Text: Mark 2:1-12

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days;  and it was noised that he was in the house.   2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door:  and he preached the word unto them.   3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.   4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was:  and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.   5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.   6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?  who can forgive sins but God only?  8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?  9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee;  or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?  10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.   12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all;  insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.  

Friday, 1^st November 2024

THE GIFTS OF POWER The working of miracles

Text: Mark 2:1-12

Memory verse: Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.

The gift of working miracles is a supernatural ability given to the believers to perform signs and wonders that contradicts nature. It is to do the kind of amazing or wonderful thing that is believed to be only within the power of God.  The exercise of the gift of working of miracles brings supernatural intervention into a specific situation. It is the supernatural intervention in the ordinary course of nature by the Holy Spirit through a Spirit-filled believer. It often involves the temporary suspension of natural laws. The gift of faith helps us to receive the miraculous; the gift of miracles helps us to do the miraculous. Daniel had a gift of faith when he was in the den of lions; Samson worked a miracle when he slew a lion. This gift operates closely with the gifts of faith and healings to demonstrate or display God’s tremendous power. While healings are often gradual and invisible to the eyes, miracles are often instantaneous and visible to the eyes.

It often takes an inspired act of faith to release God’s miraculous power. This gift is not for mere showmanship but to demonstrate God’s supreme authority and power above all forces, combat unbelief, and confirm divine messages and messengers

In a more specific sense, miracles are supernatural act on a natural plane. The new birth is not a supernatural act in the natural realm; it is a supernatural act in the spiritual realm. The natural birth is in the natural realm. One is spiritual and the other is natural, and neither are miracles in the specific sense. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are miraculous; they are all supernatural. But specifically speaking, all of them are not. When the working of miracles is in manifestation, there is a divine intervention in the ordinary course of nature. For example, in 2 Kings 2:14 the dividing of a stream by the smote of a mantle is an example of the working of miracles in operation. After Elijah ascended to heaven in a chariot in the whirlwind, Elisha received his mantle and smote the Jordan River. Dividing the waters by a smote of his mantle was the working of miracles because that was a supernatural intervention in the ordinary course of nature.

Miracles can be divided into four distinct groupings:  Healing miracles, the curing of physical impairments and illnesses. Exorcisms miracles involve casting out demons and unclean spirits. Nature miracles involve calming storms, feeding multitudes. Restoration miracles involve raising the dead, restoring to life. 

CGDS Hymn 17; SS & S 23;

TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE 

  Prayers 

1.  Holy Spirit empowers me with the gift of working miracles.

2.  LORD God Almighty, sustain your grace and work out your miracles in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.