SHOULD OUR BELIEFS BE BASED ON MIRACLES?

 

 

Certainly not! As Jesus had warned, miracles can be performed by the lawless and even demons:

·       “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus also warned about satanic miracles:

·       “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

These miracles will be so compelling that even God’s children would be led astray apart from His protection. These deceptive miracles will proliferate towards the end of the age:

·       The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10) Those who have rejected the truth and seek an alternative spirituality will be fair-game for demonic deceptions through paganism, the New Age, and witchcraft. Pharaoh’s magicians were even able to duplicate some of Moses’ miracles. The Book of Revelation is filled with demonic miracles:

·       It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Revelation 13:13–14; 16:14; 19:20)

Consequently, we should never allow miracles to override the authority of the  Bible, God’s Word. While miracles can serve to validate the Gospel, they should never overrule the Gospel. All our beliefs must be brought into conformity with the Word of God, our supreme authority:

·       For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)

The supremacy of God’s Word, even above signs and wonders, is echoed throughout the Bible:

·       “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 13:1–5)

Teaching against God’s Word was so serious that it carried a death penalty in the OT. However, Holly Pivec, and R. Douglas Geivett have written that deceptive signs and wonders tragically deceive many Christians:

·       I have personally witnessed the devastation of the many wounded people left in its wake. I’ve watched unsuspecting Christians who are hungry for revival become swept up in a movement that promises unity, renewal, and even miracles only to deliver confusion, empty promises, and manipulation.” (Introduction, Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church)

They target the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) centered in Bethel Church, Redding Calif, which claims many miracles, prophecies, healings and modern-day apostles and prophets who perform them. However, other related “Christian” groups, Like the Word of Faith movement (also called the Prosperity Gospel). highlight signs and wonders to justify their distorted use of God’s Word. These groups have become so influential that a 2017 Lifeway Research study found that:

·       …churchgoers are more likely today (2023) than in 2017 to believe God wants them to prosper financially (76% v. 69%) Today, 3 in 4 churchgoers (76%) believe God wants them to prosper financially. https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/08/oberlins-art-museum-projects-grandeur-in-a-gemlike-package/

In light of the teachings of the NT, this is shocking:

·       But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:6–10)

While these Prosperity Preachers are preaching the love of money, the Bible preaches the very opposite message. How then has prosperity preaching been able to influence so many? Does their love of money exceeds their love of God’s Word? Are they more impressed by the “signs and wonders” supported by their many testimonials of healings and successes, prevailed? Nevertheless, Jesus reassures us that:

·       “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27–28)