The Extraordinary Power in Ordinary Men

UV 1306/10,000 The Extraordinary Power in Ordinary Men
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
James 5 v 17

Human nature has not changed much since the times of Elijah the prophet who lived in the 9th century BC. Psychologists ironically assign the term “ reptilean brain” to our untamed passions of anger, fear, suspicion, cunning. It seems as if the serpent brain was exchanged in some parts with our God-created brain when satan in the form of a serpent first tempted man and caused him to fall from grace. That reptilean brain still remains coiled in each of us whether in a man of God and prophet like Elijah or any of us. It is part of our adamantine heritage and human nature. It strikes unprovoked and without warning at times. But if we submit our fears and insecurity and apparent lack of faith to God as Elijah did, as he faced the wickedness and death threats of the queen Jezebel, when he went on his knees and kept his head between, He first assures us and then protects us and uses us to bring down a rain of blessings upon us and our generation. When he prayed in this manner his reptilean brain or flawed human nature was healed and he became righteous in the sight of God. It is indeed unusual for a man like Elijah to be able to call off or cancel the rain for a full three and a half years. It brought famine upon the land. It is also unusual that he could call for rain and it poured down as a torrent. God promises to do unusual things with and in our lives. He gives extraordinary power to ordinary men and women. The fourth dimension has the power to mould and shape the other three dimensions and it is triggered by faith and prayer in accordance with the will of God. The power was not that of Moses or Elijah or Peter or Paul. The power came from God.

The Spirit of God helps and enables us to tame our passions, our reptilean brain that keeps us crawling on the earth when our destiny is to soar like an eagle in the heavens. We will then be on the same frequency with our Creator- Redeemer. God uses ordinary people like you and me to accomplish His purpose and establish His kingdom on earth. Like Elijah we too have our earthly struggles, our mortal foes, our forces and factors of resistance, our threats and hazards. But as long as we keep the shield of faith well-oiled and in constant use, we can ward off any attack of fiery darts.

God affirms with this uni-verse that He can use us like He used Elijah. As long as we abide in Him, in His son and in His word, He grants us our heart’s desire. Nothing is too difficult or impossible for Him. As we increase in our knowledge of His mercy, grace and power, we increase in our strength. When He reigns in us and over our every emotion and desire, we can call off the rain and call the rain to fall. We can permit and prohibit, bind and loose, capture and release, shake and stay firm. A man of God has more power at his call than the most powerful natural man on earth. His fervent and effectual prayer has great effect.

Prateep V Philip