Is it possible that sometimes, the one who receives a miracle, isn’t the reason for it?
This may seem like a strange and an unusual question, but what would it look like if it were true?
Let me explain.
Over the last weekend, I went to a conference with a good friend. The afternoon sessions ended earlier than we had anticipated, so we headed to the café to grab a coffee and find a seat. My friend asked me what I wanted to do for the afternoon since the next session started at 7:30 pm and it was only 3:30 pm. I suggested we grab something to eat. He then suggested we go to the movies. I agreed, and we decided to watch the new F1 movie. As we were finishing this conversation , a lady walked up to our table. Before I could even think about it, the Lord spoke through me, giving her a promise and prophecy. The power of God fell upon her, and she began to weep. It was such a beautiful sight to witness, as He did this amazing thing for His daughter . After He had finished speaking through me, we left the church for the cinema. As I sat in the theatre, the Lord spoke to me, “Did you know what you witnessed, what I did for that lady wasn’t for her, but for the one sitting beside you.” Although I knew it was true, it didn’t make sense to me at the time. After the movie, we rushed back to the conference as we were running late. All the car parks were full, so my friend dropped me off at the gate. As I started walking, a golf cart appeared and picked me up, taking me to the main entrance. I asked the driver if he could return and pick up my friend . He agreed, so I called my friend, and this happened.
With still 10-14 minutes before the conference was to start, I thought I’d grab a bite for dinner. I went to the café counter and ordered a salad. However, it didn’t come with a fork, so I asked the person behind the counter where I could find one. They pointed to a barrel, where they kept them on top of. As I walked over to the barrel and grabbed my fork, I heard a voice, “Say, do you remember me?” I looked up and it was the lady the Lord spoke to before we left for the movie. She shared that she had been going through a very difficult time in her life. She had been praying all week for a word from the Lord. She believed it would come from one of the main guest speakers, but when it didn’t, she left the auditorium feeling disappointed and sad. However, as she was about to sit down in the café, she said “God spoke through you”. She explained to me and her friend beside her. That the word she received from the Lord, wasn’t what she had wanted; But it was what she needed. I love hearing testimonies like this, but we often don’t get to hear them , as we don’t bump into them again or until years later.
I went to sit with my friend to eat my dinner and told him the testimony of the lady , and we ended up sitting in the conference room 30 seconds before it started. Thank you, Jesus, your timing is always perfect.
We had a wonderful time worshipping, hearing His word, and following His instructions.
As I was leaving the conference, the Lord spoke to me again. He said, “All that had happen to the lady, and the fact that she was in the right place to share her testimony, wasn’t for her, you, or a coincidence; it was all for your friend.” Then He said, “I want you to tell him.” So I did on the drive home. He was struggling to understand that the Lord loved him so much that because of him, that lady was blessed. I asked the Lord for a scripture to support this explanation and experience. He took me to John 9 and the story of Jesus healing the blind man. I knew that disciples had asked Jesus why this man was blind, whether it was because of his parents’ sin or his own. Jesus replied, “But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” So, I said to my friend the purpose of the miracle of sight being restored to the blind man, wasn’t for him, but for those who saw it, the disciples.”
Like it was with the miracle for the lady, it wasn’t for her. But the purpose of this miracle, was for you to witness it.
Although I knew what I had spoke was true, I needed to dig deeper into His word to find it.
When I got home, the Lord took me to John 9 in the Passion Translation, a translation set to reveal the Father’s heart in love. This is where I found the words He told me to tell my friend.
Lets read it
John 9:1-3 (TPT)
Jesus Healed a Man Born Blind
Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?”
Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle.”
There it was: “It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle.”
Wow! What an amazing revelation!
But I wonder how often this happens?
I don’t know, but I would suggest that it happens more often than we think. This revelation really makes verses like Isaiah 55:8-9 become reality.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
“Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Inspired by this revelation, I decided to delve deeper and ask Him more questions.
The Lord took me to a scene in the chosen series, I believe, in part 4. After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus came to Lazarus to speak to him. Lazarus asked Jesus why he had raised him and why He had chosen him. Jesus replied that although he was glad it had been him, he had not chosen it to be him as this would be Jesus’ last miracle. Once again, the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead was not about Lazarus; it was about the people who were witnessing it.
Suddenly, The Father blindsided me with a question:
Was the miracle of Jesus being raised from the dead for Jesus or for someone else?
I realised the greatest miracle ever seen—the one that changed the world as we know it. Jesus being raise from the dead after 3 days. It was not for the one who received the miracle, Jesus (although he did receive a reward from the Father). But this miracle was for all who saw it and for all those who would read about it, so that they could all have the invitation to be reunited with a loving Father—the one thing the Father had longed for since Adam and Eve.
We all know that within this one miracle was so much more than we could ever comprehend. It was a dawn, a complete new day, and a new way of walking with God.
So yes it possible that sometimes, the one who receives a miracle isn’t the reason for it. So how do I end a message like this ?
This is a tricky one, I guess with a simple challenge. Next time you see a miracle, ask the Lord, what was His purpose for the miracle.
For I believe if we know this, we can then be led by Him to fulfil His will for the purpose of the miracle. This I believe will lead us, to not only know Him more, His nature. But to be used more effectively in the ministry the Lord has given each of us.
Father, I thank you for revealing this beautiful and incredible mystery of your nature. Now, Lord, help us to use what we have learned and discovered about You. So that we can be more effective in the ministries You have provided for us. Amen.
For those of you, who want to place an offering at the alter or plant a finical seed in the fertile ground of the Lord. Maybe you could contribute in someway towards His House, we are currently building. To equip the saints for ministry, then release His word through them, in a variety of ways.
Below is a link to a secure website, so you can do this safely online.
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=87bf3759-ef4a-4ae2-ac5d-902b82587e44
Or our bank account details for New Zealand memebers,
Encounter Centre – 03-0481-0007448-000
If you require a receipt for tax purposes please email to info@encounterministries.org.nz
Craig Patten
Founding Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries