Miracles

Miracles

What is a miracle: Short Word Study

The New Testament uses different words to describe various miracles

A miracle occurs when God steps from the spiritual realm into the natural realm to affect a change in a circumstance that transcends the natural laws that God has set in order in the natural realm. It is divine intervention by the power (dunamis) of our sovereign God in a circumstance or situation that mankind does not have the ability to affect a change in that situation. A miracle is in particular an unusual and significant event (terasa) brought about by the working of supernatural (dunamis) power to verify or authenticate the power of God. (simeion)

1) The Greek word dunamis speaks of a dynamite or explosive supernatural power. Strong’s Greek 1411. Dunamiv dunamis, from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work. See Greek 1410 (dunamai)

The implication from the word dunamis is that there is supernatural power involved.

Acts19: 11 And <te> God <theos> wrought <poieo> special <ou> <tugchano> miracles <dunamis> by <dia> the hands <cheir> of Paul <Paulos>:

2) The Greek word semeion means sign. Strongs Greek 4592. shmeion semeion, say-mi'-on

Search for 4592 in KJV neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4591; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally:--miracle, sign, token, wonder.

A miracle is a significant event. The word terasa is always used in conjunction with \semeion. ( sign often used to confirm and to authenticate the work of God i.e., Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? See Also 2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Mr 16:20 And <de> they <ekeinos> went forth <exerchomai>, and preached <kerusso> every where <pantachou>, the Lord <kurios> working with <sunergeo> them, and <kai> confirming <bebaioo> the word <logos> with <dia> signs <semeion> following <epakoloutheo>. Amen <amen>.

3) The Greek word - terasa - speaks of the effect. A miracle is an unusual event. Terasa speaks of the wonder of the occurance of a miracle – as in signs and wonders. 12 Truly <men> the signs <semeion> of an apostle <apostolos> were wrought <katergazomai> among <en> you <humin> in <en> all <pas> patience <hupomone>, in <en> signs <semeion>, and <kai> wonders <teras>, and <kai> mighty deeds <dunamis> Strong’s Greek.5059. terav teras, ter'-as

Search for 5059 in KJV
( of uncertain affinity; a prodigy or omen:--wonder).

What about miracles today, do they still happen?

The word of God shows us in Ephesians that God gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)

These Gifts are the gifts the Lord gave for the church, the body of Christ.

We see in 1Corinthians 12:8 Paul speaking to the Church at Corinth regarding “spiritual gifts”

1Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Another False Teaching:

There is yet another false teaching in the church which teaches that these spiritual gifts were given only to the original disciples and that miracles were only done by the original twelve disciples of Jesus, yet we see Paul. Paul was not one of the original twelve disciples and many miracles were done throughout his ministry. We see also Stephen in “ Acts 6:8 ¶ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

Another false teaching teaches that miracles only happened while Jesus walked the earth, yet we know the scriptures clearly show many miracles being done both before and after Jesus’ walk on the Earth. In fact Paul did not become a disciple or an Apostle until after the ascension of Jesus Christ, when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

Some claim that Paul is actually the twelfth disciple of Christ who took Judas’ place , yet the scriptures clearly show that Mathias was elected to take the office of Judas

Acts1:20- 26

Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. {bishoprick: or, office, or, charge}

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

By looking at the scriptures we can see that these teachings clearly are in error.

The Fact of the matter is that miracles really do still happen. All over the world man and women of God are used in miraculous ways to bring healing to the sick and also to raise the dead.

Here are just a few examples of those miracles.

Mark Bristow: I know of a minister who was in a meeting in Lima Peru who as he was walking out of the building after a wonderful miracles service was presented with a (water on the brain) hydrocephalic baby . The baby’s head was enlarged. This man simply placed his hands on the baby’s head and prayed and as he prayed the head of the child shrank to a normal size in his hands. This is just one of the many miracles that have happened under his ministry.

Rhinehardt Bonke: world reknown evangelist raised a man named Daniel Ekechukwu from the dead in Onitsha, Nigeria Africa after the man had already been dead almost two days and had been imbalmed! Daniel Ekechukwu, pastor of the Power Chapel Evangelical Church in Onitsha, Nigeria, died from head and chest injuries sustained in a car accident on Friday 30th. November 2001. He was medically certified dead for almost 2 days; during this period he visited Heaven and Hell, and was raised from the dead around 5:15 P.M. on Sunday, December 2nd. 2001 in the basement of the Grace of God Mission, located in Onitsha, Nigeria. This is just one of the many miracles that have happened under his ministry.

God is the same yesterday today and forever. The same God, same Spirit of God still is at work today. Still using men and women, even children to do miracles.

Miracles Part 2