Healing Miracles

‘God’s miracles are not just to amaze us but to draw us closer to Him.’
Reinhard Bonnke

The greatest miracle worker in history was Jesus Christ Himself. He opened blind eyes and deaf ears. He healed all who came to Him in need and even raised the dead! Then He made an astounding statement: ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father’ (John 14:12).

It has been reported that around 80% of Chinese believers come to know the Lord through a miracle or an act of deliverance. Why, then, are some Christian workers tempted to sidestep this effective means of drawing people to Jesus? Do our minds accept the possibility of miracles while our hearts remain distant from the reality of experiencing them? Perhaps we fear a consumer-style approach where people come to Jesus only to receive something from Him. Or maybe, deep down, we fear the possibility of ‘failing’ the person we pray for.

There is a mystery: why do godly, faith-filled people sometimes not receive the miracle they hope for as in the case of my mother and sister, while unbelievers occasionally do? We may not have all the answers, but we can still stand in faith, pray for one another, and walk with those who suffer. Pray that they grow in courage, in faith, and in the awareness of God’s presence through their journey in whatever way it goes.

I recall a time of deep discouragement in my own life. I had twisted my ankle quite badly on one of our walks. My wife, also feeling weighed down and with little sense of faith at that moment, gently touched my ankle and prayed. Instantly, the pain vanished. That small moment became a wonderful reminder of God’s nearness in our time of need.

Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give’ (Matthew 10).
‘And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well’ (James 5:15).

However, there is another side to the subject of healing which we mustn’t ignore.

Paul said ‘Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7). Some scholars suggest that this could be a physical affliction to make him dependent upon the Lord as we do know Paul appears to have had failing eyesight. ‘See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!’ (Galatians 6:11).

Observation

Although many are rightly drawn to healing miracles, there is no greater miracle than a life transformed by the power of Christ. ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We need to be passionate about this truth.
C. S. Lewis, an intellectual and Christian author, reminds us that believers must not only accept miracles but rejoice in them as signs of God’s unique and personal involvement in His creation.
Interestingly, the writer of John’s Gospel doesn’t use the word ‘miracle’ for supernatural events. Instead, he uses the word ‘sign,’ highlighting that these acts point to the glory and wonder of God at work. ‘What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him’ (John 2:11). Sadly, too many miracle workers today seem focused on self-promotion rather than God’s glory.
In my younger years, I often heard people pray for the sick using the phrase, ‘God, if it is Your will, heal this person.’ There is a place for such a prayer, but if it’s the only way we pray, it is inadequate. Through the teaching of John Wimber, I learned to seek discernment about God’s will in praying for the sick and pray accordingly. If I sensed that God was at work in healing, I would pray with authority. If not, I would still encourage that person with Scripture and pray for grace, strength, and God’s loving touch, without ruling out the possibility of divine healing.
Many Christians are ready to meet the Lord and desire to go home to Him. In such cases, it is right to pray for their peaceful release rather than prolong suffering. We must not view this as defeat. Death comes to all. That was my heartfelt prayer for my mother during her final days with cancer, that the Lord would take her quickly, even though it was a painful time for us.
Miracles are not dependent on our righteousness or spiritual feelings. They rely solely on God’s grace and power.
Soaking prayer is a valuable practice. It involves stilling our hearts before God and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work as we pray for people. These sessions can last for extended periods and may be repeated over weeks or even months.
Recently, I struggled with whether to pray for someone who was clearly not walking in God’s ways. Then I remembered how Jesus healed ten lepers, even though only one came back to give thanks. That reminder gave me the confidence to pray for that person.
God brings healing in many ways, including through the medical profession. We must honour and respect those working in healthcare. If you are in that field, allow God to use you as His instrument of healing and compassion.

Resources
C. S. Lewis, Miracles
Lee Strobel, The Case for Miracles
John Wimber, Power Healing

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