Miracles are described as being supernatural events that cannot be explained using known scientific laws, and thus they have been generally attributed to the omnipotent power of God. These extra-ordinary events have indeed been around since the beginning of time, and as a matter of fact, the earth and all of its productions including man, came into existence through the mighty miracles performed by God. Let’s read:
Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 33:9 For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
It was because of these mega supernatural events brought about by the power of God, in full view of all intelligent created beings, that caused the sons of God to shout for joy. They bursted forth with rapturous praise as they beheld with animated wonder the earth with its productions being called into existence out of thin air. These major events are what the Lord was calling Job’s attention to, when He was addressing his plight in the context of the bigger picture. Let’s read:
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
And so it is that miracles have always formed an integral part of our relationship with God. That’s why when Jesus Christ walked this earth, He continued to do what He had been doing all along before His incarnation. In other words He simply took up from where He had previously left off. Let’s read:
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias.
6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
However, a common mistake that is made regarding miracles is the erroneous assumption that because they are supernatural events, then they must of necessity proceed from God. Nothing can be further from the truth, for the Bible explicitly states that evil angels can and do work miracles on a regular basis within the sphere of the human experience.
And it was because of our foregone conclusion about all miracles being from God that the Lord draws aside the curtain to reveal what really takes place behind the scenes. Let’s read:
Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
At the sight of this first miracle Pharaoh began to laugh, for as far as he knew, his own magicians were turning rods into serpents for quite a while. He therefore called them in to belittle Moses and Aaron, but he was in for a surprise, for there are inferior and superior miracles, depending on who is behind them. Let’s read:
Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Pharaoh’s magicians were not operating under the power of God, and we know this for sure because of his own testimony. Let’s read:
Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
The magicians were therefore operating under the power of satan and his evil angels, the only other source of supernatural miracles in the universe. Hence the reason why God commanded His people not to have anything to do with magic, witchcraft, fortune tellers, psychics, astrology, transcendental meditation, voodoo, Santeria, obeah, and all of the other dark arts that emanate directly from satan, for they are all abominations in the sight of God. That’s what the Bible teaches. Let’s read:
Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 18:10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 18:12 For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 18:14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do].
Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God. 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: [but] thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.
These “abominations” also include talismans, mounted bracelets, genie’s, “holy water”, horoscopes, duppies, Ouija boards, puffer fish powder, Liam Mawl, and basilique products, and the numerous and varied “good luck charms”
that are worn or kept in strategic places. Christians do not deal with “good luck”, we deal with blessings.
In our day we should be very careful of what we accept as miracles coming from God, for the enemy of souls is not manifesting himself as an angel of darkness, but rather as an angel of light. That particular line of reasoning that attributes all supernatural miracles to God will ultimately play a role in preparing the inhabitants of earth for the great deception soon to be unfurled by the prince of darkness. Let’s take a moment to observe:
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Now while it is true that the miracles of Christ testified to His divinity, we should be very careful not to use miracles of healing and other mysterious phenomenon as an endorsement from God that the miracle or the agent was from God. This is what Christ particularly warns us of, over and over again in the scriptures. Miracles do not prove anything as it pertains to the truth. Let’s read:
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 24:25 Behold, I have told you before. 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Of particular interest however is the case of Simon Magus, who gained fame and renown in the city of Samaria for the miracles he performed for the people. The power that was behind his wonders was the power of satan, yet every person in that city attributed his miracles to God.
A person such as Simon Magus could not have risen to fame and fortune if his miracles were mere impostures. He gained the respect of all the people, from those in the higher echelons of society down to the humble worker at Mc-donalds, because he delivered the “goods” when called upon to do so.
And as a result he was respected by magistrates, by scholars, by theologians, scientists, by school teachers, by atheists, by doctors, by politicians, by fathers, mothers and children alike. All roads led to Simon’s house whenever miracles were needed. What is worthy of note here is that satan’s name was never even mentioned as being the source, when it was he himself working behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, if anyone dared to call Simon’s work satanic they could have very well been executed, for as far as everyone in that city was concerned, Simon was a God-faring man. Let’s read:
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.
Right here on this point we must of necessity hit the pause button to reflect for a while. Let’s observe carefully that Simon offered money in exchange for the Holy Ghost. This is a critically important point for us living in the 21st century, for very many miracle healings are closely connected with money. Here then is a red flag for all who desire to know the true from the false. Whenever miracles and money converge you have false prophets. Let’s repeat: whenever miracles and money converge, there you have false prophets. Here’s why, for the Bible always explains itself. Let’s read:
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10:10 Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
This description of the humble ministry of the disciples of Christ stands in marked contrast to the wealth and extravagance so often associated with today’s famous faith healers. This undeniable contradiction then begs the question, could it be that Simon Magus is still alive in the person of false prophets and faith healers, parading as the ministers of righteousness? Many people profess not to know the difference between true and false miracles, but God is now disclosing to us the counterfeit works of darkness so that no one need be deceived. Let’s read:
2nd kings 5:8 And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
5:16 But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused. 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, [Is] all well? 5:22 And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 5:23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid [them] upon two of his servants; and they bare [them] before him.
5:24 And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
5:26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.
It is worthy of note that satan tried in vain to link the extravagance and luxuries of this world with the miraculous ministry of Christ, in one of the temptations in the wilderness. Had the devil been successful then, a precedent would have been set for the opulence and glitter we currently see in the various mega-ministries and faith healers of today.
But Jesus steadfastly refused to link the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them with His ministry for the people, lest the multitudes draw the wrong conclusion, that the kingdom of God is built on show and self-aggrandizement.
The prosperity “gospel” that is so ardently sought after by millions of Christians, and peddled by many professed televangelists will one day subject it’s adherents to the direct miracle-working power of demons, from whose power many will find no way of escape. That’s why the Lord is appealing to His people who are now sitting in darkness under the withering influence of these wanna-be prophets and healers, to run for their lives before the plagues are poured out without mercy. Let’s read:
Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
This stern warning against the modern-day false prophets and so-called miracle healers was echoed in words of solemn pathos by the true prophets of God in ages past. We all would do well to also take heed for the counsels of God pertain to all generations.
Wherever money, miracles and materialism are the all-absorbing themes, to the neglect of truth, humility, and genuine conversion, there we may be certain that God’s power is not being displayed, but is rather the power of satan masquerading as an angel of light.
That’s why the sacred words of instruction are coming down to us in the last generation, that our eyes may be anointed with eye-salve for us to see clearly. Let’s read:
Jeremiah 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Micah 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
God is now calling all of earth’s inhabitants to urgent repentance. Those Christians who may have been genuinely misled into trusting solely in miracles, instead of living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, can now find refuge in Christ if they are willing confess and forsake sin.
Even those ministers who may have deliberately or inadvertently taught the multitudes to lightly regard God’s law and to trust in miracles, can now find pardon, for God is merciful and takes no pleasure in the demise or failure of anyone. We therefore end with a text and a promise sent to us by God, that we all may be encouraged to make the necessary changes where applicable. Let’s read:
Jeremiah 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever.
3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
May God add His blessing to the reading and doing of His every word. God Bless!