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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
We live in a culture that is accustomed to seeing and hearing false prophets; they are commonplace among us. All one has to do is turn on the TV at virtually any hour of the day or night. Men and women openly speak and do things contrary to the word of God and all the whilst claim to be spokespersons for Him! I don't even have to know what the truth is to know that many or most of them are not telling the truth. All I have to do is listen to their conflicting and contrary doctrines to know that somebody is in error, yet they remain popular enough to regularly be featured on our public entertainment media.
Many, but not all, claim to have the ability to work miracles of various sorts. One of the most popular miracles among these wolves in sheep's clothing is the miracle of healing. They have many methods, but when the smoke and mirrors are stripped away, they are basically the same. The miracles they perform are not even a forty-second cousin to the true miracles of the Bible. They don't stop storms, raise the dead, drink poison without any bodily harm, reattach missing arms or legs, restore blinded eyes, or any thing even akin to these. Their miracles are almost always dealing with the unseen (back pain, ulcers, internal cysts, tumors, mental issues, etc.). Even with these, they frequently tell their disciples to “get better” or “go home for their miracle to become fully manifested.” What a travesty!
In a religious discussion a few years ago, a man claimed to have the power to heal the sick as God empowered him to do so. A few days earlier, one of his disciples had gone to a funeral home with some fellow believers, all having the intent of raising a deceased friend. After prayer and great commotion, the disciple and his friends left the funeral home – all his friends except the one they went to raise! A man who witnessed these events interviewed one of the funeral home workers that night and asked him if he had ever seen anything like that before. The man responded that it was not terribly unusual for someone to attempt to raise the dead. The witness also asked the worker if that kind of thing bothered him. He replied, “No, you get used to it, but we haven't lost a single client yet!”
The power to work miracles was a power that was directly related to the confirmation of truth as it was being revealed. The Hebrews writer explicitly affirms this to be the case in Hebrews 2.1-4. There are also several other passages that affirm either explicitly or implicitly this to be the case. Yet, almost none of those who claim such powers today claim to be receiving new revelation! If the primary purpose of the miracles was to confirm new revelation (and it was), then why are there no new revelations that accompany the modern miracles? Does this not strike you as strange? I say that almost none claim new revelation, because there are a few who do. History is replete with the names of prophets who have long since been proven to be false prophets by their predictions of the end of time and other such error.
A faithful gospel preacher several years ago referred to Jesus as The Doctor Who Never Lost a Case! And how very, very right he was. Contrast the actions of Jesus with those of modern-day prophets and the difference is more than apparent. I find it strange that many of the modern-day prophets request money to feed the poor. I have often wondered, why don't they just multiply the loaves and fishes like Jesus did? I think you know the answer; I know the answer and I am not any “smarter than the average bear!” They don't do that because they can't do it; they are powerless when their deeds are compared to the true miracles and acts of God!
We will continue to show that Jesus was indeed The Doctor Who Never Lost a Case and compare His deeds with those of today's prophets and teachers. The contrast is quite revealing!
Questions:
1. Did Jesus raise the dead? Did His disciples raise the dead? What does the fact that they could perform such deeds prove about them?
2. If these deeds proved them to be bearers of truth, what would a failure to perform such deeds prove about self-proclaimed prophets today?
3. Did Jesus ever lose a case? If not, why not?
4. Is the revelation of all truth complete? Is the Bible complete? If not, what needs to be added to it?
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