It’s Time!
I’ve been telling people in many of my recent meetings that it is time for an increase of the miraculous. Engage your faith for this. I heard a credible report recently of three people raised from the dead after covid related deaths. The death certificate had already been signed for one of the people. As we move into this great revival, God will confirm the gospel with signs and wonders.
The miracle performed through Peter at the gate called Beautiful in Acts 3 created “wonder” and “amazement.” Wonder is the Greek word thambos, which also means stupefaction or to be in a stupor. It is related to the word tapho, which means to be dumbfounded. You have heard the phrase “a drunken stupor.” Here in Acts, Holy Spirit caused a “miracle stupor.” It was shocking to the senses - the people couldn’t wrap their arms around this supernatural event.
The word amazement is from the Greek word ekstasis, which means “a displacement of the mind, bewilderment, astonishment, even ecstasy.” It carries the connotation of being beside oneself. In a negative context it can even mean insanity. You get the point - the people were ecstatic, crazy with joy, beside themselves.
This is what begins to occur in revival. Holy Spirit brings extraordinary, supernatural signs and wonders to capture the hearts, minds and imagination of the people. This prepares them for the gospel.
Brian Gibbs is a revivalist. He shares my passion for America and to see God gather in the greatest harvest the world has ever seen. Brian shares the following story of a wonderful miracle:
“It was a beautiful afternoon. Bren and I had enjoyed a day together at the beach to rest, get refreshed, and soak in some premium Florida sunshine. We were on our way home from Lido Key and were sitting at a red light. As we were sitting there talking, I happened to glance into the rearview mirror only to find a woman coming up right behind us, and it was clear, she was not stopping! I only had time to stretch out my arm over my wife and shout, ‘Hold on.’
“The woman plowed right into the back of our car. I asked Bren if she was okay, and she said she was. I was fine too. I turned off the car and got out to assess the damage and check on the lady. The woman’s car was totaled. I was so frustrated. Bren walked over to the side of the road to call the police. I went to the woman’s car, opened her door and shut off the vehicle. She was crying and in a lot of pain as her left arm was clearly broken. I helped her out of the car and made sure that everyone was ok. I was so aggravated with the woman and the situation.
“As I walked her over to Bren and waited for the police to arrive, I moved from being completely aggravated to feeling compassion for this woman. I began to pray silently for her and for her arm. I also began to speak to her bone to be set and healed. The police arrived on the scene and the officer began to ask about the accident. I immediately noticed his name badge – ‘Officer, HEAVEN.’ I’m not kidding! I laughed, and asked him about his name, and he shared a few good laughs with Bren and me.
I continued to pray for the woman silently, as she was still pretty shaken up by the whole event. To my utter surprise, I looked down at her arm, which I had been gently holding, and realized that the bone had moved back into place. It was set and healed! Oh my, oh my - JESUS! I wanted to shout and rejoice, but instead I said to her, ‘Well, look there...it looks like your arm is going to be just fine.’ She looked down at her arm, looked at me, looked back at her arm, looked back up at me, looked down at her arm – at this point – that ‘large-mouth bass’ face took shape.
“Her response startled me. She said, ‘I know who you are! I know who you are!’ My wife and I looked at one another, thinking…hmmm, this is odd. She said, ‘You’re Pastor Brian, I know who you are now’…She went on…‘In 1999 I was going through the worst time of my life and walked through a brutal divorce. I was depressed, drinking heavily, on pills and at times suicidal. I lost it all. I came to a Church in Springfield, Illinois that was hosting a revival, and you were there preaching. That was the night I gave my heart to the Lord. I was delivered from every affliction and substance abuse.’
“Whoa! Bren and I were stunned! Officer Heaven was stunned! So many years later, and here was this woman, now sharing her testimony of salvation and the goodness of God. The beauty of the Lord turned a terrible situation into an encounter of praise and thanksgiving. We prayed with her and loved on her, as Officer Heaven stood silently observing.
“Always look for God to move into any given situation. Be sensitive to Holy Spirit and be compassionate, remembering: compassion is the key that gives us access to miracles! Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6).”1
In Acts 17:6b, NKJV, it is said of his apostles, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Someone on the street may one day say of you, “Look, there’s so-and-so. They told me about Jesus and my life was forever changed! Then they healed me after I plowed into their car!”
Begin to think differently! A “fullness of time” has come. Extraordinary miracles are beginning. And God wants to use YOU!
“But you'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 ISV)
Pray with me:
Father, we have a covenant with You through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We are going to see the fullness of this Third Great Awakening. Not because we want it so desperately, but because You said so. It is not just what we want. It is what You want. You want hearts transformed forever and lives set on fire by the Holy Spirit. You want miracles, multiplication, and lasting fruit.
You want an awakening which will transform people and the earth realm we inhabit. You want this nation upended and put in right order. We are reaching into our history with You. We are reaching for our inheritance. There are roots of prayer here. There is a history of revivals and Great Awakenings throughout America’s history. We have a prophetic destiny and we know You will show us how to fulfill it. Let it be said of us, “Believers in Jesus are radically changing the hearts and minds of America! Miracles follow them everywhere they go.” May multitudes come into the Kingdom and remain. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Today’s decree:
We will be those set on fire with His love and we will turn this nation upside down!
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1 Gibbs, Brian. Unstoppable and Unquenchable Fire.
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