Miracles mean that God intervenes in his own creation. He owns it, so it does not violate any natural law when he works a miracle, as if he were an outsider. He merely introduces a new situation. We also look into this question: Can Satan work miracles too?

Further, there are real dangers in the world today, particularly with Artificial Intelligence (AI). It can make fake things look real. But it goes deeper than computer programs.

Satan is a real spirit being who can work signs and wonders in our physical world, in the sky or even in our bodies, like healings. We need some basic Scriptural knowledge to tell the differences between God’s signs and wonders and Satan’s. But first let’s define miracles and offer some modern examples, just to keep the door open to authentic miracles.

I.. Theological Definition

A.. Formal definition

Theologically, a miracle may be defined as God’s (or his agent’s) intervention, introduction, or insertion of a new condition or factor that would otherwise be impossible naturally. (Cf. Craig, Reasonable Faith, p. 144)

A more specific definition reads:

A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself. (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 355)

The words “less common” implies that God sustains and governs the universe, but specific miracles such as those found in Scripture or healings today do not happen as often or are “less common” than his constant governance.

B.. Christian context

Miracles take place in a Christian context, so they are not bizarre anomalies. Such miracles often take place after prayer—even a one-word prayer of “help!” Miracles of healing, for example, eliminate abnormalities attacking human health.

C.. Miracles correct defects

Some theologians have called physical abnormalities parasites attached to the good (health). These destructive conditions describe evil. Healing miracles purge out or destroy or correct debilitating conditions, such as shrinking tumors to nothing, repairing bent and dislocated bones, and restoring sight and hearing, to cite only these examples.

D.. Supernatural element

It is true that modern medical treatments like chemotherapy can destroy cancer cells, for example (and there is nothing wrong with seeking medical attention), but miracles of divine healing take on a new dimension of God’s intervention coinciding with prayer, as we have seen in the examples listed above.

II.. Miracles Do Not Violate the Laws Nature

A.. Reapplying the laws of nature

Theologically speaking, a miracle is not a violation or transgression of the laws of nature, even if it destroys a metastasized tumor or cancer cells, which are abnormalities in human health. It does not violate or transgress God’s laws even if Jesus turns water into wine or walks on water. Instead, it inserts new material conditions to which the laws of nature apply (See Larmer, Water into Wine? pp. 3-30, though he may not agree entirely with my own conclusions).

B.. God is free to enter his own creation

More importantly, the words “violation” and “transgression” have a negative, even criminal connotation. Therefore, nor is a miracle an intrusion or in-breaking in the sense of capriciousness or burglary even, but in the positive sense of rescuing. God as hero saves us, perhaps at the last minute. He is not capricious, for his character is good, and he acts with purpose, even if we do not or cannot come to know it; we have a limited epistemic point of view. Nonetheless, he is free to walk onto his own property (the universe), so to speak, without violating or transgressing any of his own laws—the very laws he created.

C.. God’s miracles are redemptive

Therefore, God’s actions in the world are positive and redemptive. They show his love for people without violating or transgressing any of his own laws, as if he were a home invader or a rapist of Mother Nature. For example, if a prison warden allows a concert in chapel, then he commits no violation or transgression of the rules. He calls for them within the limits of his own authority. But if a lone guard does this for his own purposes and without permission, then this would be a violation or transgression because he does not act as a rightful authority.

The existence of God lifts the analogy beyond the human level. More than a warden, God does not violate or transgress anything of his creation when miracles occur, because he is the final authority over it. God inserts a new factor (miracle) and then nature accommodates it. As C. S. Lewis says: miraculous wine still intoxicates, miraculous bread is still digested and nourishes, and a miraculous conception still has to go through nine months of pregnancy and then a painful birth. Normal, natural processes say, “If A, then B.” A miracle says, “If A2, then B2.”

D.. God owns all of creation

In fact, Christians who understand the Bible believe that the universe will not last forever because God will exercise his right even to destroy part of his creation and make another one or to renew parts of the first (Matt. 24:35; Heb. 12:27; 2 Pet. 3:10). So if he destroys cells that are abnormal to human health, then this action is minor, when contrasted with his rights over his entire creation in the Last Days. God owns it, so he gives himself permission to renovate it, to improve—redeem—it.

E.. Miracles are wonderful but temporary

Thankfully, he gives himself permission to renew the human body at times by eliminating abnormalities, such as diseases, and by restoring normality to such impairments as dislocated bones, dysfunctional limbs, and non-functioning eyes and ears—all working normally after miracles are effectuated. But the laws of nature will have their way, as God ordains them. Even a person completely healed of cancer will die eventually.

III.. Theology of Biblical Miracles

A.. An Illustration

In working miracles, God walks into his world much like a homeowner walks into his house, but who had rented it to people (you and me, us). He sometimes has to take action without our permission, though Moses had to hold his staff up at the parting of the Red Sea, when the criminals (Egyptians) were going to destroy his chosen renters (Israelites), or when Jesus came to usher in the kingdom during his ministry.

In other cases, the renters (broken humans) are involved in receiving miracles and signs and wonders and have to ask and seek and knock and have faith to receive miracles. He gives them jurisdiction and authority over his creation, so they must invite the landlord into his own house to work the miracle! In Acts 2:1-3, the 120 gathered in the house were praying and seeking and were in total unity. He was glad to break in with power and wonders and signs. At other times, the owner of the house (God) can walk into his property without our asking him. He sovereignly intervenes and works a miracle.

But in one instance, he did not do—could not do—mighty works among his own hometown people because of their unbelief (Matt. 13:57-58; Mark 6:5-6). They did not believe he was the Messiah. So in a sense, they rejected his miracle-working power, except a few people whom he healed. Evidently, they had believed he was the Messiah. He did not refuse to heal them when they approached him and believed in who he was. But the other people in his hometown refused him and his miracles.

In another passage, the people of Gerasene asked Jesus to leave after he liberated a demonically oppressed man (or two men) (Matt. 8:34; Mark. 5:17).

B.. Miracles have not ceased.

In the above Scriptures, the trend line is to continue in them, just as the first-century church launched them. Why? How? It’s in the simple (but not simplistic) formula (the arrows meaning “leads to”):

Need → Want→ Demand → Supply

Need drives want and want drives demand for the supply of miracles. People have to need and then want the miracle with a free heart, full of faith and trust. Once the demand—or request—is made, the supply from God comes. Wherever people have needs, the age of miracles will never cease, and neither will the gift of Spirit-inspired languages. God really, really wants to patch people up in body and soul, and if he has to work signs and wonders and miracles to accomplish his mission, he will.

See these articles:

1. Gifts of the Spirit in Early Church Fathers

2. Healing and Deliverance in Early Church Fathers

3. Prophecies, Visions, and Hearing from God in Early Church Fathers

However, in the modern Western world, we believe that we don’t need God to perform a miracle of healing, for example, because we have doctors and pills. In the developing world, in contrast, their access to medicine is limited, so their need for healing is strong, which drives the want—demand—and the supply. Does God work miracles in the Western world? Absolutely! But only when the process is set in motion. It seems an individual here and there catch the vision to see God work a miracle.

We should not draw the false conclusion that because we in the West are spiritually self-satisfied and can get our healing needs met without God, miracles have ceased. People in the developing world would laugh at that over-reaching conclusion.

The trend line that flows out of the heart of God is that God continues with his miraculous power.

C.. Jesus and his divine attributes

What was the source of Jesus’s mighty deeds and wonders and signs? He was true God and true man. He never laid aside his divine attributes, for if he did, then he would not be true God while living on the earth. Philippians 2:5-8 talks about his laying aside the glories and privileges and environment of heaven, but nothing about attributes. But his divine attributes were hidden behind his humanity and surrendered to his Father. And God decided when the mighty deeds and signs and wonders would be displayed. So Peter said in the first sermon of the Christian church, miracles “which God did through him [Jesus]” (Acts 2:22). The reason the Father hid Jesus’s divine attributes behind his humanity is that the Father wanted Jesus to fully experience what it was like to be human, so he could fully relate to us. He was tempted in his humanity in every way that we were, but without sin (Heb. 2:14-18).

D.. Jesus and the anointing by the Spirit

In addition to his divine attributes, Jesus was anointed for service at his baptism (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:31-34). The Spirit came on him, and he was empowered. In Luke 4:14-21, in the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown, he read from Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Then Acts 10:38 says that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power (dynamis), and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power [katadunasteuō] of the devil, because God was with him.” The devil has dynastic power over people, but Jesus fights this power with the power of Almighty God.

The divine attributes were surrendered to God, and he required Jesus, the Anointed One, to be anointed and appointed and full of the Spirit, so he could show us how to minister as he did, in his name and by God doing the miracles. The Trinity is in view here: the Father anointed Jesus through the Spirit, and Jesus as the God-man worked out our redemption and salvation, and he worked healings and deliverances from disease and evil spirits, for the people back then and for us today.

IV.. God’s Signs and Wonders

A.. Brief intro.

This major section and the next one discuss the differences between God’s miracles and Satan’s. We must use discernment and be filled with a knowledge of Scripture and correct doctrine.

B.. Old Testament

We do not need to come up with even more modern examples in this section. Instead, consider the ten plagues against Egypt (Exodus 7:14-11:10). Their purpose was to execute judgment on the Egyptian gods: […] “for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods” (Num. 33:4). In addition, another purpose was to liberate people from bondage to a false Pharaoh system and its gods.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah called down fire from heaven to help the Israelites discern God’s law from false teachings and practices of 450 prophets of Baal, a false god who was actually an evil spirit. This fiery sign from the sky is also a one-off. Jesus said not to call down fire from heaven (Luke 9:51-56).

C.. Interpreting the two Old Testament examples

Since these signs and wonders were one-offs, anyone who says he is a Christian and also claims to work these skyward signs and wonders that Moses and Elijah did is getting in trouble and is danger of being deceived and deceiving others. All Christians just need to focus on healing and deliverance, just like Jesus did in the four Gospels and the apostolic community did in Acts.

D.. Examples in the New Testament

Now let’s shift over to the New Testament, to find out what signs and wonders are, according to Jesus and the apostolic community.

In these verses, the Pharisees and teachers of the law tempt Jesus to put on a display of signs and wonders, probably like Moses or Elijah performed. If Jesus cannot perform such signs on demand, then they will stay with Moses and his law and not follow Jesus.

³⁸ Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

³⁹ He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (Matt. 12:38-39; see 16:1-4)

The context is not a genuine need, like a healing or a deliverance from a demon. They demanded an empty, “show-offy” display to wow the crowd. He was secure enough in his knowledge of God that he called them and this generation wicked and adulterous. “Adulterous” may mean they were mixing the traditions of men with the word of God, or they were committing sexual sins, literal adultery, or both.

In the Gospel of John Jesus performed these recorded signs:

THE EIGHT SIGNS OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
	Sign	Scriptures
1	Turning water into wine	2:1-11, the “beginning” or “first” sign
2	Healing an official’s son	4:43-54 “the second sign”
3	Healing a disabled man at a pool	5:1-15; see 6:2, where many healings are summarized
4	Feeding 5000	6:1-14 (see 6:14 and 6:26)
5	Walking on water	6:16-21
6	Healing a man born blind	9:1-12 (see 9:16 and “such signs”)
7	Raising Lazarus from dead	11:1-44 (see “signs” in 11:47 and “this sign” in 12:18)
8	Rising from the dead	20:1-31 (see many other signs in 20:30)
Source: BTSB, p. 2141, slightly edited

E. Purpose of those signs in John’s Gospel

And here is the purpose of the signs, without a complicated commentary:

³⁰ So then Jesus performed many other signs in front of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ These were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

The signs are for us to believe that he is the Messiah (or Christ), the Son of God. They are signposts, which point to Jesus and his glory.

Jesus performed many additional signs in the Fourth Gospel that were unrecorded. What was the purpose of the recorded ones?

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

The signs led to faith in the Messiah, the Son of God, and when we believe in him, we will have new life in his name.

F. Book of Acts

In the book of Acts, signs and wonders accredit Jesus as God’s servant:

²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. (Acts 2:22)

So it looks like signs and wonders point to Jesus, not to any one man (or woman) who may perform them, like Peter or the other apostles.

In this next verse in Acts the crowd sat up and took notice of the message of the gospel and Jesus (see the final section for more teaching on Acts 2:42-47):

⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)

This was the crowd’s reaction. If the crowds are awed, then the true disciple can’t stop their reaction. But he must not be caught up in it. The main purpose of miracles, in contrast, is to preach Jesus and lift him up. Then signs and wonders follow, just as Peter said in Acts 2, in a powerfully true sermon.

In Acts 8:6-8, during Philip’s campaign in Samaria, signs and wonders helped people get free from diseases and paralysis and demons. These people-based miracles that actually helped them produced great joy, for the message lifted up Jesus, and he liberated them. “But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). It was about preaching the good news of the kingdom in Jesus’s name and then salvation in his name, not in the name of a prophet or Philip.

G. Back to the Gospels.

Miracles reveal and advance the kingdom of God. In this verse the context is the miracle of deliverance:

²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matt. 12:28)

H.. Summary

Based on those miracles and many more, God’s signs and wonders accomplish at least these things. Lift up Jesus; make people sit up and take notice of the gospel and Jesus himself; lead people to put their faith in the Messiah, the Son of God; then their faith in him will give them eternal life in Jesus; provide practical benefits of healing and deliverance–helping people, in other words–but in his name alone; advancement the kingdom of God so people will join it in the name of Jesus. accredit the good news of the gospel in Jesus’s name.

Most importantly, Jesus is the centerpiece of God’s signs and wonders. Remember, however, that every book or letters in the NT, except the tiny epistle to Philemon, say to watch out for false teachings and false prophets and false teachers. Correct doctrine is another criterion for evaluating signs and wonders.

See these articles for many additional examples of signs and wonders and miracles:

What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?

What Does ‘Greater Things’ Mean in John 14:12?

V.. Satan’s Signs and Wonders

A.. Satan’s agents

Pharaoh’s sorcerers and diviners were able to duplicate some of God’s signs and wonders he worked through Moses (e.g. the rods turning into snakes, though Aaron’s rods consumed the satanic-produced snakes, blood in the water, and frogs in Exodus 7:8-8:15), though eventually their satanic signs and wonders could not keep up with god’s signs and wonders and stopped.

In Deuteronomy, certain people could work a sign and wonder:

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, ² and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” ³ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.  (Deut. 13:1-4)

The context is the Sinai covenant and satanic infiltration of ancient Israel. The book of 1 and 2 Kings demonstrates how evil many kings were, particularly King Manasseh of Judah, as follows:

³ He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. ⁴ He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” ⁵ In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶ He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. (1 Kings 21:3-5)

The passage goes on to describe more of his awful satanic practices. In the above quoted passage, he even sacrificed his own son in the fire and consulted all sorts of people in contact with evil spirits. He set up altars in the temple, no less. This is the king, the leader of Judah.

This is why these prophets and diviners had to be put to death. God judged Manasseh severely too. This passage elucidates the one in Deuteronomy 13. Signs and wonders performed by false prophets or anyone had to be checked out doctrinally because they led people to follow other gods. As far as I know, prophets today on social media do not entice people to go after other gods, but they must be judged doctrinally and on whether their prophecies come true and on other criteria (see below).

Satan empowers human agents who work signs and wonders in front of people. During difficult times, like the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, false messiahs and false prophets can work signs and wonders, as Jesus forewarns about, here:

²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time. (Matt. 24:23-25)

Even today, in tough times people will be so desperate that they need anyone or anything to believe in. They will be vulnerable to false messiahs and prophets and their “great signs and wonders” (emphasis added). Their purpose is to deceive people, which means to wander away from Jesus, the true Messiah and true Prophet, the Son of God, and even God in the flesh. The “elect” means followers of Jesus. Will some of them be deceived?

B.. Deception

Deceived how? From what good condition? They may be deceived from sound doctrine and knowledge of God through his Son and believe false doctrines and wander from Scriptural knowledge of God into a mixture of religions. Remember that Jesus called his generation “adulterous,” because they mixed the word of God with the traditions of men or they were committing sexual sins, or both.

C.. False charismatic teachers

Even in times that are not difficult, very charismatic teachers can work signs and wonders:

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21-23)

The last word “evildoers” can be more literally translated as “practitioners” or “doers” of “lawlessness.” These fake charismatics don’t listen to moral or biblical law. They can prophesy and expel demons and perform miracles, but they do not do the will of the Son’s Father–God himself. They break basic Scripture and sound morals. They have no relationship with Jesus. They are like flowers in a vase. The water goes bad and the flowers will gradually wilt and die.

For signs that your church and its leaders are getting off track, go to this article and read the list of signs:

Matthew 7:21-23: “I Never Knew You, Depart from Me!”

D.. Mixture of true and false miracles

I discussed Acts 8 in the previous major section. In that chapter, Philip and later John and Peter worked signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, as Philip proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom. However, a sorcerer named Simon, who had also been working his own version of signs and wonders, wanted to buy the gift of imparting the Spirit, to add to his repertoire of wonders, his bag of tricks. But Peter rebuked him. Evidently Simon would have charged money.

Be careful about how and why offerings are taken. No one should have to buy a miracle or a prophecy. And be careful about false magic which seems so powerful but is actually deceptive.

E.. Man of lawlessness

Satan will work signs and wonders through a deceitful man, as seen here. Note what the goal is.

⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thess. 2:8-10)

The lie is any false doctrine. We can test false doctrine by knowing true ones, from Scripture, properly interpreted. And here is a passage about the second beast, which may be a system of deceitful people:

¹² It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³ And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Rev. 13:12-14)

Satan can call down fire from heaven, even though Jesus said not to do this (Luke 9:51-56).

F.. Many demons

And this next verse is about many demonic spirits that can work signs. The signs may be performed directly by a demon, like a healing in a body in the name of another religion, like Hinduism or Shintoism or Buddhism. One must be very careful about accepting healing signs as valid within defective religions:

¹⁴ They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Rev. 16:14)

Deceitful signs and wonders lead to rebellion against Jesus and God Almighty. Fighting against God in a great battle is a bad idea.

G.. Beast and false prophet

Finally, this verse says the beast and the false prophet (which may be an entire religious system, if the two figures are symbolic) worked signs. Again, note what the goal is:

²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Rev. 19:20)

H.. Summary

So, adding up all those verses, it looks like satanic signs and wonders accomplish these diabolical things: Deceive people; get people to wander off from Jesus; get people to go away from simple faith in him and his Lordship and Sonship; get people to rebel against God; join the kingdom of darkness; lose their souls to the devil; eventually end up in hell with the devil and his angels.

VI.. How to Stay Safe and Have Discernment

Three important ways to do this, as follows.

A.. Test everything.

We are to test human spirits to see if they are false. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. Many. Don’t be naive and believe anyone who says marvelous things and appear righteous. Test their doctrine.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

In the above verses, in John’s days, the false doctrine was denying that Jesus came in the flesh. In our day false prophets may or may not say this. but they may also deny other things, like Christ’s Lordship or his full deity. Truth found in the word of God is the deciding factor. Cling to it. Cling to sound doctrine based on the word of God.

B.. Know the Bible and doctrine

Speaking of Scripture, our discernment is supposed to be Bible-trained. You must read the Bible for yourself, but most importantly you must read it in a wholesome community of believers. Private interpretations are potentially dangerous. (See the third point, below.)

These verses tell us the difference between true and false doctrine:

² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim. 4:2-4)

Sound doctrine is not exciting, so people will not put up with it, but follow their own desires. Their ears itch, so certain undisciplined teachers will scratch them with pleasing doctrines. No. Remain true to “boring” but sound doctrine. These verses also help us spot bad leaders:

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

Men whose consciences have been seared by a hot iron means that they have no conscience and can engage in all sorts of lawlessness. They become doers or practitioners of lawlessness, and Jesus said no to this (Matt. 7:21-22). They break moral law, like honesty and monogamy. Their consciences are not Bible-trained or Bible-based. Now, for them, anything goes. Morality is now what they feel, according to their own desires.

C.. Inspect their fruit.

Jesus told us what to do, here:

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

We are called to watch out. This is the opposite of being gullible. Inspecting fruit is, yes, testing their character, but often the wolves wear really effective disguises, which look like sheep’s clothing. False teachers and prophets can appear very pious and can even give away a million dollars, if they are rich. They can even spout a few correct doctrines that they have heard over the years, “Yes I believe Jesus is the Son of God!” Then they may add something odd: “But we too are all gods!” That’s just one example.

Eventually their doctrine will be shown to be off base. They will say something that diminishes God and his Son, for example. They may unhitch the Old Testament from the New. They may endorse same-sex marriage and even perform them.

Further, their bad character will gradually manifest, usually in the sexual area, particularly, but not exclusively, if the fakes are men. They will have one or multiple affairs and not repent in public because they are afraid to lose their lucrative platform. When they get caught, they will try hard to maintain their money-making position on television and their large church.

I have observed that charismatic leaders (in the sociological sense of “charismatic”) will eventually pursue sexual desires and collect a harem of sorts, or pursue women serially, one or two after another one or two.

Or they may be corrupt in their finances and become hyper-rich at the expense of average church-going Christians because the wolves twist Scripture and make false promises to their listeners. “Give to my ministry, and God will bless you with more money to give more money to my ministry! Buy a blessing!” Wrong. Then the mega-ministers take the donated money and fulfill their selfish desires and buy luxury items, like a gigantic house (or two or three), a jet (or more than one), expensive cars, and other such things.

Apostle Paul Traveled on Cargo Ships

So watch out for bad character, bad doctrines, and bad ministry practices–all three things.

How do you test those three things, specifically? The next point answers the question.

VII.. Reports of Healings

A..  Brief intro.

This section provides samples of miracles so we can learn how to minister as Jesus did.

This passage, representing other summaries, encapsulates in a few words the healing ministry of Jesus in Israel, several decades prior to the Roman destruction of the Temple in AD 70:

³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matt. 15:30-31)

That passage assumes that the power of God (Luke 6:19) is real and heals the infirm. “And they praised the God of Israel.”

Jesus from his exalted state heals the sick and demonized today, through his church that prays for people.

A small, representative sample of miracles today, which could be multiplied:

B.. A man is healed of cancer.

Robert A. Larmer, professor of philosophy at University of New Brunswick, offers this testimony: . . . “For example, my minister [of a charismatic church], whom I know to be of good character and judgment, tells me that his father experienced an overnight recovery from the last stages of cancer that has been diagnosed as terminal by a number of doctors, and . . . his report is confirmed by a large number of people acquainted with his father” . . . (“Miracles and Testimony,” p. 130)

C..  A woman is healed of cancer.

A woman in my own church tells a similar story. The CT scan showed that she had cancer, but in the early stages. After prayer, the next CT scan showed the cancer disappeared. A misdiagnosis? The oncologist would disagree.

D.. A lame leg is healed.

The senior pastor of my (former) church was a businessman before he went into ministry. One of his employees injured her leg. He asked permission to pray for it, and she allowed him. Immediately, she could walk normally. This was done in private without cameras or a charged up atmosphere, though an exciting atmosphere of a large conference on healing is perfectly legitimate.

E.. Man is healed of lameness

An associate pastor of my (former) church tells a similar story. As he was going out of a restaurant, a man walking with crutches was coming into the restaurant. The pastor, though not knowing the man, asked permission to pray for him, and the injured man, somewhat surprised, allowed it. After praying for him and exchanging pleasantries, the pastor left, walking toward his car. As he was driving away, he noticed the man outside the restaurant, carrying his crutches, waving them triumphantly and indicating that he no longer needed them. Evidently, the man was healed. This happened without cameras or a charged up atmosphere, though an exciting atmosphere of a large conference on healing is legitimate.

F.. Verified miracles

The following miracles are found in D. C. Lewis’s book Healing: Fiction, Fantasy or Fact? Lewis has a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute. He conducted research on the Harrogate Conference (England) in the autumn of 1986, led by John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Churches. Some 2,470 people attended, and 1,890 returned a questionnaire. One hundred were chosen at random, and they were followed up for a period of six months to over a year. The scientific method in the social sciences was carefully followed throughout Lewis’ investigation (pp. 15-16; and see Appendix A).

1.. Healing of hip

In investigating the claimed healings during the follow-ups, someone (an “informant”) reports after receiving prayer: “My left hip was alright for some months, when I felt pain coming again[…] So I asked some brothers to pray for me for a second time. Since then I do not feel any more pain in my left hip” (p. 25).

2.. Healing of hernia

In another follow-up, an “informant” wrote regarding his or her total healing of a hernia after prayer: “I have never had any trouble with the hernia whatsoever” (p. 25).

3.. Ankle healed

One man wrote on the questionnaire about his twisted ankle. “After prayer, the pain was gone! I tried to make it come back by twisting to what would have been uncomfortable but it was OK […] Talk about stunned.” Fifteen months later he wrote: “I’ve had no problems with the ankle since the healing. I’ve tested this out with various sports like squash, badminton and some running without any reaction” (p. 26).

4.. Disc healed

A nurse reports that “the physical healing I received for my old prolapsed disc injury was complete for about seven months. I was totally pain free and unrestricted in movement and/or exercise and stress related activities.” However, she reinjured it after an overweight patient shifted her weight onto the nurse when she was lifting the patient (p. 26).

5.. Leg is lengthened

It is difficult to measure a leg lengthening when it grows out by a half an inch, even if God works a miracle. It could be attributed to natural processes. However, this report says that someone’s leg was lengthened by an inch-and-a-half, during the process of prayer. “We prayed for my leg: I watched the leg come level with my right leg and even heard it grow—like breaking wood. I could not walk right for twenty years . . . I didn’t wear a built-up shoe, just limped . . . They prayed for my hip to come back to the position it should be—I feel it has. For the first time in twenty-one years I can walk without discomfort or pain, it seems level to me” (p. 38).

6.. Teeth are healed

 A woman complained of extra-sensitive teeth. Cold air or hot tea caused a lot of pain. Her written report on her healing is lengthy, but in the end, her dentist wrote on August 18, 1987: “Routine dental check up. Patient no longer complains of sensitive teeth” (p. 40).

7.. Total blindness is healed

In a case outside of the Wimber conference, Lewis reports total blindness being healed. An article in the November / December 1988 issue of Prophecy Today says that “twenty-three-year old Christine Newton from Durham who was born blind but after receiving prayer for healing ‘felt her eyeballs grow and when she opened her eyes she could see—for the first time in her life! . . . At first her sight was dim, but it has become gradually clearer each day. Now she is learning to read and write’” (p. 288, Appendix C).

8.. Acute insomnia is healed

In an earlier conference at Sheffield, England, led by John Wimber, a man was healed of acute insomnia and his wife was healed of deafness. These cases lie outside of Lewis’ study of the Harrogate conference, so he includes them in Appendix C. He writes: “However, because they were written at least a year after the events described they do provide some further evidence of the persistence of physical healings . . . it seems difficult to attribute the healings to known medical processes” (p. 289). The patient reports on his prayer session with two American youths, who irritated him with their casual attitude and gum chewing. He slept well that night, but attributed it to a “real tiredness.” Then he reports:

[…] The next day my wife was prayed for, for deafness. She was instantly healed! That night, having gone to bed, she awoke me at approximately 1:30 a.m. I was rather irritated, as from past experience the chances of returning to sleep for me were rather slim. “What’s wrong with you?” I asked. She said that she couldn’t sleep because she could hear the alarm clock ticking!! She then reminded me I was healed. I resumed sleep, and have had only one night in the past year when I have not slept well. PS: My wife still has problems with hearing too much at night! (pp. 289-90, Appendix C)

VIII.. Application

A.. Postmodernism is shortsighted.

First, let’s tackle a deficient worldview. Just because modern men and women do not witness such miracles does not mean that they do not happen. Postmodernists need to investigate before passing negative judgment. The age of science does not slam the door shut on miracles; in fact, technology can be used to verify them to the satisfaction of reasonable observers, not hyper-skeptical ones who are too eager to discredit them as miniature Bermuda triangles or as images of Jesus appearing in tortillas.

B.. Healing is available.

Now let’s get into the Scriptures. If you really need healing, seek God and his church for help. You can experience miracles today. They really do happen. Someone with completely non-functioning eyes can see after prayer in Jesus’ name.

C.. What to look for and not look for.

Don’t look for signs in the sky or nature miracles with no benefit of helping people in down-to-earth ways. Jesus replied that the only sign that the religious leaders and the people would get is his resurrection, the sign of Jonah (also see John 2:18-19).

D.. New Testament signs and wonders

Signs and wonders in the New Testament boiled down to healings and deliverances. Signs in the sky, like falling gold dust inside or outside a church or feathers appearing (seemingly) out of nowhere, go too far off from Scripture, even if it is filmed, especially if it is filmed.

E.. The gospel is confirmed.

When the miracles in the four Gospels happened, the gospel was confirmed. It is the (bodily) resurrected Jesus Christ whom I encounter in my human existence, through the Spirit of the living God. He shapes and gives my existence purpose—a divine, existential act that is missing in people today, who drift around like icebergs, cold and isolated.

F.. Safe and biblical fellowship

Stay in fellowship with sound Christian believers and leaders that have the following ministry practices. Here are verses that clarify what a healthy church is:

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Based on this long passage, watch for these ten things in your local fellowship:

1.. Devotion to apostolic teaching

This teaching is found in the Gospels, Acts and the epistles and even the Revelation, when it is taught properly interpreted and in balance;

2.. Regular fellowship;

3.. Communal meals that end in communion;

If the communal meals are feasible, but take communion, regularly.

4.. Regular community prayer;

5.. No greed for money;

Does Book of Acts Teach Modern Communism or Socialism?

Apostle Paul Traveled on Cargo Ships

6.. Large gatherings;

7.. House churches

They shared meals that end with communion (regular communion, in other words, but maybe regular potlucks are too much even in a house gathering). People there can get to know you. There is safety in numbers, if the numbers stay true to these points in the list.

8.. Sincere and glad hearts

Many false teachers may smile and appear sincere but inside they are mean and manipulative with their words.

9.. Praising God together;

10.. Outreach

A church us healthy when the people reach out to the lost for salvation in Jesus alone.

11.. Quick summary:

A church that does all those things should keep us safe as we live in community together under His Lordship and submission to his word, the Scriptures.

I cover this in more detail in the section Ecclesiology and the post Healthy and Unhealthy Churches.

G.. God can work through a yielded Christian.

A great truth that can change your life: God today can work the same mighty deeds and signs and wonders—through you, based on Acts 1:8 and 2:1-4 and John 14:12 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. We must receive his Spirit-immersion and Spirit-empowerment. This is not to say that we have his fully divine attributes (not even close!), but he does give us the Holy Spirit in fire (purification) and power, so he through us can do those things. And this is not to say that we also are anointed without limits, though Jesus was (John 3:34).

However, we do share in his Spirit-empowerment, though not as powerfully, because Jesus is the Spirit-baptizer-immerser (John 1:33; Acts 2:33). Jesus in his humanity and his anointing can now relate to his followers, who also need to receive the Spirit’s power, so they can minster effectively and carry on those wonderful works. Itis a joint effort and cooperation—God and human—with God working the miracle through us.

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Works Cited