Hello BornAgain. I wanted to respond to you here in order to respectfully correct something that I think you are misunderstanding, while yet "speaking the truth in love"
(Ephesians 4:15). We all want to know the truth of Scripture, so please hear me out because I may be able to clarify a few things for you by letting the Scripture speak for itself. I know this is somewhat long but
please read all of it, as I think it can be rewarding to look into these Scriptures!
First of all I highly recommend reading the Scriptures that Mitspa has already posted that show Jesus said
we will do things greater than he did in the earth, and gave us power and authority to do it:
http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=45450&p=694816&viewfull=1#post694816.
Also read this account of Paul commanding an unclean spirit to come out of a slave girl that was negatively impacting his proclamation of the Gospel (which he did with the same authority that Christ used to command the 'legion' of spirits to come out of the man who lived in the tombs and cast them into the pigs nearby in
Matthew 8:31-32):
"
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour."
(Acts 16:16-18)
This was after Jesus' ascension and shows that this power to cast out evil spirits was still very much active.
Also Jesus said that in the future (at his second coming) many would come to him saying that they had cast out demons and performed miracles:
"
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?"
(Matthew 7:22)
Jesus does nothing to indicate that these are phony claims, but exercising such power does not necessarily assume that you will remain faithful to God. Although to be fair Jesus does give a warning of "false prophets" in verse 15, but the jist of the rhetorical question is "Yes, we did prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles in your name", but that will not save them if they "practice lawlessness" (verse 23).
Also as pertains to healing, which does not always mean casting out demons but certainly means performing miracles, this is addressed in
James 5:14-18:
"
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."
Healing through faith and prayer is a power very much made available to us today which is James' whole point, especially why he mentions the miracle that occured as a result of Elijah's prayer which he says we can do also because he was a "man with a nature like ours" yet accomplished that through prayer and faith. This is available today through any "effective prayer of a righteous man".
Lastly, I would like to address another thing that you said which is very important to clarify:
You really must pay attention to the context of 1 Corinthians 13 to understand what he is saying, because you misunderstand Paul's point. Let's look at the context for the verse you quoted:
"Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
(1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
Immediately you should see, especially where I have hilighted the parallel thoughts that Paul is using in red & blue, that Paul is saying
now (in the present day) we know in part, but then (in the future - also looking forward to "when [it] has come"). Paul's reference isn't to Jesus per se but when all things are made perfect (including us), which will include the yet future redemption of our bodies and of the earth itself which Paul speaks of just two chapters later in 1 Corinthians 15. Please reread this to understand what Paul is saying.
Also notice all the "
will be" (yet future) references that Paul makes of when those gifts will one day be done away, and they clearly had not been done away in Paul's day, such as with tongues, because he even said "
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all"
(1 Corinthians 14:18) in the
very next chapter! Notice that at the beginning of the next chapter that he also says, "
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy"
(1 Corinthians 14:1). How can you desire something that is no longer available?
When Paul was talking about perfection, he was talking about perfection
yet to come and to look forward to: "
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
I think that if you sit down and read
1 Corinthians 12-15 all in one sitting together that this will all become clear to you.
Please let me know if you have any questions because there is some rich spiritual truth and power here, and I don't want you to miss it! And remember, I am doing this in love because as you said we are here to discuss what the Scripture actually says.
God Bless,
~Josh
