INSTITUTE OF LOVE

Need a Miracle?
Text Box: For I am, by God's grace, a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News and offer you up as a fragrant sacrifice to God so that you might be pure and pleasing to him by the Holy Spirit. So it is right for me to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. I dare not boast of anything else. I have brought the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them. I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God — all by the power of God's Spirit. Romans 15:15-19 NLT These are the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote to the Christians in Rome and other believers how God used him to win people over by per-forming miracles for them. The following has also been said about Paul in the book of Acts: God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles, so that even when handkerchiefs or cloths that had touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and any evil spirits within them came out. Acts 19:11-12 NLT On the first day of the week, we gathered to observe the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching; and since he was leaving the next day, he talked until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he sank into a deep sleep and fell three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs and ate the Lord's Supper together. And Paul continued talking to them until dawn; then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. Acts 20:7-12 NLT Most people will sooner or later find themselves in need of a miracle of healing, restoration, or provision. We ourselves have experienced and seen many miracles happening in our lives and that of countless other people. Here are some definitions of the word miracle: • An event that appears inexplicably by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God. • An extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. • A visible interruption of the laws of nature, such that can only be explained by divine intervention. • One that excites admiring awe and wonder. • A miracle is a sign that God uses to point to Himself. From the Bible, we can add these scriptures: You are the God of miracles and wonders! Psalm 77:14 NLT Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. Matthew 19:26 NLT For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 NLT Through the Bible, we can read about numerous miracles performed by God. That is God’s nature - to show Himself great to people - so they will glorify Him, and testify about Him as the only true God. Jesus Christ showed us how to expect and receive our miracle from God: Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I assure you that you can say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." Mark 11:22-25 NLT The key here, beside of not having an unforgiving attitude toward others, is that we do not doubt God, but believe that He can – miraculously - do anything to help us. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do. James 1:6-8 NLT We can be sure that if we do not doubt God, He will, and want to, perform any miracle we ask of Him according to His will. And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that He will give us what we ask for. 1. John 5:14-15 NLT It is like this story of the man who was sick with leprosy and went to Jesus to ask Him for help. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before Him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again." Jesus touched him. "I want to," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matthew 8:2-3 NLT It’s always interesting to see how everybody - at some point in life - end up needing a miraculous intervention from God. Imagine YOU being like Paul, an instrument in God’s hands to bringing it about. Copyright©2009 Sophia & Edwin Christiaan Text Box: By Edwin Christiaan