You can receive a miracle in response to God’s promise, or you can receive one when God responds to your faith; either way works. Mary said: “Be it unto me ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” Jesus said to some he had healed: “ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH be it unto you.”
Dr Barry Chant wrote an excellent article many years ago on “Rhematism”: the insistence by some that “rhema” promises are necessary for miracles of healing to take place. Truths may need to be overemphasised if they’ve been neglected or even forgotten. But overemphasis can also result. “The pendulum always finds its balance.” But too much balance for too long means that it might be time for some welcome imbalance.
Those who were overly emotional during America’s two great awakenings were mocked by onlookers. But the faces of the latter showed all the emotion of waxwork figures, but doubtless received approving nods.
“Happy clappers” are frowned on by some in the UK, but those frigid who sit rigid are accepted as “one of us”. Those critical of revival excesses need to understand that when sinners are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, church meetings become noisy celebrations! Still, if the pit ponies in Welsh mines could be retaught to respond to blessings instead of cursings in the 1904 Revival, there’s hope for some people where we may see none.
The possibilities in God’s miracle power extend beyond forgiveness and healing to freedom of expression. We should not look down on them with disdain but rather lift up our heads and hands to heaven. Who can say that the Lord might also knock them off their feet when least expected? Worse still, they might even enjoy it.