“But you shall receive power.. .” – Act 1:8.
When it comes to the matter of modern-day miracles, the church today seems to be divided into two camps: those who fall under the umbrella of “CONTINUATIONISTS” (who say miracles still happen today just like in the days of the Bible), and “CECESSATIONISTS” (those who believe miracles ended with the death of the last apostles).
As with all enduring controversies, both sides have valid points to support their claims. What I find odd among the two camps though, is that they both treat the issue like a theoretical, academic matter.
You cannot argue miracles into existence if the dispensation of miracles is over; neither will miracles stop happening just because you don’t believe they should still happen. Reality does not work that way.
That is why, rather than argue for or against either of the two academic positions on miracles, I’d rather try to make a case for “POWER.” Because that approach pulls the discourse down to earth where we all live and breathe.
In Act 1:8, our Lord says, “But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: …” Was that promise for all Believers or for only those that He was talking to?
Paul wasn’t in the audience that day, yet after he received the Holy Ghost in Act 9:17, we see his life being characterised by supernatural displays of power: healing cripples, casting out evil spirits, curing the sick, shaking poisonous snakes out of his hands, even raising the dead! (Act 14:10; 16:18; 19:11-12; 20:9-12; 28:5, 8-9, etc.).
Some would contend that this was because Paul was a called apostle; but what can we say about Stephen, and Phillip, and Ananias then (Acts 6:8; 8:39-40; 9:17)?
This brings us to another contention for the cessation of miracles; which is that miracles were necessary back then because they were needed to prove the authenticity of the Gospel message.
What people who hold such position fail to see is that the story of Jesus’ resurrection is almost two thousand years old. It is as theoretical to people living in Jerusalem right now as it would have been to people in Ephesus in A.D. 50; not to talk of people living in the far-flung areas of the world in A.D. 2024.
If miracles are meant to authenticate the Gospel message, then clearly miracles are still valid today. Because there’s nothing like a little display of the miraculous to catch the attention of people in this age of logic, philosophy and scientism.
So Beloved, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Since the answer is “yes” for every Believer, then be rest assured that with His coming came POWER for miracles as well.
AMEN
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN