Let us say a few cautionary words about miracles, signs, “unceasing” prayers… John the Baptist, who was “the greatest among those born of women” (Matthew 11: 11, Luke 7: 28) performed no miracle-sign, but Judas, when he was still an apostle, performed, of course, great miracles: he cast out demons, healed the sick, cleansed lepers, raised the dead (Matthew 10: 1-4). Various fortune-tellers, “grandmothers,” healers, magicians, psychics… surrounded by icons, reading “Our Father” and other prayers with the “name of the Lord,” perform miracles, heal, prophesy, foresee, cast out demons, command demons (but the Lord says: “do not rejoice that the spirits, demons are subject to you” – Luke 10: 20). But those fortune-tellers, psychics have nothing to do with the Church, the Body of Christ – they are neither Christians (in the Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus), nor catechumens! Do not forget that the antichrist will create (and is already creating; and throughout the history of the Church has not ceased to create) great signs and wonders: “His (the antichrist’s) coming, by the work of Satan, will be with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception” (see 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-11); “You heard that antichrist is coming – and now many antichrists have appeared” (see 1 John 2: 18). “Be vigilant, be careful, that no one deceives you, for many will come in My name (in My name, from My name) and will say that it is I (that they came from Me, sent by Me, and armed from Me with miracles and signs – whereas I did not send them, and do not know them, they are not apostles (that is, authorized and sent by Jesus Christ), but false apostles, false prophets, antichrists); and will deceive many (especially those who do not know neither Scripture, nor the Power of God, nor the laws of spiritual life)… False Christs, false apostles and false prophets will arise and give signs and wonders, to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But be careful. See, I have told you all things beforehand” (see Mark 13: 5-23).
So, we see that a person can pray “unceasingly,” read prayers (have unceasing Jesus Prayer, that is, continuously recite it (as a mantra – without attention, reverence and repentance, for the sake of enjoyment, pleasure) – both day and night) and perform miracles, healings, prophesy, cast out demons and have no relation to the Truth, the Church, the Body of Christ, but be a son of perdition, a child of hell, who is destined for the verdict: I do not know you, and never knew you, depart from Me… But the purpose of human life is to acquire the Holy Spirit (and not to perform miracles, cast out demons, prophesy or carry out any other ministries), to unite with God the Father in Jesus Christ, in communion of the Eucharist of the Body of Christ! And to achieve the Goal, deification, union with God into one Body of Christ, Orthodox faith and proper spiritual life are needed, that is, prayer-life according to this Orthodox faith (bearing the thoughts-truths of Orthodox, Christian) – unceasing repentance, fervent fulfillment of all God’s commandments – all this makes the catechumen humble, that is, capable of being baptized with the Holy Spirit!
We have spoken and testified that in this world God allows and will allow everything (except one thing – that the uninitiated, the non-humble, be baptized with the Holy Spirit, that is, become Christ’s, a Christian). Therefore, signs, miracles, and prophecies can occur through unworthy people, as was the case with Balaam (Numbers 22:28) or the sorceress (1 Samuel 28:7-25). When the apostles encountered an unbeliever who was casting out demons in Christ’s name and forbade him, then reported this to Christ, the Lord said, “Do not forbid him, for whoever is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:49-50, Mark 9:38-40); but the Lord also said that this is not the main thing, it is not great, and it is not valuable, as it can be accomplished (like other miracles and signs) even by unbelievers (even enemies of the Truth, of Christ, can perform great signs and wonders), but the main thing is to fulfill God’s commandments, for this is what makes a person (humble, who recognizes their weakness, godlessness, sin(s), hellish state, and desires salvation from Jesus Christ, the Savior; God gives grace of the Holy Spirit, Himself, only to the humble, but opposes the proud (miracle workers, seers, exorcists…) and has nothing in common with them) capable of receiving the Holy Spirit, of reaching the Goal of life! Therefore, the Lord said to the miracle-working apostles (by the way, at that time they were not yet Christians, not baptized with the Holy Spirit): “Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (see Luke 10:20). The Lord said: rejoice that you are Christians (in this context, more precisely: Orthodox catechumens), believe in Jesus Christ, love Him – that is, zealously fulfill all that the Lord has commanded you, all God’s commandments, that you are in the New Covenant with God – this is the subject of true joy, eternal joy that no one can take away from you. And to perform miracles, signs, cast out demons, raise the dead… – this is not great, even a non-Christian can do this, but to truly, humbly love (God and neighbor) – this is what is great: TO LOVE (and this implies being lower than all creation, seeing oneself as the greatest sinner, being the last, the servant of all). “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, make unceasing prayers, have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and have all knowledge and all faith, so as to perform all kinds of signs and wonders (cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead… move mountains), and give away all my possessions and deliver my body to be burned (to martyrdom), but have not love, I am nothing and gain nothing from all that miraculous, wonder-working, heroic” (see 1 Corinthians 13). LOVE is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is poured only into humble and contrite hearts, which become so as a result of zealously fulfilling all God’s commandments. Judas Iscariot was a miracle worker, an apostle – and he perished. For the gifts are given for service (see 1 Corinthians 12) – as to the apostle Judas Iscariot (who perished, understanding nothing), and how one serves: whether humbling oneself or becoming proud, exalting oneself and belittling, despising others (and God resists the proud!), as was, for instance, in the Corinthian church, to which the apostle warns of destruction if these miracle workers, “Spirit bearers” do not repent and do not start preparing for baptism with the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 10-11).