SPECIAL MIRACLES

SPECIAL MIRACLES

Acts 19:11 ¶ Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

Now to me, all miracles are special. Luke described the miracles in Ephesus as special or unusual miracles. Dick Mills called them “special specials”. Paul had seen lame people healed, and blind people restored, and even saw a dead boy raised back to life but these miracles were different. What was the difference? It seems to me the big difference was the volume of miracles. It was as if miracles were in the air. Now what could precipitate such an amazing season of miracles? I think the key was saturation. Not just any kind of saturation, but a long season soaking in the very atmosphere of heaven.
This season of miracles happened after Paul had met with twelve Baptists at a prayer meeting in Ephesus. (I call them Baptists because they had been baptized in water for repentance but had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit). After Paul shared with them about the Holy Spirit he laid his hands upon them. (How would you like to have Paul lay his hands on you?”) Suddenly, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to pray in tongues and prophesy (so much for the Baptist thing). They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, this was the beginning of a season of spiritual saturation.
Shortly after this Paul began to hold daily meetings in the School of Tyrannus. These daily meetings went on for two years (the famous Azusa Street meetings only went on for 18 months). It says in some of the old greek manuscripts that these meetings were conducted daily from 11 am until 4 pm. Wow, can you imagine the atmosphere in that place? Experiencing 5 hour meetings led by the Apostle Paul had to be quite incredible.
What were the results of those meetings? Luke said that all of Asia (Asia Minor) heard the word of God during that season. The seven churches of Asia addressed in the book of Revelations were started as a result of those meetings. The special miracles that Luke referred to also took place. Pieces of cloth from Paul’s body were placed on sick people and those oppressed by demons and they were healed. Luke also said that the word of God began to prevail in that city. This was probably the greatest harvest the Christian church had seen up until that time. There may have never been a time in history when a major city was impacted by a revival like the city of Ephesus was impacted. The church in Ephesus became the largest church of their day (it didn’t seem “relevant” or seeker sensitive). The power of God was obviously prominent and on display at Ephesus. It became a leading Christian Church for several centuries.
The secret to the move of God in Ephesus was saturation. Those two years of services at the School of Tyrannus were the main ingredient. Saturation has to become part of our Christian experience. Why not start today? Saturate in His presence. Spend time in God’s word and in soaking under some good worship. Don’t be surprised if some “special miracles” begin to break out.