Confusion about miracles and other religions

[KSgirl]

Hi All,

I'm new to these boards, and I've been reading around a bit but haven't posted before. I'm not sure if I posted this to the right place. I wonder if you wouldn't mind answering a question I have had for several years. I've never had a satisfactory answer from anyone before, but I'm hoping that you will be able to help me understand because I'm very confused about it.

About 12 years ago I went to Mexico (Yucatan) through a mission organization and met some Maya Indians who were trying to go back to their former roots by abandoning Christianity and worshiping the old gods of their ancestors. They allowed outsiders to witness some of their ceremonies in an attempt to educate others about their culture, and I attended one of these ceremonies. The ceremony was very strange, and the shaman combined pieces of Catholic mass with old Mayan traditions, and used a combination of Mayan, Spanish and Latin languages. The shaman prayed a lot, but he prayed to the old gods as well as to Jesus Christ, as if they all existed together and were all on the same level.

During the ceremony it started to rain, so the shaman prayed to the old Mayan rain god Chaac to make it stop raining until we were all under cover again so we wouldn't get wet. It stopped raining immediately. As soon as the ceremony was over we all went under a hut and it immediately started to rain again.

I'm very confused about this, and it's been bugging me for a long time. Could this be a miracle, even though these are people who were denouncing Jesus Christ? Could Jesus Christ have performed this miracle in the name of another god? And if so, why? Could this be just some crazy coincidence (the stopping and starting of the rain was almost too fast to be a coincidence - and this was really heavy rain, like someone turning a faucet on and off)? Is there possibly another explanation?

I appreciate any answers you may have.

Thanks!

[OnceWasLost]

Hi All,

I'm new to these boards, and I've been reading around a bit but haven't posted before. I'm not sure if I posted this to the right place. I wonder if you wouldn't mind answering a question I have had for several years. I've never had a satisfactory answer from anyone before, but I'm hoping that you will be able to help me understand because I'm very confused about it.

About 12 years ago I went to Mexico (Yucatan) through a mission organization and met some Maya Indians who were trying to go back to their former roots by abandoning Christianity and worshiping the old gods of their ancestors. They allowed outsiders to witness some of their ceremonies in an attempt to educate others about their culture, and I attended one of these ceremonies. The ceremony was very strange, and the shaman combined pieces of Catholic mass with old Mayan traditions, and used a combination of Mayan, Spanish and Latin languages. The shaman prayed a lot, but he prayed to the old gods as well as to Jesus Christ, as if they all existed together and were all on the same level.

During the ceremony it started to rain, so the shaman prayed to the old Mayan rain god Chaac to make it stop raining until we were all under cover again so we wouldn't get wet. It stopped raining immediately. As soon as the ceremony was over we all went under a hut and it immediately started to rain again.

I'm very confused about this, and it's been bugging me for a long time. Could this be a miracle, even though these are people who were denouncing Jesus Christ? Could Jesus Christ have performed this miracle in the name of another god? And if so, why? Could this be just some crazy coincidence (the stopping and starting of the rain was almost too fast to be a coincidence - and this was really heavy rain, like someone turning a faucet on and off)? Is there possibly another explanation?

I appreciate any answers you may have.

Thanks!


2 Corinthians 11

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

No big shock I suppose. Just because he mentions Jesus doesn't mean a thing. If he knew the real Jesus he would not try to serve the pagan gods of their history.

And signs and wonders not done by God are simply the signs and lying wonders Scripture foretells. 2 Thes 2:8-10

[Gottschell]

Matthew 7:21-23= Many who work miracles in God's name will not enter
heaven. Why? Because they do not obey God.

Of course it Could be coincidence.

Could christ done it in the name of another god? probly but why would he when he could have simply told a angel or demon to stop it.

Its just magic(Asking demons for favors whatever you want to call it.)

Remember the enemy can do a great deal, it just doesn't last.

[iSong6:3]

Interesting question.

Let's look at these three verses in Matthew 7:21-23:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

What precedes all is a true relationship with God, which can only be through His Son, Jesus.

We can call Him "Lord", but it means nothing if we don't do His true will.

And what are the works of God?

John 6:28-29 says:

"Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?'

"Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'"

God's works and His will is that we believe in Jesus, the Name above all Names. He will not share His glory with another.

Isaiah 45:6 - "That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;" This intent of God is repeated throughout the Bible.

The Lord sets Himself against all that men can call *gods*.

Isaiah 57:13 - "When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain."

I personally also do not understand why the rain stopped when the people prayed to *another god*. Romans 1 says that when people turn from the knowledge of God, He can turn them over to their delusions.

But what we can know for sure is that it was not the True and Living God who would answer prayers in the name of a false god. :thumb

[Wally]

KS

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:2
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.


Satan rules this fallen world. He binds men by sin to death. It is the Curse placed upon Adam. But Jesus has broken the Curse. And even though the flesh dies, we have life in Jesus.

Miracles do indeed happen. Nothing is impossible for God. But there are counterfits out there ready to claim for themselves God's glory.

God shares with no one. He exists in three persons - Father, Son, Spirit, but there is no other god and no other name -only Jesus - whereby men can be saved.


Study your Bible. Get to know God intimately - deeply. Recognise His character, and when these false christs appear,

You'll spot them instantly.

[KSgirl]

So, what you are all saying, in a nutshell, is that it's possible for others to perform miracles in the name of Satan because they are trying to deceive people and turn them from the real God?

I guess that makes sense, but when this happened I had this feeling of absolute awe. I was reading some of the other threads here and whenever someone has experienced a miracle and described how it felt that was exactly how this felt to me. It felt just like the hand of God wiped away the rain.

Do you think this means that I was in awe of Satan's tricks? Am I in trouble for this?

[Glory in print]

Satan can perform miracles as false signs and wonders to deceive people....If someone was bold enough to pray to God in Jesus name and ask for the rain to stop and believe by faith the same result would happen?....Wonder how I know this, because I have done that before, one time I was fixing to leave the airport and it was raining very hard, and I didn't want to be on the road in that heavy rain, and I prayed and commanded the rain to stop in Jesus name, and boom it stopped (and it was a very heavy rain, pouring down).....I have done this a few times sometimes it will stop immediately, and sometimes it will take a minute or two, some may call that a miracle, and some may call it a coincidense.

[OnceWasLost]

Do you think this means that I was in awe of Satan's tricks? Am I in trouble for this?

Anytime we see something we perceive as beyond a natural cause, we would by nature be awed. If we look at the experience, in light of Scripture, we can conclude who may be responsible for the miraculous event. It's why knowing His Word is so crucial for us to gain understanding.

[Yeshuaiscomingback]

Interesting question.

Let's look at these three verses in Matthew 7:21-23:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

What precedes all is a true relationship with God, which can only be through His Son, Jesus.

We can call Him "Lord", but it means nothing if we don't do His true will.

And what are the works of God?

John 6:28-29 says:

"Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?'

"Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'"

God's works and His will is that we believe in Jesus, the Name above all Names. He will not share His glory with another.

Isaiah 45:6 - "That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;" This intent of God is repeated throughout the Bible.

The Lord sets Himself against all that men can call *gods*.

Isaiah 57:13 - "When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain."

I personally also do not understand why the rain stopped when the people prayed to *another god*. Romans 1 says that when people turn from the knowledge of God, He can turn them over to their delusions.

But what we can know for sure is that it was not the True and Living God who would answer prayers in the name of a false god. :thumb

GOOD ANSWER,PRAISE THE LORD,
BTW welcome to the new member,:)

[Wally]

KS; Did you catch Matt 24:24 ....even the elect....

Satan is very powerful and can put on quite a smoke and mirror show.

The basic - easiest test is; Does the miracle exclusively honor God - Jesus?

Any mixture then you have two options;

Either it is a work of God and someone is trying to steal His glory, in whch case Speak Up! Rebuke! Redirect the Glory to Christ Jesus. The response you get will confirm what is happening;

Or it is a work of satan, and if you say a word they will turn on you like sharks.


Again the best thing is to dive into your Bible. Memorize and become very familiar with the Word of God. We all need to grow closer to Jesus. That way we'll know Him and know His Voice.

Remember, the police that go after money counterfiters study the Real Thing. If it doesn't match, its a counterfit!