The Gift of Miracles
A miracle is an extraordinary event that goes against nature, cannot be explained by science and that Christians believe is caused by God.
The first recorded miracle in the New Testament is told in John 2:1-11 when Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. Because this was Jesus' first public miracle, it is often considered one of the most memorable miracles to many Christians today.
If you ask Google more than 68 million results would suggest that Jesus performed 37 miracles that were recorded in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), with Mark's Gospel recording the most.
It may seem a little surprising that the Bible records only 37 of these innumerable miracles.
Miracles in the Bible
Miracles happen throughout the bible in both the old and new testaments. Think about
Daniel in the lion’s den.
Moses separating the water of the Red Sea.
The flood.
Jesus feeding the 5000.
Jesus walking on water.
Jesus turning water into wine.
I have chosen these particular miracles because you need real faith to believe them. They are supernatural.
Scientists and atheists love to either explain miracles away or call them myths.
Modern day miracles
Cessationism is the view that the “miracle gifts” of tongues and healing have ceased—that the end of the apostolic age brought about a cessation of the miracles associated with that age.
Most cessationists believe that, while God can and still does perform miracles today, the Holy Spirit no longer uses individuals to perform miraculous signs.
But is there evidence that miracles still happen in todays world?
You only need to look on the internet to see that miracles are happening every day.
Spiritual gifts are still around.
Here are three cases.
Case 1
In 2015 an unfortunate loss of control caused Lynn Groesbeck to land her car in the River.
14 hours passed before police officers and firefighters appeared on the scene to discover the car hanging upside down over the icy cold water.
The first responders reported that before anyone could even get into the car they heard an adult voice cry out,
“Help me!”
from inside of the car. However, they found that the voice could not have come from Groesbeck as it was quickly apparent that she had most likely died from the impact.
What they found instead was Groesbeck’s young 18-month-old daughter named Lily, buckled into her car seat but hanging upside down just above the water.
How was this little girl able to survive hanging like that for 14 hours in the freezing weather?
Where did the adult voice that called out for help come from?
The rescuers could not explain the answers to these mysteries. A miracle?
Case 2
A construction contractor and volunteer youth minister called his wife and said their young son, Braedyn, had been in a wreck and was in terrible shape.
The mother asked if Braedyn would be OK. Her husband had no response, which alarmed his wife terribly.
His wife felt so helpless and dropped to her knees and began praying! She then started phoning everyone she knew and asked for prayer, and they called other people.
When she arrived at the hospital, her husband was crying in a way she had never seen a man cry. He didn’t want his wife to see their son.
When she did, it was terrible. His head was caved in on the right side. He had blood coming from his ears, eyes, nose and mouth. His pelvis appeared to be completely crushed. His catheter was full of blood, which means internal bleeding.
The doctor said the prognosis looked “very grave” and he might not make the flight to a big hospital where he needed urgent treatment.
The pilot asked if his mother wanted to go with her son, which is not usually allowed.
The mother held onto her little boy’s arm and prayed during the whole flight that God would heal his broken little body.
She told God she knew Braedyn was only on loan to her, but she wasn’t ready to not be his mother.
The mother fully trusted God that He would take care of her son. When they landed, the mother was placed in a room by herself.
There, she just continued to pray.
After a short amount of time the doctor came into the room. He seemed to be in shock!!
All of the x-rays and tests had been redone and the little boy didn’t have a broken bone in his body.
No internal bleeding.
He was bruised and banged up very badly, but the doctor said “I can’t explain what happened. I thought I was going to be telling you there was nothing we could do, but instead I get to tell you that you are very lucky.”
The mother said, “We are not lucky, we are BLESSED! Our God saved our little boy."
When his parents finally got to see him, his head was no longer caved in. He did have to be bed-bound for two weeks.
When the family went for a check-up, the family doctor cried and hugged Braedyn. He said “I prayed so hard but I never thought I would see this little guy again.”
God is so good! Braedyn is our little miracle boy!
Case 3
I found this story some time ago.
It is included because a friend of mine also observed a similar miracle.
Mary Helen Beemer tells the story.
This isn’t a dramatic miracle, but it is truly a miracle.
I have limped for years.
About six months ago, I was walking across my college campus, limping as it continued to get worse.
I went to a meeting where a certain minister prayed for my leg – and my leg grew out to normal length before our eyes.
It was such a funny feeling to have my leg grow longer. I got up and walked without a limp.
Today, still no limp!
Praise the Lord!