Ephesians

5. The gift of miraculous powers (1 Corinthians 12:10)—the ability to pray in such a way that God produces works that are beyond natural explanation. The gift of miracles enables an individual to accomplish natural things in a supernatural way, to short-circuit the processes of nature, as our Lord did when He turned water into wine, or multiplied loaves and fishes to feed the five thousand. This gift may still be given today, but I do not believe I have ever met a person with the gift of miracles.

Many people desire to have miraculous gifts, such as this gift of miracles, the gift of healing, or the gift of being able to speak in an unknown language, the gift of tongues. This is understandable, because it is easy to confuse the miraculous with the spiritual. We think that a miraculous manifestation indicates great spirituality or closeness to God.

It is instructive, I think, to note that John the Baptist, a mighty prophet of God, never performed a miracle in his life. Yet Jesus said of John the Baptist, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). If John was so great in God’s eyes, why didn’t he work miracles? Because that was not John’s gift. God did not choose to work through John’s life in that way.

Why are the miraculous gifts given so infrequently today? The answer is in Ephesians 4:7— “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” The gifts are given according to His will, not ours; they are given as He apportions His grace, not according to our cravings for signs and wonders.

It is instructive, I think, to read through the book of Acts in a single sitting. One thing you will readily notice is that the beginning chapters of Acts are crowded with miracles, healings, and speaking in tongues. As you move through the book, miraculous events become rarer and rarer. The reason: When the church was in its infant stage, new believers needed to see miraculous events in order to have their faith bolstered and grounded. As the church grew and matured in its faith, its need for miraculous signs and wonders diminished. Those who need a continual display of miracles in order to believe in Jesus Christ are walking not by faith, but by sight. As we mature in Christ, our need for such displays is gradually replaced by a quiet confidence and assurance of God’s presence in our lives.