I am wrestling with this question as I preach from the miraculous passages of Acts 19. You must admit that you too have wrestled with this question when you read about the miraculous nature of the early church's ministry. The pattern goes something like this: Paul travels, preaches, the Holy Spirit "lands", miracles take place. Does God still move in mysterious and miraculous ways? Does He still authenticate the message of the preacher in a supernatural way? I am not sure I have a complete answer as I write this.
However, as I read Acts 19 and I study the account given to us by Luke I am certain of a few things. I can sum it up in this way: when nominal Christians become actual Christians God moves in mysterious and miraculous ways. When the church is built upon a solid foundation of sound doctrine God moves his people to do miraculous and wondrous things. For this to happen we must have a Christ-filled Christianity.
Isn't a Christ-filled Christianity redundant? Sadly, there are many forms of Christless religions that are labeled as Christianity. I believe that Apollos in Acts 18 and the "disciples" in Acts 19 where a perfect example of a Christianity without Christ. We call these kinds of people "nominal" Christians. Nominal means to be supposed as something that you aren't.
We wonder today why God doesn't seem to move in and through us. Maybe it is because we are supposedly something that in actuality we are not. In fact I would suggest that if God is not moving in and through you it is impossible to call yourself a Christian. Isn't it in Him that we live and move and breath? More on this on Sunday...
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Does God Still Move?
Posted by Pastor Dan at 3:26 PM
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2 comments:
Thank you for raising this question. This question of the place of the miraculous in the church, especially the church in the US, is one I seem to come back to often in my musings on the church. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wrestles with this question.
God DOES still move--I am convinced! Look at the missionary movements in Africa, IndoChina and South America; miracles are performed in those locations all the time. I think one of the biggest differences is that, in many of those countries, the power of God needs to be demonstrated to the nationals that have been consistently held under the thumb of the demonic influence of witch doctors and other tribal influences.
In America (and the west in general) we are too self-sufficient to need God in miraculous ways. If you are sick, go to the doctor; if you need financial help, get a loan or credit card; if you have personal problems of other kinds, simply move to a new location. Because we, even as Christians, base our answers on the physical (rather than on the spiritual) we won't see the power of regularly displayed--we won't wait on Him and we don't give Him the room to move.
I believe Acts 2 is as much for today as for back then. Why would God give this great promise to only a few, when, according to how Peter quotes Joel 2, the promises are for all? Maybe this is another reason we don't see more happen. If we don't seek the Holy Spirit's involvement in anything other than salvation and sanctification, why should we see Him move?
Pastor Betters, I love your messages-I hear them on the radio here in Wyoming and am consistently challenged and encouraged by how God uses you and the Word he gives you--thank you.
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