Where are the Miracles?

…if the LORD is with us …where are all His miracles… (Judges 6.13)

We must decide if miracles are miracles and we must decide whether miracles are necessary. If miracles are necessary, would we believe one if we saw it or heard it?

Now, there is the consideration of biblical miracles but there is also modern miracles to ponder. Does God do miracles today? I think there is sufficient evidence that he does but for this occasion, please allow me to steer our thoughts toward the miracles that are recorded in the bible.

First off, let’s try to understand what a miracle is:

God is the God of miracles. His act of creation would be nothing short of miraculous. You can’t do these things with a test tube and a bulldozer.

We could say that the new birth is miraculous. I have seen people’s lives changed completely by God’s grace as they became new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5.17). Drunks have become sober. Addicts have been totally freed of their addictions. Bums have become productive. The stingy have been made generous. Grouches have become nice (well, at least some of them). Enemies of the cross have become steadfast proponents of Christianity. While the new birth is supernatural and powerful, this is not what we usually think of when we consider miracles. We would call this Spiritual.

Some might say the conception, formation and birth of a baby is a miracle. I would almost agree with that assessment. I believe the development of human life in the womb is an absolutely amazing work of God but it falls into the realm of the natural, as extraordinary as it may be. Sometimes natural phenomena can be as amazing as the miraculous and all are a work of God. The one who sometimes works supernaturally is the same God who set in motion the powerful natural forces of life, reproduction, gravity and many more marvelous things.

We might think that God’s provision for us is miraculous. I remember one year when I had just enough needed to pay my unexpected taxes (those were days when I never had any extra money except for this occasion). I thanked God because I knew he had provided. His hand was obviously and undeniably at work in this. But, was this a miracle? Instead of miraculous, I would call it providential – which is nothing to sneeze at.

How may we define a miracle? The most concise, clear definition is one I found online. It says a miracle is:

An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God. [i]

Easton gives further enlightenment, stating:

It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a … supernatural power. [ii]

Are miracles something one can expect to see on a regular basis? Should we be asking, “Have you had your miracle today?”

I say no. Just as we do not constantly feed our children desserts, neither does God constantly pour out miracles in our lives (with rare exception). Even in bible times, among Apostles and Prophets, miracles did not always flow continuously. This shows us that God is sovereign in how he dispenses miracles.

Most biblical miracles were performed during the days of these three clusters:

1. Moses and Joshua: Moses evidently did twenty miracles.
2. Elijah and Elisha: Elijah did fourteen and Elisha twenty-eight.
3. Jesus and the Apostles:  Jesus performed thirty-seven miracles, Peter six and Paul nine.

While there were several others who did miracles or had them happen to them, such as Samson, Stephen and Philip, there were not many other miracles besides those listed above. These included healing the sick, walking on water, raising the dead and many others.

Then, there were periods in Bible days when there were no miracles. They seem to have been very rare in the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments and seem to have subsided after the time of the Apostles. John the Baptist did none but was considered by Jesus to have been the greatest of all men who were born of women.[iii] On certain occasions, Jesus did not do miracles when it was expected. Toward the end of his life, it seems that miracles decreased down to nothing for Paul.[iv]

Why then did we have miracles?

Sometimes they were given just as a mercy from God. Someone had a need and God met it in a supernatural way.

Some miracles were for the glory of God. God wants to be glorified – in part so that we may come to know him.[v]

Most miracles were done to validate the work of God in an Apostle or Prophet – or in the case of Jesus, the fact that he was the chosen Messiah. Otherwise, anyone can just show up and say, “I’m God’s chosen one and this is what He has to say.”

Rather, we have these words about the verifying factor of miracles:

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20.30-31)

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs... (Mark 16.20) [vi]

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12.12)

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 2.3-4)

God would use signs, miracles and supernatural Spiritual gifts to verify not only the messengers of the gospel but also the message of the gospel.

Then why doesn’t everyone believe the gospel if God gave us these miracles to accompany the advent of his written word? Answer: Because some refuse to believe regardless. The bible says:

If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. (Luke 16.31)

Did God perform miracles through those he called out to represent him? Yes. Does he perform miracles today? Though I have seen God do amazing things, I cannot say that I’ve seen a miracle. You too? Does that exclude us from the fold of the faithful? No. We do not have to witness the miracles if we have the testimony of reliable witnesses – which we do.

The bible says; “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10.17) It doesn’t say that it comes to us through miracles.

God gave us miracles so that we could see that Jesus is the Son of God and so that we could trust the scriptures he gave us through the Prophets and Apostles.

Some who have not yet believed the gospel might say they would expect God, as Christians portray him, to do miracles. They might even say they would not believe unless they saw or were sure of such a thing. If that is so, here are the facts:

God doesn’t always do miracles, but sometimes he does. These miracles verify all that God says to us in his word – that Jesus is the promised Messiah who died in behalf of our sins, rose again, and is coming again. You can trust in him.

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[i]  www.dictionary.com/browse/miracle

[ii] Easton Bible Dictionary

[iii] Matthew 11.1

[iv] 1 Timothy 5.23; 2 Timothy 4.20; 2 Corinthians 12.7-9.

[v] John 9.1-3; John 11.3-4.

[vi] Here the word “signs” is a reference to miracles.

Our Identity in Jesus Christ.

First of all, Jesus Identified With Us.

He entered humanity through a miraculous conception (Matthew 1.20), but was born in lowly conditions. His mother laid him in a feed trough in a stable. He didn’t come to identify with Kings, though the King he was; he came to identify with all of lost humanity, the rich and poor, the great and the small, the powerful and the humble, those within the family and the outsiders, male and female; people of every heritage, skin color and background.

The bible says that though he was God, he humbled himself far beyond what anyone could imagine. 

Christ Jesus… made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2.5, 7 and 8) 

He lowered himself below his own creatures (the angels) for a time, identifying with our suffering, even our dying. He is unashamed to call the redeemed his brothers and sisters. 

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. (Hebrews 2.9-10). 

He became flesh because he wanted to come to us and be one of us.         

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2.14-15). 

This sinless man even identified with our sinful condition so that he might save us from our sins. 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5.21).

Secondly, Our Identity is Now in Him.

We do not belong to ourselves but to him. 

Know ye not that … ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6.19-20). 

We now identify with him in every aspect of our lives. “In him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17.28)

·         His righteousness is now our righteousness.

·         His Father is now our Father.

·         We have no worth of our own but are worthy in him.

·         His name is now our name – we are called Christians.

·         His will is now to be our will.

·         His purpose has become our purpose.

·         His desire is now our desire.

·         We now love what he loves.

·         We now hate what he hates.

·         We identify with his suffering.

·         His death is our death.

·         His resurrection life is now our life.

·         Apart from him, we can do nothing.

·         We have a new family – his.

·         His glory is now our glory.

·         His story is now our story.

·         His home is now our home - heaven.

The End of Hope

Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

The end of hope: I know that sounds like a bad thing, but in reality, it will be good.

We who believe in Jesus Christ are people of hope. This is not the kind of hope that guesses or wishes but the kind of hope that knows. It is built upon faith which is built upon the promises of God. Our hope is sure and steadfast. It is real and certain.

We hope for things that we cannot see with our eyes or feel with our fingers; things like heaven, a perfect glorified body, a state of existence that is without sin, where there is no violence, no pain, no grief, no death. We hope and long to be reunited with other believers who have passed away from us and to see the face of Jesus our Savior.

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8.24)

It is possible to have peace that comes from hope because we know it will come. To borrow from the blessings of tomorrow is better than borrowing from tomorrow's troubles. That's called worry.

What happens to us when all hope is gone? Well, praise God, that is when everything we ever hoped for will be seen: 

Let's imagine that we are way out on the sea on a small ship in the midst of a great storm. The wind is blowing fiercely, the cold rain is pelting down upon our skin, the waves are rising above our vessel and it is being tossed up, down and sideways. The sky is dark but for the bright lightening which loudly cracks with thunder.

We hope and pray for the dawn and for the end of the violence. We long with expectancy for peace and serenity. In hope, we trust for that state of blessedness which is yet to come. 

And then it comes: a new day of calm, rest, and relief. Now the storm is over, the wind has ceased and the waves have subsided.

In life, as in our story, we live with expectancy for "that day." When "that day" comes, we no longer hope for a state of rest; we enter into it. We see it with our eyes and experience it in our bodies. This is the end of hope, not because we've given up but because hope is no longer needed. Our hope has become substance and we can take that hope, fold it up and put it away. It has been our friend but a better friend has arrived, that for which we always hoped.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11.1)

So, let us one day be prepared to welcome the end of hope, for when all hope is gone the fulfillment and fruition of everything we hoped for will have come.

Can’t See the Trees for the Forest

We all know the old saying that someone “can’t see the forest for the trees,” but have you ever thought possibly that some of us can’t see the trees for the forest?

Photo by Adam Kring on Unsplash

When dealing with people, this is the continual tension between focusing either upon the masses or on the individual.

Jesus did both.

Jesus knew, and knows, how to focus on the large group. We read in Mark’s gospel:

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things (Mark 6.34 emphases mine).”

There’s nothing worse than a flock of sheep with no one to lead them. Jesus knew he was their true shepherd and that he was the one who would need to lead them. What did Jesus see? He saw a great multitude and maneuvered his disciples into action to take care of the need. The disciples, seeing the great crowd could only think of one plan – “Send them away.”

Jesus, however, “… commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties." (Mark 6.39-40) He turns this humongous crowd into something more manageable so his disciples can minister to them. Then, miraculously, he takes a little boy’s sack lunch, gives thanks, and breaks the bread for the disciples to pass out to the 5,000 in attendance. They all went home full instead of hungry. More importantly, they were taught the words of God.

Jesus saw the multitude… but he also saw the individual.

One day, a man asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter. As they went, they were interrupted.

So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"

The disciples could not see the trees for the forest, but Jesus could.

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."[i]

The emphasis here is on the individual. Jesus looks through the crowd and senses the presence of a single woman who needs healing. He did this regularly. He was also willing to focus his attention on Nicodemas,[ii] the woman at the well,[iii] and Zacchaeus[iv] just to name a few. He isn’t mesmerized by great crowds as some of us are, he sees the one lost sheep out of the hundred and goes after it.

Jesus does the same for you today. He is able to look through the great mass of humanity, through the vast cities, and through the people on the streets traipsing along like little red ants and see you. He knows your name, rank and social security number and says to you, “Go in peace; be healed.”

May the Lord give us grace to be like Jesus; looking through the great forest of people and identifying the drooping oak or the fledgling sapling – individual people who need a special touch from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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[i]   Mark 5.24-34

[ii]  John chapter 3

[iii] John chapter 4

[iv] Luke chapter 19

Back to the Future

Photo by Almos Bechtold on Unsplash

Do you remember as a child not being able to go to sleep at night because you were so excited about a special family outing, someone who was going to come to your house or a big event that was near?

This is how believers should live their lives at all times - wide-eyed with expectancy.

We need to get back to the future. 

Through inspiration, the Apostle Paul wrote:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.[i]

The saving grace of God – that undeserved kindness that God shows to us sinners who believe the good news of Jesus’ death in behalf of our sins – is also a sanctifying grace. It teaches us, in gratitude, to live a life of honesty, faithfulness, discretion, righteousness and goodness. These are important things for us to live by while we’re here.

But everyone needs something to look forward to. This is what the word hope means. Hope is living our lives with expectancy; not just expectancy for today or next week; not just expectancy for the time we are here in this body, but expectancy for the life to come.

Christians ALWAYS have something to look forward to. This body may become frail, diseased or afflicted. Our minds may become feeble. We may lose those we love.

I talked to a lady recently who’s husband had a massive stroke at the age of 49. What does she have to look forward to? What does this man have to look forward to? If they are in Christ, they have much to anticipate. The anticipation of heaven is enhanced when we go through earthly trials.

The blessed hope of the Christian is Jesus and his appearing (Greek, epiphaneia where we get the word epiphany).

He is coming again.

When he does, he will change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,[ii]

When he appears, we we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3.2)

When he does, he will subdue all things unto himself.

It is time we quit living in the past. It is time that we stop focusing solely on this present moment, as important as that is. But it is time we got back to the future. For the Christian believer, the future is brighter than the noonday sun.

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[i] Titus 2.11-14

[ii] Philippians 3.21

Are We Teaching Theology or Me-ology?

When we come in faith to Christ, it is a personal decision –  something God  did  in us to which we respond as individuals to him. I cannot trust in Jesus for you and you cannot trust in Jesus for me. The only Vicar we have   is   Jesus  Christ  who  died vicariously for our atonement.

Our fellowship and walk with him is personal also, not something your husband, wife, mom, dad or uncle can do for you. Jesus told the church of Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Emphasis mine).

So, there is a place for applying the scripture personally to ourselves, but my concern is this: We live in a time where everything seems to be about “me.” Our Theology has been turned in to Me-ology.

The Futility of Me-ology

American Christianity knows little about persecution but many Christians in other places do. In North Korea for example:

Christians are seen as hostile elements in society which have to be eradicated. Due to the constant indoctrination permeating the whole country, neighbors and even family members are highly watchful and report anything suspicious to the authorities. Children are especially vulnerable to the heavy indoctrination. Reports show that some children report their own parents for religious activity. Therefore, many parents prefer not to tell their children anything about their Christian faith until they’re older.[i]

Christians there are often deported to labor camps or even killed on the spot. The three men who were recently released to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were devout Christians who suffered under the Kim regime.

So when we produce books like how you can live Your Best Life Now this must ring pretty hollow with Christians elsewhere in the world. Jesus didn’t promise us our best life now, but in heaven. [ii] We wrongly equate prosperity with being blessed of God. While earthly wealth is granted to us by God, many are far worse off because of it, not necessarily better.[iii]

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6.19-20)

Jesus tells us in the same place not to seek for what we will eat, drink or wear, but to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

The Suppression of Me-ology

Often in our bible studies, we ask one another, “What does this mean to you?” while we should be asking, “What does God mean by what he says here?” There’s a huge difference: Not that any of us has all the answers to the proper interpretation of all scripture, but that it is our goal to be Christocentric, that is, Christ centered, in our pursuit of truth. Who is God and who is Jesus Christ? What are his attributes? Then, we may be free to ask, “How can I know him?”

Me-ology Distorts

Another thing we need to avoid is the exaltation of the human to the degradation of the image of God. We live in a society of humanism – the idea that man can do anything and the idea that if people think something is good it must be good because the human is the standard of right and wrong. This has spilled over into the church as well. Things that used to be considered sin are sin no longer because the society has deemed it so. Things that used to be considered holy are holy no longer because we have laid aside our bibles to be replaced by "science" and "education". When this comes into the church it brings confusion at best and neopaganism at worst.

Letting Go of Ourselves and Embracing Christ

Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10.39).

John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3.30).”

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me… (Galatians 2.20).”

I know it sounds trite but it’s also true: “It’s not about me.” And – sorry –  it’s not about you. It’s about Jesus, our God and Savior. Only if our focus is on him, will our perspective about ourselves become clear. We can only understand ourselves in the periphery of his glory.

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[i]  https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/north-korea/

[ii] Matthew 6.19-20

[iii] See Matthew 19.24; 1 Timothy 6.9; Proverbs 15.27

Living Without Regret

“Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.”[i]

Many of us have had more regrets that we care to mention. We’d be embarrassed to talk about many of them. We might wish to be able to remedy our failures, but it may be too late for some of them.

At a conference I attended years ago, a gentleman stood to introduce a well known preacher. He told of many of his accomplishments and how highly regarded he was as a speaker. He concluded his introduction with these words: “Everywhere he’s gone, he’s never struck out.”

When the speaker came to the podium he said; “Don’t you just love these Baptist introductions? I’ve struck out! I’ve struck out as a pastor. I’ve struck out with my family and I’ve struck out as a person.” He then went on to preach a wonderful message.

I have told many people that if they would take good care of an ailing parent now, however difficult, that they would never regret it in the future but if they didn't they might regret it.

I regret many of the words I’ve spoken to my dearest friend – my wife. I regret not engaging more often with my children. I regret the times I didn’t take a clear stand for the Lord Jesus Christ. There are things I’ve done that I wish I hadn't and things I haven’t done that I wish I had.[ii]

Thank God though, that he has prevented me from experiencing many more regrets than I would have if I’d never come to know him. I was on the slippery slope that could have led to my destruction. If he hadn’t come into my life when he did, I would have landed very violently.

He has guided me through many rough patches that I could’ve never made it through without him.

How can any of us live a life without regret?

• Place your faith in the only really trustworthy person there is – the Lord Jesus. Only he knows all there is to know. Only he knows you – even better than yourself. Only he loves you perfectly and consistently. He always has your best interest in mind.
  
• Let God’s word be your guide. The bible has commandments, precepts and principles that will give you direction in the most uncanny ways. The Holy Spirit, who resides in the believer, will use his word to enlighten your mind and direct your heart.
  
• Pray for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1.5).
  
• Stay close to God.

• Confess your sins when you (and you will) falter. Then, turn from those sins.
  
• Love God and love people. The great commandment of the scripture, (and the second alike) according to Jesus, is to “…love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."[iii]
  
• Take responsibility for the realm in which God has placed you. None of us has to accomplish everything – only what God lays before us.

• Don’t give up. The apostle Paul said that he lived his life “in all good conscience before God.”[iv] He also said;

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

May we all so live our lives – without regret.

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[i]    My Way – song written by Paul Anka- sung by Frank Sinatra

[ii] “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7.15)

[iii]  Luke 10.27

[iv]  Acts 23.1; 2 Timothy 1.3