Are Miracles Proof of God’s Leading?

I was recently sent a link to this video with the comment “Praise God!” http://www.churchleaders.com/daily-buzz/286270-miracle-watch-god-heal-pastor-preaches-healing.html. What are we to make of a testimony like this?

In the last days we can expect to see more and more miracles from both Satan and from Jesus. Jesus warned “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24. And “’Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. There are similar warnings in Revelation 13:12-13 & 16:14.

For years those with a pentecostal leaning (e.g. C3 pastor Matt Fry) have thumped Baptists (e.g. Duane Miller’s Southern Baptist church in the story) for not believing in modern day healings and gifts of the Spirit. (you can pick this up in the video intro).

But there are two things both systems* (pentecostal & baptist) do agree on – The immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness. Why is this significant?

More than 125 years ago this prophecy was given. “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” {The Great Controversy 588.1}

How can we distinguish between miracles from Satan and miracles from Jesus? The chapter on Modern Revivals in The Great Controversy is powerful and well worth reading (or re-reading). It highlights the differences between true and false miracles, healings and revivals. Here’s a link – http://www.whiteestate.org/books/gc/gc27.html

We live in exciting and amazing times. May the Lord help us navigate the rapids of the last days in a secure, fully Bible-based raft!

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* The difference between a system and the people in it is similar to the difference between an airplane and the people on it. If people find they are in the wrong system or airplane they have freedom of choice to make a change if they don’t delay too long, but systems themselves usually resist change. This is why part of God’s final message to Planet Earth (Revelation 14:6-12; 18:1-4) includes a call to God’s people in fallen spiritual Babylon to “Come out of her, My people…” (Revelation 18:4).