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THE HOLY SPIRIT Study No.16.
XVI. THE GIFT OF "MIRACLES"
A. DEFINITION.
A miracle is a happening or event which is supernatural; the
performance of something which is against the laws of nature.
A miracle could be called a supernatural phenomenon. Miracles
defy reason and transcend natural laws.
The word "miracle" in 1 Corinthians 12:10 is from the Greek
word " dunamis." It speaks of God's energy or power, ability
or might. It is translated "Power" 77 times, "mighty work" 11
times, "miracle" 7 times, "mighty" 2 times,"might" 4 times,
and"virtue" 3 times, plus several other miscellaneous ways in
the King James version.
B. The place and importance of miracles.
Miracles are a major theme of the Bible. Miraculous
manifestations always accompanied Jesus. They also
accompanied His disciples. They are to accompany us also
because they are a part of the "good news" (Gospel). Without
the miraculous, we have an incomplete Gospel. We can only
fully testify of Christ as we display the supernatural. (John
5:36) His works must accompany His Word. Notice how the
Gospel was spread in the early church: "God also bearing them
witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own
will ... Hebrews 2:4)
C. Miracles are governed by the will of God and the obedience of
man:
We feel that Scripture bears out the following aspects
relating to the working of miracles-.
1. Hearing the Word of God. There must first be a
communication of the mind and will of God. This can be
illustrated from the Scripture over and over again. Here
are only a few illustrations:
--Ezekiel 37:1-10 The Lord first told the prophet what he
was to say to the dry bones.
He acted on the basis of the word of God.
--Exodus 14:16 - Moses stretched out his rod in direct
obedience to the Word of the Lord and the Red Sea opened.
Most of Moses" ministry consisted of obeying God and
seeing miracles take place.
--Acts 14:8-11 - We note that Paul beheld this man for
some time and perception came to Paul that he had faith
to be healed. This was not the way Paul normally treated
cripples, but he received special direction from the Lord
in this instance.
2. Believing the Word - Romans 10:17 - "Faith cometh by
hearing and hearing the Word of God."
Faith could be simply defined as an act of obedience. It
becomes necessary for God's men to obey what He reveals
to them. For example, the Old Testament prophets not
only received the Word of the Lord, but they accepted it,
believed it, and actually staked their lives on it.
--Mark 11:23 - "For veily I say unto you, that whosoever
shall say u to this mountain, be thou removed, and be
thou cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart,
but shall believe that those things which he saith shall
come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."'
--Acts 13:9-12 - Though this is an example of a negative
or judgmental miracle, notice the attitude of faith and
confidence, in which Paul operated. There is no hint of
doubt in the tone of Paul's words.
(Also see John 6:29)
3. Speaking the Word - Psalms 33-6 - "By the Word of the
Lord were the heavens made; and all host of them by the
breath of His mouth." In the first chapter of Genesis we
observe that involved in each creative act is the
statement, "and God said." All creation was the product
of His spoken, creative word. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that
He also "upholds" (sustains) all things by the word
(Rhema, or uttered word) of His Power. His spoken word
is the means God uses to release His power. He speaks
things into existence.
--John 5.8 - "Jesus saith unto him, rise take up thy bed
and walk. And immediately the man was whole..."
--John 11:43;44. - "And when He had thus spoken, He cried
with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was
dead came forth."
--Acts 3:5-7 - "Then Peter said, silver and gold have I
none; but such as I ave give I thee: in the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk..."
(See also John 6:63. Matthew 8:8; Romans.4:17; Jeremiah
1:12, 23, 28-29)
4. Acting on the Word - There are so often acts of faith
acts of faith which must accompany the speaking of the
Word.
--James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone."
--Acts 20:9-10 - After Eutychus was killed by falling out
of the window, Paul performed an act of faith by lying on
him and embracing him, then he was brought back to life.
D. What is the purpose of miracles?
1. For the deliverance and preservation of God's people -
This is based on the love and compassion of the Lord
toward His people. Ten times in the Gospels, it is said
that prior to performing miracles for the people, Christ
was moved with compassion.
(Matthew 18-27; Mark 1-.41 etc.)
All the miracles and plagues in Egypt were for the
deliverance and preservation of Israel. This is also
true to the miraculous provision made for Israel while in
the wilderness, The greatest epoch of miracles in all
recorded history was during the lives and ministries of
Jesus and the Apostles. They were a sign of God's love
and covenant relationship with His people. Matthew 8:17)
The Apostle John beautifully expresses the will of God in
the second verse of the third epistle: "Beloved I wish
above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in heath
even as thy soul prospereth."
2. For the edification and building up the faith of
believers -
The manifested power of God always causes men to stand in
awe and have a healthy fear of God. To honour and
essential for the well-being and faith of the believers.
Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge. It is upon this kind of
knowledge that faith is built.
--John 2:11 - "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in
Cana of Galilee, manifested forth His glory; and His
disciples believed on Him."
--John 20:30-31 -"And many other signs truly did Jesus in
the presence of His disciples, which are not written in
this book: but these are written that ye might believe
that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that
believing ye might have life through Him."
3. Miracles are to accompany the preaching of the Gospel and
work in connection with evangelism - Jesus attracted
crowds as He performed miracles. The disciples after Him
also operated this way. The miracles of the outpouring
of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost resulted in the
salvation of three thousand souls.
Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 14:22 that tongues are
still a sign to unbelievers; an evidence of the
supernatural.
When tongues are practiced properly, they show the
presence of God.
--Mark 16:15-20 - Miracles were a part of the commission
to preach the Gospel.
All one has to do is follow the ministry of the New
Testament apostles to see the important part miracles
played in the advance of the Gospel. God is, in these
last days, again restoring these signs and miracles for
the purpose of "dynamiting" people into the Kingdom of
God.