Text: Deuteronomy 18:10–12

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:  and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Saturday, 2^nd November 2024

MIRACLES AND MAGIC Basics  

Text: Deuteronomy 18:10–12

Memory verse: 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonder.

Magic and miracles to some people mean the same thing, but the two terms are different. Jesus worked miracles, but it would be wrong to attribute His works to magic. Basically, magic and miracles differ in their source: magic has either a human or demonic source, but miracles are supernatural works of God.

There are two different kinds of “magic,” there are entertainers who use sleight-of-hand and illusions in their performance are often called “magicians,” but they are illusionists, which is what most of them prefer to be called. An illusionist’s audience does not consider what they see to be “real” magic; they understand it is a trick, and they delight in the fact that they cannot figure out how the trick is done. The other kind of magic is what some might call “real” magic; it draws on occult, demonic power. The Bible speaks of “lying wonders” in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The Antichrist’s coming “will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.” This type of magic sometimes spelled magick to distinguish it from sleight-of-hand, it is associated with divination, conjuring, and sorcery and is condemned in the Scripture. Of course, the Antichrist will claim that his power comes from God, but that is a lie, too Revelation 13:2.

Magic and miracle are generally meant to have impact on men whether positively or negatively. Furthermore, Magic is the art of influencing course of events by means of Supernatural, communication and manifestations of power, or by means of occult control of nature and invocation of spiritual aid. Magic is performed by Professional practitioners of the art who can force their will upon creation and Creatures alike. “Magic” as any art that invokes supernatural powers, pretended use of supernatural forces and arts of obtaining mysterious results by tricks”.

The effects of miracles can never be underrated. A miracle is “The expressions of God’s righteous governance of the world”. It is something beyond man’s intellectual or scientific ability to accomplish. It is not natural, even though it may be unusual, a miracle is supernatural, it is more than a highly demonic event, that injects a new element into the natural order of things. A “miracle is an event in the visible or physical world performed as a manifestation of the power of God”. However, miracles in the Bible were performed by God sometimes through His spokesmen. Miracles occurs to show that behind it, is not limited to the laws of matter or mind as it interrupts the laws. So, the term supernatural applies quite accurately. Thus, miracle is anything amazing or a wonderful occurrence or a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of God. It is an action or event that is beyond intellectual analysis or explanation of human understanding. However, it cannot be scientifically proven. It is a way of altering natural events something that tends to prove the law of nature wrong, that is miracle.

CGDS HYMN 2; SS&S 621:

I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE

1. I gave My life for thee ;
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might'st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave My life for thee :
What hast thou given for Me ?

2. I spent long years for thee
In weariness and woe,
That an eternity
Of joy thou mightest know.
I spent long years for thee :
Hast thou spent one for Me ?

3. My Father's home of light,
My rainbow-circled throne,
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone.
I left it all for thee :
Hast thou left aught for Me ?

4. I suffered much for thee----
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony----
To rescue thee from hell.
I suffered much for thee :
What canst thou bear for Me ?

5. “And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above.
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love.
Great gifts I brought to thee :
What hast thou brought to Me ?”

6. Oh, let thy life be given,
Thy years for Him be spent ;
World-fetters all be riven,
And joy with suffering blent.
Bring thou thy worthless all :
Follow thy Saviour's call.

  Prayers 

1.  Lord Jesus, I declare that I will not be a victim of magic operators and sorcerers.

2.  LORD God Almighty, let the miraculous impact me and every member of my family positively in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.