Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”  I Kings 19:11-12

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? This was the title of a speech given by Edward Lorenz, mathematician and meteorologist. Lorenz pioneered the concept of the chaos theory. “In the chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.” In other words, the idea that small causes may have effects in weather.

Johann Gottlieb Fichte had a similar thought in the 1800s when he wrote, “you could not remove a single grain of sand from its place without thereby…. changing something throughout all parts of the immeasurable whole.”

The Butterfly effect is often used as a metaphor that the existence of seemingly insignificant moments alters history and the shape of destiny. Instead of a “chaos theory,” what if we applied the butterfly effect spiritually?

Paul understood the butterfly effect of sin. Romans 5:12 tells us of the impact of Adam and Eve’s choice that has rippled through the ages. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned.”

The butterfly effect of faith is incalculable. “One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4) Edward Kimball lived a simple life, had no formal education but was a passionate follower of Jesus and a faithful Sunday School teacher. It was in the backroom of a shoe store that he led a young man by the name of Dwight L. Moody to faith in Jesus Christ. Over the years, Moody shared the Gospel with millions, both in the United States and England.

It was in a little chapel in England where Moody preached that the young pastor, F.B. Meyer was inspired to change his ministry approach. Over the course of time Meyer had the opportunity to preach in America where another pastor, J. Wilbur Chapman was motivated, upon hearing Meyer, to move into full time evangelism. In one of Chapman’s crusades a young baseball player, Billy Sunday accepted Jesus as his savior. Sunday later took over Chapman’s ministry, preaching the gospel to thousands. In one of Sunday’s crusades, Mordecai Ham came to faith. Later on, Ham was called to preach in a tent crusade in Charlotte, North Carolina where a young man by the name of Billy Graham came to faith. It is estimated over 2.2 billion people heard the gospel through Graham’s ministry. The butterfly effect of one Sunday School teacher over the course of decades!

Can you imagine if we applied the butterfly effect to prayer? Unleashing the power of prayer to impact family, friends, communities and nations for Christ. The impact would be both life-changing and life-giving.

You may be frustrated with the ineffectiveness of our political leaders. Imagine the butterfly effect as you pray “the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD, he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

You may be burdened with the cultural changes leading away from God. Imagine the butterfly effect as you pray “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!” (Ezekiel 33:11)

You may be overwhelmed with the staggering hopelessness in places like Afghanistan and Haiti. Imagine the butterfly effect as you pray that “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9

The butterfly effect is not a theory when it comes to the realm of spiritual things. The spiritual butterfly effect was working long before our generation lived on earth. I know from personal experience of the spiritual butterfly effect.  I know that a faithful preacher preached the gospel that changed my life for eternity. I know that a loving Mother took her little boy to church every week. I know that many faithful Sunday School teachers taught me to love God and His word. I know dedicated school teachers taught me from a godly perspective.

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings set off a spiritual awakening around the world?

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

God is great,

Pastor Lynn