Signs follow where God is working.
A simple statement, but a loaded meaning. It is true? I have always hesitated to put it that simply. We just don't see much in the way of signs and wonders these days. And to be honest when we do, our first instinct is to not believe or make fun. I mean look at the Brownsville Revival that happened in the 90's. God was at work, but those people were criticized and made fun of. So many doubted it was of God...but people were changed and healed, and miracles happened there. Why do we doubt? Why is the church so surprised when God actually does something?
I got an email from a friend this week that I would like to share with you. I heard a rumor about his Sun. night service and asked him about it. This was his response:
“It’s true Misty. I had finished preaching and really didn’t give an alter invitation. The night before I had preached on the official duty of the church to rescue people from behind the gates of hell who were waiting to slip into eternity lost forever. So, the next night I had people doing just that. They were praying for each other…and it was loud and fervent prayer across the sanctuary. Well, one guy comes up to me and throws his cigarettes on the altar. Bear in mind, I didn’t solicit for anyone to come forward, he just did it. He said he led praise and worship somewhere and now God wanted him free. Not 30 seconds later, a teenage girl comes forward and says she’s been doing drugs and she told me that tonight was her night to be free. We prayed and she had her first experience with God right there on the spot. Then someone led me to the side of the church on the front row. There the teenagers mother was sitting crying. She said she wanted to be saved and was involved in the Jehovah’s Witness cult. I started leading her in prayer and asked her to pray after me. “Jesus, you are Lord.” As she started to pray she started hyperventilating. I tried again. She did the same thing. I recognized that this was a demonic spirit, so I told her to be calm and not say a word right now that I would pray for her first. I just said a simple prayer, “Lord fill this room with your total presence and banish any hindering forces from this place.” There was no fighting or foaming at the mouth… She just went limp, laid back, relaxed and could breath. I immediately had her pray after me and she prayed to receive Christ and confess him as Lord. Afterward, I had her lay her hands on her daughter, the teen who wanted to be free from drugs. She did so and pronounced a mothers blessing over her child for the first time ever. That’s when it happened. A woman seated just about in the center of the sanctuary screamed “I can see. I can see.” I walked over to see what was going on and a blind lady who had been attending our church for years was able to see. She followed me around the sanctuary and even gave me her red/white walking cane. She said that she would not be needing this any longer. What’s hilarious is I saw her yesterday morning going into the Ophthalmologists’ office. She walked in just like you or I would walk in. I told Tammie afterward that I bet she is going to get cleared to get her driver’s license.
Misty, these are things we have believed for our whole lives. Yet, we failed to see them because no one really has seen the church be the church in a long long time. Part of my passion is to see the church alive, healthy and doing God’s work in the earth. Signs follow where God is working.”
What is your first reaction to that? Are you cynical? If you are maybe that is the reason we don't see more of this stuff. Do we really believe God? Jesus said in John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.” I have heard people say that this verse refers to us being able to take the gospel everywhere through technology they didn't have then, but...the verse says greater “works.” So what works did Jesus do? He ministered to people, rescued them, delivered them, healed them, changed them. He didn't just pray and walk away without something happening. I think a better way to put it is: He didn't walk away, He prayed and something happened. I wonder if God isn't moving because His people don't believe...and don't pray. I can't remember ever walking up to someone who couldn't walk and telling them to get up, but that is what Jesus did... and his disciples... and Paul. I think the best thing for me to do right now is pray this prayer (Acts 4: 29b-30)
“grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Let it be so for me, In Jesus Name...
Amen!
A simple statement, but a loaded meaning. It is true? I have always hesitated to put it that simply. We just don't see much in the way of signs and wonders these days. And to be honest when we do, our first instinct is to not believe or make fun. I mean look at the Brownsville Revival that happened in the 90's. God was at work, but those people were criticized and made fun of. So many doubted it was of God...but people were changed and healed, and miracles happened there. Why do we doubt? Why is the church so surprised when God actually does something?
I got an email from a friend this week that I would like to share with you. I heard a rumor about his Sun. night service and asked him about it. This was his response:
“It’s true Misty. I had finished preaching and really didn’t give an alter invitation. The night before I had preached on the official duty of the church to rescue people from behind the gates of hell who were waiting to slip into eternity lost forever. So, the next night I had people doing just that. They were praying for each other…and it was loud and fervent prayer across the sanctuary. Well, one guy comes up to me and throws his cigarettes on the altar. Bear in mind, I didn’t solicit for anyone to come forward, he just did it. He said he led praise and worship somewhere and now God wanted him free. Not 30 seconds later, a teenage girl comes forward and says she’s been doing drugs and she told me that tonight was her night to be free. We prayed and she had her first experience with God right there on the spot. Then someone led me to the side of the church on the front row. There the teenagers mother was sitting crying. She said she wanted to be saved and was involved in the Jehovah’s Witness cult. I started leading her in prayer and asked her to pray after me. “Jesus, you are Lord.” As she started to pray she started hyperventilating. I tried again. She did the same thing. I recognized that this was a demonic spirit, so I told her to be calm and not say a word right now that I would pray for her first. I just said a simple prayer, “Lord fill this room with your total presence and banish any hindering forces from this place.” There was no fighting or foaming at the mouth… She just went limp, laid back, relaxed and could breath. I immediately had her pray after me and she prayed to receive Christ and confess him as Lord. Afterward, I had her lay her hands on her daughter, the teen who wanted to be free from drugs. She did so and pronounced a mothers blessing over her child for the first time ever. That’s when it happened. A woman seated just about in the center of the sanctuary screamed “I can see. I can see.” I walked over to see what was going on and a blind lady who had been attending our church for years was able to see. She followed me around the sanctuary and even gave me her red/white walking cane. She said that she would not be needing this any longer. What’s hilarious is I saw her yesterday morning going into the Ophthalmologists’ office. She walked in just like you or I would walk in. I told Tammie afterward that I bet she is going to get cleared to get her driver’s license.
Misty, these are things we have believed for our whole lives. Yet, we failed to see them because no one really has seen the church be the church in a long long time. Part of my passion is to see the church alive, healthy and doing God’s work in the earth. Signs follow where God is working.”
What is your first reaction to that? Are you cynical? If you are maybe that is the reason we don't see more of this stuff. Do we really believe God? Jesus said in John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.” I have heard people say that this verse refers to us being able to take the gospel everywhere through technology they didn't have then, but...the verse says greater “works.” So what works did Jesus do? He ministered to people, rescued them, delivered them, healed them, changed them. He didn't just pray and walk away without something happening. I think a better way to put it is: He didn't walk away, He prayed and something happened. I wonder if God isn't moving because His people don't believe...and don't pray. I can't remember ever walking up to someone who couldn't walk and telling them to get up, but that is what Jesus did... and his disciples... and Paul. I think the best thing for me to do right now is pray this prayer (Acts 4: 29b-30)
“grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Let it be so for me, In Jesus Name...
Amen!
April 3, 2009 at 3:44 AM
I love your blog. You have that southern perspective that always gets me in trouble when I start to talk about it but can't get the right words. "Do We Believe" is exactly how I feel. Why should God perform the miracles we read about if we think the Bible is just a great story. Keep it up girl! You're hitting the mark
April 5, 2009 at 6:07 AM
Hugs Misty! Great post. You are really doing such a work. Tina