Last Sunday, we looked at one of the POWER GIFTS “The Wonder-working faith.” Today we want to look at another power gift “THE GIFT OF THE WORKING OF MIRACLES!”
In 1 Corinthians 12:1, 7-11 the Scriptures say, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:…7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, 10 TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills”.
What is a miracle? A miracle is any amazing or wonderful occurrence. A miracle is something which cannot happen by human means. A miracle is a supernatural intervention of God in the normal course of nature. A miracle is a supernatural act on a natural (physical) plane. It is a supernatural manifestation of God that occurs in our daily lives to deal with events and circumstances that cannot be met by the normal natural means. Miracles are a natural flow of God’s love for us. Usually, supernatural acts happen in the spiritual realm. But when a supernatural act happens in the natural (physical) realm, it is called “a miracle.”
No matter what your situation is, if you are living in a daily expectancy of miracles, God will supernaturally provide the answers you need. He may send an angel or He may send someone as an instrument to give you the miracle you need.
There are two types of miracles: 1) The Miracle of Salvation, and 2) General miracles.
The miracle of Salvation is the highest miracle in the entire universe because it is eternal. The general miracles are temporal since they concern the things of this world only.
2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are TEMPORAL; but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL.”
What then is the gift of the Working of Miracles? The gift of the Working of Miracles is 1) A specific gift mentioned among the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:10a), 2) A supernatural ability imparted to a Born Again Believer to work miracles on the earth, 3) A special endowment that the Holy Spirit has given to some believers to suspend natural laws.
What is the purpose of the gift of the working of miracles? It is used to bring God’s power to bear upon a situation where the natural means has failed. The gift of the working of miracles is used to display God’s power and magnificence.
This gift is also used to confirm the preached Word of God. For instance, when Paul was preaching in Cyprus, Elymas the sorcerer withstood him. Elymas was struck blind for a season by the power of God in the operation of the gift of the working of miracles. That was a clear supernatural sign to the others that were there that God has spoken through His servant (Acts 13:4-12).
What is the major difference between the Gifts of Healings and the Gift of the working of miracles? The gifts of healings are many so as to handle every disease, while one gift of the working of miracles is able to work every kind of miracle.
The gift of the working of miracles is a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit given to some believers in order that he might work miracles.
When this gift is in operation, there is a divine intervention in the ordinary course of nature. For instance, the dividing of River Jordan by Prophet Elijah through the sweep of a mantle is an example of the gift of the working of miracles in operation (2 Ki. 2:14).
Dividing the river by the sweep of his mantle was a manifestation of the gift of the working of miracles in operation because that was a supernatural intervention in the ordinary course of nature.
When this gift is in manifestation through a believer, he participates in the same power of God that was in manifestation when God created the world.
God spoke the earth and the world into existence. He spoke light into existence (Gen. 1:1-3). God brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing (Rom. 4:18).
When God permits a believer, through the power of the Holy Spirit to speak a word, and the miraculous occurs, then the same God who created the world is allowing some of His omnipotence to be manifested through that believer.
But, remember, that the gifts of the Spirit operate as the Spirit wills (decides), not whenever you want.
Examples of the manifestation of the gift of the working of miracles in operation abound in the Scriptures:
1. By the gift of the working of miracles, Aaron threw down his rod and it turned into a serpent (Ex. 7:9-12).
2. By the gift of the working of miracles, Moses turned common dust into insects (Ex. 8:16).
3. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and approached the Red Sea, Pharaoh and his men were close behind, ready to recapture them and make them slaves again. There the Israelites were in the wilderness with mountains on the right and on the left sides, the Red Sea in front of them, and the enemy right behind them. The situation seemed hopeless. But Moses looked up to the Lord and the Lord told him to stretch forth his rod. Moses did according to the instruction of the Lord and the Red Sea divided into two parts for the Israelites to pass through on dry ground (Ex. 14:5-13, 15-31). That was the gift of the working of miracle in operation. That was a divine intervention in the ordinary course of nature.
4. By the gift of the working of miracles a nation was plagued to ensure the deliverance of God’s people and to bring God glory (Ex. 7:10-12).
5. By the gift of the working of miracles, the shadow cast by the sun went back ten steps on a sundial as a sign that king Hezekiah would live and not die (Isa. 38:1-8).
6. By the gift of the working of miracles through Prophet Elijah, fire flashed from the sky and consumed a sacrifice as well as the altar upon which it had been sacrificed (1 Ki. 18:38).
7. By the gift of the working of miracles through Samson, even lions were overcome and were slain. In the case of Daniel, however, the lions were not overcome and slain. Instead, an angel came down to the den of lions and shut the mouth of the hungry lions. Daniel received his miracle through the gift of special or wonder-working faith in operation. He just lay down and went to sleep using one of the hungry, ravenous lions as a pillow to rest his head.
The Bible says that when Daniel came out, “…no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” (Dan. 6:23).
8. The gift of the working of miracles was also used in the Old Testament to provide for those in want. For instance, it was the gift of the working of miracles in operation when the widow’s cruse of oil didn’t fail, but kept flowing out like fountain of oil until it filled up every vessel she had.
Through the gift of the working of miracles, the widow’s small pot of oil became a fountain of oil and provided sustenance for her and her sons (2 Ki. 4:1-7).
Listen to me beloved, most times you hear people claiming to have nothing to sow. Adam actually did not have anything to sow. Therefore, for the result he wanted to be achieved, something had to be taken from him through surgery. My dear, even if a seed has to be taken from you tonight by surgery, it is worth it. After all the dress you are putting on right now is something. That your shoe or hands watch is something.
The woman in need claimed to have nothing BUT. Notice that BUT. In your own case, I know that you don’t have anything to sow BUT... What is that your BUT? That is exactly what you need to sow in order to achieve the result you desire. The BUT of this woman was a jar of oil.
Then the man of God asked her to go borrow many empty vessels (not a vessel) from everywhere, from all her neighbours. And when she had come in, she should shut the door behind her and her sons. She should then pour the oil into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones. She obeyed the voice of the prophet of God because 2 Chronicles 20:20 says, “….and believe the prophet, so shall ye prosper.”
Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is no other vessel.” So, the oil ceased. You see she borrowed vessels according to the level of her faith. If she had filled that large room with empty vessels no matter how large, God would have still filled all of them because our God is unlimited. The oil ceased when the last vessel filled up. The woman limited God.
She came and told the man of God the result achieved. She waited for the next instruction from the prophet of God. And he said to her, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons live on the rest. You see that this woman, by sowing a seed of faith, not only solved her immediate problem, but crossed over from lack to overflowing abundance. You too can cross over right now.
9. By the gift of the working of miracle, Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fishes (Matt. 14:15-21).
10. By the gift of the working of miracles, a solid iron axe head was made to float in water as if it were a piece of wood (2 Ki. 6:1-7).
11. By the gift of the working of miracles, Jesus quieted the raging force of a storm (Mk. 4:35-41).
12. By the gift of the working of miracles, a multitude of fish filled the disciple’s net when they let it down at Jesus’ instruction (Lk. 5:1-9).
13. This gift was also in operation in the New Testament. Jesus fed 5000 men excluding women and children with a lad’s lunch pack of 5 barley loaves and two fishes (Jn. 6:5-14).
14. In John 2:1-12, Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus turned common water into wine just by speaking a word. That was a miracle.
The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is also for us, the Church, today. Let’s, therefore, earnestly desire them as a body of believers and let’s pray for them to be manifested in our midst as the Spirit wills. It is right to pray that the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself among us dividing to each one of us as He wills according to the Scripture (1 Cor. 12:11). Rise up and receive your own portion of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by faith today!
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
- Your friend, I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor, HOG). 15.09.2024
Scripture for the week: “Instead of your shame you shall have double honour, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore, in their land, they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs’ (Isa 61:7). Instead of shame and dishonour, you will inherit a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy.”
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