To understand miracles is to understand the faith of the centurion as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.
Matthew 8:6-8 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully’ He said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion said in reply, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”
Why did Jesus get so excited about the faith of the centurion? Why did He say in a subsequent passage:
Matthew 8:10 “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel, have I found such faith.”
Jesus tries to teach us that through faith we can move mountains of adversity.
Mark 11:22-23 “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up to the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.”
For this reason, the very first question in the Miracle IndexTM is:
1. How would you describe the depth of your faith in comparison to the “faith that moves mountains?”
After more than 40 years in the healing ministry, I have found that having faith in God to act makes a profound difference in our ability to experience miracles.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
2. Do you expect miracles in your life?
It is critical to expect and experience miracles!
I have found it interesting that some people become uncomfortable when I suggest they ask for miracles. Why? Did not Jesus tell us to ask anything in His name? Ask and we will receive? I believe that the desire for miracles brings us closer to Jesus and better able build up His church—and that is what God wants for us. Jesus clearly instructed us to ask Him for anything according to His will.
1 John 5:14 “And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
Remember, a miracle is God’s special grace and power. We have not been left orphans, but rather, we have the power and authority in the name of Jesus when we operate in His will.
1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
3. Have you totally surrendered every aspect of your life to Christ?
A critical element of the Miracle IndexTM is we must surrender without compromise to the love of Jesus. Most of the time, we hold back certain parts of our lives because we believe we know best. Was that not the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden? Thinking we know better than God what is good for us?
4. Do you pray daily for miracles to occur?
Jesus is our best friend. Do we not communicate frequently with our closest friends and family regarding what is important to us? God wants us to be intimate with Him regarding our needs and striving for holiness. Pray throughout each day for God to intervene in your life.
5. Do you struggle with forgiveness of others, especially those closest to you?
I often remark that besides faith, the lack of forgiveness is one of the biggest obstacles to experiencing miracles in our lives.
Mark 11:24-25 “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
6. Do you understand the distinct types of miracles that can occur?
So many times we put God in a box. We limit what we believe He can accomplish in our lives. Perhaps we believe we only get one or two special favors before reaching our lifetime limit on God’s miraculous gifts. Not so! God wants to grant us miracles in every conceivable way. He doesn’t run out of miracles.
Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”
7. Are you comfortable with determining if something in your life can be called a miracle?
Often, we are confused and reluctant to call some occurrence or experience in our lives a miracle. I find it much more comfortable to identify miracles when I focus on God’s supernatural power and intervention in my life. Based upon this recognition, assess how often God has blessed you by His power and authority.
8. Do you have the gift of perseverance in both your prayer life and your faith?
Perseverance is a foundation of holiness. We need endurance in “running the race.” Perseverance and endurance will open the door to our hearts, minds and souls to receive what God wants to give us.
Hebrews 10:36 “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.”
9. Do you share with others the miracles God has provided you?
I strongly believe when we tell others about God’s love and how He has worked miracles in our lives, our blessings will be enhanced.
10. Are you thankful for the miracles in your life?
The final question in the Miracle IndexTM concerns thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
When we are thankful, I believe, God opens the floodgates of Heaven to pour out blessings for us.