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Question: What does the Bible teach regarding miracles? Is it true, as
some claim, that miracles are happening every day?

In reality, even during Bible times, miracles did not occur "every
day."  Miraculous activities for the most part were confined to
certain periods of Biblical history. These included the miracles of
the creation week. Then when Israel was in Egyptian bondage, God sent
the 10 plagues, caused Israel to cross the Red Sea on dry land, fed
them with manna, and on occasion also miraculously gave them
water. Later, the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha were
characterized by numerous miracles.

The next "cluster" of miracles was during the ministry of Christ, and
finally, during the establishment and spread of the church
(Acts). Obviously then, miracles were not "evenly distributed" over
the centuries of Biblical history, but rather were used by God only at
certain times, to meet unique needs, and to accomplish specific
purposes.

Among the many miracles Jesus performed we read of His healing the man
with an amputated ear by simply touching him (Luke
22:50-51). Honestly, do you see that every day, or any day? When there
was a great tempest in the sea of Galilee, Jesus "rebuked the waves
and the sea and there was a great calm" (Mt. 8:23-26). On another
occasion, on that same sea, Jesus came unto His disciples walking on
the water (Mt. 14:26). Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and
children with five loaves and two fish (Mt. 15:32-39). There are three
recorded occasions where Jesus raised the dead. These include the only
son of the widow of NAIA (Lk. 7:11-17),

Jairus' daughter (Mt. 9:18-26) and Lazarus (John 11).

These are but a few, a very few of the miracles Jesus did. The purpose
of Jesus' miracles is stated in John 20:30-31: "And truly Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not
written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have
life in His name" (John 20:30-31).  That purpose has been
accomplished.

Further, Mark gives us insight into the purpose of the miraculous when
he writes, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying
signs" (Mk. 16:20).  Reference is made to the salvation which began to
be spoken by the Lord, " and was confirmed to us by those who heard
Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with
various miracles, and gifts or the Holy Spirit, according to His own
will" (Hebrews 2:3,4).
	
The purpose of the miraculous then was to reveal and to confirm the
word of God. There was a time limitation on the miraculous. Gifts such
as tongues, prophesy and knowledge (miraculous) would cease (1
Cor. 13:8-10) with the completion of the revelation. God's power has
not ceased. His presence and glory are evidenced all around us. We are
abundantly blessed by Him (Acts 14:17; James 1:17). He hears and
answers prayer (James 5:16). When the revelation of truth was
completed, and had been fully confirmed, the miraculous ceased, having
accomplished its purpose.  ---- Leon Mauldin

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