“ For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways declares the Lord.†Isa.55:8
Over this past summer I’ve had the opportunity to attend some evening non-denominational worship services that were based in a camp setting just outside my city.
The praise and worship segment of the service were beautiful and mostly ministered to us by talented young musicians who led me into the presence of God in some wonderful ways, through song and spiritual meditation on the scriptures and related principles of truth.
However, it was the preaching/healing part of the services that I found most interesting and stretching as each of the speakers spoke on the healing ministry of Jesus in His day. They said that what He did so long ago while He walked amongst us, can still be done today by the work of the Holy Spirit working in and through God’s people as they minister to the needs of others.
At first I must admit I was a little bit sceptical; not that I don’t believe in divine miracles, but instead I wondered about the somewhat unconventional methods God may use through His people to bring healing and restoration into other hurting people’s lives.
Looking into the New Testament we see that after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, even Peter’s shadow falling on people could bring about divine healing (Acts 5:15) and the use of everyday handkerchiefs and aprons were used by God to touch the sick and deal with oppressive spirits in others (Acts 19:12).
It’s often a familiar trait in many communities of believers and even in an individual believer’s mind, that God will only bring about a certain result if it is done in a certain prescribed way as we know it, or understand it from our own or our community of faith’s spiritual frame of reference.
Yet the truth is God won’t be put in a box no matter how hard any of us may try to get Him to fit into it!
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. the God of ongoing surprises!…of using unconventional methods to show forth His glory and power!…of using the “foolish things of this world to confound the wise†(1 Cor.1:27) and to do his incredible work in ways one might not ever imagine!
Thinking about this, how big of a God do you and I serve today? Is He limited to our own way of believing and ways of understanding Him? Let’s leave ourselves open to God being the great Being He is and let’s watch in amazement as His ongoing work among His people is displayed in power and glory!
“ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words, but of power. “ 1 Cor. 4:12
