God’s Son restored our lost glory of His image and likeness and blessed us with the indwelling Holy Spirit to reveal God’s glory to others through great miraculous deeds like Him.
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!!
It was taught in a Christian group that Miracles are not part of God’s regular plan/nature of things- due to unintended errors, phases of weaknesses while having Intent to be correct and in extreme difficult situations, miracles occur due to own or another’s faith [there are scientific reasons for same].
Paul in Bible had the faith to himself cause the referred challenge to be removed, and did not need to ask God to do so-God had authorised Paul to spiritually command the challenge to leave : some results are from prayer, and some, from authority the Lord has given to talk to the concerned situations [as Jesus spoke to the storms, fig tree etc.].
The in-dwelling Holy Spirit is given to every believer, “to teach him/her about all things”. The same Spirit gives certain gifts to all believers according to the expected task that God wants to assign. Miracles and healing are gifts listed by Apostle Paul.
Lord Jesus told the father of the deaf and mute boy, to one who believes anything is possible.
Miracles do happen even today for nowhere in the Bible it is mentioned that the power of the Holy Spirit will be curtailed after a certain time.
We are to expect and receive.
Stay Blessed.
Greetings and Thanks for sharing knowledge.
It was taught in a Christian group that Miracles are not part of God’s regular plan/nature of things- due to unintended errors, phases of weaknesses while having Intent to be correct and in extreme difficult situations, miracles occur due to own or another’s faith [there are scientific reasons for same].
Paul in Bible had the faith to himself cause the referred challenge to be removed, and did not need to ask God to do so-God had authorised Paul to spiritually command the challenge to leave : some results are from prayer, and some, from authority the Lord has given to talk to the concerned situations [as Jesus spoke to the storms, fig tree etc.].
The in-dwelling Holy Spirit is given to every believer, “to teach him/her about all things”. The same Spirit gives certain gifts to all believers according to the expected task that God wants to assign. Miracles and healing are gifts listed by Apostle Paul.
Lord Jesus told the father of the deaf and mute boy, to one who believes anything is possible.
Miracles do happen even today for nowhere in the Bible it is mentioned that the power of the Holy Spirit will be curtailed after a certain time.
We are to expect and receive.
Stay Blessed.