““If we admit God, must If we admit God, must we admit Miracle? we admit Miracle?

Indeed, indeed, you have Indeed, indeed, you have security against it. That security against it. That is the bargain. Theology is the bargain. Theology

says to you in effect, says to you in effect, ‘Admit God and with Him ‘Admit God and with Him

the risk of a few the risk of a few miracles.’”miracles.’”

~ C. S. Lewis~ C. S. Lewis

““The New Testament The New Testament writers do not record Jesus’ writers do not record Jesus’

healing illnesses that healing illnesses that simply caused simply caused

inconvenience, temporary inconvenience, temporary hardship or minor pain. hardship or minor pain. They were all substantial They were all substantial

infirmities, many incurable, infirmities, many incurable, and all resulting in the and all resulting in the

person afflicted being cut person afflicted being cut off from normal society off from normal society

until restoration occurred.”until restoration occurred.”

~ Keith Warrington~ Keith Warrington

““These were signs These were signs adapted to the time. adapted to the time. They were done for a They were done for a

betokening, and it passed betokening, and it passed away.“away.“

~ St. Augustine, on ~ St. Augustine, on MiraclesMiracles

““Miracles were Miracles were distinctively the distinctively the

authentication of the authentication of the Apostles. They were part Apostles. They were part of the credentials of the of the credentials of the

apostles as the apostles as the authoritative agents of authoritative agents of

God in founding the God in founding the church. Their function church. Their function thus confined them to thus confined them to

distinctively the Apostolic distinctively the Apostolic Church, and they Church, and they

necessarily passed away necessarily passed away with it."with it."

~ B. B. Warefield~ B. B. Warefield

““I believe that God is always I believe that God is always operating on a supernatural operating on a supernatural

level. He intervenes level. He intervenes supernaturally in nature and in supernaturally in nature and in

human affairs even today. I human affairs even today. I believe God can heal people believe God can heal people

apart from natural or medical apart from natural or medical remedies. I believe all things remedies. I believe all things

are possible with God. His are possible with God. His power has not diminished in power has not diminished in

the least since the days of the the least since the days of the early church.”early church.”

~ John McArthur Jr.~ John McArthur Jr.

““The age of miracles The age of miracles continues, continues,

but the age of miracle but the age of miracle workers workers

has ceased.”has ceased.”

~ Robert L. Thomas~ Robert L. Thomas

"Miraculous gifts appear on "Miraculous gifts appear on the biblical scene only the biblical scene only

during periods of prophecy during periods of prophecy and/or new revelation. With and/or new revelation. With

the close of the canon of the close of the canon of Scripture, the completion of Scripture, the completion of

the New Testament the New Testament revelation, we would revelation, we would

therefore expect a cessation therefore expect a cessation of miraculous gifts.”of miraculous gifts.”

~ William McRrae~ William McRrae

““To argue that Jesus has To argue that Jesus has withdrawn his healing withdrawn his healing

ministry from the church ministry from the church today is to argue that he today is to argue that he has also withdrawn his has also withdrawn his compassion from the compassion from the

church. But if we believe in church. But if we believe in a compassionate Saviour, a compassionate Saviour,

we ought to have we ought to have confidence in his desire to confidence in his desire to heal in the church today.”heal in the church today.”

~ Jack Deere~ Jack Deere

““The sign gifts had a unique The sign gifts had a unique purpose: to give the purpose: to give the

apostles credentials, that is, apostles credentials, that is, to let the people know that to let the people know that

these men all spoke the these men all spoke the truth of God. Once the Word truth of God. Once the Word

of God was inscripturated, of God was inscripturated, the sign gifts were no longer the sign gifts were no longer needed and they ceased."”needed and they ceased."”

~ John McArthur Jr.~ John McArthur Jr.

"Many have chosen the option "Many have chosen the option of locking several of the of locking several of the

spiritual gifts into the first spiritual gifts into the first century, lest some explanation century, lest some explanation be required for their presence be required for their presence in the church today. I would in the church today. I would prefer to allow the Holy Spirit prefer to allow the Holy Spirit

the broadest latitude to the broadest latitude to produce in Christ's body any produce in Christ's body any

gift in any age as He sees fit."gift in any age as He sees fit."

~ Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel, ~ Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel, Dallas Theological SeminaryDallas Theological Seminary

““The greatest miracle in the The greatest miracle in the world is that God loves us world is that God loves us and his Son died for us. “and his Son died for us. “

~ Jack Deere~ Jack Deere

Jesus & The ApostlesJesus & The Apostles Modern Faith Modern Faith HealersHealers

  

Always Dramatic & ObviousAlways Dramatic & Obvious Often Unseen & Often Unseen & SubjectiveSubjective

Immediate & CompleteImmediate & Complete Gradual & Partial Gradual & Partial (stages)(stages)

Gave home turf advantageGave home turf advantage Claim home turf Claim home turf advantageadvantage

Plain & SimplePlain & Simple Flamboyant and Flamboyant and EntertainingEntertaining

““For there is one God and one For there is one God and one mediator between God and mediator between God and

human beings, Christ Jesus, human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all himself as a ransom for all

people.”people.”

~ 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (TNIV)~ 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (TNIV)

““Very truly I tell you, all who have Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I faith in me will do the works I

have been doing, and they will do have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, even greater things than these,

because I am going to the because I am going to the Father.”Father.”

~ John 14:12 (TNIV)~ John 14:12 (TNIV)

““People of Israel, listen to this: People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, miracles, wonders and signs,

which God did among you which God did among you through him, as you through him, as you yourselves know.”yourselves know.”

~ Acts 2:22 (TNIV)~ Acts 2:22 (TNIV)

““Jesus did many other Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence miraculous signs in the presence

of his disciples, which are not of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the that Jesus is the Messiah, the

Son of God, and that by believing Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”you may have life in his name.”

~ John 20:30-31 (TNIV)~ John 20:30-31 (TNIV)

““I persevered in I persevered in demonstrating among you the demonstrating among you the

marks of a true apostle, marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and including signs, wonders and

miracles.” miracles.”

~ 2 Corinthians 12:12 (TNIV)~ 2 Corinthians 12:12 (TNIV)

““This salvation, which was first This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was announced by the Lord, was

confirmed to us by those who confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his Spirit distributed according to his

will.”will.”

~ Hebrews 2:3-4 (TNIV)~ Hebrews 2:3-4 (TNIV)

““Stop drinking only water, and Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of use a little wine because of

your stomach and your your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”frequent illnesses.”

~ 1 Timothy 5:23 (TNIV)~ 1 Timothy 5:23 (TNIV)

““My Father, if it is possible, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as me. Yet not as I will, but as

you will.”you will.”

~ Matthew 26:39 (TNIV)~ Matthew 26:39 (TNIV)

““Is any one of you sick? Call the elders Is any one of you sick? Call the elders of the church to pray over you and of the church to pray over you and

anoint you with oil in the name of the anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make you well; the Lord will raise you make you well; the Lord will raise you

up. If you have sinned, you will be up. If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to

each other and pray for each other so each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a that you may be healed. The prayer of a

righteous person is powerful and righteous person is powerful and effective.”effective.”

~ James 5:14-16 (TNIV)~ James 5:14-16 (TNIV)