As recorded in Acts 5, the apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and the power of God was visibly manifest. One of the most striking events was the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple lied to the Holy Spirit about the proceeds from the sale of their land, attempting to deceive the apostles and the church. As a result, both Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead by God. The divine judgment brought great fear upon the whole church and all who heard about it. It demonstrated that deceit and hypocrisy had no place in the community of believers. The immediate and supernatural punishment of those who lied served to maintain the purity of the church, and it ensured that only those who were genuinely committed dared to join. This fear of God, coupled with the many signs and wonders performed by the believers, meant that no one dared to join them who had ulterior motives, even though the apostles were highly regarded by the people. The presence of miracles did not encourage sensationalism or produce false converts but rather repelled those who were not sincere. God’s power was so real and tangible that it terrified pretenders, driving them away from the church.

The same principle was at work in Acts 19, where the fear of the name of Jesus spread through the region, causing even the sorcerers to repent and burn their scrolls. In Ephesus, God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so much so that when handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, their illnesses were cured and evil spirits left them. When some Jewish exorcists invokes the name of Jesus without faith, they were overpowered by the demon-possessed man they tried to exorcise. This event became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear seized them all. The name of Jesus was held in high honor. Many who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. The power of God was evident, and the fear of God led to repentance. The miracles served to purify the church and the community, ensuring that only those who were sincere remained, while the pretenders and sorcerers were exposed.

The Faithless complain that the ministry of miracles attract false converts, those who come for the spectacle, the excitement, or the benefits. They suggest that this culture of miracles undermines the integrity of the church, that it compromises the purity of the faith. This argument is wrong, and it is a manifestation of unbelief. God can use miracles to repel false converts and keep the church pure. Miracles serve as a sieve, separating those who are genuinely seeking God from those who are merely curious, from those who wish to think of themselves as religious, and from those who want to present themselves as people of faith while having no real faith in their hearts. This is true in proportion to the strength of the miracles. Many miracles are useful. Some are spectacular. And even stronger miracles can become frightening to those who do not know God. Although all miracles will contribute, it is especially this kind of miracles that will keep the church pure. We should reach for the strongest kind of miracles through faith, prayer, and teaching.

The Faithless are like those they claim miracles would attract. They are the insincere and uncommitted ones. They want to be seen as spiritual, they want the appearance of faith, but they lack the reality. They undermine the ministry of miracles because miracles are a constant reminder of their pretense and impotence. They are unable to disguise themselves in the presence of the supernatural. Miracles expose them for what they are: imposters, hypocrites, faithless religionists. They wish to present themselves as defenders of truth, but in reality, they are the enemies of faith, the enemies of God’s power.

Strong and evident miracles purify the church because they terrify those who are not committed. They drive away those who wish to maintain a religious appearance but who resent the gospel in their hearts. This is why the ministry of miracles is essential to the church. It is not a peripheral issue, it is not a secondary agenda, but it is central to the mission. The ministry of miracles is an agenda of spirituality, purity, and faithfulness. It is not an agenda of carnality or sensationalism, as the Faithless begs us to believe. It is the expression of the power and presence of God among his people.

We must push this agenda as aggressively as we can. The ministry of miracles has always been central to God’s work. The troubles and impurities in the church are significantly due to the insufficient demonstration of God’s power, both in terms of miracles of blessing and miracles of judgment. Faithless people suggest that the emphasis on miracles is a distraction from the gospel, but the truth is that miracles amplify the gospel message. They confront people with both blessing and judgment. They draw attention to the truth and demand a response. They do not tolerate endless debate as a way to delay obedience. When the church operates in the power of God, it becomes an unstoppable witness to the risen Christ. This is the very thing that the Faithless — those “Christians” — are afraid of.

Cessationists have rejected the power of God due to their lack of faith, integrity, and intelligence. They have cast out the Spirit of God from the church. They have treated him as a demon, and in doing so, it is certain that many of them have committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the unpardonable sin. They have exchanged the living power of God for human traditions, and in doing so, they have welcomed false doctrines, false converts, and false spirits to take root in the church. Their faithlessness has opened the door to the enemy, and the church and humanity have suffered because of it. This path of unbelief can only lead the church further into irrelevance and destruction. Yet God has always reserved a remnant for himself, people who continue to have faith in his promises and miracles. But even greater blessings will come when more people welcome the Spirit of God back into their midst. Then the church will become truly pure and holy.