7) Workers of miracles (Power)
The term miracles is not a very accurate word for the Greek word. The Greek
word dunamis means power. So we are talking about workers of power! It would
seem that any spiritual effect could be included in this gift. In the Old
Testament we see scriptures that can easily identify what a miracle is: EXO
3:20 "So I will stretch out My hand, and strike Egypt with all My miracles
which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.
According to this scripture all the works that God did in Egypt are miracles but
is the Hebrew word for miracle a counterpart for the Greek word for power? No.
So what is the working of power?
When looking at New Testament scriptures that mention the working of miracles
(which is actually working of power) we can get a insight into their operation.
ACT 2:22 ¶ "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a
man attested to you by God with miracles (powers) and wonders and signs
which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-
and ACT 8:13 And even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he
continued on with Philip; and as he observed signs and great miracles (powers)
taking place, he was constantly amazed. 8:6 And the 
multitudes with one accord
were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the
signs which he was performing. 8:7 For in the case of many who had unclean
spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who
had been paralyzed and lame were healed. Jesus and Philip are said to have
performed many miracles (powers) but in both cases there were no specific events
that were differentiated as a working of power (miracle). In Philips case there
was a mentioning of casting out demons and healing of the paralyzed and lame.
This working of power (miracles) was taking place in the presence of the unsaved
in both cases, seemingly for the purpose of drawing unbelievers to God. In both
cases, as we well know, there were many healings and deliverances not just one
or two.
We still have no direct evidence of what constitutes a miracle (work of
power). We do see in the book of Acts a clear statement of a work of power that
is classified as extraordinary. ACT 19:11 And God was performing
extraordinary miracles (powers) by the hands of Paul, 19:12 so that
handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the
diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. Here the work of power is
not the end result but that 
divine power was housed in handkerchiefs and aprons.
We see this power flowing freely from Jesus when the woman with the issue of
blood touched Him. MAR 5:28 For she thought, "If I just touch His
garments, I shall get well." 5:29 And immediately the flow of her blood was
dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 5:30
And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him
had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My
garments?"
So the workers of power are those who have been given a supernatural gift of
power that can perform healings and deliverances in abundance while in the
presence of the unsaved. This power may also work through inanimate objects. We
will see more about this gift when talking about the Apostle.
