The Spiritual Gift of Miracles

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the spiritual gift of miracles, as ‘miracle’ is a word that seems to be part of our everyday vocabulary.

Perhaps you have had moments in your life when you feel like the only thing that can change your situation is a miracle!

So, let’s find out more about miracles and how we can see miracles happen in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

They are listed with the other spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12;

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

They are also sometimes referred to as ‘miraculous powers’ as you can see in the scripture here, and can be translated from the Greek as ‘working of powers’. To be honest when I think of miracles I usually associate them with healings and I have been fortunate enough to have seen many healing miracles, but the gift of miracles is definitely listed as a separate gift.

So, what are these miracles then if they are not healings?

Miracles are supernatural events that occur outside the realm of what is possible for man. The bible says that;

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” – Matthew 19: 26

Jesus performed many miracles during his life on Earth. His first miracle was at the wedding of Cana where he turned the water into wine, thus revealing His glory.

His disciples also performed many miracles including driving out demons, raising people from the dead, and many more. (Check out Acts 16:18 and Acts 9:40-41 to read what happened!)

Many turn to God when they see signs, wonders and miracles!

People with this gifting are simply those who understand the sovereignty of God and make themselves available and listen closely to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They don’t do it for earthly gain or applause, but because they want to point people to Jesus.

People with this gift also tend to be people who prayer and petition for God to break in to people’s lives. They tend to be humble people who know they have no power of their own but are fully reliant on God showing up for anything to happen.

As with all the spiritual gifts, they operate through the Holy Spirit and we are a body of believers so that no one can boast. We need each other to fully function in a healthy way and no one gift is any more important than another.

There is much debate as to whether God still gives this gift and I am not entering into a debate but simply laying out the description of this gifting. I know that God still performs miracles today and I have witnessed them myself. At the end of the day, God can move however He sees fit. I always come back to this scripture;

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”” – Luke 18:27 

God is a miracle working God and He is so good. He delights in His to partnership with us and gives gifts according to His good and perfect will.

You have many gifts within you, some that you may be aware of and are starting to step out in and some that you haven’t discovered yet!

If you would like to find out more about what your giftings may be, try this on-line spiritual gift test (youth version), there is an adult version as well. This is simply to point you towards an area of gifting and is not a definitive answer. Speak to those people around you who know you well, your church pastor or youth leader and see what they think too.

Have fun finding out and stepping into all that God has called you to!