The Miracles of Jesus
Positioning Yourself for a Miracle
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POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR A MIRACLE
Today, it seems as if miracles have become a part of the past. We don’t hear of many miracles and it seems like people, even some in the Christian community, have stopped believing, expecting or even waiting for a miracle. As a result I have heard Christians and others asking the question, “Where are the miracles?” This question reminds me of the story of Gideon. In Judges 6:13, Gideon asks the same question some are asking today with the same attitude, “If the LORD is with us,…where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about?” This question led me to the task at hand.
I was meditating on the church and its needs when my thoughts turned to the individual needs of people I know, as well as the sick and the poor. I thought to myself, “Lord we need miracles. We need some major miracles.” I realized that some people and some situations are not going to get better without what I call heavenly intervention (miracles).
Then my thoughts turned to some of the people in the Bible who had experienced miracles. I realized that some of the notable miracles happened to people who were looking, hoping and believing for them. As a result of their expectation, a good number of people prepared or positioned themselves for the possibility of a miracle.
Some confessed that they would receive a miracle, others prayed to receive a miracle, while others took steps to do something about their situation like trying to be at the right place at the right time, humbling themselves and even overcoming personal and public circumstances, they did what they thought needed to be done in order to receive their miracles. The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). We can confess, we can pray and sometimes we must simply position ourselves to receive a miracle.
I understand there are those who did nothing and were not expecting anything from God, yet received miracles. I believe this to be a demonstration of God’s great mercy, a sign to point people to God and His amazing grace.
On the other hand, I know that there are those who have positioned themselves, taken the right steps, made the right confessions, put their faith in God and yet did not receive answers or miracles. There are things we don’t understand and we have to trust and work with what we know about God in his word.
Remember, God is Sovereign − meaning that He is the sole supreme ruler of the universe and nothing is outside of His control. The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth. With God there are no accidents or surprises. He writes all of the world’s history and works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. God needs no advice or consent for anything he chooses to do. Nor can anyone prevent him from doing what he pleases. No one can hold back his hand or say to him ‘What have you done?’
We cannot control, manipulate, use, persuade or trick God into doing anything for us. He is God and if we could by our actions (or anything else) make Him do something then we would lose the sense of awe in our relationship with the Almighty and He would not be worthy of our worship.
In the book of James it says that we should call the elders of the church to pray for the sick. James 5:13-15 13 is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Notice the words “Is anyone suffering? Then he must pray.” The question is pray for what? The answer is pray for healing. Then notice the words “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”
Miracles are a sign according to John 2:11 “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him”.
These miraculous signs help people believe in Jesus "But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish − the very works that I do − testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.” – John 5:36
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About the Book
We live in a broken and fallen world, and it is a world where people need help—and often a miracle. But today it seems as if miracles have become a part of the past. We don’t hear of many miracles, and more people—even some in the Christian community—have stopped believing, expecting, or even waiting for a miracle. So where are the miracles?
The Miracles of Jesus is for anyone who is interested in miracles, needs a miracle, or knows someone who needs a miracle from the Lord. Author and pastor Peter Negron shares the inspirational and encouraging testimonies of real people with real miracles—including the real miracles of Jesus that we can read about in the Word of God. By showing you how to position yourself for a miracle, these testimonies can help you to believe again in the love and mercy of God through his miraculous answers to our prayers.
Miracles are a sign from God, and these miraculous signs help people believe in Jesus. And while some may receive a sudden miracle, many others must also make the effort to position themselves in the right place, take the right steps, and put their faith in God. In every case, though, we must simply trust in God and in his grace and mercy, and through prayer we will be in a position of faith both for ourselves and for others in need of a miracle.
About the Author
Peter Negron is a pastor at Pure in Heart Church in Chicagoland, and he has been in the ministry for thirty-seven years. Pastor Negron has a degree in urban pastoral ministry, and he and his wife, Marilyn, have three sons, Christopher, Philip, and Rickey, and six granddaughters.