There are some Christian denominations who affirm that the days of miracles are past, & were meant to be only for the days of the apostles.
But reading the New Testament we find…
Jn 6:14 Then seeing the miracle that Jesus did, those men said, This is truly the Prophet, the One coming into the world.
Jn 2:23 And as He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, at the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the miracles which He did.
Jn 3:2 He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him.
Jn 6:2 And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on the sick ones. Jn 7:31 And many of the crowd believed on Him, and said, When the Christ comes, will He do more miracles than these which this One has done?
Jn 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath. Others said, How can a man, a sinner, do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Jn 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a Sanhedrin, and said, What can we do? For this man does many miracles.
So those passages imply that many people believed because they saw Jesus’ miracles, and “no man can do these miracles which you do unless God is with him”
Now from the perspective of Jesus
John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to Jesus… Luk 7:18-22 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
So we see Jesus proved for John the Baptist that He is the one, with his miracles! Then He told the Jews…
Jn 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me.
Then to his disciples…
Jn 14:11-14 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the very works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
He tells his disciples they will also perform miracles...
Mat 21:21-22 Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done. All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Can you see that Jesus is making it clear that those who will believe in Him will also do works like his. See in Jesus’ prayer not only for his disciples of his day but also for those who in a future day will follow Him... Jn 17:20-23 And I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Note that in that prayer, Jesus clearly says that because we are to be one with both the Father & Him, that will cause the world to believe that He is God’s Son, the Savior.
Jesus continued to let his disciples know that miraculous signs will follow future believers also.
Mar 16:17-20 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well. Then indeed, after speaking to them, the Lord was taken up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And going out, they proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word by miraculous signs following. Amen.
Pay attention that at the end of that passage, miracles are the ones that confirm the Word his followers preach, just as they did for Him.
Then in the book of Acts the same argument, and statement is brought up several times.
Act 2:22 Men, Israelites, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by powerful works, and wonders and miracles, which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know,
Then first the apostles started to perform wonders & miracles too… Act 2:43 And fear came on every soul. And many wonders and miracles took place through the apostles.
We read the apostle Peter’s prayed… Act 4:29-30 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, by stretching forth of Your hand for healing, and miracles and wonders may be done by the name of Your holy child Jesus.
Then we see God answering that prayer…
Act 5:12 And many miracles and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles…
The enemies of the Church even recognized that fact…
Act 4:16 saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is plain to all those dwelling in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it.
But then besides the apostles, we also see the disciples start performing miracles also.
Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Act 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the many miracles which he did.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also, and being baptized, he continued with Philip. And seeing miracles and mighty works happening, he was amazed.
Next we find Paul who was an enemy of the Church, who had never been with Jesus, turns to Christ & He also starts performing miracles.
Act 14:3 Therefore they stayed a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of His grace, giving miracles and wonders to be done by their hands. 15:12 And all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what miracles and wonders God had worked among the nations through them. 19:11-12 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
Miracles do not end there, read Acts & see how God continued to do miracles through the disciples till the last chapter.
Then in the Epistles we find…
Paul testifies that... Rom 15:19 in power of miracles and wonders, in power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem, and all around to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of the apostle were worked out among you in all patience, in miracles and in wonders, and by works of power.
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with different kinds of miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.
Regarding his preaching...
1Co 2:2-5 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Then talking about some “teachers” that had come to Corinth boasting of knowing much, but not power of the Spirit, he wrote…
1Co 4:18-20 As to my not coming to you now, some are puffed up. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills. And I will not know the speech of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
For last, let’s go over… 2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us. Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
In other words, the Ministry of reconciliation that Jesus had of reconciling the world to God, has been given to us, the Church. Could we carry on his ministry without the Power of the Spirit that Jesus had? If Jesus in us is not the same that when He was here, then Christianity becomes another religion more, a human effort of trying to go to God by keeping a number of commandments.
These are the statements of Jesus… Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What do you think having the power of Holy Spirit means?
Mat 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The prophet Daniel wrote that God’s people will be strong in the “last days” & will do mighty works…
Dan 11:32-33 but the people who know their God will be strong, and do exploits. “Those who are wise among the people will instruct many;
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Then... Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I pray those passages of God’s Word will inspire you to not be satisfied with achieving less than God’s highest… Blessings
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