Let’s first discover what it is that constitutes a “miracle.” According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary a miracle is “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” Dictionary.com says it is “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” "Supernatural” – “Divine Intervention.” These are just a few of the words that seem to put the term “miracle” in language that we can understand.
Here are a few well known examples we can examine from the Bible: Moses parting the Red Sea; the prophet Elijah who repeatedly poured water all over a bull to be sacrificed in full view of the prophets of Baal, then calling on God who consumed the sacrifice in fire; Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead; Jesus healed the blind man; Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, and the greatest of all – Jesus is Himself raised from the dead and for some forty days He is seen by more than five hundred people. These examples certainly qualify as miracles.
why doesn't God just heal everyone? . . .
And, for the sake of brevity let’s eliminate some other examples; examples that could fill 1,000 pages, such as that of a mother, abandoned by her husband, who raises 5 children on her own; or the millions of Muslims who have turned and begun to follow Jesus around the world; or the young man who was born without arms or legs, yet he manages to climb (scoot) his way up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Although less spectacular to some, they are by definition . . . miracles.
It would also be appropriate to discuss the broader issue and that is “God is a good God—why doesn’t He just heal everyone?” I have known prophets and apostles and great teachers of the Word, and I have yet to meet any man or woman of God who knows the answer to that one – they simply don’t know, and neither do I. The answer to that one is above my pay grade.
schooled in unbelief . . .
For whatever reason, God in His wisdom has chosen to honor . . . faith! It is my firm belief that in America we have been well-schooled in . . . unbelief! We have been taught it well. Many “theologians” claim that the miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit all died out with the death of Jesus’ disciples. In spite of religious babble such as this we hear of great miracles occurring in Africa, such as documented cases of people being raised from the dead in Lagos, Nigeria, and one case that was documented of a man who was resurrected from the dead after being embalmed.
https://www.christianbook.com/raised-from-the-dead/reinhard-bonnke/.../pd/749527 (NOTE: In this type of embalming the organs were not removed; only the blood had been replaced with embalming fluid.)
The simplest explanation I have as to why events such as these are happening in Africa, and not in America, is that these Africans . . . have not been taught unbelief!
Let’s see what Jesus had to say about the subject: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)
Bill Davis, ex-con heroin addict healed . . .
Allow me tell you of a few examples about which I have first-hand knowledge. One such is the case of Bill Davis. Bill was a professional thief, a heroin addict, and an ex-con who actually spent time as a cell mate with Charles Manson, infamous for the Tate-LaBianca murders in August of 1969. Manson put a tattoo on Bill’s ankle while he and Manson awaited trial in Los Angeles. Finally his heroin addiction put him in the hospital in Winter Haven, FL. He was hemorrhaging out both ends of his body. The emergency room physician told him “If we don’t operate now you will be dead in twenty-four hours.” An angry Bill said, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to die on some operating table,” so he sat up, ripped out the IVs and walked out.
He then drove to Tampa where he broke into a place where he knew he could score some heroin, and he left with three bags of the white powder along with an outfit (syringe) and decided to drive to his parents’ home in Auburndale so he could overdose in front of his mom & dad’s place and save them the cost of an ambulance. Little did he know but he would have to drive by my Christian Coffee House where there was a Christian band performing on a stage outside, and I was speaking to a crowd inside.
Three times Bill thought about it and each time he said to himself “Naw, that’s for sissies,” and he drove away, but each time the Holy Spirit made him turn around and pull up in front of the coffee house.
On the fourth time he finally walked in and as he entered the door, interrupting the meeting, I told him “Young man, God’s got His hands on your life. Tonight you were going to take your life, but God wants you to know that He said, ‘In the last days I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.’” Bill walked over to me, dropped to his knees, and surrendered his life to Jesus. Soon a tearful Bill began praising God and within minutes he began to speak in tongues. Bill wondered why . . . he was speaking Greek!
Jewish doctor is saved . . .
Next, he stood up and with a surprised look on his face he said “I think I just got healed.” When I inquired about this healing he told me about being in the hospital just a few hours earlier and how the doctor had told him he would die from his hemorrhaging unless he had immediate surgery. I suggested he go back to the doctor and have his healing confirmed.
Bill left that same night and headed off to the hospital in Winter Haven. When he told the doctor “I don’t need that surgery because I got healed,” the doctor replied, “Healed – who healed you?” Bill replied “Jesus. Jesus healed me.” The doctor said, “Oy vey.” The doctor was Jewish. Bill brought the physician to my meeting the next night and the Jewish doctor accepted Jesus as his long-awaited Messiah. Since that time Bill has shared his story and preached all over the world. They re-enacted his testimony on the 700 Club television show in America that went out to some 30 countries, and they also did an extensive re-enactment on Dutch television that reached most of Europe.
girl with demons screams out . . .
One night while at The Dove coffee house there were some 25 or 30 of us standing in a circle praying. Then one young woman began crying out blood-curdling screams. It was clear she was terrified . Suddenly two voices came out of her mouth – one voice screaming in horror and the other was a deep, guttural male voice who began saying all sorts of vile things.
I immediately recognized this was demonic and as I looked over and pointed at her before I could even begin to cast this evil spirit out the demon left her and immediately went in to another young woman. The next few seconds sent chills throughout the room because it was as though we were watching an instant replay. The same two voices were coming out of this second young lady – one screaming in terror, and the other a deep, evil male voice.
The terrified girl then ran out the room and ran down the street into traffic, all the while ripping her hair out and tearing at her clothes. Immediately I ran after her and with traffic streaming by in both directions I ran down the middle of the street, picked her up, and then carried her to the side of the street and cast the demon out.
Bill Davis 42 years later . . .
In March of 2013 my wife and I traveled to Florida and I showed her the location of The Dove Coffee House, which is now a barbecue steak house restaurant, and when we entered I spoke to two of the waitresses. When I pointed out locations in the restaurant where miracles had happened they were amazed. “Right here, in this exact spot, is where a teenage boy was miraculously healed. And in this spot is where a heroin addict (Bill Davis) was healed of his addiction and hemorrhaging blood. And over here is where demons were cast out of two young women,” and so on. My wife Diane was also thrilled because she had now seen first-hand locations I had talked about for years, locations where the miraculous had taken place.
On March 17, 2013 I spoke at Believers' Fellowship Church in Lakeland. During my message I discovered that this was in the same church building I'd spoken in more than 40 years earlier. I was surprised when Bill Davis walked in. After I finished speaking Bill got up and told the congregation,
"Forty-two years ago today, March 17, 1971, I walked in to Ken's coffee house and I got saved. Ken always says his was a small ministry, but I want you all to know that even though It may have been small but it had an affect all over the world. Because you were there for me when I needed you, since that night, forty-two years ago this day, I have spoken all over the world and I have been privileged to lead some 500,000 people to Jesus." To God be the glory - Ken