Our guest speaker is Dr. Paul Risser, a long-time friend, encourager, and mentor to our own Pastor Wayne. He comes to share with us about the many works and miracles he has witnessed in his lifetime, in spite of his own doubt. His life experiences and testimonies authentically glorify God. Listen as he shares about the miracles of God, both big and small.

Dr. Paul Risser

I was born to parents who were raised in traditional churches where they didn’t believe in the spiritual work of God. Instead, they believed that miracles ceased when the apostles died yet nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, before Jesus ascended to heaven He performed great miracles but He also said, “The truth is, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in My name, and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14 NLT).

What Jesus was saying is that even though He was going to be with His Father, He is going to continue to do great and mighty things through us (or us through His name). Today I will be talking about some of the miracles I have experienced in my life and how God has blessed me with His presence. Then, at the very end of the service, I will quickly go through the handout so you will have notes to take with you on God’s miracle-working today.

My dad was a successful Idaho potato farmer. He had a twenty-four year old sister Paula, who contracted Tuberculosis (TB). During those days there was no cure for TB so Paula’s doctor suggested that she go live in California where the warmer weather may be able to sustain her life a few months longer. So she moved. Paula’s doctor in California broke the news that the weather was not going to help her live longer; she was too sick. He only gave her three months to live. However, he suggested that she to go to the Angeles Temple where some of his other patients had had good luck being prayed for. Upon hearing about this hope, Paula went to the church.

The pastor was a renowned evangelist - Amy Simple McPhearson. God used her to pray for people and made miracles happen. Paula responded to the call for prayer and she described how Pastor McPhearson laid a hand on her head and prayed, “God, may you heal Paula. May you touch her for your glory and perform a miracle. In Jesus’ name!” Paula described how she felt a warm sensation travel through her body, from the tip of her head, down through her lungs where it paused for a second with a burning sensation. Then, the warmth flowed through the rest of her body, down to her toes. When it was over – and after taking a deep breathe for the first time in over two years – Paula realized she was healed! The end of this story is…Paula lived a full and wonderful life that God used to touch hundreds and hundreds of people for Christ. She finally she died at the age of ninety-two but even when her organs were failing, the doctor said, “…but not the lungs. She has the lungs of a 15 year old!”

When my dad first heard about Paula’s miraculous healing, he rushed down from Idaho to see Pastor McPhearson who had prayed for his sister. Being that the church was always full, my dad ended up way at the back of the congregation. Pastor McPhearson spoke on the glorious experience of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. She mentioned John the Baptist saying, “I baptize you in water, but He who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matt 3:11-12). Pastor McPhearson could have been preaching in a foreign language for all my father cared because he didn’t understand what she was saying but at the end of the service, she called again for people to come up for prayer. She prayed for many people and they were baptized by the Holy Spirit but at one point, there were so many people coming forward for prayer that she waved her hand across the entire congregation and said, “I wish everybody here would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” My dad, like the rest of the congregation, had to sit…under the weight of God’s power. My dad didn’t understand what had happened to him but he felt good; he felt like a new person. After the service, it was explained to him that he’d been baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This miracle changed my dad’s life; he lost interest in business and went into ministry.

As the son of a pastor, I’ve seen incredible things happen among God’s people. Once, at a service, my mother and father each had twenty dollars in their respective wallets. (Back then twenty dollars would have been more than half a week’s salary.) When the offering was taken, unknowingly, both my parents gave their last twenty dollars thinking that the other one wouldn’t. Later that day, my father asked my mother for her twenty dollars, she said she had given it as offering. When she found out that my dad had also, both of them laughed themselves to tears. As a child, I didn’t think it was funny at all. What were we going to eat? What were we going to use for money? My dad told us not to worry, “Tomorrow God is going to supply us in a miraculous way.” Sure enough, when I got from school the next day, there was dinner on the table and Dad pulled out a letter he had received from my uncle in California earlier that day. My uncle wrote, “I just thought today you may have a financial need. I felt prompted to send you a check”. The check my uncle sent was for $500! (Today, the equivalent would be about $7,000.)

While growing up, miracles occurred all around me. My dad was in the ministry and when he prayed for people, they were healed. Not to be disrespectful but by the time I got to college and met my wife to be, we were both pastors’ children and we had had enough. We vowed to love one another “until death do us part,” and our second vow was not to go into ministry. If there’s one thing I’ve learned…if I vow not to do something, it’ll happen....

I started off in business but needless to say, I ended up in ministry. I was not the type to preach but the people of our church expected prayers and healing. I told the Lord I wanted out but He had other plans. I knew that if I prayed for the sick, they were going to die! Yet again, God taught me a lesson and showed me His power.

He led me to Mrs. Hall, a seventy year old woman who was dying of esophagus cancer. I went to see her in the hospital on a Friday morning. She was in a coma. Her doctor explained that she wouldn’t last until noon and Mr. Hall stated that he wanted me to conduct her funeral which would probably be on Sunday. I panicked for the people who were going to come to Mrs. Hall’s funeral but still I prayed for Mrs. Hall. I anointed her and prayed for God to heal her -- for He is the Great Physician who promises to heal. In the strong name of Jesus I prayed.

I went back to my office and started preparing Mrs. Hall’s eulogy. I was proud of what I had written and was ready to go. Around 5:30pm, I went back to the hospital. As I expected, I returned to Mrs. Hall’s room and the life support machines were gone and the bed was made. As I stood in the doorway, I heard a voice calling from behind me, “Pastor Risser!” Much to my surprise, I turned to see Mrs. Hall in the corner eating her dinner! If you know anything about esophagus cancer, you know that eating is impossible. Only God could do this! All Mrs. Hall had to say was, “I bet I surprised you, didn’t I?”

That Sunday morning, Mrs. Hall sat on the second row in church. I spoke about the miracle God had done but Mrs. Hall asked if she could say a word. I replied, “Of course Lazarus, give us your testimony.” Mrs. Hall explained that she was supposed to be in church that day…but in a casket. She thanked God for healing her and making her a new person, but she also said she was glad for a pastor who knew how to pray the prayer of faith. With this, I blushed with embarrassment… had she only known that I had already written her eulogy! Then it came to me…we know God can heal yet we wonder if He will. Then I remembered…all we need is to have the faith of a tiny mustard seed. With that, God taught me the power of miracles and faith.

On another occasion, there was a seventeen year old girl who was hanging around with a not-so-good guy. Her parents threatened to disown her if she insisted on keeping company with that low life but that didn’t stop her. In a short time, she ended up having a child out of wedlock. She married him, had another child from him, then ended up being abused and abandoned by him. She soon found herself living in a little shack.

On one gloomy Saturday morning, she decided she couldn’t live that way anymore. She shamed her family and herself. The future was bleak. She decided she was going to end her life and that of her children by turning on the gas in the shack.

That same morning, I happened to be driving on her side of town. I accidentally ended up on this young woman’s street, not because of any conscious decision but rather because there were stop signs on that street so I could speed. As I got to the end of the block, I remembered that young woman who had once visited us for a service and that she was having a hard time. I reversed back down the street. I thought I would stop by to say a quick hello; I even left the car running. I knocked on her door. She opened it and looked at me saying, “God sent you!”

She then told me what she was planning on doing, and that I saved her life. Just then, I realized it wasn’t a coincidence. God had sent me and this was a miracle! I’m thankful to say this woman lived on with a beautiful life. She and her husband are in ministry and they pastor a church. The last time I spoke to her, she told me she’ll never forget that day that God sent me. Although oblivious at that time, I now understand the Lord directs our actions at the right time to yield His miracles.

And one final story…I was attending a convention and I was driving down a street when I noticed a couple walking on the sidewalk. In that moment, something within me said, stop and give that couple $100. I thought, “That’s crazy!” and continued on my way. Then it hit me a second time, “Give that couple a $100.” Again, I thought, “I’m not going to do that.” Then, a third prompting said to go back and give them $100. I delayed the inevitable by driving slowly. I was hoping that when I got back to where they were, they’d be gone. To my unhappy surprise, when I drove around the corner, the couple was now just standing there. I approached the couple, introduced myself, stated that I wasn’t a weirdo and told them that God had prompted me to give them $100. As soon as I said it, the young woman burst into tears and replied that they were standing there praying because they had come to the convention but it the costs were more than they expected so now they had no money for food or gas to return home.

Both the husband and wife expressed their extreme gratitude, and I was just pleased that God could use me in that way.

Finally brethren, here are a few core beliefs and statements to go over from time-to-time when you need miracles in your life. You may not always need to call the church. Miracles can happen in your home and it could happen in your business.

1) GOD WANTS TO INTERVENE IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONCERNS.

A miracle is when God intervenes and does something that no human can do. Even doctors know this. Although a doctor can set a bone, only God can mend and heal it. There are just things we cannot do, only God can. And when He does, it is a miracle!

2) THERE IS NOTHING WE FACE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD. All through scriptures, God emphasizes doing the impossible. He wants to do this for us!

3) BE CONVINCED THAT GOD’S POWER, RICHES, WISDOM AND WILLINGNESS    EXCEEDS OUR GREATEST IMAGINATION. The Lord doesn’t hesitate. He wants to help, so don’t impose limitations.

4) MIRACLES COME IN ALL SIZES AND SHAPES. DON’T IMPOSE LIMITATION. When we think about miracles, we think about healing. Here are examples and ways miracles are delivered.

Deliverance • Finances • Healing • Timing • Victory over Enemies • Protection • Leading • Comfort • Renewal • Encouragement • Transformations • New Disposition • Desires of Your Heart • Visitation of Angles • Restoration Change of Heart • Word from the Lord • Relationships with People • Spiritual Gifts, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

  

5) GOD IS PLEASED TO USE US IN THE WORKING OF MIRACLES FOR OTHERS. God will use you to do His miracles for other people.

6) GOD WILL USE UNLIKELY PEOPLE AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BRING ABOUT MIRACLES. Even if we don’t understand, heed the Holy Spirits’ prompting. You’ll be glad you did.

7) JUST BECAUSE THINGS GO BAD DOESN’T MEAN GOD IS NOT WORKING. Even while we are asleep, God is still working. So don’t think that God doesn’t know your problems because He does.

8) FREQUENTLY MIRACLES ARE THE RESULT OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.

God does His work without you necessarily knowing about it. You’ll know that they’ve happened but you didn’t even pray about it.            

9) AT TIMES MIRACLES COME THROUGH MUCH PRAYER, FASTING AND PERSISTANCE. Pray for others and be steadfast, then allow the Lord to do His work.

10) IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE GOD WHEN THEY HAPPEN. A lot of people have experienced miracles but they were unable to see them because they were not looking for His presence; therefore, people have not thanked the Lord for all the miracles He has already done. On the contrary, be thankful for all that God does.

Thank you Lord for the miracles you’ve performed in our lives, in all shapes and sizes. Thank you for reminding us that you are continuously here and working miracles in our lives. All we need to do is open the eyes of our hearts to look for your presence. Thank you Lord for the miracles you’ve done so far and we look forward to miracles you still have in store for us. God Bless You!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.      Are you able to look back and see the miracles the Lord has done in your life (before receiving Christ)? If so, share one.

2.      When prompted by the Holy Spirit to give or do something even if it seems off the wall, have you listened and taken action? What was the outcome and what have you learned?

3.      How do you view life’s storms and trials? Is it with complaining, worry and hesitation or supplication, prayer and a willing heart?

4.      With Dr. Risser’s testimonies, what impacted you the most and how will you be a better person because of it?        

Much “Mahalo” to volunteer writer Doreen Robaino for her dedication, faithfulness, and trust in the Lord to touch and bless the lives of others with miracles.