For the past few weeks, I've been speaking to you about Jesus' miracles.  He healed a man's hand and fed the 5,000 with a small lunch.  He walked on water and helped Peter do the same.  Jesus stilled the storm and in today's Gospel healed the Canaanite woman's daughter of demon possession.  Some of these miracles have required great faith, such as the Canaanite woman, and others were done without faith, but to show the Lord's great power.

          Few people today, even the most cynical, doubt that Jesus did all the things reported in the Bible.  After all, He is son of God and God can do what He wills.  It's when people get into the business of doing miracles that doubts arise, especially people today.  A part of the Church for decades has debated whether God still does miracles today.  Believers well acknowledge the "miracles" of modern medicine, science and technology.  But, they ask, does God still do miracles on the order of what He did in Jesus' day - calming storms, healing illnesses instantly, protecting people from harm, reversing the effects of death?

          There are two schools of thought on this:  One says no, God doesn't do those things today, that He only did them in the early years to show a simple and less educated people His power and to jump-start the church.  This view is held by believers in advanced nations where science and technology have made Christians skeptical, where knowledge is the primary component of Christianity, and also where secularism has taken hold.

          A second school of thought says yes, God still does miracles, and we have seen them!  This viewpoint comes from believers in less developed nations, where faith is the major component among Christians.  People who believe in present day miracles are convinced because they have seen them, and they have experienced God's real power at work in their lives.

          Such as person is Josephine Bessman, an African who teaches with her husband Donald at a Bible College in Freetown, Sierra Leone.  As a college graduate, Josephine taught for a time in the public schools.  But about 15 years ago she decided to learn more about the Bible, so she enrolled at Freetown Bible College.  She met Donald there and both came to know Christ and were later married.  Upon graduation, she and Donald became evangelists, street preachers who shared Christ with any who would listen.  Josephine often took a small group of "disciples" with her, students whom she mentored in sharing the Gospel.

          Donald and Josephine went to proclaim Christ in the neighboring country of Gambia.  One day there while praying with her group, she heard the Lord speak directly to her heart saying, "Go to another village an hour away."  She didn't want to go, for that village was Muslim and she didn't know the dialect.  It was dangerous.  But being obedient, "Mama Jo" took her disciples and went.  At least the van driver could interpret for her.

          Already this true story has some elements to raise suspicions in the minds of modern Christians.  "Street preachers" are often suspected of being fanatics, and yet Paul, Peter and even Christ Himself, proclaimed the Gospel in the streets.  This tradition has been used by God's people since Christ gave the Great Commission.  The Christian faith has been preached on street corners everywhere, in every age, and only recently have "enlightened" people begun to object.  Somehow we must face the fact that those who say we shouldn't share our faith are pawns of Satan.  Christians have every right to share their faith, no matter what!

          A second element is God "speaking" to people outside the regular means of Word and Sacrament.  Lutheran scholars get nervous when they hear Christians say God spoke to their hearts.  Martin Luther himself was skeptical of this, since many have abused this gift, saying they no longer needed the Bible.  And yet God has often communicated with Christians through the centuries.  The one criteria is that God never tells someone to do something against His Word.  Those who say God told them not to pay a bill, or to harm or cheat someone are listening to Satan.  God does not go against Himself.

          When they reached the village they stood under a tree, and Josephine began to preach Christ.  She proclaimed that He was God come to earth, and all who have in faith in Him are forgiven and have eternal life.  Soon a large bus pulled up and dozens of passengers got out.  And when Josephine said Jesus was the Son of God, the mob started throwing rocks.  For saying Jesus was God's Son, Muslims were stoning Christians!  Josephine handed her six-month old to one of the students to take her to safety, and they all began praying.  About that time, Josephine felt a slight brush against her cheek, like a feather.  She realized she had just been hit by a huge rock, bigger than your fist.  But there was no cut, no blood, and no pain, just a slight brushing on her cheek.  God was protecting her.

          As they huddled together enduring the rocks and dirt, Josephine again heard a voice: "Tell them you are ready to die for your faith!"  "No!" she said, "That will give them license to kill us."  But a strong inner voice urged her a second and a third time, "Tell them you are ready to die for Jesus!"  Finally she stood up and shouted, "Jesus really is the Son of God.  I am ready to die.  Go ahead, kill me!"  Hearing this, her group scattered, all but her interpreter.

          The Bible says Christians will endure persecution if we truly believe.  Satan does not want Christ proclaimed as God's Son.  He does not want people to trust in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Satan wants God ignored; he wants God doubted.  So if we trust God, we will know resistance and we will know hatred.  It's no wonder the world hates believers - Jesus predicted it.  He said, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:13)   And again He said, "In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)   He tells us what will happen, but He also tells us He will not leave us alone.  Jesus will be with us always.

          You and I get worried when trouble comes.  But troubles will come.  And rejoice, for it is troubles that bring us closer to God.  God is closer during troubles.  When all is well, we forget God, and we trust ourselves.  It's in suffering and troubles that we reach out to God for help.  If our faith is stale, or if God seems far away, perhaps we should ask Him for trouble.  There's nothing like the threat of death to clear one's mind!

          When Josephine told them to kill her, the opposite happened.  The crowd quieted and dropped their stones.  From among them a tall Muslim man in a jogging suit (very unusual dress!) and wearing a name badge stepped forward.  He snapped a branch from a tree and brushed the people back, and made a path for Josephine and her people to pass through.  As they went, he said quietly, "Get into the van and close the windows, for they will stone you again."  The moment the tall man stepped aside, the rocks flew again, but no one was harmed.  As they drove home, they discussed who the tall man was.  All agreed he was an angel sent from God to deliver them.

          As Josephine concluded her story, she said that many lives were changed that day.  Each one of those students are now in some kind of ministry, as pastors, teachers, or evangelists.  Josephine and Donald have seen God working miracles.  Despite opposition from Islam, war, poverty, and even other misguided Christians, the churches are overflowing, and the Gospel is converting thousands.  "Mama Jo," Donald and daughter Mary trust God for everything.  They share the Gospel and rejoice when God produces believers through His miracles.

          Does God still do miracles today?  Why would He not?  God has not changed.  "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)   The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament.  God does miracles to extend the Kingdom, and He will go where He is received.  In Matthew 10, Jesus told His disciples to go where they are received, but if a village rejects them, then go to another.  God will not show miracles where people have no faith.  If He is rejected in one place, He will find others who will receive Him.

          God blesses all who have faith in Him.  He said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)   In today's text, Jesus acknowledged the Canaanite woman's great faith. She was willing to take whatever crumbs He gave her, even dog food.  Hearing her, He said, "What great faith!  Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed at that moment."

          It took faith for that miracle to happen.  We must have faith that God will do what we ask.  True, He will not grant all our requests, but without any faith, we will get nothing.  Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."

          Jesus wants us in heaven with Him.  He died for us, and all He does is for our good.  Even the greatest problem can bless us if we trust in Him.  God still does miracles, and He answers prayer.  When we hear bad news, ask Him for a miracle.  Why accept it without going to God?  God can fix our problems - He can work miracles.  God's Word is always better than man's word, so don't just accept bad news - turn to the Lord for His Good News!

          Yes, God still works miracles, but always to help us trust Him.  Jesus didn't do His miracles for entertainment.  He did them so His followers would believe He is God's Son and trust Him.  God does the same thing yet today.  Yes, sometimes it's through medicine or inventions, but who gave us those things?  Is not God the creator of everything?  Then trust Him for everything!  And expect a miracle.  Miracles are what God does best.

          By the way, that Muslim village in Gambia where they were stoned?  Today it has a church and even a Bible College.  And the head of that Bible College?  Her van driver and interpreter.  Imagine that - a growing church and a Bible College in a Muslim village.  Now that's a true miracle!  Amen!

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.