“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall
shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect” Matthew 24:24

    A miracle can be defined as an unusual event that is believed to
be caused by the power of God. It is God’s divine intervention in the
affairs of men.

    The ability to perform miracles and healings is a claim that so
many ministers in the body of Christ have successfully used to attract
and retain members. People everywhere are looking for miracles.
Everyone wants solution to the myriads of problems confronting
him/her, and the "Pastors" have been able to key in to this basic need
of humans, and have been smiling to the bank everyday.

     There is no doubt that God still does miracles, it is also not
news that there are more fake than real miracles. A lot of Pastors
have turned the Church into business centers where they package
miracles and sell to the desperate & unsuspecting buyers. How often do
you see banners, flyers, and radio commercials advertising healing &
miracle services? And some Pastors succeed more than others in getting
people to attend their miracle services. I have got a few thoughts to
share on this topic. The Christian life is not all about miracles,
signs, wonders, money, power, fame, and what have you. It is simply a
walk with God. God desires that intimacy and fellowship with every one
of his children. Do we desire to be healed, rich, successful, etc?
Yes, we all do. There is nothing wrong about that, but the danger is
in putting these things first, and running after them. Matthew 6:33
encourages us to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all other things shall be added unto us. When we put God first, He
will take care of us.

    It saddens my heart when I see ministers striving and doing
everything in their power to be called a miracle worker. If you are a
teacher, why not focus on your teaching ministry and be the best you
could be? Must you prophesy? Must you perform miracles, healings,
signs and wonders? “Are all Apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing?
do all speak with tongues/do all interprete?” 1 Cor. 12:29) Greed for
another man’s ministry and the power, money, and prestige that comes
with it has lured many ministers from the place of their calling. And
as a minister, until you recognize your role in the vineyard of God,
you will be a misfit. Do what you were called to do, and do it well. I
have seen Pastors trying to fake what they do not have. Sometime ago,
one of my former classmates told me how a big pastor in the south
hired her to come and act as a mad woman. They paid for her flight,
hotel, and upkeep for three days. Another lady came to meet her in the
hotel room where they acted out the script that was already written by
the pastor. On the Sunday, the “Sister” brought her into the Church,
and she was shouting and trashing about on the floor, wearing rags,
and her hair scattered. The Pastor came down from the platform,
rebuked the spirit of madness, and she fell down, pretending to be
free. The congregation went into euphoric hysteria. She was
"delivered" from the spirit of madness. When I asked how much she was
paid to act that role, she told me they paid her N50,000. There is no
extent to which some Pastors won’t go! They have succeeded in luring
thousands of gullible worshippers into their net through deception and
magic.

Also,there is another demonic practice going on in some Churches
called relief by substitution. This is a phenomenon where you go to
Church with headache. The Pastor will pray for you, and the headache
will disappear (Note that the devil also performs wonders). “Even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs
and lying wonders”2 Thess 2:9

 Few days later, you will start experiencing waist pain. You go to him
again for prayers, and the waist pain will cease, but something else
will manifest. So you keep going to him & his Church, and you remain
in perpetual state of bondage and dependency upon him. I am very sure
you can identify with what I am talking about. They have no permanent
solution to your problems. They specialize in substituting your
problems with another one. If you are in such a situation, please seek
help immediately. The more you remain in such a place, the more they
drain your energy and resources. May God help and deliver his flock
from wolves!

Austin Edoho is a Servant at Heart on Fire