WHAT IS The Gift of MIRACLES?
The gift of miracles is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR this Gift
Tap each verse to read it. Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are in the English Standard Version.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.”11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT
- Often sees supernatural miracles (Acts 5:1-10; 13:8-11).
- Has a great interest in supernaturalism rather than naturalism (Acts 20:9-12).
- Is compassionate.
- Can point to specific instances where their prayers resulted in miracles (Acts 9:32-41).
SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT
- Can be easily abused through selfishness or pride.
- May feel that everything is okay between them and the Lord because they have done miracles (Matthew 7:21).
SUGGESTED WAYS TO SERVE BASED ON THIS GIFT
- Healing Ministries
- Altar Work
- Prayer Group Member
- Missions Work
- Hospital Visitation
GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
PETER & PAUL
*The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.