Making Miracles Happen

The Holy Bible is full of miraculous happenings and rather the beginning itself is a miracle where God commands for light and then the light of the glory of His Son fills the earth. His glorious presence brings about changes in the basic structure of the ‘void and formless earth’ to make it productive. The miracles keep happening throughout the narrative, where a speaking donkey saves a prophet (Balaam) and a legion of evil spirits seek permission to enter the swine. But most people today do not receive any miraculous blessing in their lives thus giving rise to a question about God stopping all miracles and His Divine power not working in and through His people, the believers, anymore.

Why no miracles happen in today’s times?  – The Holy Bible starts with the miracle of creation where God said and it happened and His glory filled the earth with light for the first four days till sun and moon were placed in the sky. There are three aspects to miracles, the Old Testament miracles, the New Testament miracles and the present age miracles. But what was the reason for miracles happening then or any other time? Man was tasked to exercise dominion and to subdue the earth which includes fighting with the forces of darkness. Since the battle is mostly spiritual, miracles and supernatural would have to be part of that battle.

Lord Jesus performed miracles to declare the coming of the kingdom of God which is not yet fully here, a future when there will be no disease and death. His acts of healing and feeding the sick were out of love and compassion; preaching and propagating the message of God, (the demon possessed man of Gadara was commanded to ‘go and tell your people what God has done for you’); to increase faith of the followers (the calming of the storm and rebuke for lack of faith); and for revealing God’s glory as in the resurrection from the dead of Lazarus. He never did anything to prove or provide a sign about His identity as Son of God though the Pharisees asked for it and Herod expected it and even on the cross they desired His coming down to make them believe in Him.

The Old Testament miracles – Most of the Old Testament saints would make such statements, ‘I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old’ (Psalm 77:11). Probably they would also be wondering why there were more miracles during the times of Prophets Elijah and Elisha or in the days of Moses than during the times of other prophets. During the Old Testament times the saints lived by faith remembering the wonders of God of the past and in His promises for the future much in the same way as we live today by faith in His promises for a kingdom that is yet to be fully consummated. During Lord Jesus’ time our Lord consistently performed miracles but in certain places He did not heal anyone. The miracles were about breaking in of the kingdom of God while pointing towards a future time when sickness and death will be totally eliminated. His miracles were unique pointing to His Divine status as Son of God.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit include the gifts of healing and of performing miracles, though both would be interlinked (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). During the Apostolic age, the sick were laid out on beds in the streets so that Apostle Peter’s shadow may fall on them. Multitudes from surrounding areas of Jerusalem brought the sick and ‘those who were tormented by unclean spirits’, and they were all healed (Acts 5:15-16). King Herod killed ‘James the brother of John, by the sword’ and put Apostle Peter into the prison. God allowed the first action but an angel of the Lord miraculously rescued Apostle Peter from the prison (Acts 12:1-11). All the miracles were and are in a God exalting way and never individual centered. Apostle Paul raised the dead boy Eutychus to life in Troas but suffered his ‘thorn in the flesh’, though he did clarify the reason for his suffering (Acts 20:7-12).

During the present day, if data is collected from all the missionaries from all over the world and about the millions of encounters between believers and sickness and with the demons it would appear that we are living in a world full of miracles.  Christianity is living by faith in the work of the Savior Lord and hope in the coming of His kingdom which is presently established in each believer’s heart. Though surrounded by sin and darkness all around, we call people into His Divine light not for some miracle that may or may have happened but for salvation available through faith in the Son of God. Miracles reveal God’s glory but are not for salvation which is only available through His blood.

Should a believer expect to receive or perform a miracle in someone else’s life? – The seventy disciples on return expressed happiness over the fact that ‘even the demons are subject to us in Your name’. They were then given ‘authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy’ but Lord Jesus cautioned them to understand the real reason for joy, for ‘your names are written in heaven’ (Luke 10:17-20). Our God is actively involved in our lives. He is aware of my being, even from before placing me in my mother’s womb and He has decided my role in His kingdom since then (Jeremiah 1:5). God has a plan filled with hope and future, of peace and not of evil for me (Jeremiah 29:11). Our Lord assured us that even the very hairs of my head are all numbered and known to Him (Matthew 10:30).  He has inscribed me on the palms of His hands and my walls (boundaries and protection) are continually before Him (Isaiah 49:18). Every aspect of my life is known and controlled by God. He has promised to be with me always (Matthew 28:20) and my Savior Lord has shared His glory with me (John 17:22). He has blessed me further by authorizing me to do the very works that He did ‘and greater works than that’ (John 14:12).

How can a believer even think of doing that? – We are promised that ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7) and this is the same Spirit of God who raised Lord Jesus from the dead and now dwells in all believers (Romans 8:11). The gifts of the Spirit are evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Prophet Elijah introduced himself to king Ahab, ‘As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand’ (1 Kings 17:1). The same LORD God is with me to the ends of the age, His Spirit empowers me and He protects me and extends my area of operation but “Do I stand before Him” and in His Divine presence? Standing before Him will be to give Him the first place in everything in my life ‘in all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my strength’. Prophet Elijah could perform such great miracles and be raised up to heaven without facing death in the power of his introductory statement. Anyone who adheres to this total submission before God will be able to do what he did.

There are two views about miracles, continuationalism which means that the miracles did not cease with the Apostolic era or closing of the Scripture canon while cessationists believe the opposite. In a book ‘The Case for Miracles’ a study by Barna Group of US about the attitude of Christians about miracles and the supernatural is listed. The study concluded that 38% of Americans reported having experienced a miracle in their lives. We live surrounded by darkness and sin all around where suffering is normal but God does intervene to answer our prayers. Why God does not perform miracles regularly is probably due to our lack of expectancy or faith but it is ultimately His choice.  God’s word to Moses is clear, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion’ (Romans 9:15).

Can every believer expect a miracle in his life or not? – There is a story of a fisherman in Philippines who found a large misshapen pearl and kept it for ten years believing it to be of no use. On moving out from there he gave it to the local tourism office and it turned out to be the world’s largest pearl valued at approximately $100 million or so. Anything not matching our expectation loses its value to us. In Nazareth Lord Jesus ‘could not do’ any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith and it appears from the narrative as if the people lack of faith made Him powerless (Mark 6:5-6). Faith is essential to our life but our lack of it cannot replace the Savior’s power, making it dependent on the power of our belief (Hebrews 11:6). If this was so our life would then be a continuous struggle about having adequate faith and it will place our Lord at the mercy of our faith. Then our faith will not be as much in god as it is in the amount of belief we have conjured up to control Him.

Mark’s Gospel has the theme defined in the beginning itself, ‘Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God’ and every line supports that (Mark 1:1).  The words ‘He could not’ are not about His incapacity but about His principle (Mark 6:5-6). How could He give something to someone who does not believe that He can?  The woman with 12 years ailment of blood flow said, ‘if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well’ and was blessed with miraculous healing (Mark 5:28). Miracle is through the power of God but only for those who earnestly believe and seek the same.

How can we perform or receive miracles in our lives? -We face many challenges in life but success is only possible under the guiding hand of the Lord.  David was accepted as king by all tribes of Israel and Philistines came to battle with him and he enquired of the LORD whether to go against them and God promised and gave him victory. Again the Philistines came to battle and in answer to David’s prayer God answered, ‘when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines. And David did so’ and the enemy was defeated on both occasions (2 Samuel 5:17-25). David has been called a ‘man of God’s heart’, one who had developed a close relationship with God. Joshua was told not to be afraid by God and then by the Israelites, despite the fact that he had assisted Moses for forty years (Joshua 1). He worked on his relationship with the LORD and for a while could stop the sun and moon in their tracks (Joshua10:12).

Faith is important but equally important is to ask God to intervene in your situation for God will never bypass the free will of man.  Prophet Elijah offered the sacrifice to the LORD and the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the  burnt sacrifice along with the stones of the Altar giving him victory over eight hundred fifty prophets of Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18:18-40). Lord Jesus commanded us to ask to receive, seek to find and knock to get the door opened (Matthew 7:7). But the Lord knows our nature of not seeking Him or knocking but only for asking and He Himself comes knocking at the door of our heart to come in (Revelation 3:20). We have to let Him in and then follow Him, the Good Shepherd. Apostle Peter sought the Lord’s permission and stepped out of the boat in the storm and walked on water (Matthew 14:28-29). We must seek and expect a miracle to change your situation.

How do the miracles change our lives? – Every miracle of Lord Jesus had a purpose, to show us that God is real; He loves us, and wants to heal and restore us to abundant life. The Savior Lord healed multitudes to change their lives.

First miracles draw us closer to God because they reveal His character.  People sick with various diseases were brought to Lord Jesus ‘and He laid His hands on everyone of them and healed them’ (Luke 4:40-41). Even a leper or a ceremonially unclean person was not left out but touched. We can see that Lord Jesus attended to each person individually, touched each one and made it personal to draw them to Him.

Second, God’s miracles are not time bound – It is God’s Divine will to lead all believers into His eternal kingdom where there is no disease or death and His kingdom is already established in our hearts. The leper said, ‘Lord, if You are willing. You can make me clean’ (Matthew 8:2). In the same manner father of the boy with the mute spirit cried out to Him, ‘if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us’ (Mark 9:22). We have to remove if from our prayers for this expresses doubt and He is willing to perform miracles even today.

Three, miracles can happen when least expected – The man with sickness of thirty eight years lying by the Bethesda pool expressed helplessness to get into the pool to be healed. Lord does not need pool, or magic or troubled waters to heal but surrender. The sick man did not expect to be healed and God can miraculously intervene in our situation when we least expect. We do not have to look towards others but God alone.

Four, if you are ready for miracle to occur in your life, your faith must be in God alone and not in someone else’s spiritual gifts – “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).   His will is to give me abundant life in Him and everything I ask will be answered. I will not get tied down in doubt, ‘if it is His will’ but ask in faith and wait for the gift.

Five, miracles are happening everyday – The ones who saw miracles everyday were those who were close to the Lord and we can also see the same if we have a close relationship with Him. When we get close and personal with Him He does the greatest miracle of changing our very lives.

Six, miracles affect changes in circumstances – God miraculously chooses to heal some while leaving out others according to His Divine purpose. ‘I have tested you in the furnace of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10) and after that is a promotion in His kingdom work. Apostle Paul had faith but the thorn was not removed by the Lord for ‘He was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words’ (2 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Seven, miracles may not happen or come in a different form altogether with unimaginable results– God is Sovereign and it is His will to bless me. My prayer for a miraculous saving or healing is not to force Him but to change myself to obey His Word. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego told king Nebuchadnezzar, ‘our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods’. Four men were seen in the fire by the king and he cried out, ‘the form of the fourth is like the Son of God’. The three were taken out and ‘the hair of their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not upon them’. The result, a decree was made by the king with the words, ‘there is no other God who can deliver like this’ and the three were promoted (Daniel 3:17-30). An unusual situation led to an unusual revelation by God to king Nebuchadnezzar. Angel Gabriel told Daniel about his prayer being heard by God the very same day but he was delayed by Satan (Daniel 10:12-13). It is possible that the answer to our prayers may get delayed and we have to remain steadfast in faith.

Satan’s every effort is directed at us to distract us from our faith towards his lies and every situation that we face in our lives has a purpose and a reason. Job was tested for his faith with great sufferings but he remained steadfast to finally be the route of blessings for those who accused him of sin. God in His love is ever willing to step forward to rescue us from our difficulties but we have to ask and then wait for His deliverance. When we do this the clouds of darkness miraculously turn into showers of blessing. Am I ready to ask and expect a miracle to happen!!