The Supernatural: The Miracle of Growth

In the Last article (please click here to read), it was established that the miraculous is an essential part of the Christian walk. As a matter of fact, to believe in Christ is to believe in the miraculous. Rom 10:10 says that to believe that ‘Jesus was raised from the dead’ and confess him as lord is what it means to be saved.

Furthermore, you hear of promises that the supernatural life in Christ brings overnight prosperity, you are promised success without work, appointment without qualification yet there is not a single portion of scripture that encourages mediocrity or instantaneous wealth. The supernatural is not mysticism; grace is not license for laziness. 

It is instructive to note that the non-healing miracles that Jesus did were products of necessities and not luxury. God is not in the frivolous. Jesus did not partake in weddings with only water for guests in the knowledge that he could turn the water to wine. It was not in Jesus’ habit to walk on water while there are boats available, he did not turn stone to bread nor multiply bread for himself and his disciples to eat. In every situation, he did miracles because the natural was at its end. When Jesus was hungry while on a journey (John 4:6-8), he sent his disciples into the city to buy food rather than perform a miracle because the supernatural life is not for show-off.

 “Daniel suddenly became the prime minister in a captive land”, yet it was not until Darius’ reign that Daniel* became a president despite the fact that he had served two kings before him (Belshazzar did not even know who he was Dan 5:10-15). “David moved from being a shepherd boy to King of Israel overnight”; he was anointed suddenly but still had 13 years to develop capacity for the throne during which he stayed in the palace briefly as armour-bearer, then led vagabonds for years in the wilderness all these inspite of the fact that he was a diligent shepherd before he was anointed. “Joseph woke a prisoner and slept a prime minister the same day”; though years before he had dreamt of his leadership and had to be sold into slavery by his brothers, became a servant, was betrayed and imprisoned yet remained faithful and diligent through it all.

The scriptures is filled with stories like the above of God stepping in to favour and establish persons most of whom were the least likely, yet in all these, they all had to develop themselves if they were to last in the position. God’s grace and favour will open doors for you but it is your responsibility to develop capacity to sustain the opened doors. There are testimonies of God sending his angel to reveal examination questions to believers; these are exceptions and not the rule. It is more to God’s glory when his children study and pass gracefully than passing by angelic visitation. God can miraculously pay for your rent, but he will have you work and earn so you can sustain subsequent payments.

“And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year”. Joshua 5:11-12 (NKJV)

Could God have continued to sustain the Israelites with Manna? Yes, he could. Heaven’s resources were not and would not have been depleted by an everlasting provision of Manna. For forty years, the children of Israel ate manna daily without fail because they were continually mobile and could not plant and harvest. But the moment they had access to land-cultivated corn, the miraculous heaven-sent Manna ceased; God revealing his everlasting purpose of seedtime and harvest (Gen 8:22). His will has always been to bless the works of their hands, to give them bountiful harvest after they had laboured in sowing. The miracle was no longer the daily sending of Manna but rather the miracle of growth.

Growth in itself is a miracle, Jesus speaking in the book of Mark says “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” Mark4:26-27. A farmer plants and waters the plant but cannot predict the actual volume of harvest nor the process of the increase. It is God that makes it grow and increase (1Cor 3:6). God gives the seed and brings the growth, but the planting, weeding and watering belongs to the farmer.  To refuse to do your part as a farmer and yet expect and pray for a bountiful harvest is not spirituality but laziness.

In Gen 26, Isaac received a sure word from God of preservation and multiplication in Gerar despite the famine in the land; kindly note that this same Isaac is the promised child and already carries the Abrahamic blessing. Any of these two blessings is a guaranteed recipe for success, but to have both was enough reason to go and sleep. But not Isaac, he understood the workings of God and went ahead to sow in the land with an assurance that God will make it grow despite the famine. God did not only make it grow, but gave him a hundredfold returns. Isaac’s faith in the blessing was further demonstrated when he dug a well and the philistines contended with him, he did not give up and sulk, he just went to dig another. He kept digging until they could contend no more. The supernatural life we have received in Christ assures us of far more greater inheritance than Isaac but we must cooperate with God to bring it to fruition. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

So what if you got a job you were not qualified for by the hand and favour of God? Great, but it is high time you developed capacity for the job. Burn the ‘midnight candles’ and become the best at it, for it is only then that you bring glory to God.  Your testimony should be like that of Paul in 1 Cor 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me”.  You need capacity to be able to withstand the demands of the office. Give your best and look to the God of the miraculous to make the difference. 

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, then life here is anchorless and eternity is bleak. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

  

 * Daniel was initially made Prime Minister by Nebuchadnezzar after he revealed and interpreted the king’s dream, but he refused to take the appointment and remained at the gate (Dan 2:48-49)