Why are there so few power miracles anymore?

[ByTheSpirit]

If you look at Revelation 11, those power miracles will be making a comeback during the Tribulation.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

I definitely agree that as the end times draws nearer God's power will magnify on earth.

 

[ARBITER01]

So a dear fellow poster here has mentioned this lately and it is something worth discussing.

When Jesus and even the Apostles ministered healings and cast out demons, they just spoke... Leave them, stand up, be healed... and it happened.

Healings do take place still, I know this, but it seems that such healings are overwhelmingly done as a result of hours of prayer etc.

I'm curious if anyone would like to chime in on why there such a difference in approach to healings now. Is it maybe because we are afraid if we tell a lame person to stand up and walk and they don't we'll look like fools? Does faith need to be built for such acts of ministry or does the Holy Spirit just say go and do?

I've known some healing ministers who teach that starting out in healing you will fail many many times and only through perseverance will healings come. I know in the Gospels the disciples are recorded as failing on occassion and it's because of their lack of faith or that they need to pray and fast more. But after Pentecost you don't see any more failings and Peter's shadow will heal and Paul's touch will bless napkins.

What is the disconnect?

You're answer is found right here,...

Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the LORD."

Some of the Spiritual gifts require The Holy Spirit to operate them, and for that to happen one must have His anointing upon your head first. With that The Holy Spirit then rests upon you and is able to operate these gifts to GOD's glory.

Most people have been told that once they were filled with The Holy Spirit and had the gifts operating they were empowered for service, but here we see Jesus talk about a further step (the anointing) that most have not pursued. Only a few really reached for it in the past it seems.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

God's will in the matter definitely has to be discerned first, thank you for the sober reminder my friend...

God Bless!

There's definitely an element to all of this that has yet to be discussed.

Jesus said in John 5 that he did only what he saw the Father doing. Example, when he went to the pool of Bethesda, there would have been dozens or even hundreds there that needed healing, but he is recorded as only healing the one. Why? Because that is the one the Father was showing him. The lame man Peter healed in Acts 3, same thing. Jesus would have walked past that man many times in all likelihood but never healed him because the Father wasn't showing him that.

I think if believers would really seek the Father, prayer and fasting, we would see an increase in power gifts. Honestly, I know that probably gets said quite a bit, but I think the church is in such a "I need it now" phase that the waiting bit gets lost and that is way more important. We want the benefits of the relationship without working on the relationship at all. God wants us, not the things he can do through us.

 

[Neogaia777]

There's definitely an element to all of this that has yet to be discussed.

Jesus said in John 5 that he did only what he saw the Father doing. Example, when he went to the pool of Bethesda, there would have been dozens or even hundreds there that needed healing, but he is recorded as only healing the one. Why? Because that is the one the Father was showing him. The lame man Peter healed in Acts 3, same thing. Jesus would have walked past that man many times in all likelihood but never healed him because the Father wasn't showing him that.

I think if believers would really seek the Father, prayer and fasting, we would see an increase in power gifts. Honestly, I know that probably gets said quite a bit, but I think the church is in such a "I need it now" phase that the waiting bit gets lost and that is way more important. We want the benefits of the relationship without working on the relationship at all. God wants us, not the things he can do through us.

Like and agree and informative/useful friend...

God Bless!

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Something else here I think should be explored is this idea that the church when it was not politically accepted walked in power. Think about it for a moment. Constantine formerly declared Christianity the religion of Rome in the 300's and that's about when we see the gifts begin to dwindle in frequency.

Perhaps there's something to this idea of conformity, that the church compromised some of it's power to lessen persecution and that resulted in a lack of gifts and miracles. Definitely just some thoughts running through my mind. But I think it's a combination of not seeking a relationship and conforming to the world that has resulted in the current lack we see.

Not that we need to seek persecution, but we are not of the world. And if the world hated Jesus, it should hate us too. Something I definitely need to repent of is my fear of persecution. No lie, but it's true.

 

[Neogaia777]

There's definitely an element to all of this that has yet to be discussed.

Jesus said in John 5 that he did only what he saw the Father doing. Example, when he went to the pool of Bethesda, there would have been dozens or even hundreds there that needed healing, but he is recorded as only healing the one. Why? Because that is the one the Father was showing him. The lame man Peter healed in Acts 3, same thing. Jesus would have walked past that man many times in all likelihood but never healed him because the Father wasn't showing him that.

I think if believers would really seek the Father, prayer and fasting, we would see an increase in power gifts. Honestly, I know that probably gets said quite a bit, but I think the church is in such a "I need it now" phase that the waiting bit gets lost and that is way more important. We want the benefits of the relationship without working on the relationship at all. God wants us, not the things he can do through us.

Something else I just now thought about with this post, while there definitely were many many times Jesus (and the Apostles) didn't just go around healing/delivering/resurrecting, etc, everybody, etc, there were also times, most especially with Jesus, when He was just healing them/delivering them left and right also, and this might have lasted most of the day, or all day long, etc...?

Just something else to maybe think about also maybe, etc...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

There is a lot to think about and/or consider with this, etc...?

I think I will maybe be referencing this thread maybe more than a few times, from time to time, etc...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Something else I just now thought about with this post, while there definitely were many many times Jesus (and the Apostles) didn't just go around healing/delivering/resurrecting, etc, everybody, etc, there were also times, most especially with Jesus, when He was just healing them/delivering them left and right also, and this might have lasted most of the day, or all day long, etc...?

Just something else to maybe think about also maybe, etc...?

God Bless!

But He also did not do this all of the time either...?

Anyway, more to think about, etc...

God Bless!

 

[Guojing]

Something else I just now thought about with this post, while there definitely were many many times Jesus (and the Apostles) didn't just go around healing/delivering/resurrecting, etc, everybody, etc, there were also times, most especially with Jesus, when He was just healing them/delivering them left and right also, and this might have lasted most of the day, or all day long, etc...?

Just something else to maybe think about also maybe, etc...?

God Bless!

Once you understand that:

1. Jesus first coming was for Israel (Matthew 15:24, Romans 15:8)
2. Israel needed to see signs in order to believe (Exodus 4, 1 Corinthians 1:22).

It will be quite easy to understand why there was such an abundance of healing signs by Jesus during his first coming.

 

[Neogaia777]

Once you understand that:

1. Jesus first coming was for Israel (Matthew 15:24, Romans 15:8)
2. Israel needed to see signs in order to believe (Exodus 4, 1 Corinthians 1:22).

It will be quite easy to understand why there was such an abundance of healing signs by Jesus during his first coming.

What about today...?

God Bless!

 

[Guojing]

What about today...?

God Bless!

Well, when you try to share the gospel now to any of your unbelieving friends, when was the last time you had them asking you "Show me a sign before I will believe what you are telling me?"

 

[Neogaia777]

Well, when you try to share the gospel now to any of your unbelieving friends, when was the last time you had them asking you "Show me a sign before I will believe what you are telling me?"

Doesn't really happen, etc...

But, there are a lot of people who say they would like to see some kind of evidence or some kind of sign though...?

Or at least, they say so, etc...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Well, when you try to share the gospel now to any of your unbelieving friends, when was the last time you had them asking you "Show me a sign before I will believe what you are telling me?"

But also, even if they did, does that mean you should then always do it always, if you could always, etc...?

God Bless!

 

[Guojing]

But, there are a lot of people who say they would like to see some kind of evidence or some kind of sign though...?

Or at least, they say so, etc...?

God Bless!

Serious? You have encountered that request among your unbelieving friends? So far I have not met any.

Alright, in that case, you should pray to God to grant you signs to show to them then. =)

 

[Neogaia777]

Serious? You have encountered that request among your unbelieving friends? So far I have not met any.

Alright, in that case, you should pray to God to grant you signs to show to them then. =)

You asked me when I try to share the Gospel message with them first, etc...

And I said it doesn't really happen ever, etc...

And I'm just "not there yet" either, I don't think, even if they ever did, etc...

But then that's why I asked you the second question about "what if you could", etc...?

Because some say it out of spite, or to insult or tempt/entice, etc, but really have no intentions afterward of believing, etc, and probably still will/would not anyway, or they would want you to perform or do another one, and then another one, like you were some kind of circus clown for them or something, etc, and I don't think that is right, etc...

God Bless!

 

[ByTheSpirit]

You asked me when I try to share the Gospel message with them first, etc...

And I said it doesn't really happen ever, etc...

And I'm just "not there yet" either, I don't think, even if they ever did, etc...

But then that's why I asked you the second question about "what if you could", etc...?

God Bless!

You just need to be open to the Holy Spirit. Nothing else matters than being open to be led by the Spirit. Learn his voice. Be more intimate with him. Let your relationship grow and prosper. Spend quality time with him. The rest will follow.

 

[Guojing]

You asked me when I try to share the Gospel message with them first, etc...

And I said it doesn't really happen ever, etc...

And I'm just "not there yet" either, I don't think, even if they ever did, etc...

But then that's why I asked you the second question about "what if you could", etc...?

God Bless!

Sorry, guess I quoted the wrong post of yours.

You were asking me "If you could perform signs?", then I am sure you will be noticed by the entire Christian community in the world, and perhaps many unbelievers as well.

 

[Guojing]

I see what you are saying, but the gospel was always meant to be preached with a demonstartion of the

Have you encountered any unbelieving friends of yours with the request that you show them signs, before they will believe?

 

[Neogaia777]

Sorry, guess I quoted the wrong post of yours.

You were asking me "If you could perform signs?", then I am sure you will be noticed by the entire Christian community in the world, and perhaps many unbelievers as well.

Well, if you examine all the posts so far in this thread, there is very very much to consider and/or think about, etc...?

Before you even thought of trying to do anything, to or for anyone, etc...?

And God might have to "qualify" you first also, etc...?

Again, it's in just about all the posts from just about everyone in this thread so far, etc...?

God Bless!

 

[Maria Billingsley]

So a dear fellow poster here has mentioned this lately and it is something worth discussing.

When Jesus and even the Apostles ministered healings and cast out demons, they just spoke... Leave them, stand up, be healed... and it happened.

Healings do take place still, I know this, but it seems that such healings are overwhelmingly done as a result of hours of prayer etc.

I'm curious if anyone would like to chime in on why there such a difference in approach to healings now. Is it maybe because we are afraid if we tell a lame person to stand up and walk and they don't we'll look like fools? Does faith need to be built for such acts of ministry or does the Holy Spirit just say go and do?

I've known some healing ministers who teach that starting out in healing you will fail many many times and only through perseverance will healings come. I know in the Gospels the disciples are recorded as failing on occassion and it's because of their lack of faith or that they need to pray and fast more. But after Pentecost you don't see any more failings and Peter's shadow will heal and Paul's touch will bless napkins.

What is the disconnect?

It is always in God's will not ours. Paul Himself asked for healing and he did not get it. Neither did Timothy as Paul told him to drink some wine to help his stomach. We should not focus so much on our flesh as it does nothing for our spirit. Blessings