Gifts of the Holy Spirit MIRACLES

God uses a believer to supernaturally do something by divine energy. Definition God uses a believer to supernaturally do something by divine energy. This is a momentary gift of authority, which causes man to intervene in the ordinary course of nature, to do something supernatural, which defies natural law.

Old Testament Examples 10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. 21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14: 10 - 22

Old Testament Examples This is an example of a divine – human partnership God delighted to use Moses in this nature miracles Observe in V 13 & 14: He tells them to STAND FIRM, He tells them that they will see DELIVERANCE He tells them that the Lord will FIGHT for them!

HERE IS THE PRINCIPAL: God wants us to begin to live out His promises HERE IS THE PRINCIPAL: God wants us to begin to live out His promises. The Lord challenges Moses to use what is in His hand – it is the same for us. But it requires FAITH on our part. God invites us to work with Him, to play our part in working out miracles.

Old Testament Examples The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little olive oil.” 3Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4: 1 - 7

Old Testament Examples What does she have to do? She has to go around to all her neighbours and ask them for empty jars She has to get involved in order that God might miraculously & supernaturally fill these jars with oil. She could then sell this oil and pay off her debts.

Miracles of Jesus On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2: 1 - 12

Water into Wine Jesus recruits ordinary stone jars and servants. They are to fill these jars with water. In their simple act of obedience, a miracle occurs, water is turned into wine. Jesus simply cooperated with His Father in this.

Feeding the 5000(+) Jesus starts with what little people had In this case a packed lunch designed for one family, and applies a little divine multiplication to it! Again we have the principle of God partnering with us to achieve something supernatural.

Application: Being involved in miracles 1. Expectancy: We may need a mind-set transformation that looks to God more expectantly. God loves to intervene in the everyday! 2. Willingness to be involved: God loves to PARTNER with us in miracles. God may ask you to put yourself out there in order that He might use you, surprise you, bring change around you, and bring glory to Himself!!!! 3. Right attitude of humility: If we are going to be used in the supernatural at any level, we have got to have the right attitude. God needs to be sure that you are ready to bring glory to HIS name.

Conclusion What’s our response to be? Is it ‘Here I am Lord………use Him’ OR is it ‘Here I am Lord, use me?’