God works miracles. Why?

What are they? What are they for? Can we demand or declare them? Is there any difference in how a large number of western churchgoers approach miracles versus those in Islamic nations?

The one thing I will emphatically state is that I believe in miracles. The cessationists who declare that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased in the past are simply wrong. If they only opened their eyes to the move of God in the 10/40 Window, they would know how far from the truth they are.

But that’s not our topic for today. What I want to briefly consider is miracles that occur among Muslims and those which are said to happen among followers of the apostles and prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), specifically the miracle of healing.

What is a miracle? Generally, it’s an act of God that breaks the laws of the natural world. God intervenes to display His hand in a situation for His own purposes.

What are those purposes? Since the Lord wants none to perish but all to have eternal life, the primary reason for His miracles is to turn people to Him for salvation. Miracles are to display God’s glory, His might, His omnipotence.

Jesus demonstrated this through His ministry. When He and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee and a storm arose with Him sleeping in the boat, the disciples thought all was lost.

In Mark 4:39-41, we see what happened next:

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'”

This miracle showed the disciples definitively that Jesus was God. Who else but Yahweh could command the chaos of the waters to be still that they would hear and obey?

Similarly, when Jesus went to the town of Nain, He exhibited a miracle that only God Himself could do, as seen in Luke 7:14-17:

“Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited his people!’ And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.”

The people saw that God was present in their midst, and they glorified Him.

But, of course, it was the numerous healings that Jesus did that caused such great crowds to congregate around Him. In a time of ineffective medical care, many people suffered for years with their illnesses or afflictions. The word which spread among the peoples was that this man of God confounded the laws of nature and healed even the most stubborn of maladies. That tore down religious walls in people’s minds and hearts, making them open to the truth of the Gospel that Jesus brought.

In a time when the Law of Moses reigned and revealed only the sinful nature of man, the healings that Jesus did showed the grace and mercy of a loving God and a way to escape the bondage of their transgressions.

Today, we have a movement that seeks to make miracles commonplace.

Adherents to the New Apostolic Reformation believe that everyone should prophesy and that all should have the gift of healing. So adamant are they in this belief that numerous prophetic schools dot the landscape here and abroad. The most well-known of these is the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM).

There, students – who pay a substantial fee for this privilege – are taught and mentored in miracles. They learn that God wants everyone healed and that they can command healings to occur. In these lessons, they learn that angels are at their disposal to do works they dictate and that disease must leave when they so order.

They absorb and cherry-pick Scriptures such as John 14:12-14, which says:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Thinking that the common man can do more and greater miracles than Jesus is a problematic understanding that BSSM and other NAR schools of prophetic ministry impart, as noted in David Guzak’s Enduring Word commentary for these verses:

Greater works than these he will do: Jesus did not mean greater in the sense of more sensational, but greater in magnitude. Jesus would leave behind a victorious, working family of followers who would spread His kingdom to more people and places than Jesus ever did in His life and ministry.

. . . iv. “What Jesus means we may see in the narratives of the Acts. There, there are a few miracles of healing, but the emphasis is on the mighty works of conversion. On the day of Pentecost alone, more believers were added to the little band of believers than throughout Christ’s entire earthly life. There we see a literal fulfillment of ‘greater works than these shall he do.'” (Morris)

. . . vi. There are some who believe that Jesus meant that individual believers can and should do more spectacular works than Jesus did in the years of His earthly ministry. We earnestly await proof of those who have repeatedly done greater works than walking on water, calming storms with a word, multiplying food for thousands, raising people from the dead (more than the three recorded in Jesus’ work). Even if it were proved that one person after Jesus had done such things, it still does not explain why there are not now or have been thousands of people who have fulfilled this wrong and sometimes dangerous understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, greater works than these he will do.

So, what are these NAR schools teaching?

I’ve personally seen those in action who hold to the BSSM philosophy and approach. I have no doubt as to the sincerity of these people and their love of the Lord.

However, attempting the healing of others seems as though it’s for its own sake. In other words, they pray for healing, but I’m not convinced that it’s for God’s glory. More than that, their method is to try to obtain healing inch by inch. After praying for an individual, the question is asked, “How does it feel now?” Prayers continue as the intercessor tries to gain little victories of healing. With so much attention, the person receiving the prayers may indicate things are a little better. Ultimately, the healer says that the person should believe and, going forward, act as though the healing has already occurred. Is that person still “healed” the next day?

By what spirit are the students absorbing these lessons and thereby going out into the world?

Jesus accomplished full and complete healings. There was only one instance in which it happened incrementally, i.e., with the one blind man who saw people as trees until Jesus finished the task. But He always finished it.

If there are little incremental advances in a health situation, why should we think that the Holy Spirit only works partially? Given the philosophy behind the NAR schools, perhaps the students aren’t going out in the power of God but under a different spirit?

I want to contrast this with healings in Islamic nations. First, let me also state that dreams and visions of God happen regularly in these countries because the demonic darkness is so great, and God has to get the attention of people. He has to show that He answers prayers and comes to people’s aid when they cry out for help. This is unlike the god of Islam they currently follow.

Because people caught in the bondage of Islam are also entrapped in a culture that identifies itself as Islamic only, and anything else is seen as an affront to Allah, the decision to follow Jesus is one that must be deeply considered. The cost is high with the probable loss of family and friends, even persecution and suffering at their hands. An impossible healing that only the God of the Bible could do is a powerful motivator to leave an impotent religion that only maintains power through intimidation and control.

God brings dramatic healings for the very specific purpose of changing hearts and minds and breaking chains that would otherwise never be severed.

Miracles in these places demonstrate that the One true God is worthy of worship. Just like in the time of Jesus and the apostles, healings change the dynamics on the ground and bring people to a saving relationship with the Lord.

Can that be said of NAR and its students who practice the art of “healing”?

One other point: To be a child of God is to be blessed and to receive His favor when we walk in trust and obedience to Him. We are friends of Jesus, but that doesn’t mean our position is one of equality or superiority. It is one of supplication and petition. He is God, and we are not. How then can NAR teach that its people can declare and command illness to flee?

In the magic arts of Eastern religions, New Age, and the occult, the spirits allow themselves at times to be directed from the natural realm in order to reel in those who practice these things. Is God One who allows such foolishness? Does He pretend that mere humans can order Him about? That didn’t work so well with Nimrod and his crew when they built the Tower of Babel. Why should it be any different today?

If you want to gain better insights into the working of NAR, I suggest you do as we have done here. Examine how God operates in a culture that is shrouded in darkness and one in which the church can effectively do what it pleases. I think you’ll find that NAR propagates a false understanding of God, if not even a false Gospel.

That should make you very wary.

……………

Gary Ritter website: books & blog

http://garyritter.com/

Kindle Vella story: Tribulation Rising

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099Z462WD

 

Matthew 24:11

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” ^[1]

When asked what the sign of His coming and the end of the world was (Matt 24:3), Jesus said that many would come in His name and many false apostles and prophets would arise in the latter time and deceive many (Matt 24). The question posed here is, if we are already seeing the manifestation of many of the other signs of His coming, is it not reasonable that the many who rise are already on the scene, deceiving and being deceived? If so, who are they?

Deceiving

It is very tempting to assign this falsehood to the now twenty-four and seven news broadcasters that are on a mission to deceive. Notice their title, ‘broadcasters,’ is even indicative of what way they preach. Indeed, they preach the broad way that leads to destruction:

Matthew 7:13

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (emphasis mine)

The broad way is any other way than Jesus Christ. He is the gate/door (John 10:7) to the straight and narrow way that few find (Matt 7:14). Those who currently fill the airways with their nonstop propaganda are, in essence, preaching another gospel that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. However, these are not the predicted false apostles and prophets. No, the many that Jesus warned about are, in fact, religious leaders who present themselves as ambassadors of Christ. This is proven by the fact that they are identified as ravening wolves who come in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15).

Why would these false leaders come in sheep’s clothing? The Apostle Paul provides the answer:

Acts 20:29-31

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Paul saw the coming deception which Jesus had warned about. He was so concerned about it that he warned the people for three years. This proves the danger of this rise of the many who would deceive. But what is their main purpose? Paul embeds the reason in the above text, “to draw away disciples after them.” Here is the crux of the matter at hand:

True disciples will always point others to Christ. False disciples will always point to themselves even though they use the name of Jesus profusely. Test this the next time you listen to someone preach. When they are done, ask yourself who they leave you thinking about. If the answer is Christ, then they are on the right track. If the answer is the speaker, you know they are attempting to draw you to them. By the way, sometimes ministers will unknowingly heap praise on other ministries without realizing it is the ministry that is getting all of the praise and not the one whom they profess to minister about, Jesus Christ. The most unfortunate thing about this is no other entity in heaven or earth is the gate. Jesus alone has earned that title.

Sadly, men covet the admiration of others, and they seemingly will do anything to obtain it. The danger, however, is the path they would lead others on ends in destruction:

Proverbs 14:12

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

As previously noted, the broad path leads to destruction and should be avoided at all costs. However, everywhere you look, many are arising. Please accept the following challenge: Examine the most popular preachers and teachers in the world by the above parameters (who do they leave you seeking) and see where they come out. You will be surprised by the results.

One special note should be made here; these false leaders can also leave you seeking the preeminence of one other entity, you. After all, the root of true deception is that man can be as god. This deception was propagated by Satan himself, and it is also a tell-tale sign of false teachers. ^[2]

Deceived

Deception is perhaps the most telling sign of the last days. Jesus warned about it more than any other single issue. Incredibly, the passage being examined here speaks of two distinct players in this end-times deception, the deceiver and the deceived. Combined, these two entities provide proof positive that Jesus is coming very soon for His bride in the rapture.

The aforementioned deceivers are clearly on the rise, and this is proven by the fact that they have amassed great numbers of the deceived as followers. This should not be surprising since Scripture describes the latter days as being just like this:

1 Timothy 4:1

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

The fact that a church has a very large congregation does not, in and of itself, prove the church is on the right track. Indeed, examination of these passages presents an argument that this could actually be cause for concern. Perhaps this is why Paul said, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess 5:21).

You might ask what the root of this problem is. Perhaps, the simplest answer is spelled out in the often quoted, “men shall be lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim 3:2a). This would explain the rise of both the deceivers and the deceived. Each group, by seeking their own will, has abandoned the narrow path, which is only followed by seeking and following the will of the Father in heaven. Said another way, each group strives to fulfill their dreams and passions instead of simply following the will of the one who actually knows what is best for them.

Ramifications

The fact that both deceivers and the deceived are on the rise is one of the greatest signs that Jesus will soon remove His bride and the Day of the Lord/Tribulation will commence. ^[3] This means the very unpopular task of doing the work of an evangelist is increasingly necessary at this very perilous time:

2 Timothy 4:5

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Yes, doing the work of an evangelist, especially at this time when many desire to be deceived (leaders and followers who desire their own will versus the will of the Father in heaven), will bring affliction. However, this affliction is light when compared to the woes the deceived will face in the coming Tribulation, should they miss the rapture. ^[4] By the way, if you happen upon this article after the rapture, the article “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture,” is for you. ^[5]

Conclusion

Great deception marks the time in which we live. Many are running to and fro, looking for the latest word from those whose personalities have eclipsed the message of Jesus. This indicates that time is very short indeed, for this is but one of many signs that the bride will soon rise to meet the coming bridegroom in the air. ^[6]

With this in mind, do all things as unto the Lord (Col 3:23). Preach when it is convenient and popular and when it is inconvenient and unpopular (2 Tim 4:2). Time is short. Men are already turning away from sound doctrine toward teaching that tickles their ears (2 Tim 4:3). Lastly, the night fast approaches when no one can work (John 9:4). Therefore, strive for this blessing:

Matthew 24:45-46

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

Website: In His Commission

May 2nd, 2022

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[1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”

[2] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Greatest Lie Ever Told: The Origin of All Lies.”

[3] For greater understanding, see the article, “Watch – Warn- and Win Souls.”

[4] For greater understanding, see the article, “Only the Ready are Raptured.”

[5] For greater understanding, see the article, “Open Letter for Those Who Miss the Rapture.”

[6] For greater understanding, see the article, “The Five W’s of the Rapture.”