The bible provides us with the tools. Prayer and Fasting as well as reading the word of God. The more you build up your faith that way the more you will see miracles. Mat 17:20 And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. Mat 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Rom 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God
Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Sadly this message has been replaced by a psuedo "magic" formula of uncut hair and incantations or invoking magic words.
While I do believe whole heartedly on calling on the name of Jesus, it's our faith IN His name that is active, not the vocalization of the sounds
Act 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. Act 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Act 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Act 3:16 And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Many UPCs focus on works and standards and tongues as evidence but not on faith and the gifts of the Spirit.
At campmeeting listening to Anthony Mangum preach on prayer and fasting
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
At campmeeting listening to Anthony Mangum preach on prayer and fasting
You are there now? Did you just quote him or was that you?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
Gotta admit folks I don't think I've ever seen a true miracle. In the 12 years I've went to church, not once did I see a demon cast out, someone raise from the dead, or a healing. By healing I mean - cancer healed completely immediately without drugs, brain damage healed, AIDS healed, or someone with a true physical handicap made whole, etc. I've heard stories from other saints claiming someone split their head while running the aisles and God healed it instantly.
If you've seen a true, 100% miracle please tell your story!
1954
My brother Rob had leukemia. The doctors told my parents there was nothing they could do.
Prayer was made, and the doctor said, "It was a Higher Power who saved your son!"
Rob is yet alive and well tonight...
1979
Sis. Alice broke her back falling off a ladder, as I recall.
Came to service for prayer. She was in such pain, they could barely get her out of the car.
Someone pushed her wheelchair up to the front. Bro. Wilson was out of town that night, but the assistant pastor prayed, and I saw her leap from the chair, healed!
She went to the restroom and had someone cut her out of the cast or brace or whatever it was.
1993
I was in a hurry getting ready for a district conference and fell UP a basement flight of stairs. Some friends were in the basement when it happened, and my god daughter, who was maybe 11 or 12 years old.
My friends tell me that when I got up off the steps and turned around, they were afraid to tell me that my right shoulder had dropped way low, and there were dark circles under my eyes.
Someone tried to put ice on my shoulder, but the pain was so intense I could not stand it.
As they prepared to take me to the hospital, I said we should pray first.
Eleanor sat next to me and gently put her hand on my shoulder.
She did not pray a long prayer, but simply said, "Lord, you know we don't have time for this..."
When she said those words, my shoulder popped back into place!
My god daughter was across the room watching it all, and said that she heard it pop.
We went to the conference and I have never been to the doctor because of a dislocated shoulder!
What Izzy is asking for are the hard visual types of miracles. I have seen and heard enough stories about cancer vanishing that it seems almost common, yet you don't see anything when the person is being prayed for. (Same for demons being cast out. Has anyone ever personally seen it where someone actually levitated?)
What about stories where a blind person with white eyes (or glass ones), sort of like the Blind Samurai gets prayed over and his vision returns along which the eyes turning a normal color? Or someone with a missing arm or leg who gets prayed over and grows a new limb? Or someone who has been dead beyond the normal definition of "clinical death" where they do not have a pulse for a few minutes and comes back to life?
Not sure if this is the testimony you are looking for but...
In October 2002 my niece Sharon had Cat Scratch disease. It caused the retina to detach.
Prayer was made, and the doctor at the U of M hospital in Dearborn, MI said her retina had suddenly reattached.
He was amazed, and said, "Whatever you people are doing, don't stop!"
Not sure if this is the testimony you are looking for but...
In October 2002 my niece Sharon had Cat Scratch disease. It caused the retina to detach.
Prayer was made, and the doctor at the U of M hospital in Dearborn, MI said her retina had suddenly reattached.
He was amazed, and said, "Whatever you people are doing, don't stop!"
I do not doubt that God's hand of providence was involved. Again, if we're just speaking about miracles in a global sense, I believe they occur daily. What we're asking about here though are the distinct miraculous kind where a thousand people surrounding can see what happened, such as the kind that Jesus and the Apostles did. Raising a man who had been dead a couple of days or literally regrowing a limb that had been missing (and again, NOT merely lengthening it). How about the grand daddy of them all, casting a mountain into the sea?
Perhaps we are all a bit like Luke Skywalker when he said "I don't believe it" at which point Yoda says "That.... is why you fail.".
I do not doubt that God's hand of providence was involved. Again, if we're just speaking about miracles in a global sense, I believe they occur daily. What we're asking about here though are the distinct miraculous kind where a thousand people surrounding can see what happened, such as the kind that Jesus and the Apostles did. Raising a man who had been dead a couple of days or literally regrowing a limb that had been missing (and again, NOT merely lengthening it). How about the grand daddy of them all, casting a mountain into the sea?
Perhaps we are all a bit like Luke Skywalker when he said "I don't believe it" at which point Yoda says "That.... is why you fail.".
Why is important that the multitudes see these things? They stood and watched it all back in the day...about 20,000 even ate fish sandwiches from a boy's sack lunch.
They were not impressed. How many from that crowd shouted, "Crucify Him!"
I hear you, and understand what you saying, but I don't think it would make a world of difference to most.
Why is important that the multitudes see these things? They stood and watched it all back in the day...about 20,000 even ate fish sandwiches from a boy's sack lunch.
They were not impressed. How many from that crowd shouted, "Crucify Him!"
I hear you, and understand what you saying, but I don't think it would make a world of difference to most.
I made a statement earlier in the thread that I believe that "big" stuff doesn't happen because it would lead to idolatry with the miracle "worker" getting a big head as people looked to him instead Him. Obviously Jesus wanted the masses to look to Him, so he could do big fancy miracles worthy of a Las Vegas act all day.
Which brings us to the traveling preacher who tries to make a name for himself by doing healings. To him, I know a guy willing to give a million bucks if he can do it under an agreed testing protocol.
What if miracles were commonplace, just part of everyday life, and universally accepted that God was behind them? Wake up with a headache? Pray, and it's gone. Lose an arm in an accident? Get it back again, good as new. What would life be like? Would there be a downside?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
What if miracles were commonplace, just part of everyday life, and universally accepted that God was behind them? Wake up with a headache? Pray, and it's gone. Lose an arm in an accident? Get it back again, good as new. What would life be like? Would there be a downside?
I see a potential sci-fi movie in the making!
In fact, there is one coming out soon where the premise is that people can always remain 25 years young -for a price of course.
Linear Mode
