During the eighteenth century the Lord used a man by the name of Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf to establish a remarkable Moravian community in Germany called Herrnhut. In the struggle to maintain spiritual balance in this community of saints, Count Zinzendorf had to address the problem of individuals being unduly attracted to miraculous works. A Moravian biographer, August Spangenberg, describes the situation: 

"About this time [early 1730’s], various gifts and spiritual powers manifested themselves in the church at Herrnhut, and, in particular, many miraculous cures. Its members believed, in filial [childish] simplicity, the words which the Saviour spoke respecting the hearing of prayer; and when any particular affair pressed itself upon them, they spoke with Him concerning it, and expected every good thing from Him; and it was done unto them according to their faith."

Count Zinzendorf rejoiced with others at the miracles of healing they witnessed. They praised the Saviour who still looks with compassion on the poor and the needy. Nicolaus acknowledged the miracles as a kind manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which ought reasonably to be esteemed, and not prove a stumbling-block to any.

However, Count Zinzendorf did not desire that the brethren and sisters of Herrnhut should regard the miracles of healing as something extraordinary, and thereby attach themselves to these signs and wonders. Therefore, whenever they occurred, as, for instance, when anyone experienced an instantaneous cure, either by a word spoken in faith, or by prayer, were it even from the most dangerous injuries or the most painful illnesses – he regarded the miracle as something that was known – and spoke little about it.

The concept of a miracle working God was not an unusual idea for Count Zinzendorf but part of the normal Christian experience.

But there was something else. Count Zinzendorf frequently asserted both in public and in private; signs and wonders were not granted for the sake of believers, but for the sake unbelievers. He believed that the ability by some to work miracles of healing was a gift of faith that was not necessarily greater than other spiritual gifts, though it was sensational.

Far better, he taught, to love Christ, and submit to His will in all matters. Whenever Zinzendorf saw someone urgently desire to work a miracle of faith or receive a miraculous healing, he became suspicious and refused to encourage such activity.

Because of his moderation regarding the gift of faith healing, the brothers and sisters at Herrnhut were not carried away by these matters, but instead they made it their aim to taste and see how good the Lord is. It is the Giver who is important, not the gifts.

The idea that miracles are a normal part of the Christian experience has been lost to this generation because of an undue emphasis of one spiritual gift over another, and because of the media sensationalism that certain spiritual gifts excite. Nevertheless, the idea of miracles being a normal part of the life of the local church should not be dismissed as per 1 Corinthians 12:7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 

In the local church, a miracle working God is the rule, not the exception.