Miracles are the confirming force of the supernatural message of the gospel. Miracles are signs from God that validate the preaching of the gospel. While miracles are not the only thing to consider when discerning a message from God, it seems to be Gods method of saying “amen” to his own words through the lips of a human being. I will attempt, by the grace of God, to show out of the scriptures the purpose of miracles, why we should pursue miracles and why they are of utmost importance.
Romans 15:17-21 (New International Version, ©2011) 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
If supernatural demonstration is not included in the gospel we preach, then we are preaching a half-gospel with half hearted Christians (producing half-hearted believers) who produce half-hearted results. Now, I am not saying that unless you’ve seen a miracle, then you are not saved. What I am saying is that supernatural demonstration of power through prophesying, miracles, healings and so on should be the norm and not the exception when we preach and even teach the things of God. Paul says that he FULLY proclaimed the gospel by what he said and did by the power of signs and wonders.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (New International Version, ©2011)
1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
Paul speaks to the Corinthians and explains his mentality when he came to them. He did not come to preach a nice message or be a super preacher; he came to demonstrate the reality of God through the power of the Spirit. He relinquished any right to human wisdom and stuck to the plain preaching of the gospel with the power of God being the foundation of their faith.
Acts 14:3(New Living Translation)
3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.
The Lord proves the message by power. A supernatural message must be preached with supernatural means and weapons. A miracle can be defined as a moment in which the natural laws of life are transcended by a greater reality, namely God. A miracle is an act of the Spirit that cannot be explained away or reasoned away. The purpose of miracles is to prove that God is real; his word is true and must be heeded. We must pursue miracles. Miracles and the supernatural are gifts of the Spirit which Paul exhorted us to seek in 1 Corinthians 14:1. He puts it in proper perspective. It must first be done out of a heart of Love.
1 Cor. 14:1 (New Living Translation)
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.
Paul gives this exhortation in the context of the utmost importance of doing all out of love and that we should desire the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good of the people.
1 Cor.12:7 (New Living Translation) 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Each person should be manifesting the Spiritual reality of God into the natural world through their gift-set. We can all manifest God or incarnate him through the way we demonstrate the gospel. The news is so good we need evidence that it is true. The church can and should pursue miracles. People who demand miracles like Pharisees are condemned by Jesus but those with sincere hearts will not be condemned for their pursuit of an authentic gospel. Obscure passages should not cloud that which is obvious, Paul says to seek the special abilities of the Spirit and that is a definitive statement. We should just remember that gifts are for the common good of all.
The church in North America today struggles with a proper understanding of God’s gifts, they either over-exalt a gifted person or they don’t pursue gifting with everything. The desire for power and the character of Christ must be sought together. We don’t have a right to disobey God by only pursuing character. The true character of God is both Love and power. True power equips us to love people SUPERNATURALLY. We have an edge over the world with the power of God but without supernatural endowment from heaven the gospel is neutered of its power. We can’t just be nice people while everyone goes to hell all around us, we have to be gripped by something deeper, we have to be more possessed by God than they are by their devils.
I John 3:8 (NKJV)
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the devils work. Our commission is the same. The idea of a supernatural God demands proof. We can demonstrate this proof through the power of God. We will demonstrate the will of God( Rom.12:1-4).
Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus tells us to pray that his will would be done here ON EARTH as it is in heaven. That means 1) its not on earth as it is in heaven 2) God wants it to be 3) Prayer and obedience make God’s will and nature known to the earth. When he rules, his will is done. This scripture is not suggesting that we will never die or things like that but it is suggesting that God wants to visit and when God visits his world trumps the reality of ours with noticeable results (ex. Jesus).
God wants his ways and nature to be known but they must be sought. In Proverbs it says “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the honor of kings to search it out.” As long as we view sickness as a trial from God, we will never confront the work of the devil. The church should not be known for great theology first but for the presence of God. Who cares how right we are if God is not with us? God being with us should definitely motivate us to good theology but good theology is not enough. Theology must be proven with fruit and the demonstration of The Spirit and power.
Romans 12:1-2(NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We are called to prove the will of God. God’s will demonstrates who he is. His desires and plans show us who he is. The negligence of the church has allowed the world to paint God as disinterested because we have been apathetic toward their needs and desires. They need a hug, love, encouragement, and they need us to listen to them. When people are hurting and no help comes, they assume God has abandoned them, or even worse that he caused their suffering and that it’s his will for them to suffer.
The purpose of miracles is to show people who God is, that he cares and that he is relevant to their lives. God’s will is good, pleasing and perfect. God’s will is on earth as it is in heaven. Without the miraculous, we are left to arguing points not demonstrating reality. Without the supernatural, we become naturalistic by default. Without the power of God being the very foundation of our faith, we become religious. Without miracles, there is no reason to believe.
