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So far in this series on ‘Contending for the Miraculous’ we have explored how God does miracles of multiplication to provide for the needs of His people. We are now changing tack a little, diving into a different category of the miraculous…

For the next set of articles, we will explore miracles found in the scripture concerning ‘Power over Nature’

Look to the Skies

‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.’ – Psalm 19:1

The skies announce God’s handiwork.

‘“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.’”’ – Matthew 16:1-3

The ancients were able to read the sky and interpret its appearance.

‘Elijah was a man like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops’ – James 5:17-18

Men of God, like Elijah, prayed and their prayers changed the weather.

Changing weather patterns and engaging with the elements is a whole category of working signs, wonders and miracles…

In the following articles we will delve deeper into this.

Jesus said in Mark 11:22 that we are to have the God-type of faith. If we are to have that type of faith, then we need to see how God uses his faith and copy him. Ephesians 5:1 says, ‘Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children’ and Hebrews 11:3 says, ‘By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen’

In the following passages, we will see what our God does; His ways, and also look at what righteous men are given the power to do in imitation of him!

The Sun

‘He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; He seals off the light of the stars.’ – Job 9:7

The above passage obviously refers to God. It is He who is able to speak to the sun. However, God has worked through a man who also spoke to the sun

‘[…] Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies […] The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!’ – Joshua 10:12-14

Darkness

Matthew 27:45 describes how ‘At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock,’ but can God use a person to bring this about?

‘Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived’ -Exodus 10:21-23

Some of the works we may have thought; only God can do that, He has actually used people to do!

My Own Experience of Wonders in the Heaven

A number of years ago I went out two days a week preaching in the open air from town to town across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire here in the UK. Those were very bold and courageous days. We went in twos and teams prayer walking down the main high streets of market towns, being led to the right spot in order to preach the gospel. Before leaving we usually prayed fervently for boldness, that God would lead us to the right people and places and that God would fill our mouths, giving us the words to say. On many occasions, as we drove to the location, the weather would suddenly and dramatically change. Before leaving it could be bright, mild or sunny – then suddenly out of nowhere – there could be a hail storm or the skies could become unnaturally dark. We would often declare things like, ‘Let there be light’ or ‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can not put it out’ When we arrived at the spot to preach – I would declare, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven has arrived’ – more than once- suddenly there would be a beam of light shining through the dark clouds over the spot we were preaching.

Jesus promised signs and wonders follow the preaching of the word

Carry Out Our Fathers’ Work

‘Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don’t believe in me. Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.’ -John 10:37-38

Don’t believe Jesus unless he carries out his Father’s work…

And what is that work?

The work is the signs, wonders and miracles Jesus carried out in His Father’s name…

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” -John 14:12

Anyone who believes will do the same works as Jesus, even greater works. Read that again!

Jesus does the works of His Father, we are to do the same works as Jesus…creation is waiting on you…

‘The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.’ – Romans 8:19

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