The Purpose of Miracles by Dr. Johnny O. Trail, LMFT
Over the last few months, a gentleman has been calling the church offices to make comments and ask questions about the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our dialogue has been cordial, and it seems that the gentleman asking the questions is taking my comments on the matter seriously. He attended a denomination that had a “healing meeting” some years ago at the invitation of a co-worker. To his surprise, he came forward complaining of back pain, and he left the meeting with improved function and lessened pain in his back.
I have no doubt that his back was better, but I highly doubt that it was done through some miraculous powers held by the one doing the “healing meeting.” When confronted with this conclusion, some questions arose in our discussions that he could not answer.
If there are people in our age who can perform true biblical miracles, why are they not stationed at the various hospitals and critical care clinics through the world? After all, they could heal a person with no residuals and charge absolutely no money for their efforts.
A follow up question might be, “If we have individuals in our time who can perform true biblical miracles, why are they not frequenting funeral homes and crematoriums to raise people from the dead?” Again, crickets from the audience of one.
People are quick to emphasize the positive aspects of the miraculous abilities of the Holy Spirit, but not the negative ones. There is an example of Paul cursing someone because of their subversion of his efforts to engage in personal evangelism. Act 13:8-12 says, “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
If one truly possesses the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, he should be able to curse those who pervert or subvert the teaching of the truth. Theoretically, those who hear sound teaching on this topic would be able to pronounce a curse upon the one teaching against their doctrine. Never once has this writer heard of someone pronouncing a “curse” upon someone because of something that was said or done in opposition to their position or teaching.
We are no longer living in age where true, biblical miracle happen for various reasons. For one thing, only an Apostle could impart a miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 8:18-19 says, “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Moreover, the Bible explains that the miraculous abilities of the Holy Spirt would eventually come to an end. 1 Corinthians 13:8-9 says, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” The “perfect” thing is most likely in reference to the completed word of God.
Furthermore, the one who received healing at the hands of one who had the miraculous ability to do so was completely healed unless the nature of the ailment required a two-step approach (cf. John 9:6-7), but after complying with the command of Christ the one who had an infirmity was completely and totally healed.
The man healed by Peter in Acts three was lame from birth (Acts 3:2). It is medically certain that the unused muscles in his leg had atrophied to a degree that made the leg useless—even if modern medicines were available. Theoretically, a man healed from a lifetime of lameness would need months of intensive physical therapy to regain enough strength to even walk again. However, the text makes it apparent that his healing was complete and whole in nature. The text says in Acts 3:7-8 “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”
Several years ago, we lived in a preacher’s house next to a family who believed that biblical miracles were still possible. Sadly, his granddaughter had brain tumors and wrestled with debilitating physical issues as a result. He knew he lived next to the “church of Christ preacher,” and many of our discussions revolved around the Bible.
One day we were in our back yards, and he offered a report on how his granddaughter was doing. He said, “Well, I know you church of Christ people do not believe in the Holy Spirit [his words], but I prayed and laid hands on my granddaughter and she was healed of her brain tumors. She still has several physical problems but is doing better.” Did you catch that last line? She still had some physical problems. If this was in fact a true biblical miracle, she would have been completely healed of her illness.
Please do not misunderstand me, we were all praying for her recovery and rejoiced that she was better. The doctors were continually monitoring and medicating the problem. The prayers of the saints and the intervention of medical personnel allowed the girl to recovery from her infirmity through the providential workings of God.
Some might argue, “You simple cannot see a miracle, because you do not believe!” This was never a prerequisite to “seeing” a genuine miracle performed. Notice the wording in John 12:37. “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him.” Having no faith did not prohibit the religious rulers of Jesus’ age from seeing Him perform miracles.
Teachings on the miraculous abilities of the Holy Spirit devoid of Biblical underpinnings cannot be trusted. This leads to much subjective speculation about how, when, and where the Spirit works and creates more doubt than faith.
