The reason I’m writing this is simple: I’m SO tired of hearing about so many human beings having their lives and bodies ripped apart by natural and man-made disasters. Truthfully, we who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) – need only appropriate that power of the Living God to see miracles happen, even where inanimate objects and the weather are concerthe same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) – need only appropriate that power of the Living God to see miracles happen, even where inanimate objects and the weather are concerned.
For starters, listen to the Lord. Even Jesus admitted, ” I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me,” (John 5:30). Jesus wasn’t about doing parlor tricks with the power He had. He used it as He was led to do so.
Many years ago, I moved into an old mobile home. Before I moved in, I had to chase out all the cats. The house had a non-working water heater and working electricity in only half the house.
As the groundskeeper at that park, I was usually quite nasty and dirty at the end of the day. One day, having grown weary of having to microwave bowls of water to take a sponge bath, with righteous indignation, I charged into the water heater closet, laid hands on that lifeless cylinder, and commanded it to start working in Jesus’ Name.
Though I waited, nothing happened. Not a sound.
Imagine the thrill I had, the very next morning. As I was washing my face, the water became warmer and warmer until it was hot and steaming! I filled the tub and dove in! I was late for work but I was clean!
Later, my faith was very high for “mechanical miracles,” when walking down the hallway to the dark side of that home (no electricity, remember?) with my frightened youngest son, we laid hands on the wall by candlelight and commanded the electricity to work. “Praise Jesus!” he exclaimed when the lights popped on. I was startled!
Over the years, I’ve had many experiences when praying for inanimate objects – cars mostly – declaring they would serve me, commanding them to work. Like divine healing, it’s only difficult when we start thinking the results have anything to do with us. I believe it’s best to feel moved by the Spirit with a heart filled with compassion.
Jesus, the One who made the wind and waves stand still, said, “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, ” (John14:12).
Do you believe that? Do these miracles include weather-related occurrences? You’d better believe it! Here are a few examples intended to increase your faith:
The Texas sky was black with clouds and tornadic activity was everywhere. I prayed against destruction, actually reading Scripture to the clouds in my yard. When the hail came, it totaled cars all over the neighborhood. We had no damage at all. When I called my insurance agent the next day, I met him in the driveway. He took a quick look around the roof, said it looked great, and wrote me a $200 check on the spot.
On another occasion, when all my Texas coworkers were hiding in the bathrooms, tornado sirens blaring, I snuck out and began praying against the storm, commanding peace. There was no tornado and we suffered no damage.
Another time, with all my coworkers sheltered in the stairwell, I snuck out to the patio of our office building and commanded the tornadic activity to cease. A tornado touched down nearby but we were unscathed.
While remodeling our home in the woods, storm clouds gathering all around us, my wife and I heard the weatherman tell of a huge storm converging on Arlington, Texas. On his weather map, it appeared as an enormous red blob. Even from our home 2 hours away, we could look in that direction and see a tremendous lightning storm with thick black clouds.
As I swung my hammer, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to pray against the storm. I ignored the directive, assuming it was indigestion. Three of four times I felt this strong “nudge” to pray, but I had work to do! Finally, somewhat reluctantly, I asked my wife to join me in praying against that storm. We have many Arlington connections so compassion came naturally.
When we came back indoors, I was amazed to see the weatherman excitedly trying to describe how that enormous blob had dissipated and was now a tiny blob, the severe weather warnings now expired.
Just last night, right after my mom had called because she heard on the news that my town was having severe weather, my wife and I heard the occasional “popping” of hail stones. We joined hands and prayed against hail and tornadoes. In moments, the hail stopped and we received a steady, much-needed rainfall.
I have other testimonies as well and many others have shared similar stories with me. Trust me, I know in whom I believe and I know I had NOTHING to do with these stories except for the fact I was available. James 5:17-18 encourages us with this truth: “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” I contend that, what one man of God can do, another man of God can do.
As my wife and family will tell you, I am VERY human. But I have renewed my mind to the fact that “greater is He who is IN US than he who is in the world [the devil who comes to kill, steal and destroy],” (1 John 4:4).
So, what’s the problem? Why aren’t more Christians joining forces in prayer – even on the most beautiful of days – and praying for their communities? As I see it, the vast majority of Christians A) aren’t taught this, B) don’t believe this (that’s called being an Unbeliever), C) believe it but aren’t listening to the Spirit for all their distractions, or D) are NOT in unity with other people and are, therefore, quite powerless.
Daniel 11:32 reminds us, “…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Christians, how’s that working for ya? Like lifting weights, the more you step out in faith, the more you’ll see such victories. We must walk before we can run! Let’s start walking!
My main concern here is that Christians all over the planet are going to die and suffer needlessly in the days ahead. Truth is, you possess all the power you need to survive when all others are destroyed. That’s either TRUE or I’m lying to you, in which case, God lied in His Word.
Let’s get busy. On the most pleasant, sun-shiny day, pray as if it all depended on YOU.
It might!
We’re at war, Christian. Don’t you forget it!
Michael Tummillo is a Workplace Chaplain and founder of The Church @ Work (TCAW). He is an author, a speaker, and a Christian whose mission is to Train and Equip the Body of Christ worldwide via online ministry. He has written nearly 1000 articles since 1999, intended to provoke the thinking Christian to greater things.
