Miracles, Signs and Wonders

“Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises. Anyone who is sick should call the church's elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the person in the name of the Lord. And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. (James 5:13-16)”
― Anonymous, Holy Bible: King James Version


     If Jesus would have told us to heal the sick, but He didn't heal them, would we believe it possible?  If He would have told us to cast out demons in His name, but He Himself did not cast out demons, would we believe it could be done?  Through us?  The greatest teachers give examples.  There are times when I don't understand what a teacher is talking about until he gives an example.  Many of the bible teachers of this day who do not live as an example of what they say to be true in the Bible, lead a dead church.  Jesus led by example and as teachers of scripture today, we are called to do the same.
     In the above verse, it says "Anyone who is sick should call the church's elders", but what if the elders don't believe the power God put in their hands to heal, by claiming it in His name.  How do we believe teaching if the life preached about is not lived? 
     We have the authority to cast out demons and heal the sick through Jesus name.  We tend to believe that we don't have this power and we don't but the name of Jesus does.  We don't have to believe we are a healer.  We have to believe we are a beloved child of God and through us, He will heal.  I can say all day long that I believe in miracles, but if I am not calling on Jesus to perform them, do I really believe?  Some of us think that only specific people are called to heal and cast out the demonic, but the Bible did not say only you with brown hair, or only you who are over 6 feet tall.  All we have to do is believe and call it out in Jesus name.  We are given authority as a child of God. 
     I believe this is a time of division, when God is dividing the true followers from the fans and unbelievers.  I believe this is a time of signs and wonders that will separate us.  Testimony is shared to attract the unbeliever.  Is our testimony all it is called to be?  When we hear of a miracle healing or a bondage broken or a demon cast out, we either believe that the Almighty has been working or we believe somebody has fallen off the turnip cart.  This is a time when we have to ask ourselves what we believe and live it.
     We need to step out in our God given authority with boldness and do what we are called to do.  We are to tell others about Jesus.  We are to cast out the demonic.  We are to heal the sick.  We are to feed the poor. We are to do all of these things in Jesus name, so that the All Powerful God can perform miracles through our hands and through our mouths.  If we don't open our hearts and turn ourselves over to the power of God, who will believe us?  Every time a healing takes place, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, the Glory belongs to God.  Every time we shrink away from laying our hands on others, we deny an opportunity for the Glory of God to shine.  We deny ourselves and others an opportunity to praise His name.  If you believe God can and will perform miracles, don't wait for your buddy to show up, call on His name and watch Him work.  Believe.  Be bold.  Obey.  And then praise Him, worship Him and give Him every ounce of the Glory.  Thank Him for what He is doing through you. 

“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.”

― C.S. Lewis