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The
Problem With Miracle Workers
To properly conjecture what
the problem is with miracle workers, we would first have to define, “Who has
the problem?” The miracle worker? Or, the one attempting to understand the
miracle worker?
From
the days of Elijah, they have been hunted down, criticized, threatened, beat,
stoned, and crucified. Today they are misunderstood, undermined, subjected to
heresy, mocked, ridiculed, and debated whether or not they be of God.
While
secular media often takes its “pot shots” at those who work in the
miraculous, it is more often than not, the heaviest criticism comes from within
the ranks of the Church.
It
would seem we have a “house” divided, when one side declares, “Jesus, is
the same yesterday, today, and forever.” While another side says, “God
doesn’t’ do those things anymore.”
It
is easier to understand the limited view of traditional churches that embrace
“cessationist theology”, over those who claim to be Spirit-filled.
Nevertheless, it is apparent that even those whose roots grew out of Azusa
Street (early 1900’s) or Charismatic Renewal (1960-70’s) are becoming
opponents of what they no longer understand: The language of the Holy Spirit.
We Are Gathered Here
Today…
While
some think Paul is speaking of a funeral verse when he writes, “Eye has not
seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God
has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 1:9) Yet, the very next
verse says, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit, for the
Spirit searches all things, yes. The deep things of God.”
Why
is this important to the understanding of a miracle worker? Because, the miracle
worker must hear, and comprehend the Voice of God, as to the “how, when, and
where” a miracle can take place, including the method. Jesus said, “"I
assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the
Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
John 5:19
Sometimes
He touched the blind, another He put mud on the eyes, and yet, another time He
spit on a blind man’s eyes.1 Each was unique to what the Father was
saying.
So
what if one man waves his hand at the sick, someone else lays a handkerchief
upon them, another anoints with oil, a different miracle worker says, “Drink
this water”? Is it not the results that matter? Yet, for those who don’t
understand the language of the Spirit the “method” becomes an equal offense
as to the miracle itself. They reason within themselves if the method “offends
them”, the miracle cannot be of God.
There
is no logic to this reasoning. It is simply an outward aggression from an inward
lack of understanding in the things of the Spirit’s World. It is apparent
Jesus wasn’t worried about offending the Pharisee’s in His earthly ministry,
and in that reasoning, nor should we.2
What
Did You Say?
Paul
goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man does not receive
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
In
other words, the “natural man”, the “Spirit UN-Filled” man cannot
understand the Holy Spirits language, nor can he know them, apart from
the Holy Spirits continuing and abiding infilling. It is an ongoing process, not
a one time fix all.
It
is like a man who only speaks English and travels to a distant land and to him
everyone speaks a “foreign language”. He has no comprehension into the
culture and ways of that nation, which, to them is “normal”. In their
society he is the one who is abnormal. They can tell him the “how’s” and
the “why’s” they do what they do, but to him it is foolishness, not
understanding their language, nor their culture.
The
church began supernaturally and it will end supernaturally! Those who are
opposed to the supernatural of God will find themselves receiving the counsel of
Gamaliel to the opponents of the early supernatural church in his day.
“For
if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of
God, you cannot overthrow it-lest you even be found to fight against God.” Acts
5:38-39
The
problem isn’t with the miracle workers, the problem lies with those who think
they know, and don’t!
My
Embrace,
Eddie
End Notes:
- Matthew 9:29, John 9:6,
Mark 8:23
- Matthew 13:57 &
15:12, John 6:61
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