One of the most faith-edifying experiences we face as believers is witnessing a miracle. When the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ comes in authority to bring us from burden to breakthrough, we not only come out healed, restored or provided for, we come out with hearts fully astonished and thus devoted to the work of Jesus in our life.
While God is out to bring about immense miracles of external healing, provision and restoration into every believer's life, He sets out also to train our hearts to stand in realisations that make the movement of God more preeminent in our life.
Luke 5:12–16 tells us a tale of a leper whose heart realisations not only brought healing, but a great testimony for many people to be moved by. It all starts with Luke 5:12, which says "While He was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean'" (ESV).
From the experience of the leper, we can catch three heart realisations that made it possible for him to experience a miracle through Christ.
Desperation | "when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him"
There's no knowing how long the man had been sick or how severe the rejection might have been for him, but one thing the Bible tells us for certain is that he was desperate for healing. The Bible tells us that he fell on his face and begged Jesus to heal him.
Desperation can lead us to one of two things: It can either lead us to deny the power of God or to fall in humility, desiring nothing but the power of God. The leper chose to fall in humility and acknowledge how badly he needed help and how, by his own strength, he could never restore his status or health.
Submission | "Lord, if you will"
Even in the midst of desperation, the leper found it in himself to control his will and emotions and first respectfully ask Jesus if it was His will for him to be healed. Sometimes many of us just want an instant miracle—instant healing, instant provision or instant breakthrough—without first weighing God's will and purpose over our life. The leper left himself vulnerable to the work of Jesus Christ.
Conviction | "you can make me clean"
Yes, we know God is present and that He is real, but do we think He is able? Many people think of God as being present but not able, maybe because of a sin or an unwillingness to give you a miracle. God is more than willing and God is more than able. Jesus Christ—and His finished work—makes all miracles possible for those who put their faith and trust in Him.
