Wonders that cannot be fathomed

Dan Holland consider the power of miracles

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted (Job 5 v9).

Rationalising miracles

It was such an exhilarating and unforgettable moment in my adult life when God’s truth hit my spirit, that He is indeed the same God, yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13 v8). This means that He still does all the same things as he used to do, even greater things through us (John 14 v12). No human convinced me of this, it was a revolution in my heart of the Holy Spirit.

I had the privilege of being brought up with great respect for the word of God. I loved the stories in the Bible old and new, and instinctively believed the miracles described. Somehow, though, alongside this there grew up a doubt in me that these things could still happen and deep suspicion about anyone claiming they could.

People have a propensity for rationalising and dismissing miracles after they have happened. So a miracle healing where cancer disappears becomes a medical anomaly which would have occurred anyway. The change in weather conditions, despite forecasts, for an evangelistic campaign was just co-incidence. The financial breakthrough wasn’t a miracle just what we deserved for all our hard work.

Perhaps you already experience many miracles but I will briefly lay out the extreme opposing views. On one side of this debate is the Churches’ indiscriminate trumpeting of miracles without waiting for any medical verification; well-meant enthusiasm bringing ‘actual’ miracles into disrepute. In their zeal, they scorn any critical thinking.

Real miracles can stand-up to intense scrutiny. Now that I am heartily expectant of God’s supernatural activity in my life, I find personal testimony is powerful. No one can persuade me that miracles haven’t happened in my life.

We could become embroiled in theological arguments; there are apologists on both sides. One extreme pours derision on current miracles. Others also seem hell bent on discounting miracles in scripture, often using natural phenomenon, even dismissing the resurrection, more motivated to undermine scripture than to preach it. Small wonder miracles aren’t commonplace in their church life. Do we drag scripture down to the level of our experience or rise in faith and expectation to the Biblical standard of Christianity?

So, do miracles still happen? Yes! They certainly occurred in scripture and they do now. But if you disagree, why not be like Gamaliel of old, read on and let it become self-evident. (Acts 5 v39)

Relational miracles

I have made several mission trips to another country with a vastly different culture to ours. Before one trip I earnestly prayed that I would witness a creative miracle, such as a leg growing back, an eye opening or cancer disappearing. I believe in setting faith goals and being specific with God. If you don’t aim for something you won’t hit anything! We ministered to many poor in these countries who had pitiful medical care, if any.

The two hosting pastors were both Pentecostals, but they avoided contact with each other. With so much in common why weren’t they best friends, it was a spiritual conundrum for me? Instead, they seemed fiercely jealous of my time, and resources, but they didn’t want to communicate directly. At the halfway point I was swapped over from one to the other almost like contraband at the side of the road.

They didn’t like me mentioning the other one in their presence, there was an elephant in the room. One directly asked me how much money I had given to the other pastor, I found this question intrusive. I put a lot of prayer into this strange dynamic.

Well, I didn’t see a creative miracle on this trip. But, instead of the usual icy atmosphere at the mid-trip drop off, the first pastor invited the other for a meal. There we sat, sharing a delicious dinner awkwardly at first, but soon the conversation flowed.The penny dropped; miracles take many forms, and this was surely one! My prayer was answered.

Financial miracles

They say money doesn’t grow on trees or just pop through the letterbox. Well! In my experience it does. I’ve stuffed a few envelopes with cash in my time too! The nationally recognised CAP ministry has more miracle testimonies than you could poke a stick at. God is an expert redeemer. Debt and bankruptcy are literally killers, often it’s suicide, but they kill relationships, families and communities just as decisively.

We have found that God exceeds our financial expectations, for example we have lived in houses way beyond what we would have expected, at times when we had a tiny income. I’m not quite sure how God does it but the figures somehow, miraculously, work out. We believe in tithing, not all Christians do, but I’m certain if we open our wallets to God we’ll soon be giving much more than that anyway so lets not fall out!

Alternatively, I have noticed secular and Christian people earning big salaries and bonuses who never seem to have enough and are maxed out on credit card debts. This verse is such a powerful truth to get a hold of!

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4 v19)

Healing miracles

Perhaps these are the most common expression of the miraculous. It’s interesting to note that in Acts there are forty healing miracles, thirty nine of which occurred outside the church. God wants us outside, in the marketplace and the highways and byways expecting His Kingdom to break in! Christians often hanker for the days of Acts and the early church, but are we willing to minister in the public domain as they were? Mostly we prefer people to come to us, and wait accordingly. Evangelism attracts the power of God

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” (John 4 v48)

We live in a lost and broken world so desperate for meaning, healing and peace people are diving into the new age and the occult. We need to get to themfirst with the love and power of Christ to work some miracles, so Jesus can be seen and experienced, then they might listen to our message. One thing is certain, if we stay huddled up in our church buildings, the world is not going to experience miracles, at least not through us!

The greatest miracle of all

The greatest miracle of all is of course the salvation and rebirth of the human spirit. Smith Wigglesworth, world famous for his miracle ministry told his followers he’d rather see one salvation than 10,000 healings.

We can all say amen to that, but we mustn’t use it as an excuse not to pursue the miraculous, whether that be healing or anything else. People justify the lack of miracles by the salvations they have seen. We need both, urgently.

Miracles in the present

The demonstration of God’s miraculous power through our lives is expedient, even essential for evangelism today (John 4 v48). There is no substitute for crying out to God for power in our secret place and exercising great faith and boldness in the public place. We have little to lose except our pride, which needs crucifying anyway.Our theology, as important as it is, is of negligent interest to the unbeliever, until he feels the power of God touch his life. Then he may well want an explanation from us.

We could theorise until kingdom come about why certain things work and others not. We can pile up justifications for why miracles don’t happen in the West now. But scripturally it’s as we go, in obedience, that God’s power backs us up (Mark 16 v16-19). Perhaps this verse applies to own village, town or city,

For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18 v10)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Daniel Holland is a UK missionary with Through Faith Missions. He wrote “Through The Tunnel – Free at Last” published by PUSH Publishing, as his personal testimony. His second book “Prophetic Evangelism – Kingdom Exploits in the Risk Zone” was published January 2021, via Christian Publications International: https://christian-publications-int.com/PropheticEvangelism.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Here is a link to a Prophecy Today review of Dan’s book: https://prophecytoday.uk/study/resources/item/2076-review-prophetic-evangelism.html