Healing and miracles

[easternstar]

First of all, let me classify the works. There are miracles, which are events taking place in a very limited time, events that are impossible on earth without God. I've seen God stop the rain in a moment of time in answer to a prayer just finished. Later the believer I did evangelism with decided to try that, and guess what, God stopped the rain when he prayed! I've seen healings, as have many Christians. (This is not a Charismatic thing, and I'm not a Charismatic.)

Then there is providence, wherein God works through natural means to do His will, and that is a process. God sent me to Japan through His providence when I didn't want to go. Not a miracle, but definitely a work of God.

I know people who have been healed miraculously. I know people God has rescued from "mental illness." I know people who were alcoholics or drug addicts, but God miraculously took that away in a moment of time. But most of all, I've seen people trust Christ as Savior, and that is the greatest miracle of all.

God can fix errant believers, too. I've seen a believer who had been in prison for wicked crime turn into a decent, loving church member who loves the Word of God and witnesses for Christ!

You know, anyone who has been a cross cultural missionary has seen miracles. I saw a yakuza gangster boss saved in Japan, who ran a drug pushing, filth peddling, thieving, scamming gang. One of his gang also got saved, and another yakuza who was a gambler trusted Christ as Savior. Those salvations hurt the drug trade severely in Asahikawa, Japan. Those were huge miracles. I don't know of any Israeli gangs Jesus shut down in the first century! He gave us that privilege. The last time I met my saved gang boss, he gave me a big hug and said, "Thank you Sensei (Teacher)!" That in itself was a miracle because it is totally foreign to Japanese culture to hug. In 33 years as a missionary to Japan, that's the only hug I ever got from a Japanese!

You who are only talking about miracles in your home country need to get out more! I dare you to start reading missionary biographies. You will learn about miracles then. Try A Thousand Miles of Miracle, by Missionary A. E. Glover, about how his family fled the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

A Thousand Miles Of Miracle: Glover, A. E.: 9781857925111: Amazon.com: Books

A Thousand Miles Of Miracle [Glover, A. E.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A Thousand Miles Of Miracle

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John, thanks very much for telling about all those experiences. I think an experience beats an argument most of the time. I believe God still heals, and still does miracles. I wish I could see more of that. But I am very thankful for what God has done for me, which is a lot.

 

[Salty]

Jesus said His followers would do greater things than He did. Why don't we see healings and miracles inside and outside our churches like the first century Christians did? Shouldn't we be seeing this occura

I did not start talking until I was five years old. When I did start talking, I had a severe speech defect. It was so bad you could not understand me until you had been with me for quite a while. (and I am not talking about a few minutes, hours or days) You had to be with me an extensive period to know what I was saying. I started going to speech therapy. Little by little - I overcame that situation. The last letter I had a lot of trouble with was "R". I thank the Lord for those speech therapists who worked with me over those years. Could the Lord have healed me in a moment? Of Course, but He chose this way. Because of this, I now have a special compassion for the underdog.

One other thing the history of speech therapy is only about 200 years old. Thus in the time of Jesus, civilization was not aware of the need. Could be that is the reason that Jesus preformed many "instant" miracles.

Bottom line - I was born with a speech situation - I am now a pastor as well as a retired radio talk show host. Not a doubt in my military mind that the Lord preformed a miracle!

 

[Ascetic X]

Jesus said this:

John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

NOT this:

John 14:12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. But when the original apostles have died, this promise will terminate. He that believeth on me will no longer do the works that I do, nor shall he do greater works.”