Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them

[JimB]

What do you think of this quote from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (Life's Little Instruction Book):

“Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.”​

Laurence J. Peter (The Peter Principle) took a different view. He said,

“Don’t believe in miracles, depend on them.”​

IYO, which is right?

 

[whatfor]

If you are in a situation where you need God, you depend on them.
We in countries that provide welfare, health care etc. learn to depend less on miracles.

 

[ACWaller]

Believe and depend on God. Weather it is called a miracle or not, our daily bread is a gift from him.

 

[Javafiend]

I like how Heidi Baker put it. Sometimes God heals the blind and they see, but for some reason He doesn't always heal them. So we send them to the doctor for surgery. Either way we are doing God's will by helping them.

 

[Tigger45]

What I get from this saying is don't live life in such a way ie "from chaos to chaos" that the only answer left is a miracle. Instead live life according to God's instruction on how to aquire His wisdom and blessing in everything on a continual basis. Your walk with the Lord in this life will be a lot more peaceful. Then when those times come that require a miracle of God then by all means depend on them.

What do you think of this quote from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (Life's Little Instruction Book):

“Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.”​

Laurence J. Peter (The Peter Principle) took a different view. He said,

“Don’t believe in miracles, depend on them.”​

IYO, which is right?

 

[Alive_Again]

What we really have faith for is an outflow of the relationship we have with God. Our "mustering" or "trying" to have miracles isn't realistic. We can position ourselves for them and hope for them. Out of hope, springs forth faith. We must have hope first.

When we position ourselves correctly, doing the things that make for edification, keeping our eyes single on Him, and locating ourselves where God is moving, then when the anointing comes forth for things like miracles, we might have eyes to see and lay hold on them by uniting our own faith with them.

I think that every thing we do in forward motion with the Holy Spirit helps to qualify us to receive miracles. Not that we qualify to earn them, but that we must walk in the light, and we must believe, and we must love. The more developed in God's love we are, the more likely we are to receive miracles from Him.

In the meantime, we move forward in our renewal/healing/restoration right where we are now, using the means and resources available to us, His Word, etc. (might include doctors), and move forward into our inheritance, submitting ourselves to the tutorship of the Holy Spirit (often through anointed teachers) and learn to walk in what is ours as overcomers.

 

[mourningdove~]

What do you think of this quote from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (Life's Little Instruction Book):

“Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.”​

Laurence J. Peter (The Peter Principle) took a different view. He said,

“Don’t believe in miracles, depend on them.”​

IYO, which is right?

imo, neither is stated correctly.

I would go instead with this:

"Believe in God,The Miracle Maker; depend on Him."

 

[Ajax 777]

imo, neither is stated correctly.

I would go instead with this:

"Believe in God,The Miracle Maker; depend on Him."

Amen.

In all thy ways, acknowledge Him....and He will lift you up.

 

[Frogster]

What we really have faith for is an outflow of the relationship we have with God. Our "mustering" or "trying" to have miracles isn't realistic. We can position ourselves for them and hope for them. Out of hope, springs forth faith. We must have hope first.

When we position ourselves correctly, doing the things that make for edification, keeping our eyes single on Him, and locating ourselves where God is moving, then when the anointing comes forth for things like miracles, we might have eyes to see and lay hold on them by uniting our own faith with them.

I think that every thing we do in forward motion with the Holy Spirit helps to qualify us to receive miracles. Not that we qualify to earn them, but that we must walk in the light, and we must believe, and we must love. The more developed in God's love we are, the more likely we are to receive miracles from Him.

In the meantime, we move forward in our renewal/healing/restoration right where we are now, using the means and resources available to us, His Word, etc. (might include doctors), and move forward into our inheritance, submitting ourselves to the tutorship of the Holy Spirit (often through anointed teachers) and learn to walk in what is ours as overcomers.

hello, when you say above "position ourslves", to me, that seems to go against what Paul taught about receiving power and grace, after all when God delivered him from the sentence of death in Asia recorded in 2 cor 1, he was in a bad position. Peter in jail in Acts 12, was a bad position, likewise paul and silas in a roman prison in acts 16.

It is power in the weakness in the bad situation, that is the true position, to get the grace and miracle. if we could position ourselves, why would we need a miracle?

thanks, frog.

 

[Frogster]

Amen.

In all thy ways, acknowledge Him....and He will lift you up.

 

[JimB]

imo, neither is stated correctly.

*****

I like the first one, “Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.” Too many people are waiting for (depending on) God to do some miraculous thing, like bail them out of debt they got themselves into or heal them of emphysema that 50 years of chain smoking caused, when God is waiting on them to do their part—like quit making debts they cannot pay or overcoming an addiction that is killing them.

 

[Always in His Presence]

3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Too many pursuasive words of men's wisdom and not enough demonstrating of the Sirit and of Power.

Maybe if supposed pastor would talk less and demonstrate more we would be more effective in reaching the lost. Just sayin.

 

[Frogster]

At best, overcoming an addiction by the flesh, will just be a life of supression and control, negative restraint, but if by the Spirit it is done, now we're talking the right way, we have to be careful of the Tony Robbins syndrome in the church, or the "just say no approach", just cautioning against reliance on self effort, thanks, frog.

 

[K2K]

What do you think of this quote from author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (Life's Little Instruction Book):

“Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them.”​

Laurence J. Peter (The Peter Principle) took a different view. He said,

“Don’t believe in miracles, depend on them.”​

IYO, which is right?

Very interesting quotes, Jim B.

It does seem like we are supposed to depend upon God as well as believe in Him, but I quess He can work is ways that are not miracles.

 

[K2K]

At best, overcoming an addiction by the flesh, will just be a life of supression and control, negative restraint, but if by the Spirit it is done, now we're talking the right way, we have to be careful of the Tony Robbins syndrome in the church, or the "just say no approach", just cautioning against reliance on self effort, thanks, frog.

Of course the Spirit could have you overcome an addiction by something other than a miracle, couldn't He. I do agree that we shouldn't just rely upon ourselves though. It might be best to ask the Lord and listen to what He says, right?

 

[Frogster]

Of course the Spirit could have you overcome an addiction by something other than a miracle, couldn't He. I do agree that we shouldn't just rely upon ourselves though. It might be best to ask the Lord and listen to what He says, right?

Agreed.

 

[Alive_Again]

I said: When we position ourselves correctly, doing the things that make for edification, keeping our eyes single on Him, and locating ourselves where God is moving, then when the anointing comes forth for things like miracles, we might have eyes to see and lay hold on them by uniting our own faith with them.

hello, when you say above "position ourslves", to me, that seems to go against what Paul taught about receiving power and grace, after all when God delivered him from the sentence of death in Asia recorded in 2 cor 1, he was in a bad position. Peter in jail in Acts 12, was a bad position, likewise paul and silas in a roman prison in acts 16.

I understand what you're saying. I guess what I mean by "positioning yourself", you're aligning yourself to receive God's blessing (by grace).

It is power in the weakness in the bad situation, that is the true position, to get the grace and miracle. if we could position ourselves, why would we need a miracle?

Peter received the benefit when the church positioned herself (no doubt Peter joining in unity); Paul and Silas positioned themselves by praising the Lord. God responded in power. The "work" is one done from the rest of the Spirit, but it is done looking to the Lord in faith.

That's the whole thing about not just using your personal faith when seeking miracles. It's waiting for the anointing and then combining your faith with the anointing. The church positions herself by creating the atmosphere the Spirit moves in, an environment of praise and with the Word being preached on the promise you want the fulfillment of.

I see the "positioning" as not being a work of the flesh, but a yielding to the Spirit and moving in faith. When people praise the Lord and are crying out to Him expectantly, He responds to those who diligently seek Him. (That's my take on it anyway!)

 

[Frogster]

Well, I see it as in weakness the miracles come, and as far as our inner condition, Thomas was in a bad inner postition, doubting the heart of Christian doctrine, that being the resurrection, but we see at the end of John in all his bad inner position,he had a miracle happen, Jesus appeared to him, and even catered to his position of serious unbelief.


Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

[jiminpa]

If we aren't depending miracles we aren't reaching far enough.

If I have my life so in order that I don't need a miracle what do I need God for, and how am I showing His power, and how are we different from the world? "Oh hey, look at my life, and see how well I have it managed. Wouldn't you like to give your life to God now?" Kind of hollow that way.

 

[Alive_Again]

Well, I see it as in weakness the miracles come, and as far as our inner condition,

I see it as a "weakness" like a child who is reaching out to his Father. That's a good weakness. I see Paul and Silas doing this.

Thomas was in a bad inner postition, doubting the heart of Christian doctrine, that being the resurrection, but we see at the end of John in all his bad inner position,he had a miracle happen, Jesus appeared to him, and even catered to his position of serious unbelief

These are the rare exceptions. God's been known to open up a meeting by doing a healing or miracle from someone right out of the blue. It's like someone bidding at an auction and after the tiniest delay after a bid slamming the hammer down and saying "Sold!" just to get everyone on board and their attention picqued.

Still for all thee reasonings, if you get into the environment where God manifests, and the anointing is present, you can join your personal faith to it and receive, and this is what we're seeking here isn't it?