Too Many Miracles

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #123h Re-Written 05APR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

No Wonder: Part Eight—Too Many Miracles

by dave c

The Micro$oft Encarta World Dictionary 2001 defines “miracle” as: 1. act of God: an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and is regarded as an act of God 2. amazing event: an event or action that is totally amazing, extraordinary, or unexpected • It’ll be a miracle if we get there on time. 3. marvelous example of skill: something admired as a marvelous creation or example of a particular type of science or skill • a miracle of modern engineering.

In accordance with the first two definitions provided above, I’m reasonably sure that most people have experienced some form of miracle at least once in their life time. Even if some people might choose to not describe such an occasion as “an act of God,” we have all witnessed an “amazing event/events” that was/were extraordinary and unexpected. As far as a miracle being “a marvelous creation [implied; ‘at the mind and hands of mankind’] or example of a particular type of science or skill,” I think that we can agree that use of the word in that context is an example of exaggeration to achieve a comparative point. As Christians, we should have no problem accepting the first definition of a miracle as “an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and that is regarded as an act of God.” After all, who wrote the laws of nature and is free to manipulate them as He will?

Periodically I hear one prominent radio preacher/teacher in particular state emphatically, “If a miracle happens all the time, or every time...by definition, it is not a miracle.” On the surface his assertion seems reasonable—but therein lies the problem. It is a reasonable statement and, by at least inference, a miracle is not reasonable. Isn’t that the point of a miracle? I fear this good and Godly minister is imposing his thoughts and feelings as a restriction upon who, what, where, when, why, and how Christ can perform miracles in peoples’ lives as He would choose—and as often as He chooses. At the core of the man’s argument is the matter of quantity: Apparently, “If something amazing happens in the name of Jesus once...then it’s a miracle. If it happens twice…it may be a miracle. If it happens three or more times it’s probably not a miracle. If it happens most of the time, or all of the time, then it is positively not a miracle.” Who says? I don’t find anything in the Bible that even suggests the truth of that idea. In fact, I find a lot of verses that suggest just the opposite, beginning with the salvation experience itself.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-16; NIV). As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Ro 10:11-13; NIV). Repeatedly throughout Scripture we are told that everyone who repents, asks God to come into his/her life, and demonstrates the fruit of repentance (Ac 26:20) can rest assured that they have been saved, they are being saved, and they will be saved. There are thousands of people coming to Christ every day from all over the world—is that too many too often to qualify as miraculous? I hope not.

“Okay, what about non-salvation issues? Perhaps salvation is a unique category of miracles.” If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Mt 21:22; NIV). Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mk 11:24; NIV). And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (Jn 14:13&14; NIV). Jesus tells us over and over that He will grant us what we ask—I take “asking and receiving” to at least include miracles, if it is not the very form of miracles itself. Do I believe that absolutely every time I ask I get absolutely everything for which I ask? No, of course not. Built into these verses are three stipulations for answered prayer. To ask in Christ’s name implies: 1) We are asking within His will; and 2) We ask to the glory of God the Father; and additionally we are told: 3) We must ‘believe.’ If I ask for a Lamborghini, a third arm, and/or the personal power to control a thousand peoples’ lives—I would not be asking within God’s will, I would not be asking for and to His glory, and, quite frankly, I don’t believe that I would be granted any of those things.

Do I believe that every time I ask God to heal someone (for example) that He does it? Nope. But I do believe that every time I ask in faith for a miracle of any sort, God honors my prayer with an answer of “yes, no, or wait.” In my limited experience with these matters, I have witnessed all three. Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him (Ac 10:34-38; NIV). I do not pretend to know why God answers prayers as He does, but I do know this: God is love (1Jn 4:16; NIV) and we ...do not have, because [we] do not ask God. When [we] ask, [we] do not receive, because [we] ask with wrong motives (Ja 4:2&3; NIV). Or, because we ask, but we don’t believe. Too many miracles? Never!