Thursday June 18^th, 2009 Why no miracles these days?

All too often I hear people complaining about not having their prayers answered. They often complain that God does not answer prayers for the Christian community the way He did in times past, or that they don’t understand why the lack of miracles.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask *amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:1-4

So, what is James, the half brother of the Lord Christ Jesus, the Bishop of the Jerusalem church, saying? I tend to believe that the best way to answer that question is with more Scripture.

they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, ‘Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.’

For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.” Acts 4:24b-30

Are you praying that kind of prayer? Are you knowledgeable enough of the word of God to pray like that? Yes? Then what more are you lacking, for if your prayers are not being answered, according to James, the half brother of the Lord Christ Jesus, ye must be lacking something. Perhaps the next verses may help you see the thing that is lacking in your life.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Are you speaking the word of God with boldness?

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: Are you of one mind with Christ and your brothers and sisters in Christ or are you tied down and divided with denominational differences and things not of the Scriptures?

Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Read that a few times.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:31-37

I believe that you have just found what you are lacking, for as Christ has said thru the pen of His half brother James, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask *amiss”.

 That word “amiss”, in the original Greek, is kakos. It is pronounced kak-oce' and it means Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask badly (physically or morally): --amiss, diseased, evil, evilly, grievously, miserably, sick, sore.

 So, you ask, why doesn’t God let us know we are not doing what He wants, that we are asking amiss, that we are lacking when we come to Him in prayer? Perhaps you have forgotten what God did to people when He did let them know He was unhappy with their selfishness.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, “Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yea, for so much.” Then Peter said unto her, “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.” Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. Acts 5:1-10

So, are you sure you want to the Lord to correct you for your selfishness?

This thought is copyrighted and protected by US Copyright laws and may not be used in any way, shape or form, in whole or in part without express written permission, dated and referencing the specific thought or thoughts, by Rev. Robert M. Celeste.