Lent 15 Miracles

[HKHaugan]

Lent 15 Miracles

‘It’s a miracle!’ You’ve heard and said that phrase many times I’m sure. When miracles are discussed they invite both cynical speculation and joyous affirmation. There is usually no middle ground. It’s one or the other. Just what is a miracle? Do they really happen? How do we approach the subject?

For those who follow Jesus as the source of truth Scripture points the way. There the bottom line always is where God leads us to, through and by faith. Scripture begins and ends directing us to be faithful, full of faith. In the final analysis the very nature of all reality is perceived through faith. That’s the way God wants it. That’s the way it is presented and that’s the way God intended it to be received. Why? Because God is faithful, full of faith. That is His nature. Scripture puts it plainly, “…he is the faithful God,…(Deut.7:9).” In order to relate to a God who is by nature faithful, full of faith, it only follows that one has to be faithful. Human existence, life itself as we know it, was created by a God full of faith. He created it to share His spiritual life and all its qualities through it. John states it beautifully, “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it (20:31).”

So what does God do? He presents everything in the context of faith, acts in faith, spends time in human history demonstrating faith and, in His Son, demonstrates faith to the ‘nth degree;‘ living in faith, dying in faith and rising from the dead in faith.

So the source of miracles is a God full of faith. Miracles are faith miracles. To begin to understand what a miracle is you have to be full of faith to see a God filled with faith in action. What better place to start than with Creation itself? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…(Gen.1:1)” Everything proceeds from that miracle of God creating a universe out of nothing. Paul looks at it this way, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Rom.1:20).”

So out of the invisible the visible has come into existence. That is a miracle. From there comes the next miracle and that is God revealing in His Word everything about Himself, His will, His plan and how we personally fit into Him. Revelation is a miracle. God initiates the whole process of communication, relationship and our restoration to Him. That is a miracle. What all this says is that we have a God who has established a universe which He can enter at will, change at will and end at will. This is what He did in Jesus Christ. God the Son entered the physical universe and from time to time changed its order to demonstrate its source, its true nature, its qualities and its Lord. Then He is planning to return in His time to make it over into a new heaven and a new earth (Rev.21).
What is a miracle then? It is God intervening in His Creation to introduce faith, restore faith, renew faith, rebuild faith and strengthen faith in Him, His Son and the Holy Spirit.

Why miracles? Because He loves us. He really cares about each of us personally. Sometimes it takes God intervening personally to reach a lost heart. He does it in a way that is always supernatural, above the natural order, outside the natural order. There is no one way or one method or descriptive event that covers His activity. Note again the plural use of miraculous ‘powers’ to describe the spiritual gift given to some in the Body. It may be the unusual multiplication of food when it normally would have run out. Or maybe the physical healing of some defect in the body. When physical circumstance has been changed and you witness it. But even more importantly who can deny that most precious singular miracle of a converted and transformed heart and the consequent ministries that have arisen as the result? The angels in Heaven rejoice at that miracle (Lk.15:10).

Then, of course, the most profound miracle for which the miracle of Creation was designed, the Lord Jesus becoming a man, dying in our place and rising so that each of us could have forgiveness of sin, a personal relationship with God in Jesus and the eternal life He gives to each who have faith in Him.

The gift of miraculous powers is experienced as the result of a believer being open to letting the Holy Spirit move at His will. The best way to be open to the Spirit is to acquaint yourself with the miracles Jesus performs, what they are and what they mean. Then see the miracles God performed through His people in the Old Testament. Pray about them, be acquainted with them and be open to let the Spirit use your faith at any given moment. While God may call on any of His people at any time there are those in the Body who He has gifted to be ready. Maybe you will walk on water, multiply the loaves and quiet the storm. Will you be ready? Are you faithful, full of faith?

More on gifts…stay tuned……..