Miracles Don’t Validate a Ministry
According to Jesus, ““Not everyone who says to me, ʻLord, Lord,ʼ will enter into the kingdom of heaven - only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ʻLord, Lord, didnʼt we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?ʼ Then I will declare to them, ʻI never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!ʼ” Matthew 7:21-23 (NET)
How is it possible that people can prophesy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in Jesus’ name, do miracles in Jesus’ name, and actually call Jesus Lord, and still not enter the kingdom of heaven? It’s possible because the gifts of the Spirit are exactly that—they’re gifts. Gifts aren’t earned. If they were earned, we’d call them wages—as in “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sinners earn death by sinning. But just because someone is able to heal the sick, cast out devils, and foretell the future doesn’t mean that person is necessarily a man or woman of God.
So how do we tell the good guys from the bad guys? Jesus says we will know them by their fruit: “In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:17-20 NET). And what constitutes good fruit? We find this in Galatians 5:17—“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NET).
In 1973 Kathryn Kuhlman told Christianity Today “I resent very much being called a faith healer, because I am not the healer. I have no healing virtue. I have no healing power. I have never healed anyone. I am absolutely dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit.” I know how she felt. I’ve been a believer for over half a century now, and during that time God has allowed me to experience many miracles. I’ve seen food multiplied. I’ve experienced divine protection. I’ve been transported in the spirit. I’ve seen God heal cars. I’ve seen God heal people. I’ve seen one storm stop in an instant. Can I do any of these things by myself? I can’t. Do these things happen every time I pray? They don’t. But I believe God wants me to let you know He really, truly still works miracles today.
Margot Armer
