Asking for A Sign

While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. John 12: 36-37It's been said that miracles are God's signature. Last July first, a minister speaking at the First Baptist church of Forest, Ohio, asked for a "sign from God." What he got was a flashing billboard.

A visiting evangelist was preaching about penance and in a prayer started asking for a sign. Worshipers were left stunned when a lightening bolt struck the church just moments moments later. According to an account in the Findlay, Ohio, Courier, the church's steeple was hit by lightning at about 7:45 p.m., setting the church on fire and blowing out the sound system.

"It was awesome, just awesome," church member Ronnie Cheney, 40, of rural Forest, was quoted as saying. Cheney was in the church at 206 N. Martin St. when the lightning struck.

"You could hear the storm building outside. He (the evangelist) just kept asking God what else he needed to say," Cheney said. "He was asking for a sign and he got one."

The bolt of lightning hit the church steeple and surged through the electrical wiring. When it blew out the sound system, Cheney said the lightning traveled through the microphone and enveloped the preacher in blue flame. The evangelist was not injured.

Afterward, services resumed for about 20 minutes until members of the congregation smelled smoke and realized that the church was on fire. They wisely evacuated the building.

"Why doesn't God answer our prayers that directly all the time? Why doesn't He respond so visibly every time we seek Him? Perhaps if He did things like that every day, we wouldn't have to exercise faith as much. Faith is a key part of what God asks of us, and He even gives us a measure of that.

Damage to the church was estimated at about $20,000. I expect those who were present believe it was worth every penny to have a front row seat when God chose to "give us a sign."

When was the last time you asked for a sign?

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Special thanks to the Findlay Ohio Courier http://www.thecourier.com/ andhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3044178.stm

Today's Daily Wisdom post was edited by Keith Todd, moderator of the Sermon Fodder list which offers Christian humor and modern day parables forenjoyment and for use as sermon illustration material. To subscribe go to http://www.sermonfodder.com or drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com