MIRACLES

MIRACLES

What is it?

Miracles are works of divine power that go beyond ordinary human ability and demonstrate God’s activity. Paul describes “workings of powers” or miraculous powers.

Where is it found?

1 Corinthians 12:10

1 Corinthians 12:28–29

Acts 9:36–42

Acts 13:8–12

Acts 16:16–18

The weight and responsibility

Miraculous ministry must never become entertainment. Signs in Scripture point toward God. The moment the minister becomes the attraction, the gift is being mishandled. Extraordinary claims also deserve honest discernment and verification.

You may have this gift if...

Others may have observed that:

There is a repeated pattern of extraordinary answers to prayer connected with your ministry.

Events occur that cannot reasonably be explained by ordinary human ability alone.

These experiences consistently direct attention toward God rather than toward you.

You may have noticed that:

You possess unusual faith for divine intervention.

You feel drawn to situations where human ability has reached its limit.

You feel responsibility rather than excitement about personal recognition when extraordinary things occur.

FINDING THE GIFT IN SCRIPTURE

Biblical Case Study: Peter and Tabitha

Read: Acts 9:36–42

Tabitha, also called Dorcas, is a disciple in Joppa known for good works and acts of charity. When she becomes ill and dies, the believers wash her body and place her in an upper room. Because Peter is nearby, they send for him urgently.

When Peter arrives, widows gather around him crying and showing him the clothing Tabitha had made. The scene is not abstract. A real community is grieving a real person whose life has tangibly blessed them.

Peter sends everyone out of the room, kneels, and prays.

Then he turns toward the body and says, “Tabitha, arise.” She opens her eyes, sees Peter, and sits up. He helps her stand and presents her alive to the believers and widows.

What are we seeing?

This is an extraordinary work of God. Death is reversed. Human ability has reached its absolute limit, and God acts beyond it.

But notice the posture around the miracle.

Peter prays first.

He does not perform for the crowd. In fact, he removes the crowd from the room. The miracle is not staged as spectacle.

And the result is not merely amazement. Acts says the event becomes known throughout Joppa, and many believe in the Lord.

The miracle points beyond Peter.

That is a recurring biblical pattern: signs are not supposed to terminate in fascination with the person through whom God works. They direct attention toward God’s power, compassion, and authority.

The weight of miracles

Extraordinary ministry creates extraordinary temptation.

Stories can be exaggerated. Ambiguous events can be presented as unquestionable miracles. People can become more interested in the minister than in God. A platform can grow around spiritual spectacle.

This is precisely why humility and verification matter.

Miracles should never be manufactured, manipulated, or marketed.

A person who believes God works miraculously through them should be unusually willing to let claims be examined honestly. Truth does not dishonor God.

And miraculous gifting does not make someone more mature, more important, or more loved by God than another believer. Paul places miraculous gifts inside the same body where every part needs every other part.

Now look at your own life

Do not ask whether you have ever experienced something surprising.

Ask whether there is a repeated pattern of divine activity beyond ordinary explanation connected with your ministry—and whether the fruit consistently points people toward God rather than toward you.

Reflection

What sounds familiar?

What has other people consistently seen in me?

What feels completely foreign?

What creates curiosity?

Where have I already seen fruit?

When extraordinary things happen around your prayers or ministry, what do you do with the attention?

Are you comfortable with honest examination of miraculous claims?

Does the fruit lead toward worship, faith, repentance, compassion, and Christ?

A final thought

The clearest sign of mature miraculous ministry may not be how extraordinary the story sounds.

It may be how quickly the person involved gets out of the way so everyone can see God.