Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– William Temple
Miracles
God is still doing miracles today. Earlier this year a new member joined our church. He had a rare skin disease, but we welcomed him into church and began praying for him. Later on he said he had two large polyps that the doctors were concerned about; and after a few weeks, he went back to consult with the doctor before surgery for a biopsy of them. However, they discovered that the polyps were gone, in less than three weeks–just what we had prayed for. What endless lists of such stories I have read or heard about where the only explanation was God supernaturally intervening, and it was while others had been praying.
Souls
I know of a mother who prayed for 26 years for her son, who was in prison, to be saved. He never showed any sign at all that any of her letters or prayers were being heard until one day when they had a former prisoner come to speak at their church services. The man only wanted to hear the speaker so that he could make fun of him, but something strange happened. The former prisoner-now-evangelist told his story and how God finally had to bring him to his knees. This story touched the man’s life down to his inner being. He sank lower and lower until God finally reached out and saved him there at service. The mother’s son placed his trust in Christ that day. After 26 years of prayers and witnessing came an eternal harvest for her son.
Nature
The dozens of miracles that Jesus performed can only be explained by a supernatural intervention over nature. And why not? Jesus is the Creator, and the creation must always obey His command. When the disciples were in a terrible storm and appeared ready to sink, they cried out, “’Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm” (Luke 8:24). The control that Jesus had over nature made the disciples fear Jesus even more (Luke 8:25), at least in the sense of a deep, holy reverence for Christ.
Conclusion
Nothing much may ever happen if nothing much is prayed about. Prayer doesn’t really change God’s mind; prayer changes our mind to be focused on His will. Sometimes God uses pain, suffering, disease, imprisonment, and even death to reach those who would otherwise never be sufficiently humbled enough to know their need for repentance and faith.
