Miracles
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By George Feldman
From time to time someone invariably asks, "Do you believe God heals people today?" Our reply is: Yes, of course, but in this day and age in which we live the healing always come in answer to prayer, and prayer alone! Contrast this with the time when men were gifted by God with the power to lay hands on people and heal them in His name during the apostolic age. And in this lies an all-important principle: these powers and gifts are no longer given to men. They were terminated when Israel, because of unbelief, were set aside at the close of the Acts period. Any person who claims to have such powers today is deceived, and may be engaged in a counterfeit ministry.
During apostolic times the manifestation of miracles served as the credentials, the badge of authority for the messengers of God when they had a revelation of truth from God for the people of Israel. Miracles were the credentials for the messenger. The signs were manifested so that the people would acknowledge the messenger, that he was truly sent of God. For instance, the Apostle Paul, in his own defense, refers to these in 2 Cor. 12:12:
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
During His earthly ministry the Lord performed miracles that were His credentials and proof that He was God the Father's messenger, and the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. But we believe the intent of the Lord's miracles went a step farther: they were a harbinger, a foreshadowing given in anticipation of the blessings that will be enjoyed in the Messianic Kingdom. The prophet Isaiah was given this vision:
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ear of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an heart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.”
Such subjects point up the importance of Right Division, which is sorting out and placing all subject matter in its proper place so that the Bible may be understood, and confusion avoided.
