The God I Never KnewSample

Working of Miracles

There's a young girl named Maddie Mendenhall who goes to Gateway Church, and a few years ago she was at her house with her parents when she suddenly collapsed. Her parents raced behind the ambulance as it took her to the hospital, and over the course of the next few days they received devastating news. MRIs revealed a huge, cancerous tumor in Maddie’s brain. The doctors and surgeons didn’t give them much hope, but, with the help of family and friends, the Mendenhalls began to pray for a miracle. Days later, after the surgery to remove the tumor, doctors were baffled when tests revealed there were no signs of cancer. In fact, after months of testing, they never found out what it was. I believe the Mendenhalls received their miracle, and to this day, Maddie is perfectly healthy. She even volunteers with our Tech Arts department.

A miracle is a divine intervention that alters circumstances, and it’s one of the dynamic gifts of the Spirit. Many of us might read about miracles in the Bible and think that they don’t happen anymore, but I’m here to tell you that God is immutable, which means He never changes. God still loves to do miracles. How did Jesus begin His ministry on earth 2,000 years ago? He miraculously turned water into wine at a wedding (John 2:1–11). One of my favorite miracles of Jesus was recorded in Luke 8:40–56. A man named Jairus came to Jesus because his young daughter was sick. By the time Jesus got to the house the girl had died, but Jesus said, “She is not dead, but sleeping.” Everyone knew she was dead, but Jesus took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, arise.” The Bible says, “Her spirit returned, and she arose immediately.”

One of the amazing things about those miracles is that Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit—the same Spirit that empowers us today! Therefore, miracles like the ones Jesus performed in the Bible are still possible, and we’re seeing them happen all the time. Maddie’s story is one of the many miraculous testimonies happening in churches all over the world, and it proves the Holy Spirit still gives this gift now as much as He did in the Bible.

Take a moment to reflect on ways the Holy Spirit has done a miracle in your life. Do you need a miracle to happen today? Is there a circumstance in your life that needs a divine intervention? The Holy Spirit can give you this gift if you will open your heart to Him. 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for all You’ve done in my life and the lives of those I love. I believe in Your miracle-working power, and I open my heart to all You want to do in and through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." John 14:12