So you have gone to church your whole life and have seen nothing even remotely close to what we have been talking about on this journey of miracles and you think, is this really possible. The quick answer is yes because the bible tells me so just as the children’s song said. Jesus said Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 10:15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Christianity at its simplest form is how you see the kingdom come near. Jesus said John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” This is what the bible tells me, so it is true.
But you ask why are we not seeing and have not seen what is described in scripture for hundreds of years. Let me clarify that what you see in charismatic circles, that is their claim to the anointing of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the miracles of Jesus. This movement as are others, was a deception brought on by satan and delusion brought on by God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” Daniel had also warned us about this.
The church for centuries has refused to repent and turn from their wicked ways. Just because someone left the Catholic church for another or someone left a denomination to start or join another, does not mean they have turned away from their wickedness. How long will man continue to rebel against God’s word? Well it seems for a very long time that is until God steps in. The church has continued to get worse and worse and further from the truth. Daniel already warned us about that when he said Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Isaiah said, Isaiah 59:5 “Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Hosea 9:2 “Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.” God gave a promise to David so He will intervene and there will always be a remnant. Isaiah 59:15 “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.” Daniel told us Daniel 7:25 “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. 26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” Daniel 9:27 “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” By the way the church is already almost completely destroyed and is in captivity and desolation. The false teaching that there will be a rapture and a seven year tribulation and millennial kingdom has led the church astray. Oddly both Baptist and Pentecostal alike have similar teaching on the end times.
So back to the lack of miracles in the church. Most people believe that only when God so chooses He will reach down and heal and yes that has happened. Most are under the assumption that is the plan for the church even though the bible clearly lays out God’s plan. The plan scripture talks about is, authority and power given to believing disciples who are clothed with power from on High to go out into the world. Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” As Paul said, Ephesians 1:18 “the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” The plan involves the same power Jesus gave his disciples when He sent them into the world. Luke 9:1 “He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” What we saw at Pentecost was the beginning of power not the end of it. That was the beginning of the plan. Then the church rebelled and the power faded not because it was no longer available but due to our rebellion and turning away to follow man’s words instead of God’s. Most people in the church do not want to hear they are in rebellion. This is why Jesus said Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Many people today read the bible and expect what they read to be true. You would think that to be a good thing but when it doesn’t happen and they are confused and most do not repent. They end up adopting Paul’s speech where he says Roman 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” This then becomes the motto for the Christian life but they fail to keep reading where Paul says, 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” That same Jesus still wants to deliver us. Paul was sent out Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” That was the plan and still is but some just accept the powerless church to be how it is. Some do question as to why but the answer they receive is that is how it is or God doesn’t do that anymore. Instead of turning back to God they are encouraged to surrender wholeheartedly to the church they attend and accept their doctrines and theology that explain away the power of God that is available. It is not God behind this, but satan. This is why they are called doctrines of demons. The church has fallen for these lies and adheres to false teachings about other gospels and worship in vain. Just as bad are those who say they believe there is power available but to do nothing to seek it. For some I believe there is a desire to return to scripture as the charismatics had but they did not follow the scripture they wanted to return to. They believed in false teachings and did not test the spirits and were deceived. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” John also said 1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” As you saw with the charismatics they got further and further away from what they were looking for and believed speaking gibberish, and even going so far as the extremes of barking like dogs, laughing like hyenas, being drunk in the spirit and falling backwards as if it was a sign from God. These manifestations where not signaling God’s presence but satan’s masquerade. People sought these manifestations, which is why so many flocked to some of these false revivals like Brownsville, Toronto Blessing or Benny Hinn crusades. It is not just the charismatics that have been fooled. You have those who believe in cessationism, a doctrine of demons who are just as deceived as the charismatics.
So we have the word of God and we know it to be true. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 2 Corinthians 4:2 “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Psalm 119:43 “Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” There is no question that the bible is truth but many do not believe because they have not seen. They refuse to accept the words of truth and therefore refuse to repent. Instead of repenting they decide this powerless church is just how it is supposed to be. John 8:31 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
If we truly want to be free, we hold to the truth whether we see it or not. As of now we have not seen it but Jesus said we will see it if we turn from our wicked ways. John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This passage goes on to say 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Don’t wait to say “My Lord and my God.” So why don’t you believe as everything is right in front of us? Jesus told us Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” And remember to seek with the faith of a child. Jeremiah tells us, Jeremiah 29:10 “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Amos 5:4 “This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live.” Ezekiel 18:31 “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel (church)?
Have you sought the Jesus of scripture or have you accepted the manmade powerless Jesus of the church in rebellion? Have you spent time seeking what you read in the bible or have you accepted the pathetic version of the powerless church we have today? If you were seeking the Jesus of scripture, you would look around you and see the lack of power and you would see false teachers, prophets and doctrines of demons and you would repent. Many teachers have no idea that what they are teaching is false. They have just accepted it as truth passed down from those who have gone before them. If you were truly seeking the God of the scripture, you would not be afraid to turn away from these empty and wicked ways. If you are seeking, don’t give up. Jesus said to Jairus Mark 5:36 “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jesus says this to you also. If you are seeking the words of the living God, don’t give up, trust and believe God will do as He said He would. Habakkuk 2:2 “Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Isaiah 64:4 “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18 “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
