Open Heaven 22 April 2018
Open Heaven Daily Devotional
Sunday 22 April 2018
THE NEED FOR MIRACLES
Memorise: 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?
Hebrews 2:4
Read: John 11:39-45
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Bible in one year: Judges 15-16, Titus 2-3
Message
A careful study of the miracles recorded in the Bible will reveal some truths to the discerning. Such a study will reveal that miracles are supernatural and that they are an intervention of God in the affairs of men. This study will also reveal that miracles happen only when God deems it necessary. In other words, God divinely intervenes when the ability of man fails and He wants to show His Almightiness. God does not waste His divine intervention wherever He has given man the enablement to act. For example, He stopped sending manna to the children of Israel the moment they got settled in the Promised Land. They had to cultivate and eat from the land, which was flowing with milk and honey. Joshua 5:12 says,
“And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canna that year.”
The truth of the matter is that although God was still capable of sending the manna, He stopped sending it because there was no need for it anymore. He expected His children as His image carriers and co-creators with him to cultivate the land. Also, in Exodus 14:15-16, even though the Lord was willing and ready to intervene for the salvation of Israel at the Red Sea, He told Moses to play his part. If a child of God fails to understand this principle, it can cause him or her untold pain and disappointment due to failure to act where he or she ought to. Having established these truths, we must also realise that the ability to work miracles is like a stamp or approval given by God to His chosen human vessels. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus called for His Father’s intervention in the case of Lazarus who was dead. Why did He call on the Father to intervene? John 11:42 says,
“And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Also, in today’s memory verse, “divers’ miracles” is listed as one of those supernatural things God uses to bear witness to the message of His chosen vessels. Without this witness, our message will be like that of mere orators and philosophers. Jesus needed miracles to establish His mission, and so do we. Let us therefore thirst for this gift to glorify the Almighty God.
Prayer Point
Father, from today, please confirm my witness of You by working Your miracles through me.
SING HYMN 7 – WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angles with rapture announce It,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Through you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s Mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.