Do Miracles Exist Today?
The following was posted in response to a brother in Kenya, who was openly disputing another brother who claimed to be able to interpret dreams.
I believe I Corinthians 13:10 is very applicable here. “When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” This whole discussion is in the context of spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12), which closes with “now I will show you a more perfect way.” The Bible is the perfect word of God (as multiple scriptures make clear). God spoke through prophets originally, but eventually spoke through Jesus. (Hebrews 1:1). So when the Bible came to be (OT existed already at time of Christ, NT was settled by 400 A.D. – totally different study) there was no more need for gifts. We recognize the Bible is not available everywhere. We are not excusing people (even in the U.S)., where the Bible is available to them, but they just choose not to read it. My cousin is probably the person I respect most on this earth. He spent many years as a missionary in Africa and the ME. He is a doctor who the UN would airlift into places like Darfur and Khartoum and would move on when Medicine Sans Frontiers would show up. He told me many stories that I could only interpret as miraculous. I won’t go into all of them at the moment. I can say that my thinking at this point in my life is that the “perfect” has not come everywhere, and that God can perform miracles to teach people of His existence. For example, we have visited remote Sumburu villages where we doubt they have ever seen a Bible. We do not know how God works, but we have to think He manifests Himself in some way in those situations. One thing we can say is that we believe the gift of prophecy has ceased. If individuals are trying to elevate themselves above other believers, we believe we should all be very wary of that person. Read Acts 20 (especially 29) and you will understand what we mean. Probably one of the most often repeated passages in the Bible is “God is opposed to the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” We are so happy the church is flourishing in Kenya. Please, as the church grows there, remember these words.
God spoke through prophets originally, but eventually spoke through Jesus. (Hebrews 1:1). So when the Bible came to be (OT existed already at time of Christ, NT was settled by 400 A.D. – totally different study). We recognize the Bible is not available everywhere. We are not excusing people (even in the U.S)., where the Bible is available to them, but they just choose not to read it.
Still, it cannot be denied that the Bible (the perfect Word of God) is just not available in some places. So how does God manifest Himself in that situation? One way is through creation itself. Romans 1:20 makes it clear that just the creation of the world leaves people without excuse for recognizing that there is a God. We would not presume to know how God will evaluate those who have not had access to His perfect word.
My cousin is probably the person I respect most on this earth today. He spent many years as a missionary in Africa and the ME. He is a doctor who the UN would airlift into places like Darfur and Khartoum and would move on when Medicine Sans Frontiers would show up. He told me many stories that I could only interpret as miraculous. Based on his commitment to the truth (to the point of baptizing people in the Jordan River), I found his accounts very credible.
We won’t go into all of them at the moment. We can say that our thinking is that the “perfect” has not come everywhere, and that God can perform miracles to teach people of His existence. For example, we have visited remote Sumburu villages where we doubt they have ever seen a Bible. We do not know how God works, but we suspect He may manifest Himself in some way in those situations.
If individuals are trying to use gifts to elevate themselves above other believers, we believe we should all be very wary of that person. Paul clearly states in his second letter to Corinth that no gifts are superior to other gifts, and that all is to be done to God’s glory. Also, read Acts 20 (especially verse 29) and you will understand what I mean. Finally, probably one of the most often repeated concepts in the Bible is that “God is opposed to the proud, and gives grace to the humble.”
We are so happy the church is flourishing in Kenya. Please, as the church grows there, remember these thoughts.
What do you think? Compose and post your comments below:
I have personally operated in the realm of the miraculous. Let me first expound upon the Verde in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
In verse 10 Paul says “that which is perfect (Christ) is come. Christ has not come yet. Another interesting note is that when Christ does come to take up the church the Holy Spirit will leave with him.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7; And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I’ve lived in Uganda and Kenya for a total of 6 years as a missionary. In that time the Lord used me to open blind eyes, to unstop deaf ears and to loose the tongues of the dumb as well as many manifestations of healing in conferences, crusades and seminars. Though God works through our faith there is a greater dispensation of grace for them that walk in obedience. For me, spiritual gifts were not something I received upon accepting Christ. I was born with them and learned to use them from an early age. God hasn’t changed and neither has his word. What’s changed is how we interpret it but if we can take it at face value without complicating it we can access the raw power contained within its pages because the word is Spirit and life.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Our view of “the perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10 is the Bible, which is the perfect word of God. (Psalm 19:7-10). We don’t understand how 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 applies. The point of our blog post is that “the perfect” does away with the need to work miracles, but we concede that miracles may exist where the Bible has not reached and the only way for God to manifest Himself is to perform miracles. This was the thrust of the original post.
The word “miracle” must first be defined. Many say a miracle occurred when it was just something unusual, unexpected, that brought about something good. In the nominal sense, the word refers to an instantaneous suspension of the laws of nature and something is changed.
I agree completely. The post does assume that definition, not the “watered down” meaning that we too often hear.