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FAITH FOR MIRACLES SERIES:
3. BRING GLORY TO GOD ON EARTH AND HEAVEN
Miracles happen when we want to glorify the name of Jesus on earth.
So many people are living in ignorance of God’s plan, love, grace and power. Some may even oppose to Christianity because they see as one of many other religions that lack relevance for today’s modern world. God is not glorified when people are kept in sin, bondage, sickness, hurts, fear, addiction, without any deliverance.
Jesus did everything during His three years of ministry on earth to let people know that He was the Son of God. He was the Messiah that they had been waiting for generations. He had a personal relationship with the His Father in Heaven. He did not bring His own agenda on earth but He was on earth to bring glory to His heavenly Father. What are our motives to reveal God’s power on earth? If we seek to glorify God and not for our self-gain or reputation, we will see a greater release of God’s presence and manifestations.
Scripture references: John 8:12-30, 1 King 18:16-45
Acts 4:1-14
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
FAITH FOR MIRACLES SERIES:
2. PRACTICE THE WORDS OF GOD
Miracles happen when we start seeking opportunities to practice the Word of God.
Do not wait until you get lightening and thunder from heaven or a visitation from angels before you start praying for miracles. Do not wait until you are on a big platform with thousands of people in a healing crusade before you start praying for healing. The more we pray for people and putting God’s Words into action, the more we see the move of God. Do not sit at home and wait for opportunity to come to pray for miracles. Rather, we need to ask God to open doors for us to reveal His love and power in everyday situation. I noticed that some of the most outstanding miracles or healings happened when I prayed by myself in a quiet place, praying for a small group of people, praying in the streets, praying for a person at home and hospital.
We should not limit God and set boundaries or dictate the environment for God to perform miracles. God can perform miracles anywhere, in a small gathering or a large stadium full of people. I often get invitations to pray for individuals at home or in hospital. I apply the same faith principles that I have learnt in church to pray for individuals on the street, at home and in hospital. I must see how God sees people; everyone is valuable to Him and I must pray for them individually when time allows.
Scripture references:
Acts 14:8-13
8 In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth(A) and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
Acts 20:7-12
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
