Working of Miracles, Gift of
The Working of Miracles
Pastor Keith Hassell
KENNETH HAG1N: "A miracle is a supernatural intervention in the ordinary course
of nature, a temporary suspension of the accustomed order through the Spirit
of God." Concerning Spiritual Gifts, p. 77
LESTER SUMRALL: 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 or be something that is not normal or natural to our behavior." The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit, p. 105
HOWARD CARTER: "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, (Excepting, of course, in the sphere of disease)." Questions and Answers on Spiritual Gifts, p. 54
I. DEFINITION: The Working of Miracles is an instantaneous and divine energizing of power upon a believer enabling him to accomplish something which by the laws of nature would be impossible.
II. What is a "miracle"?
A. A miracle is only a miracle from the viewpoint of man
1. God is Almighty
2. Man and nature are limited
B. The word "miracle" has often been misunderstood and misused. Examples might include:
1. Miracle fabric
2. Miracle drug
3. Miracle detergents
4. "It is a miracle" commonly used as an expression of awe and wonder
C. Biblically, a miracle is a divine intervention of the power of God on the ordinary course of nature —— God flexing His mighty arm of power.
III. The Working of Miracles: A Greek Study
A. The Greek for the "Working of Miracles" is “energemata dunameon”
B. “energemata” (root: energema)
1. Root for the English word "energy"
a. Energy (Webster)
1) Physics - capacity for performing work
b. Energize(Webster) - to put forth energy; to act
2. Strongs Exhaustive(energema) - an effect, operation, or working
C. "dunameon"(root: dunamis)
1. Root for the English word "Dynamite"
2. Strong's Exhaustive(dunamis) - force, power, ability, and might
D. "energemata dunameon" - the "energizing of power or ability"
IV. What is the difference between the Gifts of Healings and the Working of Miracles?
A. Dennis Bennett, in his book The Holy Spirit and You states, states "It is not always easy to draw a sharp line between the gift of miracles and the gifts of healing. It would seem that "healing" should include those acts of power that involve the curing of a condition in the living human body (or animal body, for the healing also can take place in animals by prayer). Other events would come under the heading of miracles."(p. 125)
V. The difference between the "RECEIVING" of miracles and the "WORKING" of miracles
A. RECEIVING
1. In the realm of healing, many times miracles are received, but they are not "workings" of miracles, they are healing miracles.
2. Many times miracles are received through the gift of faith or general believer's faith, but this is not the "working" of miracles.
3. "Receiving" implies faith and obedience on the part of the recipient. Faith is the means by which we receive from God.
B. WORKING
1. "Working" is an active word. Webster's Dictionary defines "work" as "exertion of strength or faculties to accomplish something."
2. Working involves action, a use of energy on the part of a person or instrument
3. Work must have an initiating and a participating force
VI. The Purpose of the Working of Miracles
A. God demonstrates Himself as God (l Kings 18:20-39; Acts 5:1-5)
B. God judges the hardness of men's hearts(Exodus 3:19-20; Acts 8:13)
C. God meets needs
1. Manna and Water
2. Feeding Five-Thousand
3. Widow supplied in drought
D. God brings assurance of His Sovereignty and Power to His people (Exodus 4:5)
E. God attests to His servants through miracles (Acts 2:22)
F. God confirms the preached word of God with miracles(Mark 16:20)
G. God brings deliverance to His people
1. Parting of the Red Sea
2. The Three Hebrews and the Fiery Furnace
3. Jesus stills the storm
NOTE: Miracles are not done to force or frighten unbelievers into believing —— they are done to encourage those who have already believed or want to believe. Matthew 12:39-40: "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
VII. Old Testament Examples of the Working of Miracles
A. Exodus 7-12 Miraculous plagues of Egypt
B. Exodus 14:21-31 Dividing of the Red Sea
C. Joshua 10:12-14 Sun and Moon standing still for Joshua
D. Judges 14:5-6 Samson slays a lion
E. Judges 15:14-15 Samson slays 1,000 men with the jawbone of an ass
F. Judges 16:29-30 Samson dislocated the two middle pillars of the great Philistine temple
G. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 David slays a lion and a bear
H. 1 Samuel 17:37, 48-51 David slays the giant Goliath
I. 1 Kings 17:8-16 Widow's cruse of oil and a barrel of meal made to last throughout the drought
J. 1 Kings 18:17-39 Elijah calls fire out of heaven
I. 1 Kings 4:38-41 Poisonous soup made harmless
K. 2 Kings 2:8 Elijah parts the water with his mantle
M. 2 Kings 20:8-11 Sun goes backward on Hezekiah's sundial in response to Isaiah's prayer
VIII. New Testament Examples of the Working of Miracles
A. Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus stills the storm
B. Matthew 14:25-33 Jesus and Peter walk on the water
C. Matthew 17:24-27 Tax money found in a fish's mouth
D. Matthew 21:17-22 Withering of the Fig Tree
E. Mark 6:38-44 Feeding of the Five Thousand
F. Mark 8:1-9 Feeding of the Four Thousand
G. Luke 5:1-11 First catch of fish
H. John 2:1-11 Water turned to wine
I. John 21:1-14 Second catch of fish
J. Acts 5:1-5 Ananias and Sapphira struck dead
K. Acts 8:39-40 Philip transported bodily by the power of the Holy Spirit
L. Acts 13:4-12 Elymas, the sorcerer, struck blind
M. Acts 28:3-6 Paul bitten by a poisonous snake and shakes it off with no harm