In 1988, Princeton Religion Research Center's PRRC Emerging Trends reported that 82% of adults either mostly or completely agreed with the following statement: "Even today, miracles are performed by the power of God"
Now to many, the works of Jesus were truly miracles but to Jesus he was clearly doing the heavenly Father's will in the lives of people. Most people think a miracle is a miracle. Although in it's simplistic form of the word, that may be true, according to scriptures there are four types of Miracles described within the New Testament. The list I am about to give here could be used as a manual or checklist for the miracles that happen within our lives or within our churches.
There are nine gifts of the spirit and one of the nine is "the working of miracles." A miracle must be worked. It takes the recipient of the miracle work his or her faith. Not all miracles are healings and not all healings are miracles but a healing can be a miracle at times.
Miracle type 1- Notable Miracle. A notable miracle is spoken of in Acts 4:16. These are miracles that happen OUTSIDE the local church. It gets the attention of the media. These miracles make the evening news. Remember the healing of the lame man? Acts 3:6-10 attracted huge interest within the community. So much that it became like a real media event and a social conversation piece to say the least. Acts chapter 3 and chapter 4 both document the Notable miracle in detail.
Miracle type 2- Great Miracles. Acts 6:8 In Acts 8:13 Luke uses the greek words mega dunamis or could we say, "great miracles." This does not mean it is a once happening type of miracle, but rather a steady stream of signs, wonders and miracles. God knows how to give quantity as well as quality. I remember there have been many seasons in 28 years of ministry where there were heavy streams of astonishing miracles that were great. People walking from wheel chairs. Deaf ears opening and many more great things come in waves which is Great Miracles.
Miracle type 3- Special Miracles. Acts 19:11 What is typically highlighted regarding this type of miracle is the geographical location. The disciples were right in the heart of the wicked Greek goddess Diana town of Ephesus. The worship of this idol lead so many people to failure in so many places within people's lives. It took this type of miracle to set many people free. I have found in many places where there is idolatry like Hawaii or deception like Utah you will find Special Miracles. It is sometimes the only thing that will break the hard hearts of the people within a geographical area.
Miracle type 4- Diverse Miracles. Hebrews 2:4 This we could say VARIOUS miracles. Various miracles for various needs. Various miracles for various places. Various miracles for various people. A church may need a miracle. A family may need a marriage miracle. A sick body may need a miracle.
The good news is that we can claim and lay hold of all the different types of miracles for our own life.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
What do you love?
Recently my wife and family and I were all placed at a Casino Hotel which was the only hotel accommodations closely situated to the place of our ministry time and was usually complimentary from the Native Americans. We have been so thankful for their hospitality. Recently I got on the elevator to go to my room after an anointed service and overheard an older woman say to an older gentleman, "All my money went to slots tonight." Real depressed they exited the lift. Inside, I was content and joy filled my heart knowing for sure that I was NOT in love with the world.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... I John 2:15
It reminds me of the three Bible Characters all with names which start with D.
DEMAS, DIOTREPHES, and DEMETRIUS. Each of them had a love, but each one's love was for something different.
Demas: "...Demas has forsaken me [Paul], and has departed for Thessalonica [his home town]..." II Timothy 4:9,10 NKV Paul was facing trial in Rome. Realizing it was too dangerous to be connected with the Apostle whose fate and doom was in the hands of Nero, Demos forsook Paul. Why? His love for money and desire for self preservation led Demas to abandon the hardships and dangers of life of an apostle. In the next century, Chrysostom wrote of Demas: "He chose to live in luxury at home." Why? DEMAS LOVED THE WORLD. I have driven through so many cities and have seen the love of the world upon people's faces. Even within churches and many times sadly upon ministers faces. Thankfully, the world has no mare attraction to me. What once used to pull like a magnet now repels me. Thank God for deliverance from a worldly attraction.
Diotrephes: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us (3 John 9 NKV). Demas is gone. Now Diotrephes assertive. He is a brother, but his primary motivation is not love of the brethern, but his own ego-drive. I can't begin to tell you the people who I associated with as a young adult. Those especially who were used by God in television. It saddened my heart many times how they were (not always) many times ego driven. Some had proved over time to be legends in their own minds. They thought of themselves more highly then they ought. So many pastors who I have written to had turned me down not because I wouldn't be effective in their church, but the Lord assured me on many occasions, it was their love for preeminence. Thank God for my freedom from preeminence. The need to be celebrated by someone is out of my life. I cannot deliver anyone, unless I am first delivered from everyone; including myself.
Demetrius: Demetrius has a good testimony from all and from the truth itself...(3 John 12 NKJ) Some Bible professors and scholars believed that Demetrius was the silversmith in Acts 19:24 whose business was threatened by Paul's preaching of the Gospel. Upon his conversion, Demetrius had great credibility; 1) with the Christian Community, 2) from the truth itself, and 3) with John. Demetrius loved the truth.
Three loves of three types of ministers. The World, the preeminence, and the truth. What do you love?
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... I John 2:15
It reminds me of the three Bible Characters all with names which start with D.
DEMAS, DIOTREPHES, and DEMETRIUS. Each of them had a love, but each one's love was for something different.
Demas: "...Demas has forsaken me [Paul], and has departed for Thessalonica [his home town]..." II Timothy 4:9,10 NKV Paul was facing trial in Rome. Realizing it was too dangerous to be connected with the Apostle whose fate and doom was in the hands of Nero, Demos forsook Paul. Why? His love for money and desire for self preservation led Demas to abandon the hardships and dangers of life of an apostle. In the next century, Chrysostom wrote of Demas: "He chose to live in luxury at home." Why? DEMAS LOVED THE WORLD. I have driven through so many cities and have seen the love of the world upon people's faces. Even within churches and many times sadly upon ministers faces. Thankfully, the world has no mare attraction to me. What once used to pull like a magnet now repels me. Thank God for deliverance from a worldly attraction.
Diotrephes: I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us (3 John 9 NKV). Demas is gone. Now Diotrephes assertive. He is a brother, but his primary motivation is not love of the brethern, but his own ego-drive. I can't begin to tell you the people who I associated with as a young adult. Those especially who were used by God in television. It saddened my heart many times how they were (not always) many times ego driven. Some had proved over time to be legends in their own minds. They thought of themselves more highly then they ought. So many pastors who I have written to had turned me down not because I wouldn't be effective in their church, but the Lord assured me on many occasions, it was their love for preeminence. Thank God for my freedom from preeminence. The need to be celebrated by someone is out of my life. I cannot deliver anyone, unless I am first delivered from everyone; including myself.
Demetrius: Demetrius has a good testimony from all and from the truth itself...(3 John 12 NKJ) Some Bible professors and scholars believed that Demetrius was the silversmith in Acts 19:24 whose business was threatened by Paul's preaching of the Gospel. Upon his conversion, Demetrius had great credibility; 1) with the Christian Community, 2) from the truth itself, and 3) with John. Demetrius loved the truth.
Three loves of three types of ministers. The World, the preeminence, and the truth. What do you love?
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