...never give up praying for a miracle...

“8 Paul entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit said to them in reply, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 18 Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19 A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

21 Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.’ 22 So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia” Acts 19:8-22.

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted for two years, with many hearing the Gospel. It is likely that Paul traveled further than what Luke reports, even as far as to Corinth. Be assured that Paul’s colleagues also helped spread the Gospel to places Paul never visited. Notice too that Paul’s preaching was accompanied by amazing miracles, especially healings and exorcisms. Paul called these “signs, wonders, and mighty works.” All of these signs resembled what Jesus did, especially the touching of Paul’s clothing by the sick so that they could be healed.

What strikes me the most are these words: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul” (v.11). Now most people today believe that such miracles were things of the past. But that is not true. As I see it, there are infinite numbers of miracles every day that come from God! We need to stop and look around. When we do this we will begin to see every-day miracles that we just take for granted. But when we pray for healing for someone, we need to remember that we never see how God answers most of these prayers. but we still need to continue to pray — and that’s my point. Don’t stop praying. Know that it is God’s grace that enables you to pray. Just remember what Jesus promised, “12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask Me for anything, I will do it” John 14:12-14.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.