Miracles Part II

Mark 16:17
    Last week I wrote about the purpose of miracles. We looked at how the purpose of miracles was to confirm the word being spoken was from God (Mark 16:17; Hebrews 2:4). So what happened to the miracles of the Holy Spirit. Am I not saved because I’ve never spoken in tongues, drank poison and not died, or raised someone from the dead? (Mark 16:17-18) Just an overall view of the New Testament will show a reader that the further we get in the New Testament, the less we see miracles. As a matter of fact, Paul has to tell Timothy specifically to not forget that he has the miraculous ability of the Holy Spirit: “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Tim. 1:6). It is obvious that the miraculous portion of the Holy Spirit here was important to Timothy. It is also obvious that he received this ability through “the laying on of my (Paul’s) hands.” Often people who claim they can perform miracles forget how miracles were passed on. Acts 8:18 will corroborate what Paul spoke “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money”. In order for someone to have the miracles of Holy Spirit, they must by necessity have been touched by an apostle. Just like requirements Overseers and Deacons (1 Tim. 3) there are requirements to be an Apostle (Acts 1:21-22). There are three qualifications that are necessary to be an Apostle: must be a man, must have been with Jesus from the time of his baptism to his crucifixion, and he must have been a witness to the resurrected Christ. In the year 33 AD there were only two men who met those qualification: Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthais (Acts 1:23). There are no more living Apostles and according to that, there can by necessity be no one to pass on the miraculous measures of the Holy Spirit. I have never performed a miracle of the Holy Spirit and I am saved through obedience all the same (Heb. 5:9; Acts 2:38;41;47) We will continue to look at the topic next week. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley