What a terrible thing it is for institutional religion for a prophet or faithful witness to appear in the power of God!
Again I look at John 11:45-48 (God’s Word): “Many Jews who had visited Mary and had seen what Jesus had done believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council. They asked, “What are we doing? This man is performing a lot of miracles. If we let him continue what he’s doing, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will take away our position and our nation.”
miracle (Photo credit: Leonard John Matthews)
Wow, Jesus raises Lazarus and the religious leaders plot to murder the One who can conquer death! Jesus taught with authority and was “performing a lot of miracles”. Did religious teachers rejoice at the power of God which showed the shallow and empty religion they taught? Just kidding! Did they convert? Well, some did, but many leaders remained secret agents for fear of being tossed out of the institution.
A couple of years ago I got tossed from one of those. After secret meetings a “hearing” was held. At the end of it the letter tossing me was read. What a farce! God had chosen that group of people for a special purpose, and they threw it out for the sake of some secret society power. I was never told what evil I had committed to garner such unchristian folly.
What they couldn’t grasp in the midst of their rush to exercise power rather than justice was that I was there at the command of God to aid in the calling God had placed on them. Of course, when they rejected their first love I was out of there anyway. As Jesus said, “I have this against you: The love you had at first is gone” (Revelation 2:4 God’s Word).
Do you rejoice when God works – through someone else! When miracles surround you and show that the Spirit enlists every Christian, do you plot to stop it because it will upset your routine?
I’m odd, I know, but when God works I cannot fathom that self-proclaimed religious people resist the evidence of God in their midst.
What a joy that people who follow a Catholic worship can heal. I praise God when liberal theology gets me thinking. I am grateful when conservative theology reminds me of what has gone before. And so on.
Jesus did irrefutable miracles, healing people, and even restoring life to the dead. The official response was to plot his death, through lies, trickery and a betrayal of love.
As God told St. Paul to tell us, “Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are” (Romans 12:15-16 God’s Word).
The signs are everywhere, “Jesus at work”. So, are you in Christ’s construction zone, or your own demolition project?
September 5, 2012
nopew
viewoutsidethepew 
2 responses to “Tough, It’s a Miracle”
nopew
September 5th, 2012 at 16:02
You speak good words. It saddens me to see people who claim to have seen the light but live in the shadows instead of the bright light of the Son. Let us continue to encourage each other and all who live complete obedience to our Saviour.
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Sherry
September 5th, 2012 at 14:23
David- thank you for this piece. As the days become more dark and dangerous before the Lord’s return we need these reminders and encouragements. We always have choice- follow the world or follow Father God. The world- position, power, prestige, etc. precludes us from humility, learning God’s ways, love for Jesus and others, and must be held on to at all costs, by any means we have- especially and including trampling on those who are the means that Father has put in place for our growth and development in Him!
Some never get past loving the world, perhaps because Jesus never really took its place? “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me. …” (John 15:18-21) Rejoice!!! Your reward will be great.
Following God- loving Jesus, seeing others as better than ourselves, being willing to be taught, rebuked and prodded into growing up in to Christ Jesus- is a hard, narrow road, and too costly to our pride, and the worldly things we (may) hang onto. Many chose not to- and will pay the price for it, choosing to ignore any warnings that would point them in the right direction.
May all of us who are called by Father grow up into the likeness and fullness of Christ Jesus, and be filled with Holy Spirit- strengthening us to continue in His love and name- one with each other and Him- building His kingdom- the only one that counts. Amen.
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