Does God Do Miracles Like In the Bible
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I asked my daughter to share this post she posted last week to her blog A Little R & R. It is a post I would like my readers to read and share.
Does God still do miracles today like He did in the Bible?
When we think of miracles, or signs and wonders, we primarily think of Jesus and all of the miracles He did while He was here on Earth.
But, we often forget about the Old Testament.
The question is: Why would God do these things that almost seem like magic tricks? What would be the point in doing miracles?
I grew up in the thick of the Charismatic Renewal, known for promoting healing ministries and signs and wonders.
In fact, I have personally seen amazing miracles done right before my eyes: deaf people hear again and people who had been invalid for long periods of time not only walk again, but within seconds run laps around the auditorium.
I have seen God miraculously provide food out of nowhere.
These stories formed the bedrock of my faith today, helping to form a strong foundation of belief that God can and does still do miracles today.
Does God Still Do Miracles Today?
But I also saw the excess and misuse of gift of miracles.
Out of the 80’s arose huge ministries based on signs and wonders; healings and miracles. But do we see this in the Bible?
Yes, it is true that in the Old Testament we see God perform miracles through specific people: Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha.
In 2 Kings 2, Elisha throws salt in a well and God “heals” the water and the land.
In 2 Kings 4, He multiplies oil for a widow so that she could sell it and earn money, He raises a woman’s son from the dead, “purifies” a pot of stew of poisonous gourds, and multiplies bread for 100 people.
Sounds a little like Jesus!
In 2 Kings 5, He heals Naaman of leprosy.
In the chapters that follow, an ax head floats in the water and an opposing army is blinded.
How was he able to perform these miracles?
In 2 Kings 2, before Elijah is taken into heaven, we read, “And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
When Elijah was taken into heaven by a chariot of fire, his mantle fell from him, and Elisha took it and with it struck the Jordan river and it parted.
The “spirit” and mantle do not have anything to do with Elijah himself.
Elijah had no power of his own. Just as today, no man has any power of his own and those seek out gravesides or places connected to great men and women of God in an effort to receive their “spirit” or mantel are engaging in idolatry and witchcraft.
The spirit and mantle of Elijah were the Holy Spirit doing extraordinary things through an ordinary person who was completely devoted to Him!
Jesus said this before He was taken into heaven, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12
What does Jesus mean here?
There are some who believe that it means individual people would do more amazing miracles than Jesus did when He was on the earth, but that’s not what this verse means.
It simply means that the same Holy Spirit who did these miracles through Jesus would now work through all believers so that the number of miracles and signs and wonders would exceed those that Jesus did, because He is now working through thousands and millions of people – not just through one.
God wants to do miracles through you!
God wants you to be able to lay hands on a sick person and see them healed; or to pray for miraculous provision and see it happen.
And He can do these things through you, if you simply believe that it is possible. He wants to take ordinary people, like you and me, and do extraordinary things.
Things we couldn’t ever do on our own.
But why would God do these miracles?
Why are miracles and signs and wonders so important?
There is one simple answer to that question, and the clue lies in the words “Signs and Wonders”:
A sign points to a destination.
We must remember one thing: a sign in itself isn’t a destination and if we base a whole ministry on signs and wonders, we’ve stopped short of the destination!
We are literally setting up camp around a sign that says, “God’s glory: 2.5 miles”
Anytime we base a ministry on a gift, we will eventually go out of balance in our ministry.
The point of signs and wonders isn’t to amaze people or to make their lives better. How sad would it be if thousands of lost souls saw these signs and wonders and still went to hell…..amazed and with better lives?
I think you’re starting to get the point!
The point of signs and wonders is to point them to Jesus!
The point is to glorify God and exalt Him here on earth.
The point is so that lost souls will recognize His awesome power, His Lordship, His righteousness and mercy and fall on their faces and repent.
When ordinary people are passionate about God, and when allow Him to use them to do extraordinary things for Him, He gets all of the glory!
And when we glorify God, when we exalt Him in the earth, He will draw men unto Himself.
