Where Have They Gone? Part 4

We have been looking at and answering the question, "Are miracles to be a part of the church today or have they faded away once the early church apostles passed from this life to the next?" This time let's begin in Marks gospel.

In the gospel of Mark we see Jesus giving instructions to His disciples before His departure from earth to return to the Father. Mark records, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) Although Jesus is instructing His disciples, He is not saying, "And these signs will only follow you eleven only or those who believe while you apostles remain alive." No, He is saying "And these signs will follow those who (whoever, anyone, whosoever) believes. Again, the fact remains that miracles are still a part of the church today but a condition must be met to see them manifest, one must believe, that is, one must release faith.

Another very important fact that we must consider is found in 1 Corinthians, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:27-28) Notice that the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul does not say, "Now you, the early church are the Body of Christ." He is referring to all believers being members of the Body of Christ not just those in the early church. Next, he say GOD has appointed these in the church. There is absolutely no evidence that God has appointed these in the church for a certain period of time or the God has revoked their appointment. Let's recall, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29) Notice, the first, second, fourth and fifth (not to mention the eighth) things that God Himself has appointed in the church. Many church leaders today teach that these very things that God has appointed in the church have faded away . There is not one verse of scripture that substantiates such a claim. These things have not been removed from the church by God, but by church leaders who do not operate in faith. Their belief system hinges on what their five senses can understand. This is the limited level of faith that all people have which is based on the five senses. This is the type of faith that the apostle Thomas operated in, "Unless I SEE in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side (TOUCH), I will not believe." (John 20:25).

We see another interesting situation this time in the Book of Acts in the lives of Peter and John. They are used by God to heal a man with infantile paralysis. The crowd of people who witnessed this miraculous event begin to think that it was Peter and John who had the power to perform this miracle. However, we clearly see how the man received this miraculous healing, "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16) The principle for miracles to happen today has not changed in the eyes of God and it will never change even if His children do not want to believe. It comes down to faith in Jesus Christ. Faith that He is not only the Lord who paid man's sin debt but also the Lord who heals, delivers, rescues, provides and makes whole, which is all part of redemption then and now.

We must remember that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) and that all believers make up the church which is His Body. (Ephesians 1:22-23). If He does not change, then it is only logical to say that His Body also does not change. Think about it from a natural perspective. When a child is born although they are small and dependent upon another, no matter how old they become are they not still the same person? The only real change that takes place is physical and mental growth. They are still the same person from the time they are born until the time they die. If this is true in the natural, then why is it so difficult to believe it in the spiritual? Actually it's not. It only requires the kind of faith that pleases God which is revelation faith. Revelation faith is the kind of faith that stands on the Word of God as the only evidence required to believe. The kind of faith that transcends the senses and believes without any physical or tangible evidence. Jesus said it this way, "Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him,  "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:27) In other words, believe although your senses do not have any evidence whatsoever, but because God says these things are so.

I want to close with one more passage of scripture and ask a final question because it will hopefully shed a great light to dispel the philosophy that the miraculous is not a part of the church today. "Then Jesus went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. (Mark 6:1-6) Why could Jesus do no mighty work in Nazareth, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them? "He marveled because of their unbelief."

Unbelief is the great neutralizer of faith. It is the very tactic that Satan has been using from the beginning of man's history. If he can get God's children to rely on their senses and not on what God said, then unbelief will ensue and man will only have a mental assent to God's Word. Jesus tells His disciples several times of His death and resurrection and yet Mark records, "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe." (Mark 16:9-11) It was not only Thomas who did not believe, but none of the disciples believed His Word. It is so very unfortunate that unbelief has filled the hearts of so many of God's children. Yet unlike the disciples before The Day of Pentecost, today believers have the Holy Spirit, of whom Jesus said, "Is the Spirit of Truth who would guide us into all truth." (John 16:13) So, is Satan once again deceiving us to believe him more that God? Do we believe that some how we know more than God? Do we think that we know what is best for the church more the Jesus the Head of the church? Could our problem be the same as what Stephen faced and exposed when he was about to killed, "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 7:51) Either way it can all be dispelled through true Bible faith in Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

My prayer is that everyone who has read this four part series who may have questioned whether apostles, prophets and miracles are for today, have reconciled within themselves that, yes, God does not change. That God does not take away the gifts and callings that He has given and still gives to the church. I also pray that you have a desire to see the ascension gift ministry, the miraculous and all the gifts that the Lord has given to His church once again fill the entire church. As we see these things manifest once again we will also see the Name of Jesus magnified and the Word of God prevail mightily once again. Grace be with you.