If you want to see how serious it is when human beings take the glory that belongs to God, read the first few verses of Leviticus chapter 10. It tells about two young Israelite priests named Nadab and Abihu who saw the fire of God’s glory fall and decided they wanted some of it for themselves.
Figuring they could do anything that Aaron and Moses could do, they each took their priestly censer, put incense in it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.
So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’” (verses 2 – 3)
One reason we don’t see more miracles in America is because we so often exalt the minister through whom such miracles come. Instead of glorifying God, we glorify men.
People in other nations don’t do that as much. I’ve attended church meetings overseas where the presiding minister will simply say, “The healing power of God is in this place. Just lift your hand and receive.” Sure enough, the glory of God will sweep across the room and multitudes of people will be instantly healed.
Nobody gives the minister any credit for it. They all just praise Jesus and give Him glory. After all, He alone deserves it. No man or minister has the power to truly heal people and set them free. Just Jesus. He is the only one with the power to do it.
He may give us the privilege of distributing that power, but we must always remember and acknowledge that He is the generator.
It all comes from Him.
Scripture Reading: Leviticus 10:1 – 7
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”