MIRACLES SHOULD DEFINE OUR LIFESTYLE
I Corinthians 12-14 describes miracles, healings, tongues, and prophetic words as ordinary occurrences in the early church. In synaxis gatherings, it was EXPECTED that some would prophesy, some would speak in tongues, others would interpret, and some would carry an anointing to release healing and perform miracles, etc.
The Apostle Paul asks in Galatians 3:5 …
“Does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
I love Paul’s insinuation … miracles ARE occurring within the Galatian churches! The commentary of this verse in The Interpreter’s Bible, says …
“There can be no question that 1st Century Christians lived in the daily expectation of miracles.”
In The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon described life in the early church like this …
“The primitive Christians perpetually trod on mystic ground.”
Why would this necessarily be the case? Could it be because they constantly felt like they were being assaulted … in the natural AND the spiritual? Thus, the supernatural manifestations of The Spirit in their midst would have been their source of strength and encouragement! They were comforted by visons, exhorted by tongues & interpretation of tongues, instructed by prophesy, and delivered from danger, sickness, and even death, by the supplication of the saints.
The obvious question that rises, at least for me is … ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING CHRISTIANS ANY DIFFERENT TODAY?
The Apostle Paul asks in Galatians 3:5 …
“Does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
I love Paul’s insinuation … miracles ARE occurring within the Galatian churches! The commentary of this verse in The Interpreter’s Bible, says …
“There can be no question that 1st Century Christians lived in the daily expectation of miracles.”
In The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon described life in the early church like this …
“The primitive Christians perpetually trod on mystic ground.”
Why would this necessarily be the case? Could it be because they constantly felt like they were being assaulted … in the natural AND the spiritual? Thus, the supernatural manifestations of The Spirit in their midst would have been their source of strength and encouragement! They were comforted by visons, exhorted by tongues & interpretation of tongues, instructed by prophesy, and delivered from danger, sickness, and even death, by the supplication of the saints.
The obvious question that rises, at least for me is … ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING CHRISTIANS ANY DIFFERENT TODAY?
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