People often ask me, “Why doesn’t the Word of God work today like it used to back in the Bible days?” That’s a fair question, we need to look into that, and today is the day.  First off, we must establish whether or not God has changed, and if the Gospel has changed. If God has changed, if Christ Jesus has changed, if the work of the Holy Spirit has changed, then we need to find out what that change is and how to adapt ourselves to that change.

So to start with, let’s look at Hebrews 13:8; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. That immediately tells us God has not changed, and if He has not changed, then His way of operation also has not changed.  Though we live in a different age, God is still God, He is the unchanging constant in our ever-changing lives. His power and mercy is not diminished, nor is His power abated in any way.  So why aren’t we seeing the mighty works today that are described in the Bible back in the “Bible days”?   Perhaps we are no longer in the “Bible days”?  Well, rest assured of this, we ARE still in the “Bible days”, and God’s plan is still in effect, and we are seeing today the things prophesied thousands of years ago.  Part of those prophesies told of people’s hearts waxing cold, and that’s been happening for a long time, nothing new there.  But does that mean God has changed?  No, it means WE have changed.  God NEVER changes, so if things don’t look like they did in the Disciples’ day, there must be a reason.  That reason is US!

Some say the power of the Holy Spirit only worked in the days of the original disciples to show that Christ Jesus was truly the Messiah, and He healed the sick to show the world He was really the One who should come and be the Savior of the world.  Well, that’s a fine argument, but it’s lacking this point:  How do you explain Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever, and then tell people healing and miracles are not for today?  Jesus taught His disciples, and in fact COMMANDED them in Matthew 10:7-8, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

What the church has largely failed to do, and I’m talking about churches of EVERY denomination, is that they no longer preach that TODAY’S believers are an extension of the teachings of Jesus and the original disciples.  The general feeling is that miracles must have gone out after the original disciples died, because if that were not so, we would still be seeing miracles yet today.  Well, people can’t believe beyond what they’re taught, and if they are being taught the Power of God is no longer working today, then they have no hope of actually APPLYING the Power of God to their daily lives.
I remember reading in Acts 19,

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

Tell me, HOW these believers who had not even HEARD of the Holy Ghost, possibly OPERATE in the POWER of the Holy Ghost?  That’s not going to happen, folks.  Only after Paul told them about the Holy Ghost and they believed, were they filled with the Holy Ghost and began to put that power to work.  It stands to reason if you’re taught the days of miracles and healings are over, then you’re not going to be seeing any miracles and healings.  You can’t operate in something you don’t have working in you.

Let’s look at what is written in Ephesians 3:16-21:
Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Paying attention to verse 20, that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  I see two things here: number one being, that power must be IN us, and secondly, we must WORK that power.  Why would God give us His Holy Spirit in the first place?  So we may give Him glory by freeing the oppressed.  But even if God gives us the Holy Ghost, still nothing is accomplished if we don’t PUT THAT POWER TO WORK!   We ask God, Give us more power, but hey, we aren’t even using what He has already given us.  What He has already given us will overcome every devil we encounter, but we aren’t walking in that power because we fail to believe we even have it!

So what happens?  The sick come to church, are prayed for, and leave just like they come in, sick, discouraged, fearful, defeated. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?  What’s wrong with US? The problem isn’t the days of miracles and healings are over, the problem is we don’t believe the works of the original disciples belongs to us in this present day.  We have been preached a watered-down gutless gospel that has no power whatsoever.  It’s no wonder the church is so anemic. Gone are the days of three thousand or five thousand saved in one sermon.  When was the last time YOU personally saw a move of God like that?  That’s why it’s so easy to think those days are long gone.

Let me remind you, God has not changed at all.  He is looking in this present day for people who will literally take Him at His Word and act upon it.  I have a tee-shirt that says, “The Word works wonders when the workman works the Word”. But how can you expect wonders if you don’t work the Word?  You can’t, plain and simple.  As long as you continue to believe the lie that you are being fed that signs and wonders and miracles are not for today, God will not be able to use you in any great way.  You may love God, and worship Him, but He will not be able to use you to set the captives free, to heal the sick and raise the dead and cast out devils according to Matthew 10:8.  Well, you’re not going to hear some sickly, weak, watered-down gospel from ME!   I want the real thing, like Jesus taught His disciples!

You must believe in the fact that you ARE a present-day disciple of Christ Jesus; that His ministry continues today through YOU, because you heard the Gospel, believed upon Christ Jesus and are walking in His footsteps, even as your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus did back in THEIR day.  God has not changed His mission, He still uses believers to share the Good News of the Gospel today.  Look at the instructions Christ Jesus gave the disciples before being taken up to heaven:

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mar 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Did you catch that last verse?  Look at it again!  God has given us the Holy Spirit to use for His Glory.

Oh, the Power is there in us alright, but are we WORKING it?  And if not, WHY NOT?