Miracles are the reverse of the natural order and because of that we refer to them as miracles. They are unimaginable or inexplicable. We attribute them to the supernatural because we acknowledge our limited capacity matched against divine authority. Miracles are daily occurrences so do not need much description except the environment in which they thrive. By the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to continue to share some biblical facts that account for the soils of miracles as follows:
Leaning on God always
Proverbs 3:5-6 says trust in the Lord always with your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding, in all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. When we choose our own path based on our own presumed subjective capacities, we push God aside and assume the mantle of battle personally. God then holds back his intervention which we describe as a miracle. If we lean on him he assumes the battle in his perfect timing till it is over. Deuteronomy 32: 4 says the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.
We acknowledge God’s supremacy when we lean on him. Nothing happens by accident in God’s scheme. Romans 8:28 says we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. This is expounded in 1 Timothy 4:4 which says for everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. In Matthew 8: 5-13 the Centurion leaned on Jesus for his servant’s miraculous healing. Jesus needs such resolve from us for his divine intervention.
Demonstrating unshakeable faith
Challenges, trials and temptations are trials of our faith in God. Where we are firm in the face of trials, Christ Jesus is glorified and he intervenes. In Daniel 3: 12-30 the three Hebrew boys namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego showed exemplary faith in God and refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Daniel did the same when he faced the threat of death by a hungry lion. They lived biblical faith which says in Revelation 2: 10, be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
However, with fleeting faith, we quake our trust in God and that bleeds his heart with disappointment. Such an attitude obstructs miracles. James 1:7 says a person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. In some instances, miracles happen when we please God for Hebrews 11:6 says without faith, it is impossible to please God. In Job 2: 9-10 Job refused to curse God and die so he received the favour of the Lord. How do we behave in trials?
Maturing our needs before God
Not every want meets God’s intervention but every need when it matures by God’s plan. Philippians 4:19 says my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. When our wants mature to a need, miracles happen because at the maturity time, we may have given up on our wants. God knows our needs but we know our wants except when the Holy Spirit guides us. For every need, God has given us his grace to endure while we wait for his miracle.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. It is for us to appropriate the grace wisely and prayerfully for its purpose. In Matthew 14: 15-21 it is recorded how Jesus fed the five thousand besides women and children. Jesus’ followers had no food or adequate preparation for food to Jesus’ knowledge. Jesus used what was available for his miracle. We must not discount what we have because it could be our source of miracles. We must always take stock of what we have and to appreciate it as a source of miracle.
Prioritizing God’s business first
We must be ready to serve the Lord with sincerity and his miracles will surely follow us. Matthew 6:33 says but seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Many of us rather want to seek miracles first before the kingdom of God and its righteousness and that is sin. God speaks to us in every situation and we must train our ears to listen and obey. When God comes first in our lives, he takes over to show the way where we are lost.
In Exodus 3: 1-22, Moses approached the burning bush with curiosity. We must equally approach God with deserving curiosity. God complimented Moses’ weakness with miracles. When our priorities are right, God will perform miracles to support us. Matthew 9:37-38 says the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. God wanted to use us and will save us like he did for Jonah by miracles in Jonah 1: 8; 2: 1-11.
Growing a relationship with God
1 Peter 2:2-2 says like newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Most miracles originate from our worthy relationship with God by grace through Christ Jesus. Abounding examples include Moses, David, Joshua, Elijah, Jesus’ disciples, Paul and Silas, and many more.
Jesus said in John 5: 20 for the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will show him, that you may marvel. Miracles are sometimes based on God’s love by virtue of the relationship we have with him. God requires a worthy relationship from us to elicit his miracles. So Jesus said in John 14: 12 truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
Seeking a sign for unbelievers
Some miracles happen as a sign to the unbeliever so he would come to Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 14: 22 says thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. True children of God know the God we serve so do not marvel at his works as a marvelous God which fact unbelievers do not know so marvel. We rely on prophecy as God’s instructions but unbelievers deride it because their directions come from the world.
Examples of miracles as signs to unbelievers include God’s promise to Sarah to be the mother of nations at age ninety years old and Sarah’s reaction in Genesis 17: 15-22; restoring the sight of Blind Bartimaeus and what the unbelievers said in Mark 10: 46-52; Luke 18: 35-43; the earthquake at Jesus’ crucifixion and what the centurion and his men confessed in Matthew 27: 54; Mark 15: 39; the earthquake when Paul and Silas were kept in prison and what the jailer confessed in Acts 16: 18-31. We must seek miracles for the right purpose as God intended it to be, not for personal aggrandizement.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, our soils of miracles are weak because of sin, misplaced priorities and lack of faith. Rejuvenate us with your cleansing power to have faith and patience in thee and to taste of your saving grace in all aspects of life. We look up to only you Lord Jesus and we pray in your holy name, Amen!!
