Ok. The following is what I wrote in response to some questions I received regarding my last blog "Proof for an Atheist." This is what was asked of me: "I hope this doesn't seem like badgering, but I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on what you wrote. To make such a bold claim is interesting to say the least. Again, have you had prior experience with physically manifesting miracles? I'm not saying that your claim is incorrect, I completely affirm that our God is capable or more than we can imagine.
I have my own personal opinion on these Divine types of revelation. I was hoping to get your opinion and a little more depth into the topic. Ideally, I was wondering if you were claiming to be able to raise the dead and walk on water. The tone and phrasing of your message seemed to make it sound that way. Truth be told, of the two I'm really interested in knowing if you were claiming to them the ability to raise the dead." (emphasis mine)
And here is how I responded: Ok. Now that almost two months have passed, I'm back in Georgia, we've unpacked most everything, and I have some free time to sit down at my computer and just write.....here---- is what I promised you.
Can I, Charles Georgi, raise a dead man or woman to life---- after they have been dead? My answer to you is a faith-filled, emphatic YES! Although I have not seen it happen yet (because I haven't attempted to raise anyone from the dead yet), I am commanded to believe what God has to say about this. And I'll do my best to show you, clearly, what ground I have to stand on when I make such a claim.
First, and foremost, I can say this because I am a child of God! Through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I can now call God... my Father. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) Therefore, whatever my Father in Heaven says I can do, I CAN DO! If He says I can heal the sick---then I CAN HEAL the sick. If He says I can command demons to come out of people----then I CAN cast out demons because My Father told me I can.
Someone may ask, "how do you know God told you these things?" And my answer is simple:
Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he WILL DO ALSO; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) Plain and simple: The works Jesus did….I will do also…. if I believe in Him.
The works Jesus did are clearly recorded throughout all four of the gospels.
He healed ALL who were sick:
23. Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing ALL kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
24. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him ALL sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He HEALED them.
(Matthew 4:23-24)
16. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed ALL who were sick,
(Matthew 8:16)
35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing EVERY SICKNESS and EVERY DISEASE among the people.
(Matthew 9:35)
14. Then the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him.
15. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there; and great multitudes followed Him, and He HEALED THEM ALL.
(Matthew 12:14-15)
40. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands ON EVERY ONE OF THEM and healed them.
(Luke 4:40)
17. And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and A GREAT MULTITUDE of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and BE HEALED of their diseases,
18. as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And THEY WERE HEALED.
19. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and HEALED THEM ALL.
(Luke 6:17-19)
38. "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and WITH POWER, who went about doing good and HEALING ALL who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
(Acts 10:38)
------Now, I think it is important to notice that the one time Jesus "did NOT do MANY miracles" somewhere was when the miracles OFFENDED the people in his hometown and his own family.
"When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these MIGHTY WORKS? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?" 57. So they were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF.
(Matthew 13:53-58)
Ok, so I think I've made it abundantly clear, from the above verses, that Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons.
He also raised the dead: A twelve-year old girl was dead…..
41. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi,'' which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise.'' 42. Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. (Mark 5:35-42) A young man, the only son of his mother, was dead….
11. Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep.'' 14. Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise.'' 15. And he who was dead SAT UP and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. (Luke 7:11-15)
A man named Lazarus was dead….
41. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42. "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.'' 43. Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!'' 44. And he who had died CAME OUT bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go.'' (John 11:1-44) Who knows how many more he raised that weren't recorded? Look at what He said to John's disciples: 4. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5. "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.'' (Matthew 11:4-6) But even more importantly, look at what He said to His own disciples: 7. "And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8. "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:7-8)
So Jesus is found, here, giving mere men------unschooled, undisciplined men------ power….. not only to "heal the sick" and "cast out demons," but to even "raise the dead." Can you see this?
"He gave them power…" (Matthew 10:1) Now, this endowment of power came during Jesus' individual ministry, while He still walked on earth. Some would say that the power these verses speak of ended when He ascended into Heaven. However, Jesus, Himself, said something different: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)
and further…. "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.'' (Luke 24:49) And then Peter, having been endued with this Power, raises a little girl from the dead: 36. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise.'' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. (Acts 9:36-42) Can you see this?
The Holy Spirit, the Promise of His Father, was the Power Jesus had while he walked on this earth. He cast out demons by the Holy Spirit: "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
He healed the sick by the Holy Spirit: "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
He raised the dead by the Holy Spirit:
19. Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20. "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21. "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will." (John 5:19-21)
And this same Holy Spirit…. My Father has promised to me, His son.
Now it is the same way…..God has anointed ME, Charles of Marietta, with the Holy Spirit and with power, and I go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil, for God is with ME.
Everything Jesus did……He said I would do also!
How?
By the same Holy Spirit Jesus was anointed with.
I hope you can see what I'm trying to say ……….it's by the Holy Spirit, and only by the Holy Spirit.
Do I get the same results Jesus did?
No! Some are healed and some aren't. But hey! Some are HEALED! The only reason why some aren't is because of my own lack of faith. Jesus was perfect, the only perfect man ever to live. He was the perfect example of what every Christian should aspire to be. He had all faith, and zero doubt. I, on the other hand, was a sinful man who was bound in sin until He set me free. Now….. I am a new creation who is being "transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). And my faith is rising. And the devil is afraid. The devil is afraid of someone like me, who has nothing else to lose……because I've already lost my life for the sake of the Gospel. My life……I freely lay down and give to God, day by day, that He might live in me to set men free -----as I have become free. And satan's kingdom is coming down! (2 Cor. 10:3-4)
Without Christ, I can't do anything. But He, living in me, does the work. I am a "co-laborer" with Him……bringing the Gospel to those people He told me to love.
Which is ALL of them. Everybody.
"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39)
I said this up there at the beginning…… "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
And I am a son of God. My Father in Heaven wants His Kingdom to come to the earth through me, and through every son and daughter of His.
Therefore, in order to truly love those whom He called me to love, I am commanded to give my whole, entire life for the advancement of this Kingdom. I will preach as Jesus preached….. heal as Jesus healed. I will set people free from demons and raise the dead to life….just as Jesus raised the dead-----to life.
I will love, as Jesus loved.
All these works are done to show the world around me that Christ is NOT a religion practiced by church-going people who hear the Gospel preached to themselves again and again.
But instead, people see, and will continue to see, that Christ is a powerful Savior who is here and NOW.
People hear, and will continue to hear, that Christ is a mighty King who loves them---- who can utterly save them Now and Forever.
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
..........................................................................
So that was my answer.
For anyone who reads this: I hope you will see what I posted here with eyes that are open, that are not closed to the Truth. If you have ears to hear, you can hear Him speaking. And if you have a heart like a little child, you can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
He's not far from any one of us. But He only lives inside those who open the door. Jesus is the only Way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
----Charles 17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 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." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:17-20) | 
