Knowledge is power! And spiritual knowledge is spiritual power!!
In most religions, the individual goes to the spiritualist, (the mallam (teacher) – mu ‘alim) or the fetish priest, and tells the spiritualist his or her problem (or need). The spiritualist then prays and performs rituals to get the answer or the miracle.
In Christianity, God indwells the individual and performs His miracles through the individual. And so, in emergencies God is always nearby.
Yet sadly, many Christians are not aware of this privilege that God has bestowed upon them. “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, ‘You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” (Psalm 82:5-7; KJ2000).
In John 10:34-35, Jesus referred to this passage.
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; Say you of Him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’”
Jesus quoted the words literally. He did not water down their meanings. He quoted the words just as the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to say them. The word ‘eloheem’ is used in Psalm 82:6, and ‘theos’ used in the passage in John 10:34. However, the Psalmist clarifies what he says by the statement, “And all of you are children of the most High.” Meaning they are not Almighty God, but children of the Almighty God. So, how are they the children of the Almighty God?
Some words and statements in the Bible are difficult to accept by ordinary human minds. But God chose those words and made those statements. If God intended differently, He would have chosen the appropriate words. Therefore, we do not have the right to reinterpret them to agree with our way of thinking. God is the originator of His words. And they mean what God says. We cannot vary God’s Words and intentions. Otherwise, each of us would then be proffering our own meanings. Then there would be confusion as to who is right.
Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:20-21 that no prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation. Because no prophecy ever originated through human decision. Instead, people spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. And in 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul writes that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” Meaning that the Holy Spirit breathed the words into the prophets and the writers. And they wrote or said exactly what they were inspired to write or say. They uttered the words that God intended. So, until God Himself varies the meanings, we have no right to vary the primary meanings of the words we read in the Scriptures.
The Bible advises us to acquaint ourselves with God, thereby good shall come upon us, (Job 22:21-29). We accumulate knowledge by studying. Furthermore, we learn the mysteries of God by delving deeper into the Bible.
The Holy Spirit baptism transforms us into God’s spiritual children, (Mark 1:8; Act 1:5; Romans 8:14-17). Then God’s Spirit infuses our spirits with His Spirit and makes us become one spirit with Him, (1 Corinthians 6:17). Even if this seems difficult to accept by our human minds, we must accept it by faith. Many of the disciples who followed Jesus also found some of His statements difficult to accept, (John 6:60-61).
God’s Spirit, indwelling the individual’s spirit, unites the believer’s spirit with God’s Spirit, and performs the spiritual renewal in the individual’s spirit. The individual is then transformed, and he or she receives empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
But we grieve the Holy Spirit if we indulge in sins and do negative things, (Ephesians 4:30). Therefore, Paul advises us not to quench the Spirit, (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22).
God uses our faith to actuate the miracles He performs in us. Therefore, Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” And they answered, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it unto you.” And their eyes were opened, (Matthew 9:28-30).
Belief prepared their minds to receive what Jesus was about to do. Faith (belief) sent signals to the appropriate parts of their brains to coordinate the appropriate parts of their bodies to receive the anticipated miracle of healing.
A key turns the ignition and makes the engine of a car start. In the same manner faith acts in our minds and makes our bodies respond to motivation. Faith, therefore, motivates our reception and creates the trust that animates our lives, and prepares the body to accept the possibility of something happening.
Power for miracle is in the Name of Jesus, not in rituals, (Acts 3:16). Signs and wonders happen by faith in the Name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the power that heals and makes miracles happen, (Acts 3:6-9; Acts 4:29-30).
God hears and answers our prayers because we do what is right, (Proverbs 15:29; 1 Peter 3:11-13). Therefore, Paul in Galatians 5:25 admonishes us to maintain our spiritual life with God, and God will continue to work miracles in our lives.