Question:
How do you tell if a miracle is of the devil or of the Lord?
Answer:
What is a miracle? One dictionary definition of miracle is, “an unusual event that is ascribed to a supernatural power.”
We know that Jesus performed many miracles when He was here on earth. We also know that Revelation 15:13, 14 says, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles . . . .” So, the devil works miracles, and he is out to deceive everyone he can.
Actually, by the miracle itself, it would be difficult to know the source, so we need to look at the situation a little further.
Christ works from love and seeks to establish His kingdom on that basis, without fraud or deceit. His kingdom is built on the foundation of the Ten Commandments.
Satan hates Christ and is trying to establish his own religion; therefore, his purpose of performing miracles is very different from Christ’s purpose. Satan seeks to deceive man and to exalt himself. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 11 Corinthians 11:14, 15.
Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.” If a minister is preaching and performing miracles, and at the same time teaching people to worship on Sunday and tolerating smoking, drinking, or other sinful devices, then I would say that the results of his work are not from Christ. His miracles are for the purpose of establishing Satan’s kingdom here on earth. There is no light in his message.
It would be expected that a person praying for a miracle would be doing three things: keeping all ten of the commandments; seeking the Lord’s will, not just his or her own will; and asking for forgiveness of past sins and for power to be freed from sin in the future.
Ellen White gives light on this subject: “The way in which Christ worked was to preach the Word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way, for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God’s servants today could not work by means of miracles, because spurious works of healing, claiming to be divine, will be wrought.
“For this reason the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing, combined with the teaching of the Word. Sanitariums are to be established, and with these institutions are to be connected workers who will carry forward genuine medical missionary work. . . .
“This is the provision the Lord has made whereby gospel medical missionary work is to be done for many souls.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 54.
“As we near the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth from error. We need to make every effort to keep the way of the Lord. We must in no case turn from His guidance to put our trust in man.” Maranatha, 192.