Access the Spiritual Gift of Miracle-Working

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all ... to another the working of miracles ... (1 Corinthians 12:7,10)

Definition: The gift of the working of miracles is the supernatural suspension of the course of nature and physics to manifest the impossible in the realm of the physical through the Spirit of God.

I looked at the writings of three great men of God who have passed on to see how they described the gift of the working of miracles.

Kenneth E. Hagin said, “A miracle is a supernatural intervention into the ordinary course of nature. It’s a temporary suspension of the accustomed order through the Spirit of God.”

Lester Sumrall said, “In the gift of the working of miracles, God is entrusting us with a strength, with an energy that we do not normally have. It is the power of the Spirit of God surging through us, through our hands, our feet, our minds, causing us to do something that is not normal or natural to our behavior.”

Howard Carter said this. “We might say that it is the supernatural demonstration of the power of God by which the laws of nature are altered, suspended, or controlled.”

The Power Behind a Miracle

Sometimes the world will use the word miracle and cheapen it. For example, I’ve seen commercials advertising a “miracle fabric,” or a “miracle mop,” or “miracle detergent.” While these items might be new to the marketplace and while it may add a new dimension to the product, it only diminishes the depth of what a miracle actually is in the minds of men. And the natural use of the word miracle does not even slightly compare to the depth and fullness of the word when used in the Scripture.

In the Bible, a miracle is an instantaneous and divine energizing of power. In the church, the gift of the working of miracles enables a believer to accomplish something through the Spirit which, according to the laws of nature and physics, is impossible.

I found it interesting when I started doing a word study on the “working of miracles,” that the Greek word for “working” is energēmata which is where we get the English word “energy.” The English word for “of miracles” is the Greek word dynameōn. This is the same root word Jesus used in Acts 1:8 where He said that the new believers would receive power (dynamin) when the Holy Spirit would come upon them.

These two references solidify this truth: The Holy Spirit is the miracle working power of God on earth.

The Parallel Flow

When we talk about the gifts of the Spirit, with many of the gifts there is a natural flow and the supernatural flow. When it comes to miracles, there are miracles that take place in your life because you pray in faith, ask, and receive.

Years ago, I knew a man who was living an ordinary life. His parents owned a business that had gone bankrupt decades before. When his parents died, this man received no inheritance because of the bankruptcy.

One day he went to the mailbox and found an envelope that contained a check for $125,000. It was totally unexpected, but through a bankruptcy settlement, he received an inheritance check. He had no knowledge that the check existed or was even in the process of settlement before that day.

You may feel you have no resources, but God has resources that you know nothing about. This man had been praying in faith, asking, and believing God for financial deliverance. God can give you a miraculous deliverance like He did this man. You may not see the possibility of a miracle, but God can make a way when it appears there is no way. He can open a door when you can’t even find the door. He has hidden mir- acles that He can reveal through His Spirit.

While this man’s deliverance was joyfully received, it occurred through what appeared to be a natural process. However, there are times in our lives when we need an immediate, supernatural miracle that goes beyond logic and the natural laws of nature and physics. This is when we need the supernatural deliverance that is only available through the Holy Spirit.

There is a power that is available to Christians that is dis- tributed by God as He wills. This power is outside the normal course of nature. It is the gift of the working of miracles.

Miraculous Deliverance

While the early church was going through great persecution, King Herod was harassing the church. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. After he did this, he saw that it pleased the unbelieving Jews, so he arrested Peter during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Upon his arrest, he was placed in prison and four squads of soldiers were assigned to guard him. Herod’s intention was to bring Peter before the people after Passover.

The night before Herod was going to present Peter to the public for ridicule and execution, Peter was sleeping in prison. Because he was such a high profile prisoner, he was bound with two chains between two soldiers and there were additional guards by the door of the prison. But while he was in prison, the church was praying.

During the night, an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison. The angel of the Lord struck Peter on the side and raised him up and said, “Arise quickly.” When the angel spoke these words, the chains fell off of Peter’s hands. Then the angel told him to get dressed and put on his sandals. After Peter did this, he was further instructed to put on his outer garment and to follow the angel. As the angel moved to exit the prison, Peter followed him.

What was happening was so surreal that Peter thought to himself that it was possibly a vision. They went past the first guard post, past the second guard post, and they came to the huge iron gate that leads to the city. Gates of this type usually would require several soldiers to open it because of its size, but the gate opened by itself without any physical assistance. The angel led Peter out of the prison and down the street, and then the angel departed. (Acts 12:1-10.)

In this account of Peter in prison, we see several miracles and some hidden truths about the working of miracles. First, we must recognize that the reason Peter was in prison was because of his bold stand in proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ. He was not in prison because he robbed a liquor store! We also can note that Peter was not worried or complaining to God about his situation. In fact, on the eve of his probable execution he was sleeping.

As his release was taking place, there were some things that took place miraculously and some things that took place naturally. At least two things happened miraculously: the chains fell off of his wrists and the huge iron gate opened of its own accord. But there were things Peter was told to do. He was told to put on his own shoes and undergarments, to put on his outer garment, and to walk behind the angel out of the prison.

At one time early in my ministry, I asked the Lord this question. If He removed the chains and opened the gate, why did He make Peter tie his own sandals and put on his own clothes? The answer was quite simple. God miraculously did what Peter couldn’t do, but required him to do what he could do. While Peter could not remove the chains and open the gate, he certainly could tie his own shoes.

We must always remember that while the miracle power of God is for the church, we must not expect God to do what He has told us to do.

The Faith of a Child for a Miracle

When my son, Robbie, was a little tyke, he rode his bicycle off the roof of a boat storage building. (I didn’t ask then, and I still don’t want to know how or why he did it!) We immediately took him to the emergency room at the local clinic.

Dr. Lyle showed us the x-ray of the broken bone in his wrist. He told us that this particular bone was important to the mobility of his hand and if it didn’t heal right, it would actually affect his hand’s normal growth. To make sure the bone was properly set, he required us to come back the next week to have it x-rayed again. The cast went from his elbow to his fingers.

On our way home that day, Robbie told us that he had heard from the Spirit of God and that his wrist was completely healed. Well, you know how parents can be. I kind of had the attitude of “that’s cute.” Sometimes God can speak to children easier than He can adults because their hearts are so innocent and pure. Robbie said he was healed. He also said, “I’m going to wear this cast anyway, but I know I’m healed.”

The next week we took him back to Dr. Lyle. I will never forget when Dr. Lyle came out and told us they had x-rayed Robbie’s arm. He said, “His arm is not healed. It’s never been broken.” I said, “So you mean it is set right?” He said, “No, no. If a bone has been broken and it has grown back together, you can always tell where it was broken. But this bone has never been broken.” He said, “I don’t get it, so I’m still going to make him wear the cast.”

So Robbie wore the cast. But God worked a miracle that day through the faith of a child.

Collateral Glory

Because of the incident in Acts chapter 16 concerning the demon-possessed, fortune-telling girl, the people were extremely angry with Paul and Silas. They were arrested and the rulers stripped them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. After they were severely beaten, they were thrown into prison and the jailer was given the command to keep them secure. After hearing this, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks. (Acts 16:22-24.)

This command to the jailer was not taken lightly. According to Roman military regulations, if someone escaped from prison, the guard on watch received their punishment. If someone was scheduled to be crucified the next day and they escaped, the guard who was in charge of them would be crucified instead, so they were very intent on keeping people in jail.

At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. They had a captive audience. Suddenly there was an earthquake and the foundations of the prison shook. Immediately all the prison doors opened and everyone’s chains fell off.

The shaking of the foundations woke up the keeper of the prison and when he saw that the prison doors were open, he assumed the prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword and was getting ready to kill himself when Paul called out with a loud voice saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” The jailer called for a light, ran into the prison cell, and fell down before Paul and Silas. He was trembling. Then he brought them out of the prison and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-30).

The rest of the story is the keeper of the prison got saved, his family got saved, they all got baptized that night, and there was a great revival as a result of this miracle. When this miracle took place, it wasn’t just about Paul and Silas. It was about all the collateral glory that came with it. People’s lives were changed.

Believe for the Impossible

As Christians, we should believe for the impossible, but not just for the impossible to happen to us, but believe that the gift of working of miracles will be bestowed upon us so that through us everyone can benefit.

When a miracle happens in your life, your countenance and your attitude will automatically change and others will notice. The change in your life will affect other lives. Not only was Paul delivered, but also the jailer. Deliverance can be contagious and go viral and other lives will be changed.

Why do you think the Bible tells us twelve men—just normal guys, and some just fisherman—turned the world upside down for Jesus? (Acts 17:6). How did they do it? It wasn’t because of their eloquent speaking. It was the miracle power! Paul said, “My speech was not with persuasive words, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power!” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

The Bible says that Paul, the apostle, performed unusual miracles (Acts 19:11). There were times his handkerchief would be passed around and when people touched it, they were instantly healed (Acts 19:12). Also, it is recorded that the shadow of Peter would bring healing to the sick (Acts 5:15-16). Go beyond believing for the normal. Miracles by their very nature are unusual and appear impossible. To receive the impossible, you must believe for the impossible.

The working of miracles can work through you also. This gift is received the same way the other gifts of the Spirit are received. You desire the gift, you believe for the gift, and when it is imparted, you receive the gift.

While we know that it is the Holy Spirit who distributes the gifts at His will, we must also know and understand that He is looking for a willing vessel who by faith is believing to receive.