Miracles

Darryl Starnes is a Bishop for the AME Zion Church. Today on the Matt Friedeman Show he addressed the topic of miracles.

Do we and should we still believe in thing like miracles?

Definitely.

I believe that God has always worked supernaturally according to his guidance and his will.

Do you think Jesus still does the same things today as he did when He was in the flesh?

Yes.

I think there, however, have been season where, because of unbelief in people, there seems to be a scarcity of these manifestations.

A lot of it has to do with our lack of faith or our slackness in sharing the gospel.

I think there's a correlation between sharing out faith and these spiritual manifestation of God's power.

Should we find a balance? Can we focus too much on holiness or too much on miracles?

One of the ways that we have looked at it is that the gospel should be shared in word, in deed, and in fact.

This is the language that the Apostle Paul used in Romans Chapter 15, verses 18 and 19.

Sometimes I believe that the enemy, if he cannot keep us from sharing the gospel, will give us a narrow view of evangelism.

And then others, he gives the view that evangelism is sharing the gospel by sign...by supernatural power.

The word is important, our deeds are important, but trusting God for his power supernaturally to work is important.

Should I get discouraged when miracles don't seem to work out like they did in the life of Jesus?

Sometimes God tests us by following Him even when the things we want to happen don't happen.

God promised Abraham that He would make him the father of a great nation. But there were as many as 25 years between the promise and the fulfillment of that promise.

Sometimes the miracle is delayed, and sometimes God says "Trust me."

It seemed to be that Jesus went to go find the sick. How important is it that we go out and find the sick to perform miracles and healings?

I think it's very important.

That's why I think these manifestations of God's power are tied to the gospel and to outreach.

People are suffering in many ways, and as we meet the needs of people, God will determine how he meets these needs.

I really believe the healings and the miracles are always tied to God trying to reach people.

It seems like more healings are happening in places like China, Africa, or South America than here. Why is that?

In Europe and America, we sometimes take the gospel for granted. We often believe we are true believers because we've heard a lot about Christ or we've heard a lot about God.

In many countries that gospel is fresh. And the good news of Jesus is something people are hearing for the first time.

Sometimes we take for granted the message of Christ in many countries in the West.

Have you ever had to give advice to a church that has taken this emphasis too far or not far enough?

For those that are taking it too far, it's really about being careful about trying to control the move of God as opposed to welcoming the move of God.

And then on those who have closed the door to what God wants to do, it's about letting them know that we cannot minister, lead, or serve on our own power.

As you are pointing out so well, there are dangers on both sides.

I think a lot of it is about control, isn't it Bishop?

That's exactly right.

That's a problem that's still emanating from our sinful nature.