WHERE ARE THE MIRACLES 1/11

By Teena Myers

I was browsing through Facebook comments when I happened upon a discussion about miracles. “Why don’t we see more miracles in the church?” a pastor asked. The responses were sparse. No one including the pastor who asked the question had an answer.

In contrast to contemporary Christianity many miracles defined Jesus’ ministry. We could argue, “Of course they did! He was God.” But what about the apostle Paul. His ministry in Ephesus affected all of Asia and “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.” (Acts 19:11). Was Paul equal to Jesus that God confirmed his ministry with miracles as he did Jesus’? I’m thinking the answer to that question is “No.”

I don’t believe miracles have much to do with the person God uses. God can use anyone who will obey him whether it is his perfect sinless son, Jesus, or the imperfect Paul who called himself “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:16). The manifestation of miracles has a lot to do with the recipients.

God sent Jesus to the “lost sheep” of the house of Israel to reveal the depth of his love. God confirmed Jesus ministry with signs that pointed his lost children home, regardless of how badly they had behaved, because miracles are the children’s bread.

I know. What does that have to do with Paul? God sent him to the Gentiles. They were sheep yet to be found, not sheep who had lost their way. We could also argue everyone is a potential sheep who lost its way. Humanity began with Adam and Eve in a right relationship with God. Until they complicated that relationship by believing a lie about him.

This eleven-part series examines reasons the church has lost its miraculous power, and why miracles belong to God’s children.