Note: This sermon has been graciously shortened—with permission—to magazine length while preserving its depth and scriptural richness. To read Elevate to the Next Level: “Living Miraculously”” in its entirety click HERE. If you prefer to Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6k-0fgCE4k
Living Miraculously
We all need a miracle—because every miracle begins with a problem. Whether young or old, healthy or sick, employed or not, we all face challenges that only God can solve. Yet in many Western churches, the doctrine of miracles has been quietly covered up. We’ve become so educated and self‑reliant that we trust medicine and science more than God’s Word. Meanwhile, believers in other nations, with fewer distractions, turn directly to God—and see miracles daily.
Scripture is filled with examples of miraculous living. David, hunted by Saul, cried out from a cave, “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble” (Psalm 142:2). His life was marked by God’s intervention. Paul also lived miraculously, writing, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels… hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed” (2 Corinthians 4:7‑9). Both men show that a miraculous life is possible when God’s power works through us.
What Is a Miracle?
Webster defines a miracle as “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention.” For believers, miracles are acts only God can perform—events that supersede natural laws. They are signs pointing to Him, reminding us that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Blind eyes opened, the lame walking, the dead raised—these are divine fingerprints.
I’ve seen such signs firsthand. At a men’s camp years ago, a man entered with a walker and left walking and leaping. Another, legally blind, received his sight. I’ve also witnessed miracles that defy nature itself. During a ministry trip to Korea, we prayed for clear skies over a girls’ school performance. The clouds parted directly above the field, sunlight poured down, and a government meteorologist later confirmed that what happened was scientifically impossible. God alone received the glory.
Miracles and the Gospel
Miracles are not ends in themselves—they reinforce the Gospel message. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Miracles confirm that God is real and active. Mark 16:17‑18 promises that signs will follow those who believe: casting out demons, speaking new tongues, healing the sick. Paul affirmed that God appointed miracles and gifts of healing within the church (1 Corinthians 12:28). The same God who worked then still works today—He does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8).
Sometimes, however, the miracle we want isn’t the one God gives. He knows what’s best for us. King Hezekiah begged for healing and received fifteen more years of life—but those years led to poor decisions and eventual judgment. God’s wisdom always exceeds ours.
The greatest miracle of all is salvation through Jesus Christ. His resurrection makes us new creations: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We who were dead in sin are made alive (Ephesians 2:1). This miracle of grace should fill us with thanksgiving and peace (Philippians 4:6‑7).
False Miracles
Not all miracles come from God. Any act that draws glory away from Him is counterfeit. Scripture warns that Satan will use “power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). In Acts 8, Peter rebuked a sorcerer who tried to buy God’s power for personal gain. True miracles glorify God and confirm His Word.
Accessing God’s Miracles
Miracles flow through prayer. James wrote, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Prayer with others—especially the elders of the church—brings healing and unity. Confession and perseverance are key; Elijah prayed earnestly and did not give up until rain came.
Prayer joined with fasting intensifies our dependence on God. Jesus told His disciples that some breakthroughs come only “by prayer and fasting.” Fasting humbles us, sharpens our spiritual hearing, and aligns us with God’s will. Daniel fasted and prayed when he understood that Israel’s captivity was ending, seeking God “with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). Fasting is not merely abstaining from food—it’s an attitude of repentance and surrender.
Why Don’t We See More Miracles?
Sometimes our prayers miss the mark because they’re not aligned with God’s will. “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). Jesus Himself said He only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Our motives must be pure—seeking His glory, not our own.
Another barrier is moral confusion. The church has blurred the line between right and wrong, accepting what God calls sin. Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). When we reject God’s Word, we cannot expect Him to honor our prayers. Holiness matters.
Two additional obstacles are lack of faith and unconfessed sin. Jesus could perform few miracles in Nazareth because of unbelief (Mark 6:5‑6). Isaiah wrote, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2). If we desire miracles, we must believe in Christ and confess our sins, trusting His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Living in the Miraculous
America desperately needs a miracle. Evil is increasing, and even the church is compromising truth. Yet God still calls His people to live miraculously—by obedience, faith, and thanksgiving. When we align with His Word and will, signs and wonders follow. When we believe that God is trustworthy, we can rest in His results, even when they differ from our expectations.
Paul’s words remind us how to live: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” When we pray earnestly, God opens doors—or closes them—for our good. Elijah prayed until the heavens responded. We can do the same.
Miracles are not relics of the past. They are the living evidence of God’s power today. He invites us to live miraculously—to trust Him completely, obey Him fully, and give Him all the glory.
This version keeps the full message intact—faith, prayer, fasting, obedience, and the call to live miraculously—while trimming repetition and tightening transitions for clarity and flow.
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