Miracle!

[JVAC]

If someone tells you they have seen Jesus, or Mary, or another Saint or Vision, what do you think of them?

It has been my general experience that most of these are viewed negatively. My Great Grandmother a few months before she died told her daughters that she saw Jesus, they thought she was senile (I don't know how to spell cenile, senile, see|nile).

What say ye?

 

[Phoebe]

I take it with a grain of salt. If it was an NDE, I would be more inclined to believe it.
However, I would never tell anyone they were nuts for claiming this. Just because I haven't had this type of vision doesn't mean someone else won't.

 

[JVAC]

What is an NDE??

 

[Phoebe]

Near Death Experience.

 

[JVAC]

Ok, I got it. I am not all up to date with abbreviations. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

I would be very happy for them...

We all can see Jesus... with our hearts..

 

[JVAC]

Do you think that it is a mark of faith that they recieve such an aparition or do you think they are just lucky?

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Do you think that it is a mark of faith that they recieve such an aparition or do you think they are just lucky?

What a GREAT question...but I haven't a clue as to the answer. Although I think God would use apparitions to strengthen those experiencing a crisis of faith...Thomas for example? Or those whom he plans to use for special ministry purposes and will need strengthened faith...Peter? Paul?

I know that my mother was very sick as a young girl of 12 or so over Christmas and she had an apparition of the Kristkindl (I hope I spelled that right) which means Christ child. My mother is a characteristically stoic German woman not prone to hyperbole, emotionalism or anything out of the ordinary. So that she reported such an apparation to me is significant.

I have always wanted to experience an apparition and periodically I have prayed to have such an experience but I admit the motives for these prayers have not been pure--they were grounded in my selfishness.

Peace

Rose

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I would have to question the experience first, I am admitting that openly. As much as I would like to just accept it and be happy for them I know myself all too well to be able to say that is what I would do. I would hope it was real, but the ratio of nutjobs to real apparitions is pretty high so the chances are slim.

However I would also say it is not dependant on one's faith or even an indicator thereof. Look as Saul (Paul), his appearance was nowhere near a result of his faith, it did lead to his faith but it wasn't a result thereof.

 

[JVAC]

One could argue there, though I don't wish to, I just mean to point this out, that Saul was a devout Jew, and thought he was serving God by persecuting the Christian Heresy. I think Saul was always pretty faithful to God, just not always in the truth.

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

Oh I agree with you, but to deny Christ would have seperated him from God, while he thought he was faithful he indeed was not and was working against God, furthering the enemy's ends. I have no contention with Paul thinking that he was devout.

 

[JVAC]

Agreed

 

[Andre]

I would be really skeptical about it, and I'd have to compare what I saw with scriptures to know if it was realy from God. If anything in it contradicts the word of God then it was not from God, the devil has power to do this things, his method of attack is by pretending to be Jesus, he is a wolf in sheeps clothing becaue if he appered as a wolf to us we would run away asap. He tries to make you think you are special and you just been revealed something new by God, when in fact that will take your attention from God and place it into whatever you saw, or heard.
I don't believe dead believers can come back and appear to people, so if it was a saint (be it Paul, Peter, Mary or my grandfather) I would pretty much take it as a work of the devil.

 

[Andre]

One could argue there, though I don't wish to, I just mean to point this out, that Saul was a devout Jew, and thought he was serving God by persecuting the Christian Heresy. I think Saul was always pretty faithful to God, just not always in the truth.

While he was a devout Jew, his faith meant nothing because faith in Jesus is the only thing that counts, if you don't know Jesus, you don't know God, therefore if you don't have faith in Jesus, you don't have faith in God.

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

That is so very confusing.. to make people think that some miracles come from the devil..

I try to keep myself of worrying about the devil and him pushing in.. I know no matter what sign about anything.. I still know Jesus is there.. I dont have to see him to know hes there..

As long.. as You have Jesus with you.. you shouldn't have to worry about the devil...

I see it that way.. It keeps me sane.. and safe..

 

[ByzantineDixie]

That is so very confusing.. to make people think that some miracles come from the devil.

I wholeheartedly agree--while there is no shortage of phonies out there it shouldn't make us so resistant to believe in miracles and apparitions. Scripture is LOADED with examples of the same. Jesus performed miracles and the Pharisees accused HIM of being the devil!!! Philip had an apparition from an angel, completed his assignment and was instantly transported to another place after the conversion and Baptism of the eunuch!

I think miracles and apparitions are not as rare as we might think--we have just become so jaded by the phonies of the world that our flesh prevents us from recognizing a miracle when we see one. We are quick to apply worldly rationale to what we witness. Sometimes we don't want to acknowledge that the other guy experienced a miracle when we did not.

May God be glorified in all the miracles He performs and may He open the eyes of our hearts so we can see them.

Rose

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

I wholeheartedly agree--while there is no shortage of phonies out there it shouldn't make us so resistant to believe in miracles and apparitions. Scripture is LOADED with examples of the same. Jesus performed miracles and the Pharisees accused HIM of being the devil!!! Philip had an apparition from an angel, completed his assignment and was instantly transported to another place after the conversion and Baptism of the eunuch!

I think miracles and apparitions are not as rare as we might think--we have just become so jaded by the phonies of the world that our flesh prevents us from recognizing a miracle when we see one. We are quick to apply worldly rationale to what we witness. Sometimes we don't want to acknowledge that the other guy experienced a miracle when we did not.

May God be glorified in all the miracles He performs and may He open the eyes of our hearts so we can see them.

Rose

I also agree with you.. Thank you!!!

Each of us experience miracles.. even the littlest.. but it would drive someone completely insane.. to say.. that some come from the devil... so watch out!!! I have seen my sister go through a mess like that... You should be rejoicing when you experience miracles.. knowing that... God is there.. and he is so very amazing.. instead of worrying.. if its from God or from the Devil!!!!

Thank you Rose!!!

 

[ByzantineDixie]

You should be rejoicing when you experience miracles.. knowing that... God is there.. and he is so very amazing.. instead of worrying.. if its from God or from the Devil!!!!

Really!!! Isn't that a great avenue for satan to work...having us question the very miracles God does for us!!!

Excellent observation, AmeriLovesJesus.

Rose

 

[Andre]

My whole family was envolved with spiritism, my aunt is a medium, I've seen people being cut open and "operated" with no anestesic, huge cuts lots of blood comming out, then they would sprinkle baby powder on top and of the cuts and tap it with their hand and it would be miraculously closed, the person would walk out of there as if nothing happened to them, and they were healed. My uncle had a tumor of the size of an apple on his liver, he went thru an "spiritual operation" and was healed. Where do you think this people will go for "spiritual" guidance, to a church pastor or back to those guys that operated them, where there is visible power, supernatural things going on?
The devil has power and he uses it.

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

Really!!! Isn't that a great avenue for satan to work...having us question the very miracles God does for us!!!

Excellent observation, AmeriLovesJesus.

Rose

Rose,

Totally agree!!! and thank you!! Yes!! That is satan's favorite place.. to be.. right where.. God is bringing us hope... he will try anything.. to push us off our paths.. but he does not succeed.. God won't let him..

Satan knows our greatest problem is worrying..

Love America