MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN!

Do you believe miracles still happen? Since we live in a culture that is very secular, humanistic, hostile to Christianity and opposed to faith, it is quite easy to relegate miracles to a "figment of imagination" and to a place of non-existence. Miracles are either real or they are just nonsense. It depends largely on the source of our belief about the God of the Bible. If our culture is our source, then miracles do border on the ridiculous or impossible. If the Bible is where our belief resides, then we truly believe that miracles are real and still happen. To be candid, since the Bible is my authority, the rule for life and faith, and the basis or foundation for my beliefs and convictions, I choose to affirm its teachings! So I believe in the authenticity of miracles and that they still take place.

What is a miracle? In God's Word, the Bible, a miracle is an extraordinary, supernatural event that is the result of God's direct intervention and goes beyond the laws and limitations of what we term "nature". Miracles are one way God sometimes chooses to reveal Himself to us as He uses a multitude of means to orchestrate His divine will, plan and purposes. The word "miracle" is a noun meaning an "amazing or wonderful occurrence." It comes from the Latin "Miraculum" translated as "the object of wonder." It is the supernatural power of God and thus is incapable of being discerned by human wisdom or understanding.

Of course, we are aware of the every day outstanding works of God such as, the sun rising and setting, small seeds planted that grow into mighty trees, the many components of our physical body working all together, enabling us to breathe, run, dream and eat, a baby being born, a heart surgeon performing an open heart valve replacement, etc.

And let us not forget the greatest miracle of all, which is a person being transformed by receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord! The hymn "It Took A Miracle" speaks to this fact. Some lyrics are:

"My Father is omnipotent (all powerful), And that you can't deny; A God of might and miracles - 'Tis

written in the sky. It took a miracle to put the stars in place. It took a miracle to hang the world in space, but when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, It took a miracle of love and grace!"

The power of God's transforming grace and changed lives is a definitive testimony of a miracle from God!

We turn now to a Biblical Miracle found in John, Chapter Nine. It is interesting, amazing and filled with practical truth for us today. Let's set the stage . . . . "You are the God of miracles and wonders! You still demonstrate your awesome power." (Psalm 77:14 - The Living Bible Version) "How we thank you, Lord! Your mighty miracles give proof that you care." (Psalm 75:1 - The Living Bible Version) "For His miracles demonstrate His honor, majesty, and eternal goodness." (Psalm 111:3 - The Living Bible Version) In The Gospel of John, 9:1-39, we find the account of Jesus healing a man who was blind from birth. Let's consider this miracle healing, focusing on the principles of truth applicable to us. These truths will help us in our quest of "Seeing Is Believing."

First, we must OBEY JESUS IN THE ORDINARY! Notice, the very un-conventional and ordinary way Jesus facilitates the complete healing of this blind man. Jesus "spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 'Go,' He told him, 'wash in the Pool of Siloam'. So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." (John 9:6-7) Saliva and mud are extremely ordinary; nothing attractive, unique or spectacular about either one. Why is it that some people feel that God can only use the out-of-the-ordinary, spectacular things to accomplish His work? If we always look for the more than ordinary things for God to be able to use, we will miss out on lots of miraculous workings of God! It is time for us to Obey Jesus in the Ordinary! How appropriate that Jesus said in this passage of Scripture, ". . .I am the light of the world." (John 9:5) To give light to the blind eyes for sight takes "the light of the world." Is Jesus still "the light of the world?" Indeed He Is! He said it, we believe it and that settles it! When Jesus says, "I Am" that equals He can and will! He is the miracle-working God! There are these lyrics to a praise song;

"You are the Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness, That is Who You are."

Second, we must SEE JESUS IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES! We all have circumstances; some good and some bad. We can identify with the blind man who was in dire circumstances; he was without eye sight all of his life. He couldn't see anything and was dependent on others for everything. Sometimes, we may feel our circumstances are overwhelming and we think there is no relief. Even for Christians who truly are the followers of Jesus we can feel God has deserted us, gone away on holidays or is too busy to pay any attention to us and to our adverse circumstances. If we don't see Jesus in our daily circumstances, we probably don't see Him at all! I need to say, He is fully aware of us and our situations and He cares for us more than the devil wants us to believe! Let us ruin the devil's desire by affirming Jesus in every circumstance we experience! There is no circumstance (good or bad) we have that escapes God's attention and care! "Then Jesus told him, 'I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind'. " (John 9:39 - The Living Bible Version) It is clear that Jesus came into our world to give us the light of His love, mercy, grace and salvation (eternal life) and to light up our path in the midst of our circumstances! "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) "For your word is a lamp and your teaching a light. . . ." (Proverbs 6:23)

Here is our problem! We permit things to block out God's light being shown in our circumstances. What keeps us from seeing His light?

• Popular Opinion. The disciples of Jesus had this issue. "His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' " This was the popular opinion of their day. " 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.' " (John 9:2-3) The disciples had the wrong opinion and thus their confusion blocked out the light of God's purpose. Jesus cleared out their confusion and put their wrong opinion to rest. He reminded them that God had a work to do in the man's circumstances also! DO NOT LET POPULAR OPINION CLOUD OUT THE PURPOSE OF GOD FOR YOU!

• Doubt. The crowd was doubtful and thus they couldn't see the light. " 'Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?' Some claimed that he was, others said , 'No, he only looks like him.' " (John 8:8-9)

We must determine to refuse to be doubters, but rather to be believers! ". . . let him ask in

faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. . . ."

(James 1:6-7)

• Tradition. The religious leaders (Pharisees) were steeped in their traditions and these traditions kept them from seeing and believing the light of Jesus. "Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man (Jesus) is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.' " (John 9:15-16) You see, Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath and that offended the Pharisees because of their tradition. Wow, do we practice traditions that keep us in spiritual darkness?

• Fear. The parents of the man born blind were afraid of the Pharisees and of being excommunicated from the Synagogue. " 'But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid. . ." (John 9:21-22) The Bible repeatedly tells us to never fear or be afraid; at least 365 times, 1 for every day of the year! "Do not fear" is a phrase used to command and encourage people to trust in God rather than to experience fear. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. . . ." (Isaiah 41:10) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified. . . ." (Deuteronomy 31:6) "So have no fear. . . ." (Matthew 10:26, 28 and 31) "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out all fear."

  (I John 4:18) The man Jesus healed did not fear in his circumstance now! He fearlessly declared, "One thing I know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25)

Third, TRUST JESUS FOR SPIRITUAL SIGHT! "Jesus. . .found the man and said, 'Do you believe in the Messiah?' The man answered, 'Who is He, sir, for I want to.' 'You have seen Him,' Jesus said, 'and He is speaking to you!' 'Yes, Lord,' the man said, 'I believe!' And he worshipped Jesus." (John 9:35-38 - The Living Bible Version) A primary way of receiving spiritual sight is to TRUST JESUS! We will always have spiritual deficiencies when we don't live TRUSTING JESUS EVERY DAY! There are two parts to TRUST!

1) ENLIGHTENMENT: A Growth in Spiritual Understanding.

a. John 9:11: "The MAN they call Jesus. . ." We trust Jesus because He is fully Man; human just like us.

b. John 9:17: "He is a PROPHET." We trust Jesus because He speaks the very words of God!

c. John 9:38: "LORD, I Believe, and he worshipped Jesus," We trust Jesus because He is fully God!

2) COMMITMENT: The result of our personal trust! When we place our trust in Jesus, we commit our-

selves to Him, to love and obey Him and to embrace His will, plan and purposes. "For it is you who lights my lamp, the LORD my God lightens my darkness." (Psalm 18:28)

So, in this account in John, Chapter 9, "Seeing was Believing!" The miracle of sight was the basis for the man's belief in the Messiah! Miracles still happen, even giving some substance to our faith. Faith is to have confidence in the truth, the existence, and the reliability of something, although without absolute proof beforehand. It is true that only as one believes or has active faith can that person act purposefully to trust God in all circumstances and receive God-given miracles. An older song entitled ""He's Able" includes these lyrics:

"He's able, He's able, I know He's able. I know my Lord is able to carry me through. He healed the broken-hearted, And set the captive free, He made the lame to walk again, and caused the blind to see."

We just celebrated Thanksgiving Day, praising God for His provisions and blessings. History tells us of miracles that God faithfully gives; here is one little known miracle I just read about. After an abundant harvest around 1622, with Colonists and resident Native Americans celebrating God's blessings in a 3-day Thanksgiving Festival, a year or so later, a severe drought occurred in 1623. All crops were threatened and disaster seemed imminent. Governor Bradford summoned the people to earnest prayer for rain! It was a 90 degree day with no clouds in the sky. The people gathered early in the morning for prayer! By noon, there was still no sign of rain. At two in the afternoon, there was no evidence of rain, but the people continued to pray for it. Around 4 o'clock a little cloud appeared right above the Plymouth Plantation. By 6 o'clock, it began to rain. The miracle had begun over the Plantation. The people prayed earnestly that God would provide sufficient rain, but the rain that God sent was not the common (for that area) Nor'easter in which the downpour would cause everything to get knocked down and destroyed, but it was an uncommon rain. God answered their prayer and brought the people a supernatural miracle. "A soft gentle rain fell on Plymouth Plantation for two weeks." The drought was over and all the crops were saved.

Today, we choose to trust God and we believe "Miracles Still Happen!"