The Maze of Modern Miracles

by Steve Hale

INTRODUCTION

It's just like a scene of Elmer Gantry. A sweet-looking, precious handicapped soul comes down the aisle. The preacher meets the person with great compassion and warmth.

We can almost hear the resonating words: "What's your need, my child?" The response: "Make me whole!" After much shouting, preaching, and ceremony, the person is declared clean and whole.

Declarations aren't worth much though, without truth and realism. Many charlatans prey on the less fortunate rather than praying for them.

A former classmate of mine was born without arms. She was a remarkable student in school, making the honor roll every semester. She wrote with her feet, and ate with her feet. She was a faithful Christian in everyway, and loved the Lord with all her heart.

A faith evangelist came to the neighboring city, promising to heal all the sick. Our sister went to this rally, waiting for the call of those wanting to be healed. She came down the aisle when some of this "evangelist's" workers noticed her arms were missing.

Quickly, they hustled her out of the convention center, and told her to not come back. Evidentially, there was no miracle awaiting her.

This is foreign to the miracles of the New Testament, and foreign to the compassion described in the Scriptures. Have miracles ceased? What about the claims of faith healing evangelists? Are they trustworthy? Are some people to be turned away? Why build hospitals if you have the power to heal?

"...And They Were All Healed..."

Following the death of Ananias and Sapphira, the church was booming. Interest in the phenomenon of New Testament Christianity spread throughout the city: "And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women" ( Acts 5:14).

These Christians brought the sick out into the streets, putting them in beds and couches. So powerful was the healing, that just Peter's shadow wrought great things ( Acts 5:15). As you might guess, word of this spread to the little communities surrounding Jerusalem.

So, they brought their sick too. People with unclean spirits and all manner of infirmities were brought. Luke concludes Acts 5:16 with these ominous words: "and they were all healed."

Friends, if one truly has the power of God to heal, no one will be turned away! Evidentially, if any had enough faith to come or even be carried for healing, that was enough, for "...they were all healed."

The charlatans of today turn away the hurting for frivolous and nonsensical reasons: nicotine demons, lack of faith, skepticism, etc. None of these are excuses given in the New Testament, for "...they were all healed."

If then, some preacher claims the gift of healing, but cannot help someone who comes for help, he's not the man of God. The Spirit of God was so capable in Peter that even his shadow was desired by the sick in the streets. You read of none of these excuses in Acts 5.

If "faith healing evangelists" still have this power, then why: (1) wasn't Ryan White healed of HIV; (2) did Oral Roberts build the "City of Faith" hospitals in Tulsa? If you can heal people, why do need a hospital; (3) didn't the young lady mentioned in the introduction get her arms back; (4) why doesn't some faith-healer take-up Keith Parker's challenge, and heal Jeremy, who was born with encephlocele? The reason is simple: they do not have this gift of healing!

The Reason For Miracles

Christ and His disciples had great compassion on the multitudes! The healed many who were blind, lame, palsied, demon-possessed, lepers, etc. In fact, so many of these miracles were performed, not all them could be recorded for us ( John 21:30, 31).

However, love and compassion was not the only reason for miracles. After the Lord's ascension, Mark tells us of the great activity of the disciples. He tells us about many miracles being performed by them. He even tells us why: "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen" ( Mark 16:20).

The disciples did not have the New Testament as we enjoy today. So, some confirmation that they were messengers of God was needed. These miracles were the proof of such confirmation.

Today, we can prove the Bible as the inspired word of God in so many dynamic ways: (1) the 333 predictive prophecies about Jesus; (2) 732 Bible prophecies, 731 of which have been fulfilled; (3) science of archaeology; (4) scientific foreknowledge of the Bible; (5) historical confirmations; (6) unity of the Bible; (7) manuscriptural verifications. This list could be longer.

So wonderful is the revelation of the New Testament that Peter said: "To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into" ( I Peter 1:12).

Miracles are not needed to confirm the word today. God has blessed us with ample evidence to do that from the written word. That's why there is so much emphasis the church to be students of the word ( I Timothy 4:16; II Timothy 2:15).

Have Miracles Ceased?

In the New Testament, there were only two means to miracles through human hands: (1) Holy Spirit baptism; (2) laying on of the apostles' hands. In order for miracles to occur today, the person so performing them must acquire the power to do so one of these two ways.

First, Holy Spirit baptism no longer occurs today. By the time of Ephesians, there was only one baptism: "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" ( Ephesians 4:5).

Yet, in the New Testament, there were some seven baptisms: (1) baptism of John ( Mark 1:4, 5); (2) baptism to fulfill all righteousness ( Matthew 3:13-17); (3) Christ's baptism of suffering ( Mark 10:38); (4) baptism of suffering of the apostles ( Mark 10:39); (5) baptism of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 2:1ff.; Acts 10:47ff.); (6) baptism of fire ( Luke 3:16); (7) baptism into Christ ( Galatians 3:27).

However, by the time Paul pens Ephesians, there is but one baptism. What is that one baptism? It is that baptism by which these Ephesians can be called saints ( Ephesians 1:1). It is that baptism through which there is redemption by the blood of Christ ( Ephesians 1:7). It is that baptism where the Holy Spirit is given as a gift ( Ephesians 1:13, 14). It is that baptisms whereby even Gentiles are made nigh by Christ's blood ( Ephesians 2:13).

This could only be the baptism into Christ ( I Peter 3:21). But, if there is only one baptism, there cannot be two. Hence, Holy Spirit baptism is not a means available to us today.

The apostles laid their hands, and imparted the miraculous measure of the Spirit ( Acts 8:18; 19:1-7). But all the apostles have died! This means is not available any longer.

Paul said: "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" ( I Corinthians 13:8-10).

The Corinthians had been quite childish with their spiritual gifts ( I Corinthians 13:11-12). Rather than using them to glorify God, petty contests of superiority were rattling back and forth. They had better grow-up! These gifts were temporary not permanent. The mature, enduring gift would be love ( I Corinthians 13:8).

As Paul said, the miraculous gifts did cease. The scaffolding by which the early church was built was removed, and the completed revelation of God is fully adequate to show itself divine ( Luke 16:29,31).

Conclusion

Biblical evidence points to the fact that miracles no longer occur through human hands. Yet multitudes still flock to those who make such claims. Remember, if God is behind the miracle: (1) everyone desiring healing will be healed ( Acts 5:16); (2) this healing will be instantaneous and complete.

If the person claiming this miraculous power cannot do as he has claimed, he is false. This should be axiomatic! Yet, for multitudes, it is sadly not axiomatic ( I Jn 4:1).

In the famous words of Al Michaels, while broadcasting the 1980 U.S. Hockey team upset of the Soviet Union: "Do you believe in miracles?" Yes. But, not by human hands in the current age.