Why Don’t We See Miracles Like the Apostles Did?
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I just saw this thread for the first time and haven't had time to wade thru the 17 pages of responses, but I'll answer the OP with this:
Matthew 8:
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 8
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
*
Matthew 9
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
*
Matthew 9
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 9
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored.
*
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and arena’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
*
Matthew 14
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
*
Matthew 15
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 17
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
*
Matthew 21
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
*
Matthew 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
*
And that's just Matthew. You could double that with Hebrews 11, and double it again out of all the other books.
Matthew 8:
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 8
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
*
Matthew 9
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
*
Matthew 9
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 9
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored.
*
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and arena’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
*
Matthew 14
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
*
Matthew 15
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
*
Matthew 17
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
*
Matthew 21
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
*
Matthew 13:58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
*
And that's just Matthew. You could double that with Hebrews 11, and double it again out of all the other books.
I think you might have been looking in the wrong places or your heart is not in the right place
to have this revealed to you at this time. It is occurring as are all the other events just as in the
Bible.
Every gift Jesus manifested is available to every believer, it is the same gift He received at the Baptism of John.
Most Christians stop at fire insurance and grow no farther.
to have this revealed to you at this time. It is occurring as are all the other events just as in the
Bible.
Every gift Jesus manifested is available to every believer, it is the same gift He received at the Baptism of John.
Most Christians stop at fire insurance and grow no farther.
Are you saying I don't have great faith because I never raise anyone from the dead or "do" mighty miracles?.....just teasin' ya....
....I don't know why people take growing in faith as if it is some kind of personal attack on them....we are all growing in the Lord which means growing in being sensitive and open to the Holy Spirit as He wills for the manifestations of the Spirit to operate in people.
Trying to get others to "see" what has been shown to others by the revelation of the Holy Spirit can be futile. It is impossible for us on our own to "understand" the scriptures when it comes to some things of the Spirit.
That's why it is impossible for an atheist to understand about faith in Christ and no amount of "natural" proof will persuade them unless they have an open heart and only God can start that process.
Speaking of doing things supernaturally - I speak in tongues more than I speak in english now that I am retired. I am going to play pickleball tonight and I will be praying in tongues as I play. Sometimes I will sing in tongues too. No one will hear me though. I'm not speaking to them......it is not spectacular but it is supernatural.
I have grown in the knowledge of this truth and thus my mind is renewed so consequently I do not have any attacks on my mind telling me - it's not of God. It's on par with an atheist trying to tell me there is no Jesus and no salvation. It's a useless discussion because I "know" my Lord and Father.
Good scriptures!...
....I don't know why people take growing in faith as if it is some kind of personal attack on them....we are all growing in the Lord which means growing in being sensitive and open to the Holy Spirit as He wills for the manifestations of the Spirit to operate in people.Trying to get others to "see" what has been shown to others by the revelation of the Holy Spirit can be futile. It is impossible for us on our own to "understand" the scriptures when it comes to some things of the Spirit.
That's why it is impossible for an atheist to understand about faith in Christ and no amount of "natural" proof will persuade them unless they have an open heart and only God can start that process.
Speaking of doing things supernaturally - I speak in tongues more than I speak in english now that I am retired. I am going to play pickleball tonight and I will be praying in tongues as I play. Sometimes I will sing in tongues too. No one will hear me though. I'm not speaking to them...
...it is not spectacular but it is supernatural.I have grown in the knowledge of this truth and thus my mind is renewed so consequently I do not have any attacks on my mind telling me - it's not of God. It's on par with an atheist trying to tell me there is no Jesus and no salvation. It's a useless discussion because I "know" my Lord and Father.
Good scriptures!...
I think you put your running shoes on plainguy.
My dad taught me a very valuable lesson. "The dead don't have faith, they're dead." When a person raises a dead man, it is not the faith of the deceased to get risen, but the faith of the minister who is alive. I see it the same way for healing, to a degree. Yes we have the example of Jesus, and people being healed according to their faith but we also have the example of the centurion who had faith for another.
Ministers are like the centurion having faith for others to get healed. When we pray for others we shouldn't be dependent upon their faith. How easy it would be to blame the victim then, no? Rather we should consider what Jesus said to the disciples who could not cast out the demon as easy as Jesus. To get rid of disbelief, in this instance, through prayer and fasting.
It lifts the burden off of our own shoulders when we accept doctrine that makes the sick person have to have the faith, but its when we look in the mirror to see what we believe God will do that we truly see if our faith has done it not only unto us, but others.
Jesus healed all. The disciples at different instances healed all. Shall we say when we failed to heal another, "It was not God's will for you today, sorry."? If I blame them or if I say that God has willed it they be sick a while longer I speak not the truth. I then have failed them, taking full responsibility to see where I have fallen short in my faith.
Of course there are exceptions and God has His timing. I am not debating this reality. I just simply am emphasizing that our faith can result in the healing of others by being moved by compassion. Their faith irrelevant. If someone is thirsty whether they believe water quenches thirst or not, and you give them a glass of water that thirst will be quenched. The power of God can heal atheists, for example and they do not even believe He exists. God's power just like the water will do its work.
Ministers are like the centurion having faith for others to get healed. When we pray for others we shouldn't be dependent upon their faith. How easy it would be to blame the victim then, no? Rather we should consider what Jesus said to the disciples who could not cast out the demon as easy as Jesus. To get rid of disbelief, in this instance, through prayer and fasting.
It lifts the burden off of our own shoulders when we accept doctrine that makes the sick person have to have the faith, but its when we look in the mirror to see what we believe God will do that we truly see if our faith has done it not only unto us, but others.
Jesus healed all. The disciples at different instances healed all. Shall we say when we failed to heal another, "It was not God's will for you today, sorry."? If I blame them or if I say that God has willed it they be sick a while longer I speak not the truth. I then have failed them, taking full responsibility to see where I have fallen short in my faith.
Of course there are exceptions and God has His timing. I am not debating this reality. I just simply am emphasizing that our faith can result in the healing of others by being moved by compassion. Their faith irrelevant. If someone is thirsty whether they believe water quenches thirst or not, and you give them a glass of water that thirst will be quenched. The power of God can heal atheists, for example and they do not even believe He exists. God's power just like the water will do its work.
Yes, this is true but please consider He still healed a few. I am always amazed at how people point to the quantity of people He didn't heal as opposed to the few He did heal. So even among disbelief He was still able to heal some. We ought to recognize the lesson here that yes there is a correlation between belief and results.
However, in all these instances it is often people seeking the Lord to be healed and in their faith they were healed. Are people seeking shittim to be healed? Or is shittim seeking to heal others? The difference is that instead of their faith being in action it is your faith in action. Instead of their faith making them well, having taken action with it, it is your faith allowing for them to be made well as God responds to your active faith.
However, in all these instances it is often people seeking the Lord to be healed and in their faith they were healed. Are people seeking shittim to be healed? Or is shittim seeking to heal others? The difference is that instead of their faith being in action it is your faith in action. Instead of their faith making them well, having taken action with it, it is your faith allowing for them to be made well as God responds to your active faith.
A small sample from presidente's post #312. Read this and tell me that it makes sense ... and that you agree. Hello stonesoffire ? Are you listening ? Maybe you can tell us how people are supposed to respond in belief after hearing a language they don't understand ? And while you're at it, explain presidente's complete contradiction of what Acts 2 actually says. Read Acts 2. And when you're done, you owe me an apology.
"This is the sort of thing that happens when unbelievers hear foreign tongues 'in tongues'. The verse Paul quotes has to do with people hearing languages they don't know and responding in unbelief. It doesn't describe those in Acts 2 who heard their own languages, though it may fit some of those who thought the apostles were drunk.
In Acts 2, those who thought the apostles were drunk did not know the languages. These were foreign tongues to them. They responded with unbelief.The men who understood the languages would not have thought of them all as tongues from men of other tongues and other lips, since they spoke one of the languages themselves."
"This is the sort of thing that happens when unbelievers hear foreign tongues 'in tongues'. The verse Paul quotes has to do with people hearing languages they don't know and responding in unbelief. It doesn't describe those in Acts 2 who heard their own languages, though it may fit some of those who thought the apostles were drunk.
In Acts 2, those who thought the apostles were drunk did not know the languages. These were foreign tongues to them. They responded with unbelief.The men who understood the languages would not have thought of them all as tongues from men of other tongues and other lips, since they spoke one of the languages themselves."
The thing they must believe is that Jesus died to atone for their sins. God will raise them from dead in sin to alive in Christ for all eternity.
Pointless to raise a men from his grave if he simply dies again without Christ. Just more Pentecostal rabbit holes to draw men away from the saving knowledge of Christ.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Pointless to raise a men from his grave if he simply dies again without Christ. Just more Pentecostal rabbit holes to draw men away from the saving knowledge of Christ.
For the cause of Christ
Roger