Bible Teaching on Supernatural Phenomena Part [5] 09/14/2024 (Morning thought)

Acts 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which, before-time in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.

The magician, by the name Simon Magus, had been obviously working miracles for many years in that city, and the fact that he had gained the respect of the masses of people, testifies to the veracity of the things he was doing. In the following passages, when we read the words:  from the least to the greatest, we must understand that almost everyone, from senators, Governors and mayors to your everyday John Doe on the street had come to a settled conclusion that God was working amongst them through Simon.

A person never gains renown, confidence or respect if what he is purporting to do is fake news, because the intelligent minds in the city would certainly have exposed his work as a scam years before. And yet, for all their claims that it was the power of God at work it was actually the devil who was in the background, apparently helping out the citizens of the city, all the while. Witch doctors do not only cast spells and curses on people, they also do some medicinal work and quite often employ the supernatural power of the devil to heal diseases.

In fact, the word translated “Sorcery” in our next passages is taken from the Greek word Pharmakeia, from which we get our modern word “Pharmacy”. Thus, Simon Magus, the magician was doing some level of good work amongst the people of that city, intermingled with the evil, therefore, it is a grim fact that we will have to be reconciled to, that devils can and often do, some level of good.

Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Bible Teaching on Supernatural Phenomena Part [4] 09/14/2024 (Evening thought)

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Another erroneous perspective that is held, even by many Christians, is that all good miracles have to be attributed to God, especially if they’re productive of benefits on some level, especially healing. In other words, many Christians believe that if any person is miraculously healed from known terminal illnesses without using any of the conventional ways and means science provides, then it has to be God who did it, or, if someone is miraculously protected from death, it has to be God who intervened.

This particular perspective was on display recently across the land, when, as has been widely reported, former president Trump narrowly cheated death, by a simple twist of his face. It was then trumpeted by many professed Christians that it was God who had intervened in his behalf. While we will not say yea, yea, or nay, nay, on the matter, the tendency to chalk up all good results to God alone, and all bad results to devils, is one of the ways in which miraculous, supernatural phenomena will play a pivotal role, in convincing the masses of people to go with the flow, specifically, to take the mark of the beast.

The habit of attributing good miracles to God alone is what took place when the early Christians in the city of Samaria came face to face with the magician in their town, who had become renowned for doing much good among the people in their city. At that time two supernatural forces were at work, with Philip working under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, and the renowned magician doing his thing. And since both of them seemed to be doing good, it had become very difficult for the casual observer to tell the difference between the true and the false.

Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!