Following what is becoming a bit of a worldwide theme of prayer and revival going on, we have been having some extra prayer meetings at church.  The power of prayer is immense, because of the God that is behind it.  Let us be careful that we do not come to focus on the miracles and not on the prayer, or on the gospel (I am, here, referring to the worldwide movement, not just our congregation!)

Matthew 16:1-4: One  day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.  He replied, “you know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the signs of the skies but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!  Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give you is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”  Then Jesus left them and went away.

Jesus went on to tell his disciples to be wary of the “yeast” (deceptive teachings) of the pharisees and the sadducees.  Now don’t get me wrong, I have every confidence that God can and will use a tattooed biker dude from Canada to heal the sick and to ‘perform’ (for want of a better word) miracles through .  I also am thrilled that we are having extra prayer meetings at church because when you look at the fruit of such meetings, it is visible and tangible, meaning that God is hearing the prayers of His people and responding.  I am simply urging us to exercise caution in the focus of our intent, not getting wrapped up in the excitement of ‘results’, but trusting in God and first and foremost, loving God, who has first loved us.

We must keep a focus on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 9:16 - “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”  For the Bible says many things about revival or, more specifically, people becoming Christians.  We are instructed by God to preach the gospel, to tell people the truth about what God says.  In order to find out who God is, people must encounter Him.  In Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah - why?  He has just told Peter that he is blessed because no human being told him who He was, he knew from God, believed and had faith.  Therefore, I am not sure that Jesus would want us to point at a stage where miracles are being ‘performed’ and say to someone “look at that and believe in God”.  Rather that we can look to that, celebrate it and say “God can do this, but also, He died for your sins so that you can have an eternal union with Him”, it is not like a gig where God stands on the stage and we all clap, it is about being joined with Him for eternity.  It says “knock and the door will be opened unto you” not “watch and the door…”

Seek first the kingdom of God and He will deliver all of our needs - don’t seek first the provision of God.  Moreover, seek God.  Ask what His intents and purposes are for the church and for the world.   Celebrate miracles and have every confidence that God can do them and is doing them and love the Lord your God above all.