THE GIFT OF THE WORKING OF MIRACLES

HIS GLORY REIGNS
B. Childress
Jun 1 2007 08:00AM


Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant...Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord, And there are diversities of operations, but it is
the same God which worketh all in all. I Corinthians 12:1-6

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles: 1Corinthians 12:7-10

The gifts of the Holy  Spirit (or manifestations as identified by Paul) are manifested through individual believers as the
Spirit of God wills.  Spiritual gifts are not given to the individual for personal benefit, but to 'profit' a whole assembly or
body of believers.  When the gifts of the Spirit are in manifestation, they will always exalt the lordship of Jesus Christ.  
TRY THE SPIRITS:  "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that
spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that should come... " 1John 4:2-3

First Corinthians 12:3 states, Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth
Jesus Accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (when the Spirit is in
manifestation).

The Gift of the Working of Miracles

  • A miracle can be defined as a supernatural intervention by God in the ordinary course of nature: a temporary
    suspension of the accustomed order, or an interruption in the system of nature as we know it, operated by the
    power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Whereas the gift of faith is a gift of the Spirit to the believer that he might receive miracles, the gift of the working
    of miracles is given to a believer that he might work a miracle.  It is the mighty power of God flowing through a
    person (Howard Carter - "Questions and Answers on Spiritual Gifts"), an animal, or some other instrument
    (Lester Sumrall) to do something that could not be done normally.
  • When this gift is in manifestation through a believer, he participates in the same power of God that was in
    manifestation when God created the world.
  • When the Lord permits a person, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak a word and the miraculous
    occurs, then the same God who created the world is allowing some of His omnipotence to be manifested through
    that person.
  • In the gift of faith, God is working on our behalf, but independent of us - we do nothing. The exact opposite is  
    true in the gift of the working of miracles:  God is entrusting us with a strength, an energy that we do not
    normally have.  The power of the Spirit of God surges through our hands, feet, and mind causing us to do or be
    something that is not normal or natural to our behavior.
  • The working of miracles is used to deliver people from unavoidable danger or harm.  The gift of faith would carry
    a person through the danger with great peace and calm without the person being harmed at all. The gift of faith
    and the working of miracles work together under certain circumstances.
  • Unlike the gifts of healings, the gift of the working of miracles is more prominent in the Old Testament than in the
    New Testament.
  • Yield to the promptings of the Spirit of God.

The Gift of the Working of Miracles is Not...

  • To be described or defined as the word "miracle" which we use as a figure of speech: "miracle" drugs, "miracle"
    fabrics, the "miracle" of a beautiful rose, the "miracle of a child being born, etc.  Specifically, the rising of the
    sun, the growth and the development of a rose, and the birthing of a child are all "natural" acts as designed by
    God to function in their way in the ordinary course of nature.  Generally speaking, they might be considered
    miracles.
  • The same is true in the spiritual realm regarding the "miracle" of salvation.  Generally speaking, salvation is a
    miracle; specifically speaking, though, salvation isn't any more of a miracle than a natural birth is a miracle.  In
    the supernatural realm, the new birth is a very natural or normal occurrence.
  • A gift you can operate without the unction of the Spirit of God. It is not always an operation initiated by the Spirit
    of God. Discerning of spirits in operation can reveal the source of a supernatural manifestation which can come
    from different sources:  many things that seem miraculous or supernatural to us actually do not come from God -
    we must remember that Satan is also a supernatural being (see The Gift of Discerning of Spirits).

Examples of the gift of the working of miracles from the Old Testament:

Moses and the dividing of the Red Sea

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the
Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.  And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the
sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the
Egyptians in the midst of the sea....But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the
waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." Exodus 14:26-29  This was the working of a miracle
in that it was a divine intervention in the ordinary course of nature.  It also took the gift of faith to sustain this miracle as
on ongoing act (until all of the Israelites reached the other side of the shore).

Solid iron axe head made to float in Jordan river

"But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was
borrowed.  And the man of God (Elisha) said, Where fell it?  And he shewed him the place.  And he cut down a stick,
and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.  Therefore said he, Take it up to thee.  And he put out his hand, and took
it." 2 Kings 6:5-7 We know that iron will not float in water.  Again, this was the working of a miracle in that it was a divine
intervention in the ordinary course of nature.

Samson

Before he was born, his mother gave him to God and proclaimed him a Nazarite, which meant that he would never
touch dead flesh, or drink wine, or clip his hair (Judges 13:5).  The Bible says that as Samson became a young man,
the Spirit of God moved upon him (Judges 13:25). "...and, behold, a young lion roared against him.  And the Spirit of
the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand"
(Judges 14:5,6).  When three thousand men came against him, he slew a thousand men with ony the jawbone of an
ass (Judges 15:14,15).  Then, as his final act, Samson dislocated the two middle pillars of a great temple where
thousands of pagans were worshiping their god: he destroyed more of the enemies of God at one time than he had  
destroyed in his whole life (Judges 16:29, 30). (LS p. 105).

Examples of the gift of the working of miracles from the New Testament:

Jesus fed five thousand  with just a little boy's lunch

" ...There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?  And
Jesus said, Make the men sit down.  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about
five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the
disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.  When they were filled, he said
unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.  ...Then those men, when they had seen
the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John 6:10-14)

Multitude of fish filled the disciples' net when released into the water (Jesus)

"Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  And he said unto them, Cast the
net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.  They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the
multitude of fishes....Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three:
and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.." John 21:5:-11

Water turned into wine at a marriage in Cana of Galilee(Jesus)

"...the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:  And both Jesus was
called, and his disciples, to the marriage.  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have
no wine.  Jesus saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.....Jesus saith unto them, fill the water
pots with water.  And they filled them up to the brim.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the
governor of the feast....When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it
was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,.." (John 2:1-9).

The apostles of the New Testament

The Bible says, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;"  Acts 5:
12.  Although the Bible doesn't specify what signs and wonders or miracles and works these were, it does go on to tell
us about some healings which occurred through the ministry of the apostles (Acts 5:15,16).  These healings were not
actually the working of miracles in demonstration, but gifts of healings in operation.  Any spectacular manifestation that
has to do with healing is the gifts of healings in operation.

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.  And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." Acts 8:5,6  It could be that
verse 6 is talking about miraculous healings or some other miracles that were wrought.  The Bible does not specify
what miracles were wrought except to say, "...hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." So it could also be that
some miracles were wrought that weren't healings. The mention of miracles can also be found in Acts 6:8, Acts 15:12
and Acts 19:11.(KH p. 111)

June Newman Davis (The Making of an Apostle)

June Newman Davis experienced many miracles in her ministry. Once, she and another sister in the Lord were driving
from Albuquerque, New Mexico to San Diego California to a conference. They encountered a storm but continued to
drive.  When they reached a steep hill, the engine died and they had to slowly glide over to the side of the road.  They
were in the middle of a desert - no houses or people around.  They immediately bowed their heads to pray and when
they lifted their heads, across the road was a brand new pick-up truck - June proceeded to walk over to the truck to
ask the man for help.  The man (whom she sensed was an angel) could not get her car started so they called a tow
truck and the car was towed to Verde, Arizona.  She states in her book, "The mechanic there looked at my car and
said, 'I do not have the parts here that you need.  Your alternator and voltage regulator are not working...Lady, you
drove 800 miles without any means of power.  Your battery could not have started one time without the other parts.'"
June says about this "miracle," that the angel could have started the car, but the Lord wanted them to experience the
provisions he had prepared for them. The Lord let them drive on His power until provisions were available in the
natural without being held back because of the time limitations.(gift of faith)


"I am convinced that in this hour, God wants this gift of the working of miracles to be more in
prominence, for what "explosions of almightiness" that would be as a sign to the unbeliever
and as a mighty demonstration of God's power to all.  What it would do for the Body of Christ
in this final hour of God's outpouring upon the earth." (KH p. 113)




Sources:

The Holy Spirit and His Gifts, Kenneth E. Hagin, Copyright 1991, RHEMA Bible Church.

The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit, Lester Sumrall, Copyright 1982, Lester Sumrall Evangelical Association
(LeSEA).

The Making of an Apostle, June Newman-Davis, Copyright 1981, Scripture Keys, Inc.).
2010 - HIS GLORY REIGNS
LIFE IN JESUS-MINISTRIES