…that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Rom 1:12 NKJV
There is an art and science to the ministry of the Word. Some people seem to think that it is ‘all up to God,’ and so they wait for another ’move of God’ to come before they expect miracles. Some people just get tired, and so they stop paying the price required to walk in the power of God, and miracles cease in their ministries. But I testify to you, that the power of God, especially the gift of working of miracles is available to any born again one who is willing to pay the price. I can teach anyone who is hungry to learn and is willing to change their habits to operate in miracles regularly. Are you hungry?
The American evangelist Oral Roberts was one of the great artists in creating an atmosphere for miracles. In his crusades everything was laid out in planning and by the Spirit to bring people to the place at the end of the service to receive miracles, including his spending four to five hours beforehand praying in tongues. Kathryn Kuhlman was the same way. Everything built toward that point where she would come out and say, “I believe in miracles.”
…in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Rom 15:19 NKJV
Two ministries are specifically noteworthy to walk in miracles, the ministries of apostles and evangelists. But every born again one can operate the gift of working of miracles consistently. Miracles abound in an atmosphere of the conscious presence of God. You can have the gift of healings without the gift of the workings of miracles, and we frequently do. Healings happen, and the symptoms decrease until they are gone. But when you have the two of them together, something special happens.
COOPERATION
We then, as workers together with Him…2 Cor 6:1 NKJV
One of the great mistakes the Church has made is establishing doctrine and faith based on experiences. So many grievous errors have shackled the Church because of someone who is influential having a bad experience, which they turned into a doctrine, and then resulting in everyone following them. We build our faith on the Word, then hold that standard and rise up to it until our experiences agree with what the Word declares.
One of the great keys in creating an atmosphere for miracles is learning to cooperate with God.
God is a miracle working God. He rejoices in it! He loves to do miracles like I love to give my family presents. All He needs for the most part to bring miracles is just a little cooperation.
One of my favorite miraculous healing stories goes like this ( now remember, we are talking about creating an atmosphere for miracles )… The pastor brought the lame boy back to the office where I was sitting. He carried him in because the boys right leg was facing backwards, a victim of polio. He said, “This boy needs your prayers.” We stood him up on his good leg. The Holy Spirit said, “Turn his knee around.” So, I turned his knee around. “Turn his ankle around.” Did it. “Massage his foot.” As I did it, I felt the bones become like clay that a potter shapes at a potting wheel. Within a few minutes, he was running home to his mother…
Now, let’s analyze the preparation and the atmosphere of this healing miracle.
The pastor was a huge key, because he had faith to bring the boy back to me to be ministered to. You don’t do that unless you are expecting a miracle! The worship that day, the fact that I preached, the joy that was in the service all contributed to that atmosphere for that miracle. But for me, the real key was that I spent the previous day praying in tongues and reading the Word, basically from 630am until 330pm, while taking breaks to eat. I stopped at 330pm only because the Spirit said “You are ready.” If He says you are ready, then you are ready…
PREPARATION IS THE KEY
You have to sweat the details. History turns on the details. A lazy man doesn’t stay in true ministry for long. In fact, if you see a lazy man doing miracles it’s almost certain demons are involved. Be warned.
You must learn how you are to be prepared to cooperate with God. Ministry, much like any successful human endeavor, can take on a life of its own. When that happens, you have the tail wagging the dog. Miracle working is the art of generous giving. Evangelist Roberts would pray for thousands of people individually in his healing services.
Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matt 13:58
Miracles happen in an atmosphere of anticipation. If you guard your integrity, the Lord will preserve your reputation. Jesus could do no mighty works there because the reputation of the family was bad, which is hard to believe, especially for those of us who’ve been taught Catholic traditions, but nonetheless, true. You build anticipation by having a solid reputation.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: Gal 5:22-23 KJV
The fruit of the Spirit sets the atmosphere for miracles. Love activates faith. Joy anticipates the answers. Peace enables the revelation to come to get the job done. Long suffering gets the timing right. I’ve waited for months in preparation for the timing to be right to do certain miracles. Gentleness and goodness encourage miracles. True faith always reproduces itself in others. It can be taught but it’s really caught. Infectious faith is one of the great reasons for fellowship. Meekness opens the door. In this age of social media and self-glorification, is it possible to be a ‘nameless and faceless’ servant of Jesus Christ? Yes. Self-control is the discipline to get the job done. There are no rewards for incompleted tasks, or running half a race. The fruit of the Spirit enables the gifts of the Spirit.
Miracles beget miracles. Momentum is a physical law, a law in social constructs, and a law in the Spirit. When the fivefold ministries are taking the lead in producing miracles, then it is easier for the saints to produce them as well. It all hinges on leadership. Stay where the fire is hot, dear one, and bring wood to the fire place. It’s much easier to keep things going then it is to revive a dead fire. You can cultivate an atmosphere for miracles, both personally and as a corporate body, that will change the lives of all that it touches forever…do you see it? Love you!
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…