In ministry to others, miracles often occur. Why do miracles happen? First and foremost, because of God’s compassion for His creation. In various parts of the Gospels, we often find that the phrase “moved with compassion” precedes the miracles Jesus performed. God truly knows His creatures have limitations in living their lives. As the Father of all creation, He has deep considerations that sometimes we cannot understand. God can seemingly suspend what would normally follow the law of sowing and reaping. For example, someone develops cancer because of unhealthy habits, yet suddenly the cancer disappears after being prayed for with anointing oil. Even though there are orders called natural law and reaping-and-sowing, we sometimes encounter anomalies in those laws. We call such anomalies miracles. Miracles rest solely on God’s compassion, not on human deeds or efforts.
However, in the Bible, we find that miracles are not the final goal. For example, Matthew 4:24 records: “News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.” The miracles, blessings, and God’s help recorded in Scripture are intended to lead a person to knowledge of Jesus. Through this knowledge of Jesus, one can come to know the true God—the Father, Yahweh Elohim. Thus, miracles are both Christocentric (centred on Christ) and theocentric (centred on God) simultaneously. Importantly, miracles should not become anthropocentric (centred on humans), let alone egocentric (centred on personal interests). Instead, they produce honour and glory for God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is ironic when miracles are taught with anthropocentric and transactional motives. The anthropocentric motive concerns two parties: the recipient of the miracle and the miracle’s mediator. From the recipient’s side, it is an anthropocentric perspective that understands this miracle as God’s sole work for people. They fail to see that the miracle God has given is meant to lead them to repentance and change in their lives. Miracles are not given merely to provide a spectacular experience, but to transform a person.
Ministers must not commodify miracles. Even though the word “mediator” is not entirely precise, since God can grant miracles independently, ministers must not boast of gifts given by God. Yet many turn miracles into their church’s branding, leading to transactional faith: ministers set conditions, so congregations think God will act if those conditions are met, often demanding obedience or positive thinking. This is often called “believing for a miracle.” However, faith must centre on God, not on outcomes or human-imposed requirements. Whether a miracle occurs is God’s decision; we are called to depend completely on His will.
It is dangerous when ministers suggest that people can influence God to perform miracles by certain actions. These risks of deceiving both themselves and their congregations. Miracles exist to lead people to the Father through the Son. If they create a cult of personality or focus on the miracle itself, this must be avoided.