History Makers

I'm not personally involved in or associate with the Catholic Charismatic Movement, but I was raised Pentecostal. By definition, I am a charismatic Christian, even if my normal expression of my faith doesn't emphasise that. But every now and again, I get the urge for some good, Spirit-focused, charismatic teaching. Now is one of those times. :D

History Maker
Delirious?

Is it true today
That when people pray
Cloudless skies will break
Kings and Queens will shake?
Yes it's true!
And I believe it
I'm living for You

Is it true today
That when people pray
We'll see dead men raised
And the blind set free?
Yes it's true!
And I believe it
I'm living for You

I'm gonna be
A history maker in this land
I'm gonna be
A speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand
I'm gonna run
Into Your arms

Well it's true today
That when people stand
With the fire of God
And the truth in hand
We'll see miracles!
We'll see angels sing!
We'll see broken hearts
Making history!
Yes it's true!
And I believe it
I'm living for You

I'm gonna be
A history maker in this land
I'm gonna be
A speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand
I'm gonna run
Into Your arms

I'm gonna be
A history maker in this land
I'm gonna be
A speaker of truth to all mankind
I'm gonna stand
I'm gonna run
Into Your arms
Into Your arms

This song by Delirious? asks the question, "Is it true today?" Is it true today that when people pray, cloudless skies will break, kings and queens will shake? The imagery refers to the days of Elijah the prophet, who was sent by God to speak to the Israelites who had turned away from God to serve the false god, Ba'al, because of the rule of the wicked King, Ahab, and his wicked wife, Jezebel. God bestowed miraculous powers on Elijah, so that he prayed, and there was a droubt in the land for 3 years. During that time, Elijah called fire down from heaven as proof that God hears and answers prayer. At the end of those 3 years, Elijah prayed again and the rain came (check out 1 Kings 17-18).

Is it true today, that when people pray, we'll see dead men raised and the blind set free? The imagery here goes back to the Gospel, where Jesus raised the dead, and healed the blind, as well as many other miracles that attested to His identity as God come among us (Check out John 9 and 11, for examples). These miraculous signs were given by Elijah and by Jesus as evidence of the truth of their message. But the song doesn't ask, "Is the Bible true?" or "Did these things happen 2000-3000 years ago?" The song asks us, "Is it true today?"

Yes it's true!
We believe in a God who is present among us, who does not change, but is the same "yesterday, today, and forever". God did not retire from the miracle business! God is just as active in the world today as He ever was! But just as with Elijah, or the Apostles, God works through us, His people. And if we want to see miracles, then we've got to pray, we've got to believe, and we've got to be ready for Him to use us!

At our Confirmation, we received the Holy Spirit, and we were taught, correctly, that He gives us gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. These gifts are found listed in Isaiah 11:1-2, and when the Spirit comes, He gives all of these gifts to each of us, and develops them within us as we respond to Him and use them.

But the Bible also tells us about other gifts that the Holy Spirit brings us. In 1 Corinthians 12, St. Paul writes,

There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit; there are many different ways of serving, but it is always the same Lord. There are many different forms of activity, but in everybody it is the same God who is at work in them all. The particular manifestation of the Spirit granted to each one is to be used for the general good. To one is given from the Spirit the gift of utterance expressing wisdom; to another the gift of utterance expressing knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; to another, faith, from the same Spirit; and to another, the gifts of healing, through this one Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the power of distinguishing spirits; to one, the gift of different tongues and to another, the interpretation of tongues. But at work in all these is one and the same Spirit, distributing them at will to each individual (vv.4-11).

As St. Paul makes clear, unlike the first list of gifts, the Holy Spirit doesn't give all of them to everyone--but He will give some to each of us if we are open to receiving them! Why does He give certain ones to some and different ones to others? To remind us that, as the Body of Christ, we need each other, and that these gifts are to serve the entire Church! When we stand together in the Spirit, then spectacular things can and will happen!

So as you read this, I challenge you to be open to all that God has in store for you! Don't sell yourself short. Don't settle for less than all that God has! We all have a role to play in His Kingdom. Don't fall for the lie that religion is about church on Sunday and the rest of our lives the rest of the week. Follow God wholeheartedly, open to His Spirit, and you will see miracles! Imagine being the one that God uses to heal a desperately sick person! Imagine being the person whom God uses to speak His Truth into someone's life, and seeing them come to faith in Him! Imagine the adventure that God has for your life!

Then be obedient to it!
Be a history maker!