The Kingdom Jesus TaughtDo Miracles Still Happen Today? (According to Jesus & The Twelve)
Short answer: Yes, absolutely! Jesus commands His followers to heal the sick and cast out demons, and His disciples continued that work. The more helpful question may be: what blocks or releases God’s power in our midst today?
Chapters from the video: 00:00 Intro · 02:06 Failed Exorcism · 05:47 Key Insights · 07:54 Cross References · 09:38–15:16 Mustard-Seed Faith · 18:15 Untitled · 22:46 Cowardice & Unbelief (Rev 21:8) · 25:21 Faithless Generation · 28:09 Rooted Trust · 29:10–34:52 Why Some Battles Require Prayer · 42:00 Praying Mountains Down · 47:05 Conclusion
Table of Contents
1) Jesus’ Own Words Commanding & Affirming Miracles
2) Why Jesus Did Few Miracles in Nazareth
3) Why Some Don’t Experience Miracles Today
5) Witness of the Twelve (Post-Resurrection)
6) Mustard-Seed Faith — What Jesus Meant
Appendix: Verse List (Jesus & the Twelve)
1) Jesus’ Own Words Commanding & Affirming Miracles
Commission to Heal & Deliver
Jesus explicitly commissioned His followers to proclaim the Kingdom and demonstrate it by healing and deliverance.
- Twelve empowered & sent: Jesus “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction” and told them, “As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick… cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10:1, 7–8)
- Parallel sending: “He called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” (Luke 9:1–2)
- Beyond the Twelve (seventy-two): “Heal the sick… and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” They return saying, “Even the demons submit to us in Your name,” and Jesus affirms their authority in Him while redirecting their joy to their names written in heaven. (Luke 10:9, 17–20)
Implication: Healing and deliverance aren’t side-projects; they are core signs that the Kingdom is present. Jesus’ pattern (Twelve → Seventy-Two) shows this ministry is meant to continue through ordinary disciples who go in His name.
Faith Expectation
Jesus expects relational trust (pistis) that acts on His word.
- Possibility horizon: “All things are possible to the one who believes.” Spoken in the context of deliverance for a tormented child, Jesus invites desperate faith and responds to a father’s “I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:23)
- Mustard-seed principle: If faith is genuine—even as a mustard seed—it can move mountains/command obstacles to yield, because real faith aligns with God’s will and authority. (Matthew 17:20)
- Authority expressed in trust: “If you had faith like a mustard seed… you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted…’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
Implication: The issue is rarely “more volume” but living, rooted trust. Even small, living faith—planted and obedient—carries authority in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Promise & “Greater Works”
Answered prayer is tied to union with Jesus and alignment with His purposes.
- Greater works & asking in His name: “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these… Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:12–14)
- Abiding precondition: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)
Implication: Effectual prayer flows from abiding (remaining) in Jesus—His words shaping our desires, our requests aimed at the Father’s glory. The promise is not carte blanche for fleshly wants but a guarantee for Kingdom-aligned asking.
Persistence in Prayer
Jesus teaches shameless persistence that refuses to quit.
- Friend at midnight: Keep asking, seeking, knocking—the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Luke 11:5–13)
- Persistent widow: “Always pray and don’t lose heart.” If even an unjust judge yields to persistence, how much more will God bring justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night. (Luke 18:1–8)
Implication: Delays are not denials. Jesus frames persistence as faithfulness—a trust that keeps praying until Heaven’s answer breaks in.
Forgiveness Tied to Outcomes
Relational integrity affects prayer efficacy.
- Ask & forgive: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive… that your Father also may forgive you.” (Mark 11:24–25)
Implication: Unforgiveness can clog the line. Jesus connects confident asking with a tender, forgiving heart. Reconciliation is not optional maintenance; it’s part of the conditions Jesus names for powerful prayer.
2) Why Jesus Did Few Miracles in Nazareth
Why Jesus Did Few Miracles in Nazareth
Even Jesus Himself faced resistance to the miraculous because of hardened hearts.
- Matthew’s account: “He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58)
- Mark’s detail: “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5–6)
Implication: Jesus’ power was not lacking, but the posture of the people resisted Him. Their familiarity bred offense—“Is not this the carpenter…?” (Mark 6:3). Faith opens the door; unbelief shuts it. If even Jesus limited Himself to honoring faith, how much more should we expect unbelief to hinder His works today?
3) Why Some Don’t Experience Miracles Today
Scripture consistently highlights conditions that block the flow of God’s power. The same issues that limited miracles in Jesus’ own ministry still hinder believers today.
1. Unbelief and Doubt
Jesus repeatedly linked miracles to faith. When the disciples failed to heal the boy with a demon, He lamented: “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? … If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:17–20)
When Peter began to sink after walking on water, Jesus asked: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31) Whole towns resisted Him, and “He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5–6)
Principle: Faith opens the door to God’s power; unbelief shuts it. Even Jesus “marveled” at unbelief (Mark 6:6).
2. Prayerlessness
When the disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon, Jesus explained: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29) Prayer is the channel through which divine power flows. Without prayerful dependence, authority becomes empty words.
3. Offense and Familiarity
In Nazareth, people dismissed Him: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…?” and “they took offense at Him.” (Mark 6:3–4) Their hardened familiarity blocked honor, which in turn blocked miracles.
Principle: Miracles flourish where people honor Jesus for who He is, not where they reduce Him to human categories.
4. Unforgiveness
Jesus directly tied forgiveness to answered prayer: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father… may forgive you.” (Mark 11:25) A heart clinging to bitterness blocks the flow of grace and healing.
5. Double-Minded Asking
James, one of the Twelve, warned: “Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea… that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6–8)
Principle: Vacillating between faith and doubt short-circuits prayer.
6. Wrong Motives
James also wrote: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3)
Principle: God’s miracles serve His Kingdom purposes, not selfish gain.
7. Disconnection from Abiding
Jesus taught: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Only by abiding in Him do our prayers align with His will: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done.” (John 15:7)
Principle: Miracles are not mechanical formulas, but fruit of abiding relationship.
8. Cowardice
In the storm, Jesus rebuked His disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Later, John warned that “the cowardly and unbelieving” would face judgment (Revelation 21:8).
Principle: Fear paralyzes faith. Courageous trust is essential for stepping into God’s power.
Summary: The reasons people fail to experience miracles today mirror those in Scripture — unbelief, lack of prayer, offense, unforgiveness, double-mindedness, selfish motives, disconnection from abiding, and cowardice. These are not new problems; they are the same heart barriers Jesus confronted in His own ministry.
4) What Releases God’s Power
The same passages that warn about what blocks miracles also show us how God’s power is released. Miracles flow not from formulas, but from living faith, prayerful dependence, humility, and alignment with the Father’s will.
1. Living, Rooted Faith
Jesus said: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6) Faith, even if tiny, is effective when it is alive, growing, and placed in God. It is not the size of faith, but the source — faith rooted in Him releases His power.
Principle: A living seed of faith, planted in trust, grows into great works when connected to God.
2. Prayer and Fasting Dependence
Luke records that Jesus “would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16) He modeled a life of constant communion with the Father. He also taught that some breakthroughs require prayer (and fasting): “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)
Principle: Authority is sustained by intimacy with God. Without prayer, the channel of power is dry.
3. Forgiveness and Humility
Jesus said: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father… may forgive you.” (Mark 11:25) He also commanded reconciliation before worship: “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24)
Principle: Forgiveness clears the pipeline for answered prayer. Humility in relationships allows God’s grace to flow.
4. Perseverance in Prayer
Jesus urged persistence: “Ask, and it will be given… seek, and you will find… knock, and it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9–10) He followed with a parable “to show that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1–8) The widow’s persistence illustrates faith that refuses to quit.
Principle: God honors steady, persistent prayer that clings to Him without giving up.
5. Compassion
Jesus’ miracles flowed from compassion: “When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) His heart of mercy moved His hand of power.
Principle: Miracles are not displays of power for spectacle, but acts of love born from God’s heart of compassion.
6. Alignment with the Father
Jesus declared: “The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19) Before raising Lazarus, He prayed: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me…” (John 11:41–42) His works flowed from unity with the Father’s will.
Principle: Power is released when our actions and prayers align with God’s heart and timing.
7. Unity in Agreement
Jesus promised: “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:19–20) Unity invites His presence, which brings authority and confirmation.
Principle: Agreement in prayer and unity of heart release God’s power in the community of believers.
Summary: God’s power is not a vending machine, triggered by ritual. It flows through living faith, prayerful dependence, forgiveness and humility, persistent asking, compassionate love, alignment with the Father, and unity among believers. These are the release valves through which the Kingdom breaks into our world.
5) Witness of the Twelve (Post-Resurrection)
After the resurrection, the apostles carried forward exactly what Jesus commanded: healing the sick, casting out demons, and praying with authority. Their ministry continued the pattern Jesus set, proving that the mission did not end with His ascension.
1. Peter & John Heal the Lame Man
At the temple gate called Beautiful, Peter said to the lame beggar: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). The man leapt up and walked, praising God (Acts 3:1–10). Peter clarified: “His name—by faith in His name—has made this man strong.” (Acts 3:16)
Principle: Healing came through faith in Jesus’ name, not human power or piety.
2. Signs and Wonders Among the Twelve
Luke records: “Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles… they even carried out the sick into the streets… so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them… and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:12–16)
Principle: Miracles were not occasional but continual, testifying to Jesus’ risen power and confirming the apostles’ message.
3. Peter Heals Aeneas & Raises Tabitha
Peter found Aeneas bedridden for eight years and declared: “Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” (Acts 9:34) Immediately he rose. Soon after, Peter prayed and commanded: “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:36–42).
Principle: The apostles healed in Jesus’ name, pointing all glory back to Him.
4. Deliverance Through Prayer
When Peter was imprisoned, “earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Acts 12:5) An angel appeared, chains fell off, and he was led to freedom (Acts 12:6–11).
Principle: Prayer was not passive but powerful, moving heaven to act on earth.
5. James’ Teaching on Healing Prayer
James instructed the church: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him… And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” (James 5:14–15) He added that confession and prayer bring both healing and forgiveness (James 5:16).
Principle: Healing was expected as part of the church’s ongoing life through prayer and faith.
6. Peter’s Reminder of Christ’s Healing Work
Peter reminded believers of the foundation of all healing: “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree… By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Principle: Healing is rooted in Jesus’ sacrificial work, not human striving.
7. John’s Testimony of Jesus’ Mission
John declared: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) He also gave assurance of answered prayer: “If we ask anything according to His will He hears us.” (1 John 5:14–15)
Principle: The apostles saw miracles as a direct continuation of Jesus’ mission to destroy the devil’s works and confirm God’s will through prayer.
Summary: The Twelve carried on exactly what Jesus taught—healing, deliverance, and prayerful authority. The record of Acts, James, Peter, and John shows no hint that miracles would cease with them. Instead, miracles were God’s living testimony to the truth of Jesus, flowing through faith-filled obedience.
6) Mustard-Seed Faith — What Jesus Meant
Mustard-Seed Faith
Jesus used the mustard seed to teach that it is not the size of faith that matters, but whether it is alive, genuine, and rooted in Him.
- Teaching from the mountain: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
- Luke’s parallel: “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
Greek insight: The word translated “believe” and “faith” is pisteuō (πιστεύω) — meaning to entrust oneself to, rely upon, place confidence in. It is relational trust, not intellectual agreement.
1. Courage vs. Cowardice
Jesus consistently rebuked fear in His disciples: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). The true opposite of faith is not doubt alone, but cowardice — shrinking back in fear rather than trusting God. Revelation warns that “the cowardly and unbelieving” will face judgment (Revelation 21:8). Mustard-seed faith stands firm with courage, even when circumstances look impossible.
2. Unbelief as the Barrier
When the disciples failed to cast out a demon, Jesus identified unbelief as the cause: “Because of your little faith” (Matthew 17:20). Faith, even if tiny, must be alive and exercised. Unbelief kept Nazareth from seeing miracles (Matthew 13:58). Faith, even as small as a seed, connects us to God’s limitless power.
3. Authority Through Prayer
Jesus tied mustard-seed faith directly to prayerful authority: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29). The seed of faith grows through prayer, fasting, and abiding in God’s presence. Prayer is not a ritual but a lifeline of trust that fuels authority.
4. Living, Rooted Trust
The mustard seed, though small, grows into a tree where birds rest in its branches (Matthew 13:31–32). In the same way, faith begins small but expands into shelter for others. Genuine faith in Jesus takes root, grows, and bears fruit — moving mountains not by human willpower, but by aligning with God’s will through trusting obedience.
Implication: Mustard-seed faith is not about having a large quantity of belief, but about having a living, rooted trust in Jesus that acts with courage, persists through prayer, forgives freely, and obeys God even in the face of mountains.
7) How to Respond
Jesus and His apostles showed that God’s power is not automatic. It requires a response of faith, humility, and obedience. Here are the steps Scripture highlights for every believer:
1. Repent of Offense, Unbelief, Unforgiveness, and Double-Mindedness
Miracles were hindered in Nazareth because of offense and unbelief: “He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58)
Jesus warned against unforgiveness: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father… may forgive you.” (Mark 11:25)
James warned against double-mindedness in prayer: “The one who doubts… must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6–8)
Principle: Turning away from offense, unbelief, bitterness, and divided loyalties clears the heart for faith-filled prayer.
2. Abide in Jesus
Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Him. He added: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done.” (John 15:7)
He also pointed to the “secret place” of prayer: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” (Matthew 6:6)
Principle: Staying connected to Jesus through obedience and hidden prayer sustains the flow of God’s power.
3. Ask Boldly in Jesus’ Name, with Compassion and Alignment to the Father
Jesus promised: “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do… Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified.” (John 14:12–13)
When He healed the sick, it was not for show but because “He had compassion on them.” (Matthew 14:14)
Principle: Bold prayer must align with the Father’s will and flow from love for those suffering, not self-exaltation.
4. Persevere — Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9–10) He told a parable “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1–8)
He also revealed that some breakthroughs require greater persistence: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)
Principle: Keep pressing in with faith. Delayed answers are not denials — perseverance refines trust.
5. Minister Together in Unity and Agreement
Jesus assured His disciples: “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:19–20)
Principle: Unity of faith and purpose invites the presence of Jesus and multiplies authority in prayer.
Summary: The right response is not striving harder, but humbling ourselves — repenting of heart barriers, abiding in Jesus, asking boldly with compassion, persevering in prayer, and ministering together in unity. This is how the early church lived, and how God’s power still flows today.
Appendix: Verse List (Jesus & the Twelve)
From Jesus: Matthew 10:1,7–8; Luke 9:1–2; Luke 10:9,17–20; Mark 9:23; Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6; John 14:12–14; John 15:7; Luke 11:5–13; Luke 18:1–8; Mark 11:24–25; Matthew 6:9–13; Matthew 14:14; John 5:19; John 11:41–44; Matthew 18:19–20; Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5–6.
From the Twelve (and their writings): Acts 2:43; Acts 3:1–10; 3:11–16; Acts 4:9–10; Acts 5:12–16; Acts 9:32–42; Acts 12:5–11; James 1:6–8; James 4:3; James 5:14–16; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:14–15; Revelation 21:8.
Personal Experience
I have a story that I hope will help you understand what to do when you are in need of God’s help and mercy. It has to do aligning with God’s will to release His power of mercy and healing. I had a serious back injury where I was crippled from the waist down; it lasted for over three months. The odd thing was that nothing happened to justify the injury, I just woke up one day with a tight back, moved the wrong way, then pain. My lower back felt wrenched, and I started to notice areas of numbness in my feet and legs. It progressed quickly and over the next few days I had paralysis of 80% of my body from my hips down, I couldn’t walk or stand unassisted, and my lower half began to atrophy rapidly and severely. If I moved the wrong way, it was as if I were hit by lightning; with excruciating pain and I would fall down and not be able to get back up. The MRI was bad. It showed an annular herniated disc with tear and crushed nerve root along with severe spinal stenosis on both right and left sides. The nerve root was fully compressed at L4 and L5 and partially compressed at S1. It was severe, and the diagnosis didn’t look good. They said I need emergency surgery immediately to relief the compressed nerve root, and of course, couldn’t guarantee anything in terms of recovery of nerve or the substantial motor function loss.
My wife and kinds strongly felt that God was telling them that I shouldn’t get back surgery (my daughter felt that God was showing her that I might die if I did). I agreed and didn’t get it. Instead of asking for healing, I wanted to know why God allowed this. I knew there had to be a reason. I wasn’t living a submitted life to Jesus at the time, and although I believed in him, I wasn’t trusting or following him with my life. I knew I wasn’t going to be healed simply by praying and begging selfishly for a miracle. I knew I had to figure out and deal with the root of the problem. My mother was a true believer, someone who followed and was devoted to Jesus with her life. I asked her not to pray for my healing, but rather to ask God to reveal to me why this happened. I believed that if He showed me why, I could fix the problem and then be healed. I hadn’t learned to surrender to Him; I was the one in control and I thought that was how it worked. Things was bad. For three months I was in tremendous pain, had zero improvement, and I started to lose hope.
I was frustrated, often angry and disappointed, and depressed. My outlook looked very dim because I was going to lose the ability to do lot of thing in life like playing sports, playing with my kids, hiking, being able to exercise, being able to protect my family and simple things like just being able to stand upright without excruciating pain, being able to walk across a parking lot or even to a table at a restaurant.
After exactly 91 days of feeling mostly angry and depressed with various ups and downs, I thought about the permanence of the situation and I realized that Satan was the one, not God, who caused this, even though God allowed it. And I thought about how much he must hate me and how delighted he must be. As the accuser standing before of God, he would point out how pathetic a man I was. When something bad happens, look at how he responds to you. Total despair, no faith or trust in you. Your people only care about You when You bless and prosper them. Look at how they respond when something bad happens – they immediately turn away from trusting in You.
I thought about how he would accuse me, pointing out my lack of faith and trust, being so proud and smug of what he did and so happy with the result. Then I thought to myself, although I am crippled, I still have the single most important thing in life, and that is the ability to have a relationship with God, that is with Jesus. I didn’t lose that. I have a unique opportunity here, a choice. I don’t have to be a victim, the one who is so afraid of being permanently crippled. And furthermore, I know God is good, and in all things, He works for the good of those who love Him. So regardless of what I think, God is good and therefore whatever happens is for the best, even if I can’t see it now, deep down I know this is what I would choose if I were all knowing and could see everything God sees. So, I addressed my enemy directly. I said you know what Satan; you just made the biggest mistake of your career. As a result of what you did, I will turn to God in such a way that it will make you eternally regret what you did to me more than anything you have ever regretted in your entire existence. Not only am I not going to be depressed anymore, no matter what happens, if I stay crippled and I stay in constant pain or whatever, but from this point forward, without fail, for the rest of my life I will commit to being overwhelmingly thankful that this happened knowing God is good, and He loves me. I will consider it a wonderful blessing. I’m going to rejoice, and I will be full of joy and I’m going to love God with everything that I have. I meant it. I was going to commit to that regardless of circumstance or outcome. I was completely fine with what he did because when that day comes, when I stand before the Lord God almighty and before my accuser, it will be the most dreadful day ever for him, as he will cower away in such shame in the face of God’s glory.
So, without going into too much detail when I sat down that night, I closed my eyes and started to thank God, then suddenly, I felt the Lord’s Spirit being poured out on me. It rushed into me, and I felt tremendous burning throughout my body. I was actually on fire. I felt the most incredible fire burning through my entire being, from head to toe. Words cannot describe what I felt other than I was literally being engulfed and consumed by flames of fire of God’s spirit and His love. When that happened, I was startled and stayed completely still. I didn’t move a muscle because I didn’t know how long this would last, and I didn’t want His presence to leave. I just kept saying thank you Lord, thank you Jesus, praise be to your name. I remained completely still for over 6 hours and let this fire of His spirit wash over me. The sensation never weakened or left. After sitting in His presence all night, I eventually became tired and finally decided to say one last thank you Lord and moved to lay my head down. It immediately left and I fell into a deep sleep.
The next day I woke up, still in astonishment, I thought to myself I am pretty sure I was just healed last night. Using my cane, I got up and with much effort I hobbled out to the living room to sit down and explain to my wife what happened, that I think I was healed last night. While explaining what happened I said, you know, I should check. I have been using my little toe to gauge and look for even the slightest improvement because up until that point I couldn’t feel most of my toes and could barely move any of them. Up until that point I had very limited movement and I would try to overlap the pinky toe on my foot. Normally I could do that very easily, but it was impossible after I was injured, so I checked. I tried to move my pinky toe and overlap it with the adjacent toe and behold I was able to do it.
At that point I realized I was going to completely recover. Within the few days I made incredible progress. All the feeling came back, all the mobility came back, and my ability to stand, lift my heels off the floor, and walk normally was restored. Within two months I was 95% healed and within a year 100%. I played baseball later that same year and was back to heavy weightlifting and running every single day, with total joy. This was not supposed to happen. The spinal stenosis alone was supposed to be permanent and progressive. After more than 3 months, the loss of motor function in my legs and hips should have been permanent. And without God’s intervention and His mercy, it surely would have been. I often think about why Jesus healed me and how to best articulate the answer to others. I believe we can learn a lot if we think in terms of Job.
🔥 1. Yes — Satan Was the Accuser and the Oppressor
“I knew Satan was the one, not God, who caused this. Even though God allowed it.”
That’s exactly the understanding that Job had to come to.
Satan accused him:
“Does Job fear God for nothing? Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
— Job 1:9–11
God allowed it, but Satan was the one who struck, intending to prove Job’s unfaithfulness.
So yes — I was in the middle of a spiritual challenge that was about much more than my body.
It was about whether my faith was real… whether my love for God was dependent on my comfort, or whether it would shine through in pain.
🙌 2. My Turning Point Crushed the Accuser
I made a faith-filled declaration:
“You know what, Satan… you just made the biggest mistake of your career.”
This relates to Job 13:15:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
When I said:
“Even if I stay crippled and in pain, I’m going to love God with everything I can”…
That wasn’t just emotion.
That was a choice of eternal significance — and I believe it silenced the accuser in the heavens.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
— Revelation 12:11
When we choose like this in the face of fear, we become a living testimony — not just of healing, but of unshakable love.
🔥 3. The Fire Was Real — A Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
What I experienced that night — the warmth, the fire that didn’t burn, the overwhelming peace — is described in Scripture as:
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” — Matthew 3:11 (John the Baptist speaking of Jesus)
“Cloven tongues like fire rested on each of them…” — Acts 2:3
“I will refine them like silver and test them like gold” — Zechariah 13:9
It wasn’t a metaphor.
That was the presence of the Holy Spirit filling me, refining me, healing not just my paralysis — but my soul, my identity, my trust.
It lasted for hours because something deep and permanent was happening.
That night, Jesus met me with fire — not to burn me down, but to burn away everything false, to mark me as His, and to seal my surrender.
🌱 4. Was It Healing Because Satan Backed Off? Or God Released Power?
Maybe… both.
- When I chose faith over fear, I disarmed Satan’s accusation.
- When I submitted fully to God, I opened myself to the flow of grace and healing.
- Satan lost jurisdiction over my body because he had no more argument.
- And God’s power moved because my faith aligned with His will.
James 4:7 says:
“Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
I submitted.
I resisted.
He fled.
I was healed.
🧠 Live the Gospel
- I believed in Jesus — but hadn’t been following.
- God allowed a trial — not to destroy me, but to call me into full surrender.
- I walked through the valley — and came out transformed.
- And now, I bear a testimony that disarms the enemy and strengthens others.
That what true faith looks like. It has to be full surrender.
That what Jesus meant when He said:
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”