If one performs a miracle or prophesies and it comes to pass, should this be enough proof one is a true servant of God?
2 Kings 1:12
ESV - 12 But Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
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As if when Elijah replied to the captain that if I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume thee with your fifty (2Kings 1:12), he wanted to prove he was a man of God. So would a spectrum of people love to be proven they are servants of God by way of having miracles performed in their hands. Jesus taught that; "Unless you see miracles and wonders, you will never believe" (John 4:48). But He also cautioned that when the evil one comes, he will work spectacular, miraculous signs and perform wonderful things, and he shall deceive, if possible the very elect (Matt 24:24). What then proves one is a true servant of God? It is not true that every servant of God has to be proven by possessing powers to perform miracles and wonders. For according to scripture, we aren't all gifted the same. Not every servant of God is only proven by performing a miracle or prophesying (1Cor 12:28). Yet it is pretty clear that such is what everybody (in disregard of what calling one is) is craving for. For all seem to think it is only when you perform a miracle or a wonder that you are affirmed an indisputable servant God. According to scripture, one is proven not by the ministry they are placed in, but by the character they exhibit (Matt 7:15-20). In this then, a prophet is no more than a teacher of the word. For by character, we are proven (1Tim 3:1-13), (Titus 1:7-9). Scripture likens us in Christ to the different parts of the human body (Rom 12:4-9), (Ephesians 4:11), (1Cor 12:12-20). That just as every single body part has its own function it plays, so are we in Christ. The hand can't do the walking, the ear can't do the talking, and it is that every part of the body will only function how it is designed. The source of confusion is in one body part seeking to function how it is not designed. This is the source of endless conflicts in Church. Why are the two gifts (miracles and prophecy) so craven for and so attractive? The two gifts are fiercely craven for because they are about real life matters. For we all love to see our lives improve in literal terms and whoever gives hope they will stands a chance to draw much of one's attention. A healing miracle for example, or financial breakthrough for that matter can be a cracker. And indeed it is of God that a miracle is performed. But Jesus taught that; what is at hand is to save the soul and all the rest is only to follow (Mark 8:36), (Lu 12:16-21), (Matt 16:26, 6:33). Jesus went on to teach that a man's life is not in the abundance of the things he possesses (Lu 12:15). Yet Jesus Himself performed miracles. So the issue is not the miracles per Se, for they a literal indicator that God is, but they are never an end in themselves. For that, we should not be working for miracles, but that we have the hope of eternal life. According to Jesus, we should not rejoice because we perform miracles, but because our names are written in the book of life (Lu 10:17-20). For if miracles had been an end in themselves, all the people of Jesus days should have been Born Again. But they were not, because it is not all about miracles, but faith in Christ Jesus. Many Bible servants of God can give us a clear view. Take for example the case of the Prophet Jeremiah. There is no literal miracle I know of which was performed in the hands of the Prophet Jeremiah. Yet he is indeed a proven man of God. Take also the case of John the Baptist. Is there any interesting literal life miracle that was ever performed in the hands of John the Baptist? Yet crowds followed him to the deserts despite the miserable life he literally lived. Jesus went on to teach that John the Baptist was such a precious servant of God, yet the least in heaven is greater than John (Lu 7:24-30). As that, despite having not been seen perform a miracle, John is an indisputable servant of God. Conclusively therefore, character should be paramount, and not the ministry thereof. For we are Christians first before we are servants of God.
There is nothing that we can do to prove that we are a servant of God. God has done it all and we cannot boast that we had anything to do with it. Our inner being accepted the Holy Spirit's call to follow Him. The rest of anything that comes through you will be you following His instructions. He will give us gifts from the Holy Spirit and with those gifts that He has given us, we will use them for His honor and glory. If you feed the poor, or if you work with the sick, or preach, or just clean your church, that is your calling and all His callings are equal. No one is more than the other. Paul was equal to Peter and James was equal to both. We are all important in the Kingdom of God and do not have to prove that we are God's servants. Now, others will see the way you live and see what you do and act and they will know that you are a servant of God.
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