There are many false teachers that have perpetrated Christendom with their perversion of faith, miracles and healings. They have turned faith into presumption, our most holy God into a genie, conditional teachings into the absolute, and try to turn King’s Kids into spoiled brats. We must always keep faith in complete perspective of God’s Word the Bible. If not, we can turn true hope into false hope, that in the end, can be very destructive. This false hope, brought on by false hyper-inflated faith, can seem like the greatest thing there is until reality sets in. Whereas true hope gives strength no matter what is thrown at it. The three Hebrew boys, about to be thrown into the fiery furnace, are perfect examples of true hope. They knew their God was able, but if He chose not to intervene, they would not bow down (Daniel 3:17-18).
Let’s keep one thing clear. Miracles and healings are just as real today as they were in the first century. Our God is still the God of the impossible (Mark 10:27) and is able to do way beyond what we ask (Ephesians 3:20). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is a good God that wants to give good things to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11). But we need to keep things in the proper perspective.
By studying the Bible along with examining the writings of great men of God that the Lord used in healing ministries in the past, there are certain things that can be gleaned. First, there are no formulas. Jesus himself sometimes just spoke the miracle. Other times He just gave a command to be performed. He even spat in the clay as part of a miracle. Second, we must be aligned with God and not the other way around. God is our Creator, our sustainer, our Lord who is to be worshipped, and in the end He will be our judge. His ways are way higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9 and Job 42:1-3). Third, we are to ask according to God’s will (1 John 5:14 & Matthew 6:10). Always remember The Lord ‘can’ do anything, but only He determines if He ‘will’. Fourth, discernment is a vital part of the miracle. Great men of God were sensitive to the Holy Spirit of whom to pray for and how to pray for them. They did not rely on presumption, assuming God’s mind, or forcing an improper interpretation of the Bible thru hyper-faith. They knew when to be still and when to be quiet so as not to be out of God’s will (Colossians 1:9-11). Elisha was highly perceptive of Holy Ghost discernment and acted accordingly to whether things were revealed or whether things were hidden (2 Kings 4:27). Fifth, great servants of God were very very careful to make sure that only the Lord got the glory and all attention was on him (Psalm 115:1 & John 13:16). Sixth, persistence (Luke 18:7) and tenacity (James 5:16) are sometimes necessary. Sometimes fasting is necessary (Mark 9:29). We are told to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but we must be careful not to babble repetitiously (Matthew 6:7). It could be that we have not because we asked not (Matthew 7:7). Seventh, miracles must be God centered with a humble confidence rather than man centered with a cocky attitude. Our confidence must solely be in God and not what we are seeking. Eighth, when seeking a miracle or a healing, we have a responsibility to live a life in a worthy manner (1Corinthians 11:29-32) and to be careful not to be on a pursuit of fulfilling the lusts of the flesh (James 4:1-3). We are to be forgiving and not to hold anything against anyone else (Mark 11:25 & Matthew 6:12 ). If not, it could very well be that we do not receive because of our self and not because it is outside the Lord’s will. Ninth, have faith in God and not in the miracle (Mark 11:22-23). By the way, the mountain Jesus was referring to in Mark11:23 was the religious establishment of Jerusalem and not the physical mountain Jerusalem rested upon (see Mark 11:27 and Acts 6:7). Tenth, Jesus assures us that signs will follow believers (Mark 16:17-18) and greater works shall we do (John 14:12-15).
But be aware of how many of the teachers of the Word of God twist the Bible, especially in these end times which we are warned about. An eye opening example is in Matthew 4:6 when Satan tempted Jesus. Satan accurately quoted words from Psalm 91:11-12 but left out a few. These few words he left out were key to its interpretation. They defined Jesus’ purpose, of which Satan was trying to distract Jesus from doing the Father’s will. Our purpose is to do the same as Jesus. To do God’s will, not our will. As it says in the ‘Our Father’: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
I have a purpose on this earth and Satan cannot take me out until that purpose is fulfilled (Job 1:12) and the Lord calls me home (Job 2:6). In the meantime I may be beaten down but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). The Lord will not forsake me no matter what. When I need a healing or miracle, my God can do the impossible. But, if He decides not to, His grace will be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
God is in every promise of the Bible, but His will trumps all. Jesus proved this in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39,42,44. Until my time is thru, I will ask, seek, and knock. I will pray without ceasing. My God hears my every groan and saves every tear I shed (Psalm 56:8). I will trust in His decisions and I will praise His holy name.
I was created to glorify God. I must never forget this. He deserves all my reverence. Psalm 22:23, Psalm 50:15, Isaiah 42:12, Isaiah 60:21, Isaiah 61:3, 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, 1Corinthians 6:20 and Revelation 4:11 are just a few of the verses that re-iterate this. I am to love my neighbor as myself. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.” When one has the gift of miracles or healing, its purpose is to serve all.
Many wonder, “How can these teachers and prophets perform miracles and healings if they are not for real?” Jesus clearly gave the answer in Matthew 7:15 & 21-24, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” It all comes down to hearing God’s Word and doing God’s will, not our will.
There is an interesting verse in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 7:16, “For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?” The greatest miracle of all is when a soul comes to salvation. We know that God wants all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But God will not force salvation on anyone (Acts 26:28). There is a difference between God’s desire and God’s decision. Hebrews 12:8-11 says, “Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.” Sometimes God has to make the decision to discipline us. At other times he sends a thorn in the flesh as with Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9).
By keeping the concept of rightly dividing the whole Word of God as the centerpiece, we will not go astray. Remember, all miracles and healings emanate from the cross. Jesus is the only way (John 14:6). By His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24) and when He rose from the dead He gave gifts unto man (Ephesians 4:8).
We are all given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Oh Lord, increase our faith (Luke 17:5). We must not wander outside the spectrum of faith of where the Bible wants us to be. We do not want to be found with unbelief at one extreme (Mark 6:5-6), nor do we want to be full of presumption at the other extreme (Acts 21:10-14). Acts 21:14 is the key, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Annointing 