"Devils, Working Miracles"

     No born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ denies the fact of God's miraculous working, administered in accordance with His glory and purposes.  "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know" (Acts 2:22).

    We may not, however, consider that supernatural occurrences do not always result from Divine intervention.  "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14).  Satan and his demonic minions also possess capacity for the miraculous, as allowed by God.  Recall that the magicians of Egypt responded to Moses' miracles with works that required power beyond themselves (Exodus 7:10-12; 8:6-7).  Like Moses, they transformed their rods into serpents, and called forth frogs to cover their homeland.  Moreover, the antichrist will one day appear "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" (II Thessalonians 2:9-10).

     Such truth presents a sobering reality to our hearts and minds.  We must "try the spirits, whether they are of God" not only in the sense of delineating doctrinal truth and falsehood, but also concerning events that seem to ensue from beyond earthly origins and means (I John 4:1).  They very well may, but the supernatural does not assure us that the hand of God is present and active.  Some miracles result from demonic sources, foisted upon the unsuspecting for the purposes of deception.  Failure to understand this truth sets us up for being misled by enemies more than willing to do tricks for us, as it were.  They intend no benefit, however, but rather the destruction of our walk with God in truth.

    We live in days when "devils, working miracles" cause many of the Lord's children to let their guard down.  We may well entertain and accommodate dangerous errors because spectacular and seemingly beneficial events seem to confirm the notions of deceptive voices.  This has always been the case, of course, but our media age allows for the dissemination and propagation of such deception in a measure never before possible to devilish entities.  Events do not ensure the evidence of God's presence and working.  Only an open Bible, read with a seeking heart and mind, can enable us to test the spirits.  Indeed, if the workers of miracles do not emphasize and adhere to the teaching of the Word of God, we must discern their supernatural activity as emanating from sources other than the Lord Jesus.  A sobering reality indeed, but one that must be recognized and applied if we are to avoid being deceived by the supernatural that does not originate with the Savior.

"Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
(II Corinthians 11:13-15)

Weekly Memory Verse   
    From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
(Psalm 90:2)