Miracles, The Supernatural, And Modern-Day Sadduceeism

In their overreaction to wild speculation concerning angels and demons, the Sadducees rejected most of the supernatural realm. Instead of accepting some activity for angels and demons, they rejected them entirely (Acts 23:8). We may not have men among us today that go to the extreme the Sadducees did concerning spiritual activity, but some are teaching doctrines that essentially have the same outcome. In overreacting to the wild speculation of the Pentecostals and others, some brethren may be making the same mistake as the Sadducees by fighting one extreme with another extreme.

The Bible teaches that the miracles God gave to confirm the Word as it was being delivered would cease when the revelation was complete.

All of these gifts were for the confirming of the New Covenant as it was being delivered. The Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles (John 16:13) and confirmed the truth by miracles.

Now the revelation is complete. Jude said the faith was "once for all" (NKJV) delivered. This indicates that it is complete. There is no more left to reveal, so there is nothing more to confirm. Once the purpose of the miracles was complete, the spiritual gifts ceased.

Argument made by some: We do not live in the age of miracles, therefore God is not active in our lives today. If God did something, that would be a miracle.

We must not go beyond what the Bible says. The Bible never teaches that all supernatural activity ceased. God did say the signs given to confirm the Word as it was being revealed would cease, but He never said He would stop doing anything else.

5. God still controls the nations

Psalms 22:28
For the kingdom is the Lord's: and He is the governor among the nations.

Daniel 4:25
They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Acts 17:26
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.

6. God still blesses His people

Leviticus 26:3-9
If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit... you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you... For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you (see also Deut. 28:1-2).

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Malachi 3:10
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

2 Corinthians 9:8-11
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness remains forever." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

Philippians 4:15-19
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only... Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account... And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

7. God hardens hearts

God hardened Pharaoh's heart - Exodus 10:1
God hardened the hearts of the Egyptian army - Exodus 14:17
God hardened Sihon - Deut. 2:30
God hardened the hearts of the Canaanite kings - Joshua 11:16-20
God still can send a "strong delusion"

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.

Romans 11:7-8
What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."

John 12:39-40
Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart, lest they should turn, so that I should heal them."

God does not violate free will, but He can assist people in the direction they chose to go. Paul prayed for God to help the Thessalonians to increase in love (1Thess 3:12, 2 Thess 3:5). We are to pray for wisdom (James 1:5). These prayers are only answered for those who are already seeking love and wisdom. In the same way, God can harden people who choose to be rebellious when there is a special purpose in His plans.

8. There is still evil spiritual activity

When Israel sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, there were evil spirits involved:

Psalms 106:37-38
They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.

The Spirit warned that when some Christians rebelled against God, there would be evil spirits involved. This took place many years after the close of the New Testament.

1 Timothy 4:1-3
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons... forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving...

The dragon (Satan) gave power to the beast (the Roman emperor). There are evil spirits involved in wicked governments of men!

Revelation 13:1-4
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name... And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority... So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Most of God's actions recorded in the Bible are "non-miraculous."

1. Joseph

Genesis 45:5-8
But now, do not therefore be grieved nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life... And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 50:19-20
Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

2. Time of the Conquest

Some were miraculous, (crossing Jordan, Jericho) but to one watching, much of God's works could not be seen as His direct action. Yet, the Bible makes it plain that God was involved in the taking of the land.

Joshua 23:9-10
For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He has promised you.

3. Time of the Judges

God's providence favored Israel and went against them at times depending on their faithfulness.

Judges 1:4, 2:14, 3:12, 15, 28, 4:2, 9, 15, 23, 6:1-2, 7:7-9, 10:6-7, 13:1

4. David gave God credit in fighting the bear and lion and trusted God to help in his fight against Goliath

1 Samuel 17:37
Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine...

1 Samuel 17:45-47
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

5. God brought about a great victory through Shammah

2 Samuel 23:11-12
And after him was Shammah... The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the Lord brought about a great victory.

6. God brought about the Divided Kingdom

1 Kings 11:31, 35, 37, 38, 12:24

7. God gave Judah into the hands of their enemies

2 Chronicles 12:5
Then Shemaiah the prophet... said to them, "Thus says the Lord: `You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.'"

2 Chronicles 21:16-17
Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

8. God gave the Northern Kingdom to Syria - 2 Kings 13:3

9. God delivered the Northern tribes to Judah - 2 Chronicles 13:15-16

(500,000 from North killed, North had 800,000 men vs 400,000 from South)

10. God gave Judah to the Northern tribes - 2 Chronicles 28:1-5, 9

(120,000 killed, 200,000 captive)

11. God gave Asa victory over the Ethiopians - 2 Chronicles 14:11-12

12. God gave the 10 Northern tribes to Assyria - 2 Kings 17:18-20

13. God destroyed Assyria - Isaiah 10:12-15

14. God destroyed Judah by Babylon - 2 Kings 21:12-14, Hab. 1:5-6, Jer. 25:9, 29:4-14

15. God used the Medes to destroy Babylon - Jer. 51:11, Isaiah 13:17, 44:28-45:1-13

16. The book of Esther

Vashti refused to appear, the king chose Esther, Mordecai refused to bow before Haman, Haman's plot to destroy the Jews, the king could not sleep, records were read to him, happened to be record of Mordecai's previously saving the King. Everything works out to save the Jews. God is never mentioned in the book but He is throughout the book.

17. God brought the Jews back to the land - Ezra 1:1-3

"The biblical writers ...attribute the action to God. 'You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. The battle is not yours but God's.' God killed Saul and gave the kingdom to David (1 Chron. 10:14). God sent Joseph (Psa. 105:17). God sent Moses (Psa. 105:26). God gives and God takes away (Job. 1:21). God drives out great nations. God gave Israel into their enemies' hands. God struck David's child. God hardened Pharaoh's heart. God desired the death of Eli's sons. It is a work of the Lord God of Hosts, God did it, God is doing it, God will do it. Cyrus is God's shepherd; he will do what God desires. Babylon is God's warclub, God's weapon for shattering nations, Assyria is God's razor, God's staff, the rod of God's anger. God uses people and nations to bring about his purposes for Israel. His sovereignty as Ruler over all of history is thereby demonstrated and magnified."

Jack Cottrell, God the Ruler, pg. 133.

Acts 17:25-28
Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being...

God is Ruler over all

Although it is not recognized by everyone, the fact is that God is the sovereign Ruler and Lord of all.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

Psalms 47:2
For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

Psalms 103:19
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Jesus is NOW Lord over all

Matthew 28:18
...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

John 17:2
You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

Philippians 2:11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Our principal confession should be, JESUS IS LORD. We can willingly confess this now or we can wait until later, but we will all confess.

There are now two groups:
1. Those who acknowledge the Kingship of Christ
2. Those who do not.
A day will come when God will reveal and establish His Lordship in the day of revelation of Jesus Christ. At this time, in an act of judgment, He will establish his Kingship by force over those who have not acknowledged it freely. At that same time those who have freely confessed and submitted to his kingship will finally enter into all the blessings of the unhindered reign of God. The universe will be cleansed and restored to its proper role in God's purpose.

God is active in our lives today

James 4:13-16
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

2 Thessalonians 3:3, 5
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Ephesians 5:29
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Romans 15:5, 13
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The only thing God said He would stop doing are the miracles used to confirm His revelation to the apostles and prophets. The revelation is now complete. All truth is found in the revealed Word of God, the Bible. The miracles given to confirm the Word have all ceased. To say that anything else has stopped is to speak where God has not spoken.