[Aquila]

I have a theory. It is actually four elements combined.

First, if one charts the miracles of the Bible we see seasons where miracles seem to taper off and become very few. Then a prophet arises with a message from God. Suddenly, within his wake are many great miracles. So I think miracles are often what follows when an anointed man of God truly has a Word from God. God confirms His power and message through miracles and great signs and wonders. Perhaps we’re in a dry place. Perhaps our movement is too institutionalized and cold. Too self-righteous and legalistic. We need a man of God with a fresh anointing to bring us a Word from the Lord, then we might see more healings and miracles.

Second, faith is a factor. Because we’ve not seen many miracles and because our society is so negative and unbelieving concerning all things miraculous, we doubt it first and demand it be proven. I mean, we’ve been duped by phonies quite a bit throughout the years. So, we believe it only after we’ve seen it. But when it comes to the spiritual… you’ve got to believe it in order to see it. There is a fundamental disconnect with our inner logic and worldview. So technically we’ve increasingly become a faithless and unbelieving generation.

Thirdly, our self-righteous legalism lends itself to hypocrisy. We are to confess our sins to one another… that we might be healed. When we are transparent regarding all we are and all we’re not… God flows freely. But if we walk around with our collars white, ties straight, every hair in place, pretending to be “holy” when in truth we are just as human and error prone as the man beside us… we are presenting a lie. God doesn’t move in that situation. God will not appear to confirm or condone such hypocrisy. So it becomes a barrier. That’s why we often hear of miracles taking place in revivals where everyone is on their face weeping acknowledging their sins publically. Because in that moment, the believers, as flawed as they might be, are being REAL and are calling out to the one who can forgive them. So our legalism and hypocrisy also hinders healing.

Fourthly, we forget that we are branches. Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches… without Him we can do nothing. All too often we pray believing that a miracle will fall down out of Heaven for ourselves or someone. Or we pray for a miracle or healing, and deep down inside… we hope it happens so everyone can see us and know that we are powerful in the Spirit. We fail to see that first… the miracle doesn’t fall down out of Heaven… it flows through us and out of us from the vine. We forget that we too are one Spirit with the Lord and Jesus was. We are one with the Father also. We are extensions of Christ. We have all the power and authority flowing through us that Christ had. And Jesus said we’d do even greater things than He did because of this oneness with God He purchased for us on Calvary. We are paupers begging for a miracle to “come down”. We are vessels and conduits of God’s love and power. We have no idea the authority we have. I know many will get on me for saying this…. But we have the power to look at a person and speak forgiveness into their lives just as Jesus did. We forget that we are not all members of a corporate unity. We are not many spirits inspired by a greater Spirit. We are one Spirit with the Lord. Our human spirits are now in union with God through the Holy Spirit by the authority and work of Jesus. Essentially, we have been absorbed into a collective organism known as the Church. We are an organism with Christ as head… not an organization with Christ as leader. You are me and I am you. We are God and God is us. Not in the sense that we are deities deserving worship. But in the sense that we are branches of the Lord who is the vine. I cannot look at a branch in my backyard and say that it is just a branch and not the tree. Nor can I look at the tree and say it is a tree and not the branch. The branches are branches OF the tree. And the tree is the trunk from which the branches grow. We forget our oneness with God. Therefore, we best not touch the glory. We must acknowledge that God is flowing in us and through us, giving Him the glory alone.

Eh… I’ve pontificated enough. That’s my theory. Many might really struggle with some of the things I’ve said and get the wrong idea. I’ll clarify if necessary.

God bless.