health, even in the church is widespread. The list of sickness could go on and on and many have no cure but with a word, that also created everything, people were immediately healed. I believe in miracles.
Read the Gospels and Acts and take note of all the healing, casting out of demons and think about all the signs and wonders that are not even listed and then say, miracles just means keeping the band together and selling albums. The Newsboys also sing a song called we believe, but do they really? Jeremy Camp has a song called the Same Power. The lyrics - “The same power that rose Jesus from the grave, The same power that commands the dead to wake lives in us, lives in us. The same power that moves mountains when He speaks. The same power that can calm a raging sea lives in us, lives in us. He lives in us, lives in us.” The question is, does it? I do not believe it does. I do believe what Paul states here. Paul said Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” That same power is available to the church but because of rebellion, the church remains powerless.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, also created the world and at Pentecost, that same power was given to the church to do as Jesus did with the same power and authority. Briefly the church did do as Jesus did, but that changed very quickly and God turned His face from the church and allowed the abomination that causes desolation to decimate the church just as we were warned it would. Instead of saying that the greatest miracle is salvation it would be beneficial eternally to find out what you have been saved into. Since the church looks nothing like the church Jesus started and showed us what it would look like, then our only option is to repent and ask God to be merciful and wait for God to turn his face back to the church so that once again, the true gospel will go out with power and authority. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” The deception and delusion is the church has decided to finish in the flesh and find powerlessness acceptable all the while refusing to repent. By accepting a powerless church, satan wins and many who are deceived will spend eternity with him. Matthew 25:41 “‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” satan knows that if the church returns to the word of God, his work will once again be destroyed. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” The church was to continue in that work just as Paul was told. Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
Scripture makes it clear that we are powerless against our enemies when God’s people rebel. It really is mind boggling how someone can read the Gospels and Acts and then say we are the church, we are the church. Jeremiah 7:8 “But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.” The reality is that what we call the church looks nothing like the church is supposed to be. The deception and delusion are that most think the church is exactly how it should be. There are enough gurus that appear successful, and their ministries appear to be powerful but they are powerless, even though they give the impression that God is blessing their churches. What they do not realize is by following other gospels and a different Jesus, they have accepted satan’s offer of success. If satan had the audacity to try to temp Jesus, he will try to attempt us. Luke 4:5 “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Jesus answered correctly but most have accepted his offer which is why the churches that are successful looks so worldly but have no power. satan has already done what Paul described 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
To say being saved is the greatest miracle when satan has been allowed to exalt himself, is deadly. Jeremiah said Jeremiah 35:15 “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.” Jeremiah 11:7 “I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’” 9 Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them.” Jeremiah 7:23 “I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.’ 27 “When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Jeremiah 2:11 “Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. 12 Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. 13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
The good news is there is still hope. Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.” Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Jeremiah 3:12 “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord. 14 “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”
Mark 1:14 “proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” When the kingdom comes near, that means power and authority returns. When power and authority returns to the church, the church will once again do as Jesus did, just as we were supposed to from the beginning. Miracles will actually be miracles, all diseases will be healed once again and demons will be cast out. Will you just accept the person you see hunched over or will you think Jesus would heal you and the church should have the power to do the same? Luke 13:10 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Just as those in this account opposed this miracle, there are many in the church who will be opposed to saying miracles should still be happening in the church. “14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” 15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”
Do you really believe that there is no one today that has been bound by satan? The good news is that if the church returns to the word of God and believes, then Matthew 16:18 “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The abomination that causes desolation will come to an end and the church will once again lose and bind. The good news will be preached, people will be healed and there will be miracles signs and wonders. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
