Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 151 - Miracles And The Will Of God Received this from a friend? Why not join Eternity Daily Bible Study by sending a blank email to: eternitydbs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com The thirty-one studies on the Kingdom of Heaven have just been compiled into an ebook that can be downloaded (for free) from: http://www.aibi.ph/kingdom/ (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: {8} for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, {10} to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. {11} But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (Hebrews 2:4 NKJV) God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Scripture is clear that miracles are not given according the power or piety (Acts 3:12) or wisdom (1 Corinthians 19-31) of the person involved but according to the will of God. (1 Corinthians 12:11, Hebrews 2:4). Neither are miracles universal, a right of all Christians but are distributed to this or that person and not to others. (1 Corinthians 12:28,29). This creates a problem....when we NEED a miracle how can we have any confidence that one will turn up? Is it a divine lotto where we go out and take risks for God and then perhaps He will turn up in power - and then perhaps not. Saying miracles are "up to the will of God" seems virtually the same as saying "miracles are chance occurrences and not to be relied on". Sort of a "lucky dip". I try to take a middle position on this. Yes, God is sovereign and it is up to Him to do miracles. But this does not mean that miracles are random or evenly distributed like tossing a coin. Miracles are much more common in the lives of folk engaged in Kingdom work. If you are doing the will of God and miracles occur according to the will of God, then you are putting yourself in the path of the miraculous. Jesus also makes very clear that miracles also tend to occur much more often around those who have mustard-seed faith and "according to your faith be it unto you" is a common phrase in the gospels. So miracles ought to be more common among people of great faith, doing God's will - and indeed this is so. Before we charge ahead we need to define faith a little bit more: Faith = trusting God's word in daily practice e.g the centurion. Unbelief = refusing to trust God's word in daily practice e.g. Israelites in the wilderness. Doubt = being unsure as to whether you can trust God's Word in daily practice (Peter on the water). Presumption = trying to trust in our own hopeful imaginings instead of God's Word. Most Western Christians are filled with doubt. They are not "really sure" they can rely on God in the crunch. On the news we see people who say they are "relying on God" being bombed into oblivion in Iraq or Afghanistan and mentally we note that relying on God is risky and we would rather rely on technology. We seldom see people solely "relying on God" succeeding in life. The missionaries are poor, the churches are empty, the God-fearing seem to struggle. Miracles are less reliable than money is the message of our culture. To "rely on God" is seen as the last desperate act of foolish people who have failed to plan properly. As someone once said "God seems to be most often on the side of the big battalions." So if miracles are "the will of God" and we have no idea what that is, or when He will act, then lets give up and go home and act like the Gentiles! How can I, as a missionary, rely on God's miraculous provision and power and protection if it is totally unpredictable? If it is simply "up to the will of Allah" so to speak? Well I have relied on that provision and protection for twenty years and lived among tribesmen and ex-cannibals and in inner cities and among drug pushers and even among Muslim fundamentalists and terrorists...and God has provided and kept me safe and met my needs because it is HIS WILL to keep His servants fed and safe and happy! God's will is totally loving and His miracles follow His love. Individual miracles may seem a bit "random" and surprising but over time a picture of consistent care emerges. God is BOTH reliable and sovereign at the same time, doing miracles according to His will, but also reliably keeping His servants who do His will (even imperfect servants like me). Let me use my personal circumstances to illustrate what I mean so that you can know that God is reliable and that I live what I preach. I do not have a regular missionary salary. I simply get whatever comes in that month. I have absolutely no idea of when the money is coming in or how much. But the rent is always paid and the electricity and the phone and the daily needs of life and ministry. My wife and I feel no want and genuinely praise God for His care and provision. I don't do any fund-raising. I just focus on my ministry and pray and God provides. To many this would seem chaotic and nerve-wracking but it works, day in day out, year-in, year out. It works because the miracle-working God is reliable in the long-run and miracles occur when you have faith and do God's will. (This is not a hint for funds by the way). Ok, what's this devotional been about? Its about our tendency to say: "Well miracles are just according to God's will, and we can't predict that, so lets not rely on them." Its about us deciding that the miraculous is in the "too hard basket" and that living adventurously is just for crazy missionaries like me. Its about confusing the "will of God" with the "will of Allah" or the "iron hand of Fate". The will of God s compassionate, loving, healing, restoring, gentle, gracious and faithful to His Word. Miracles come forth from the compassionate heart of Jesus and the needs of people who have faith enough to trust God in daily life. Can you dial up a miracle like you order a pizza? No, you can't. That would degrade God. But you can live in the midst of miracles from His loving hand. If you trust Him enough to go out and do His will, by faith, and cast your burdens on Him, then the miracles will abound - often when you least expect them. They are given according to His will and His will is to love you and care for you. Blessings in Him, John Edmiston Asian Internet Bible Institute http://www.aibi.ph/ Free Online Bible And Ministry Training Try our free ebooks on prayer: http://www.aibi.ph/ebooks/ Visit the Eternity home page at: http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ This devotional may be freely forwarded to others and used for non-profit ministry purposes as long as the following copyright notice is included. © Copyright John Edmiston 2003