A Series that considers the Gifts given by the Holy Spirit to Believers

This page is one of a number that seeks to provide basic study material for the Christian who wishes to see what the Bible says about the gifts of the Spirit.

We follow the 'standard' pattern for these pages of defining the gift, then seeing it in the Old Testament, in Jesus' ministry and then in the Acts.

Miracles Definition: a supernatural event that overrides or contradicts the so-called laws of nature

Purpose of the Miraculous:

•  Simply to allow God to fulfil His purposes

•  To meet the needs of people who God loves

•  To show them that God is real

Examples of it happening in the O.T.:

•  Dividing the Red Sea    Ex 14:21 -31

•  Sun standing still for Joshua     Josh 10:12-14

•  Widows cruse of oil continuing     1 Kings 17:8-16

•  Elijah's fire    1 Kings 18:17-39

•  Sun going back for Hezekiah   2 Kings 20:8-11

•  Plagues of Egypt   Ex 7-12

•  Elisha's pot made harmless   2 Kings 4:38-41

What we can learn from these:

•  In most cases there a part for man to play

•  In all cases it was an act of God

•  The way for God to move was provided by the man/woman being obedient to the divinely given instructions

Examples in Jesus' Ministry:

•  Water into wine   Jn 2:1-11

•  Walking on water   Mt 14:25-33

•  Feeding the 5000   Jn 6:1-14

•  Stilling the Storm   Mk 6:45-52

•  Catching fish where none   Jn 21:5-12

•  Raising Lazarus from the dead   Jn 11:38-44

What we can learn from these:

•  In many cases Jesus wanted to teach his disciples through them e.g. Jn 6:6

•  Often he did them because he was moved by compassion, e.g. Mt 15:32 to meet their needs.

•  John in his Gospel sees each of the miracles as a sign for those with eyes to see to help them believe, e.g. Jn 2:11

•  There seems a narrow dividing line between healing and the miraculous - see Jn 6:2

Examples of it happening in Acts:

•  Generally by the apostles   2:43, 5:12

•  Philip's evangelistic campaign   8:6,13

•  Philip transported   8:39,40

•  Peter released from prison   12:6-10

•  Paul & Barnabus   14:3

•  Paul & Silas released from prison    16:25-34

•  Paul  19:11,12  linked with healing

What we can learn from these:

•  Miracles come when God leads, not when we want.

•  Miracles often seem to be used by God to break through spiritual hardness when the Gospel is being preached to help people believe.

Conclusions:

•  The gift of miraculous powers are given to some (who can handle it without pride?).

•  It is used to extend the kingdom or rule of God and to enable belief and meet specific need.

•  To need a miracle you need to be in an impossible situation - are you ready for that?

•  If you have an impossible situation does God want to perform a miracle? (or does he just want to give you wisdom to act rightly until he moves)?