When does a supernatural occurrence qualify as a miracle? Are all miracles supernatural manifestations? What role does faith play in witnessing Divine interventions in life? Who initiates the miracles? Can one's personal faith ignite an action in someone else? As one mills around these questions, other thoughts will present themselves. Does our faith move God, or does God move independently of our faith? How much of a role do we play in the miracles that present themselves?

Peter, at one of the inner gates un curso de milagros  the Temple, confronted a lame man who had never walked. This individual was carried daily to the Temple area to ask for alms. When Peter and John saw him, Peter told him to look at them. He then commanded him to get up and walk. The man must have hesitated, for Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up. When he saw that he could stand, he immediately started walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:2-8) This man exhibited no faith; rather, it was Peter's faith in the name of Jesus that brought about the healing. (Acts 3:16)

Paul, in the city of Lystra, also confronted a lame man who had never walked. As Paul was preaching, he noticed a cripple who was carefully listening to the word. Paul looked at this man intently and realized that the word he brought had initiated faith in this individual. So Paul commanded him to stand up and walk. The Bible says the man leaped up and walked. (Acts 14:8-10) Paul did not need to help him up or assist him in any way, for the man's faith ignited the healing.

When our faith brings about the supernatural, should it not be a normal experience? Biblical miracles were used to bring attention to the message. Once the message is secured in an individual, they will begin to act on God's Word. Signs and wonders are to bring attention to God. Once we enter the family of God, miracles will be administered, but the purpose is not for the "sign seeking" Christians, but for the lost that need to be drawn to the Savior. For Believers to gather in a closed environment to seek "miracles" for themselves is to miss the point completely. To the Believer, the miracle of faith is what opens the door to the supernatural; whereas, the unbeliever is drawn to faith through the supernatural.

Peter lifted up the lame man. Paul commanded the cripple man to get up by himself. We need, as Peter did, to reach out to the "whosoever." Let us lay hands on the "lame," expecting to see the power of God. May our faith influence the "fence riders." We need, as Paul did, to encourage those with beginner faith. We need to speak encouragement to those whose "walk" is difficult. For years, I have heard Christians say that they need a miracle. This shows how misguided we are. We don't need a miracle, for we have been given everything we need for an abundant life. (II Pet. 1:3) What we need is to walk in faith and appropriate what God has given us. When we get in a mess we tend to ask God to bail us out. We must remember that what we sow outside of the Word will reap the consequences. Miracles are the sinners "get out of jail card," not the Believers way of recovering from a miscalculation.