I don't believe in the supernatural, I believe it is all natural.
I don't believe in miracles, I believe it is all a miracle.
these things and greater ye shall do...
wil, you've said such things in the past, and that's all very quaint. But it doesn't really pin down what you believe. Do you mean to say that miracles are natural? If so, why are they so rare, assuming they occur at all noawdays? I suppose you can say that life is a miracle, particularly when you gaze in your newborn's eyes, but life is a scientific construct also. You can follow the biological processes that turn a fertilized egg into a human being and understand somewhat why.
I think the intent of the OP is whether or not to believe in the
extraordinary. In this respect it is indeed hard to connect with the biblical examples of miracles. For the most part, you do not see the extraordinary happen on a daily basis, if even at all. That is a struggle for me, though I've met people who have claimed to be healed in extraordinary ways, even a woman who had been blind got her eyesight back in a healing. So what do I know? I was skeptical and I did question her about it, but saw no reason why she would have made it up. But she was afraid that God would cause her to go blind again if she messed up in some way.
Which leads to the question of how miracles and healings operate. As mentioned, one reason would be to establish truth. Certainly something could be said of validation n regards to Jesus as coming from God. But then there are the examples of the Apostles, who've on occasion performed healings and miracles, according to scripture. What truth were they trying to validate? That they were with Jesus and by proxy they were establishing truth? If that is the case, why aren't we able to replicate them. Or are we supposed to replicate them? But if we don't replicate them, or aren't supposed to, then does that throw doubt on the ones that have been written about in scripture?
Several factors to consider when considering biblical miracles:
1.As aforementioned, miracles were performed to establish truth, or validity. Jesus said He was from God and miracles were a sign.
2. However, miracles weren't so much to establish truth as much as to show compassion. Jesus genuinely cared for those who suffered or was in need.
3. Miracles cannot be performed if there is lack of belief. The scriptures say that when Jesus came to his hometown He didn't many miracles because of unbelief. Why? Because of pride. People who knew him just couldn't come to terms that He was from God, or represented God's truth. And that leads naturally to skepticism that could heal and hence not many would seek Him out.
4. By the same token, the the one seeking healing must have the faith in the believe that they can be healed. Take the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus wasn't even aware of her, yet virtue went out of him and healed her. In this case, the intermediar's knowledge wasn't necessary. Somehow, Jesus was a conduit for God's power to work of that woman.
5. Which leads me to believe that miracles are a three-way street. A cooperative effort between the healer and the one being healed and God. And to conclude as a further kicker that the healing power didn't come Jesus or the Apostles, for it is God that has the power to heal. Jesus was only an intermediatary of that power. But for a miracle or healing to occur, there has to enabler of the part of Jesus and the one seeking the healing, yet any power to heal comes as a result of compassion.
6. This kind comes not without fasting and prayer. The Apostles weren't able to see a man healed. Why fasting and prayer? Prayer is a enabler to bring us into a right relationship with God. Our hearts need to be made right, lest we boast in our own abilities or even boast in our relationship with God. Our spiritual state needs to be revitalized in order that God through the Spirit can work in us. Fasting is a method of self-denial. When we suffer hunger, we feel the need, we realize our limitations in the flesh, weak and therefore needy. We can sympathize with the hungry, for we feel it ourselves (Isaiah 58 has much to say about this fasting). Jesus rose up and prayed early in the morning and probaly late into the evening. I'm sure He fasted often as well, and not just the 40 days at the beginning of His ministry.
7. Strength in numbers. I believe God hears collective prayer. I think God moves by collective prayer, especially if everyone involved has consecrated their hearts toward God. But perhaps a hinderance is that someone or some are not in that right state and it is effecting how that prayer is being answered. Is their sin in the camp?
8. We must remember that we live in a fallen world. We are all going to die one day. And our time on earth is but a blip in the annals of human history in the grand scheme of things. All we can hope for in any healing is a delay. Lazarus, even being resurrected for a time, eventually died...again. So in contemplation, one must ask, how would a divine healing or miracle affect you as a person? What would you do if God granted a delay? Hezakiah was allowed another 15 more years to live.
9. God is sovereign. Miracles or healings are not intended for everyone. The Canaanite woman who came to Jesus for her vexed daughter was initially denied, since Jesus came but for the lost sheep of Israel. Yet the woman pressed Him, and He eventually relented. Which says something about persistence (Luke 18:1-8). Do you dare to challenge God for what you are praying for? Do you believe God can change His mind?
All I'm trying to point out here is that there are many factors involved when it comes to miracles and healings. And I think a lot has do with the alignment of conditions before one can take place. It is not a guarantee and it will probably involve deeper spiritual implications on the part of all those involved beyond the mere thought of getting healed or seeing some miracle happen for its own sake. And perhaps Christians eagerness to see miracles and healings for their own sake, particularly in Charismatic and Pentacostal circles, is part of the reason that most never happen. Any preacher offers such either doesn't know what he's doing or is full of sh!t. Any believer that seeks after such ought to know this also.
I believe miracles to be the exception, rather than the rule. I believe for the most part that life will progress in its natural course. But I also believe that on occasion God does work a healing there, a miracle there. But He does so to influence change in the spiritual condition of those involved or who witnesses it.
But there are smaller miracles that don't happen on a grand scale, and maybe this is what wil is speaking of. I've seen some unusual coincidences happen that I don't often comprehend. Quirks in my own life that seem to occur or notice when I've been in a spiritual state of harmony with God's will. Slight things that are sometimes remarkable. Things seem to follow a certain way, I can't explain it fully. Is it because I'm paying more attention while being in tune, or do these things happen because I'm in tune? Or maybe someone else is in tune? Or is everyone in tune?
Sorry to blather on. Sometimes I don't know how long I've been rambling on in these posts.
