FAITH and MIRACLES

OVERVIEW

• Introduction
• What is a Miracle?
• Importance of Miracle
• Word of Faith
• The Framework
• Difference between Miracle and Magic
• Salvation attested by God
• Faith in Action
• High level of Faith
• Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Galatians 3:5
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

Christianity is based on miracles. We can never be a Christian if we do not believe in miracles for the very simple reason that Christian faith is established on two great miracles—the first miracle being a virgin who became a mother. No virgin woman can become a mother unless and until there is a physical relationship with a man. It is impossible for a virgin to become a mother scientifically and medically.

The Bible says, for the first time in history, a virgin woman becomes pregnant not because of the relationship with a man but by the power of the Holy Spirit, as there is nothing impossible for the Almighty God. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is the first miracle that we believe and confess even today.

The second miracle being there is no other person who died, rose up again from the grave, and is still living today. Everyone dies, while some people have risen to live for a few more years before they are no more forever while our Lord Jesus Christ is still living even after His death and resurrection.

The two miracles are the basis and foundation of Christian faith, which implies that being Christians, we already believe in miracles. Jesus Christ is the God of miracles in our life even today since He has not changed and is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We worship a God of miracles. We should confess our belief in miracles every moment in our Christian faith and life.

WHAT IS A MIRACLE?

Let us try to understand the word meaning of MIRACLE.

A miracle literally means an extraordinary event that is not possible with mankind but happens only because of the direct, powerful action of the Almighty God. Miracles are always transcending the ordinary laws of nature, defying the common expectations of human nature. Miracles are always far above our expectations and the laws that we learn. Miracles are certain in our life only if we confess with our mouth because our God is a God of miracles. We believe in a God of miracles.

IMPORTANCE OF MIRACLE

Why are miracles so important and required in our life? Miracles prove the very existence of God. We live in a world where many do not believe in God, the reality of God, and contempt for everyone who preaches God and the word of God. True men of God, deep-rooted in the scriptures, believe in miracles. Christian faith is all about miracles. The world is taught not to believe in miracles, and people are forced to convince themselves that miracles never happen anymore. We need miracles even today to win and overcome every situation in life.

Miracles happen when we call unto God in the name of Jesus for us to see with our own eyes as the Almighty God is a miracle-working God.

WORD OF FAITH

Paul asks the Galatians whether they received miracles on the basis of the good works they did. The Holy Spirit is a grant from God, who, in His incredible generosity, gave the Galatians more than they deserved. God is a provider. Paul makes it clear that the miracles they experienced are only due to the reason that they heard the word of faith.

Romans 10:17
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Let us make it a practice to always hear the word of faith. Why is it important to hear the word of God repeatedly? Why men of God spend time preaching the word of God? We should always value the word of God as the word releases faith. Our faith will only keep on increasing as much as we keep listening to the word of God. It should be our earnest desire to spend more time in the presence of God. Never take our spiritual life for granted and never take any preaching on the word of God for granted. Learn to love and enjoy being in the presence of the Lord. Faith increases every time we hear the word of God.

Many times it is not God, who is not ready to do miracles in our life, but it is only our lack of faith that stops God from moving in our life.

Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith should increase in all our lives. We should develop faith by purposely putting our efforts to hear the word of God over and over again. We need to hear the word of the Lord more especially when we are a part of this cruel negative world. It is always the negativity which attracts people. Our minds are well-tuned to pick up only the habitual scepticism, which makes it extremely important to hear the word of the Lord; otherwise, it will have a negative impact in our lives rather than the positive influence of the Almighty God. We always need the word of the Lord in every circumstances of life.

1 Thessalonians 1:8
8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

The word of the Lord, or the Gospel, has spread from the church in Thessalonica to other places, including Macedonia and Achaia. The faith of the members of the church in Thessalonica has spread everywhere, which makes other people talk about their faith in God. This is a clear message to any church. The society and community should talk about the faith of the congregation attending a church. We should always be recognised as people of faith wherever we are. We become the children of the Almighty God only when others acknowledge us as the people of faith.

Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

THE FRAMEWORK

The framework of everything in this world is the word of the Lord. Many times we get fascinated by what we see with our eyes around us; however, it is the word of the Lord that is behind everything we see throughout the universe. The framework is the word of the Lord, which God has given us. Faith is based on the framework and not what we see outside with our naked eyes. We get attracted by what we see around us; nevertheless, there is always a framework behind all things we see and yearn for. It is paramount that we all return to the basics in developing a framework for life through the understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and power of the word of the Lord. A proper framework established by the word of the Lord will operate miracles in life.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIRACLE AND MAGIC

Magic is never a miracle but is a trick performed by a skilled magician. Miracles are not illusions, for they work when there is nothing to work upon. The Bible says, “God calls into existence the things that do not exist.” God calls forth our miracles out of nothing. We need to have the faith and assurance that God will still do a miracle in our life even if we are completely empty and do not have anything in our hands. All we need is a strong faith in God for miracles in life.
Magic hides the truth; Miracle reveals the truth—the Living God.

SALVATION ATTESTED BY GOD

Hebrews 2:4
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The above scripture talks about our salvation, and the Bible says God was a witness to our salvation during the process of redemption in our life. Being a witness is a tough task and involves risk. God Himself became a witness to salvation with signs, wonders, and miracles in our lives. In other words, the signature of God assuring us of our salvation is signs, wonders, and miracles in our lives. Allow God to attest to our salvation for miracles in our life. We need to look back at our fundamentals and introspect whether salvation is still active in us if we no longer experience any miracles in our life. God will do great and mighty miracles in all our lives. God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to authenticate our salvation. God will never grant the gifts of the Holy Spirit to anyone who has not been truly saved.

God performs miracles in our life for mainly two reasons: one being out of compassion towards us and the other reason to attest to our life of salvation. God yearns to attest to the life of our salvation. God wants His signature as witness in our life. There is nothing more beautiful in life other than God signing as witness to our salvation. Just by accepting water baptism, declaring that we are saved, and living a life of our own is certainly not what God will accept and attest. God will attest to our life of salvation with signs, wonders, and spectacular miracles every day, every week, every month, and every year.

Acts 19:11
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

God attested the salvation of Paul, which could not be believed by the main disciples of Jesus. People surrounding Paul could not accept and accredit his salvation. It is not only through the hands of the men of God that miracles should happen, but through everyone who belongs to the body of Christ. The gift of miracles does not just belong to people in the forefront of the fivefold ministry. Apostolic ministry is attested by miracles. However, God wants our hands to release His miracles through us. God wants everyone to be used for miracles, as our hands are very precious and special.

FAITH IN ACTION

Hebrews 4:2
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

What is the real faith that God wants in our life? All of us hear the word, but many times it does not profit us because we do not mix it with faith. Hearing the word propagate faith, however, the above scripture describes faith as an action that we ought to do when we hear the word. We are proud of the great faith each one of us has, which never reflects in our real life. Faith is always exhibited as works of God through us. All we need to do is to believe to manifest the glory of God in life. The Lord always wants us to express an action of faith to the problems that we come across in life. The promises of God through His word are more powerful than the fears we face in life. Embrace faith by driving out the fears. The devil will provoke us into faith without miracles and works of God. We need to keep on trusting and believing even during the toughest trials, not giving up because the ONE who has promised us is ever faithful. We need to stand and stay strong even during the temptations to give up because our God is a God of miracles. There is absolutely nothing impossible for Jesus.

Learn to live in a lifestyle of glorious miracles. The maximum number of miracles that Jesus accomplished during His life stint on this earth was healing miracles. Never give up to problems or sickness in life. We may face tribulations in life, but miracles are for sure. There are just two options before us: either to follow the systems of the world or trust the God of miracles. The word assures us that our God will be with us to sustain, deliver, and carry us till our very old age, until all the hairs are grey, to live our life to the fullest. The tests that the men of God go through are of a higher dimension. Live in true faith by just not talking about faith. Enter into God’s divine rest, entrusting all our anxieties, burdens, and sorrows into His hands.

Matthew 6:24
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

God promises us rest. The call of God is higher on those who experience more miracles in their life especially during childhood. Let us believe in the God of miracles.

James 2:18 - 23
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Friends of the Almighty God have a high level of faith, which releases miracles in life. Faith activates supernatural intervention of God in life. Start believing in the living God of miracles. The Bible says, “Ask and it shall be given to you.” Always desire, believe, and pray. Request for God’s help, and those who cry out will receive miracles. The blind Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” which was more than enough for a miracle to happen in his life. Do not kill ourselves inside the struggles of life. Walk, step out, and move forward with faith. Our God is alive even today, for He is a miracle-working God. Miracles exhibit the glory of God. We serve a God of miracles. Impossible will become possible in a season change. Grab the miracles from the hands of Jesus, which is our privilege and our portion.’

HIGH LEVEL OF FAITH

Matthew 15:25 - 28
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The woman recognises Jesus as the Messiah and asks for help. She believed Jesus, who is the embodiment of mercy, grace, and love, has the power to heal her daughter. Jesus initially did not respond to the woman but did not send her away either, explaining to her about His mission. The woman persists by saying, Even dogs are allowed to eat the crumbs that fall beneath their master's table. Jesus was astonished by her great faith, which healed her daughter instantly. Jesus consistently affirms those who have faith. People with great faith grab miracles just as little children grab them from their own parents. We are the sons and daughters of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

God, who loves us, sacrificed His own Son on the cross to give us eternal life, which is the greatest miracle of all. Most people expect to see a miracle even before they believe in Christ Jesus. Those who do not believe depart from God and fall away from salvation. God sometimes remains silent to test our faith and perseverance. Jesus exhorts us to have a complete faith and trust in Him. The essential condition for Jesus to demonstrate His miraculous powers is faith—“A FAITH THAT DELIGHTS GOD.”

                                EXERCISE FAITH