Acts 19.11-12 11
God used Paul to do some very special miracles. 12 Some people took
handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on the sick. When
they did this, the sick were healed and evil spirits left them. (NCV)
I’m a Pentecostal. My first excursion into Pentecostalism
was in Boise, around 1984 or so. Admittedly, I’ve been up and down with
Pentecostal Theology over the years – even to the point of thinking it was
hogwash XLT. (Sigh) I’m still a Pentecostal. Now, I’ll admit (also) we have
issues in the Pentecostal Church but we also have some non-issues as well.
Probably one of my biggest issues with Pentecostalism is the whole business of infatuation with miracles.
If we were to have something happen today like what
happened to Paul in Ephesus then, we’d probably have a run on handkerchiefs –
in Eastern Oregon it’d be bandanas
(red ones please). The issue I have with Pentecostalism is the amount of
attention we pay to miracles and how much we seem to insist that miracles are
some sort of validation of our beliefs. It is true that God is the God of
miracles but God doesn’t use miracles to validate my faith – I’m to believe in
Him regardless of whether there are miracles or not; God doesn’t need to prove Himself.
Now, back to handkerchiefs… I realize people were maybe desperate
back then for some sign that God was different than all the other gods out
there – Grecian, Roman; who knows what else. So I think, okay then, whatever worked, worked. But miracles didn’t always
bring about people growing closer to God. Usually miracles drove folks farther
from God because hearts that aren’t right with God might be impressed with a
miracle, but not necessarily impressed as to give God the credit and to draw
close to Him. Miracles are a mystery and most people just can’t handle mystery.
The problem with handkerchiefs and used clothing is what
we make of them. In reality, they have nothing to
do with miracles. God does the miracles and however He chooses to dooses is up to Him. Whatever the means,
the biggest miracle is still: a sinner, dead in his trespasses and sins, turning
to Christ and finding life.
I won’t deny miracles; I’ve seen plenty – really. But the
miracles I’ve experienced were more for the building up of my faith, than for impressing those who want God to whip something
up for them to believe… Jesus said they wouldn't believe if God sent
someone back from the dead to tell them – it ain’t miracles, it’s faith – and
without faith, it is impossible to please God let alone find Him.
Father, You have, for whatever reason, drawn me into the
Pentecostal realm and it seems like it’s there I fit. May we, as believing
servants be faithful to believe in the right things, at the right time, and for
the right reasons. I really don’t want miracles to validate who I am but to
remind us that nothing is impossible for You. May Your works always find a home in believing
hearts. Thank You for who You are and what You do – Amen.
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