No pastor or evangelist in this our age according to the Scriptures has any commission or mandate of Jesus Christ to perform miracles. He (Jesus) knew and predicted that many false prophets would come in his name in this end time, and show signs and wonders to deceive and mislead the people. His commission or mandate to his true servants is, Go and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God into all the world for a witness to all nations and then shall the end come.
The gospel of the kingdom of God otherwise known as “the gospel of peace”, or “everlasting gospel” is the message commanded to be preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” so that believers may fear God and fix their hope in his perfect and everlasting kingdom or government. (Matt. 24:14: 28:18, 19; Mk. 13:10; 16:15,16; Eph. 6:15; Rev. 14:6.7) For the fact that human governments or empires have failed to satisfy or meet the demands or needs of man in every sphere of life, God’s righteous kingdom Or government which He promised to establish on earth in these last days, is the only hope of mankind.
In God’s Kingdom (the new world under the sovereignty of Christ) there will be no problem of ill-health or disease, no violation of human rights at all, no poverty, injustice or oppression; all tears would be wiped away from the people’s eyes; “there shall be no more death, neither Sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain”. (Isa. 65:17; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1,2,4) And there is the assurance in prophecy that no one in that world would say I am sick. These are reasons for a better hope about which the people should be taught and enlightened rather than the superficial healing or deliverances so-called trumped up by miracle workers of our days to deceive and make people die without knowledge.
Let us now consider the text or authority on which false prophets rest their argument to justify working of miracles. It is Mark 16:17,18, which reads: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; ln my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak With new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
What Jesus Christ said in the text under reference was not a prophecy directed to fulfill at the end of the world but was specifically for the apostles in their days. Thus verses 19 and 20 of Mark chapter 16, explained: “So then after the Lord (Jesus) had spoken unto them (apostles), he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they (the apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”
Though Jesus said that the signs will follow them that believe, did all who believed in the days of the apostles work miracles? And why in our time all believers are not performing miracles? Are the pastors claiming to Work miracles the only believers in our time?
All that Jesus stated fulfilled on the apostles. They only spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost. When some scorners said, “These men are full of new wine.” St. Peter, standing up the eleven (all apostles) declared: “For these not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is, that which was spoken by the prophet Joel..”(Acts 2:3-18, Joel 2:28,29) There were about 120 men and women in the upper room at Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was sent but it was only the 12 apostles who received it and not every man or woman believer.
Those apostles were those who performed wonders or miracles. As t is written: And they (the disciples) Continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:42,43) “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. (Acts 5:12-16) St. Paul cast out a devil or evil spirit of divination and soothsaying from a damsel in the name or Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 16: 16-18. See also Acts 19:11,12. And when a viper (venomous Snake) fastened on St. Paul’s hand the barbarians thought he was a wicked man but when they saw that he flung the Snake into the fire without being hurt or feeling any harm, “they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”- Acts 28:3-6.
Special miracles were wrought by St. Paul so much that from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons and diseases departed from the sick, and evil spirit went out. (Acts 19:11,12) Some pastors in Nigeria, in their own case, gave out handkerchiefs and paw-paw seeds on charges, but to no avail. No healing was effected and the paw-paw seed made no woman pregnant after paying sums of money.
Dorcas, a woman disciple at Joppa, well known for her good works, died and Peter the apostle raised her from the dead. (Acts 9:36-42) God used the apostles as pioneers to do all they did confirming their teachings in truth with signs and wonders and as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit in them in order to avoid doubt in their records as we find in the Bible. However in spite of these obvious evidences many would not believe in their words or records and they would be inexcusable nor could they escape vengeance. Heb. 2:3,4.
What we find among the pastors evangelists of our time claiming to be miracle workers are imitation in pretence, Jesus has not sent them to work miracles but because they set miracles as an easy weapon of Satan to deceive the people almost everyone indulges in them. This has led some to interact with witchdoctors and idolaters to get charms as to swell their congregations by miracles of deceit. Others have travelled to America, lndia and so on, to be initiated into voodoo and other cults as to gain power to do some strange acts to deceive the simple. They push people by their foreheads to fall only to be held by those standing behind them by mere breathing into people’s faces, some fall to the ground, and those are said to be signs and wonders.
Today, people are more interested in associating with false prophets because of their desire for signs and wonders; they want to be rich, they want to be healed of their ailments, the barren want to be mothers of children. With this disposition for miracles, the love for TRUTH, the truth that sets one free, is not there. What did Jesus say about those seeking for signs in his days? He said:”An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..-Matt. 12:38; 16:4.
Concerning this end time, Jesus Christ said: “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shew great signs wonders; in so much that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect. (Matt. 24:11,24) And he also warned: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt 7:15) And as regards their judgement, he said:”Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works? And then will I (Jesus) profess (or say) unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:22,23.
The truth of the gospel is what is important in our time and not miracles. Anyone without the knowledge of the truth will not be saved. Said St. Paul: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3,4) The same apostle also spoke of how in this end time Satan will work in people with power and signs and lying wonders to deceive the unrighteous who will perish, because they receive not the love of the truth. He added: “For this cause, (of having pleasure in unrighteousness or miracles of deceit) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they might be damned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.” -2 Thess. 2:9-12.
You have been warned!