WHERE IS YOUR "THAUMAZO"?

Thaumazo is a Greek word, used quite often in the original language of the New Testament. It is used most frequently in the Gospel Writings (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), in fact 33 times. It means to wonder, have extreme amazement, to utterly marvel, be struck with extraordinary astonishment or admiration. It is used as an expression of the wonder and amazement caused by Jesus' presence, miracles and teaching. It involves a response of overwhelming awe; it describes a human response when confronted by divine revelation. Thaumazo is related to another term in the New Testament, used 13 times, namely Ekplesso, which suggests a strong, sudden sense of being astounded. It literally means to strike a person out of his senses by some extraordinary happening, feeling or teaching.

Let's look at some Scriptures that use the word thaumazo.

• ". . .Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were AMAZED (thaumazo) and said, 'What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him?' " (Matthew 8:26-27)

• "After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were AMAZED (thaumazo) and were saying , 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.' " (Matthew 9:33)

• "So the crowd MARVELED (thaumazo) as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:31)

• "Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were UTTERLY ASTONISHED (thaumazo)." (Mark 6:51)

• "Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were AMAZED (thaumazo)." (Mark 16:5)

• "And all who heard it WONDERED (thaumazo) at the things that were told them by the shepherds." (Luke 2:18)

• "And his father and mother were AMAZED (thaumazo) at the things being said about Him." (Luke 2:33)

• "And AMAZEMENT (thaumazo) came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, 'What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.' " (Luke 4:36)

• "They were AMAZED (thaumazo) and ASTONISHED (thaumazo), saying '. . .are not all these who are speaking Galileans?' " (Acts 2:7) Here, Luke wants his readers to sense what a strong impact the Pentecost Event had on the onlookers. The people who spoke so many different languages MARVEL that by a miracle of speaking or hearing, or both, they can understand these Galileans.

• "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were AMAZED (thaumazo), and recognized them as having been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)

It is abundantly clear in Scripture, that there is utter AMAZEMENT and ASTONISHMENT when Jesus is present, teaching and working in the lives of people! Looking at our own lives, are we modern-day disciples of Jesus genuinely experiencing THAUMAZO (Utter Amazement, Astonishment, Awe)? Do we MARVEL in His presence, WONDER at His mighty works, His answers to prayer and His provisions beyond description? Does our worship provoke AWESOME WONDER because of WHO HE IS; are we THRILLED to be in His presence, and is our AWE contagious?

I believe these responses only come as a result of personal spiritual renewal and revival! For many of us who profess knowing Jesus, the fire of the supernatural in our hearts may have gone out. The "cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things" (Mark 4:19) can so easily choke out God's Word. His presence, work and provision for us can become expected and commonplace, taken for granted. Think about this: are we more demonstrably EXCITED about our favorite sports teams than we are about Jesus?

We must not become careless, indifferent, or disobedient to His commandments and "lose our first love" as did the Ephesian Church who was reprimanded byJesus. (Revelation 2:4) We must not grow "lukewarm" as did the Church at Laodicea. (Revelation3:15-16) Jesus said to the Laodiceans "I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16) Let it not happen to you or to me! The dangers of moving down the slippery slope of spiritual mediocrity (weakness, of poor quality and anemic) are completely apparent in Holy Scripture. Some have even reduced God to a "fox-hole" rescue agent (our called upon help only when we are in trouble) rather than the ONE we love, adore, worship, serve and magnifiy in a continuous life-style relationship.

Do we tend to see God as a doddering 'ole deity, sitting on the front porch of a celestial shack, rocking away the eons, watching the earth do wheelies around the sun. Or rather, do we see Him as the Great, Almighty, Amazing, Thrilling King of the Universe!!

Again, I say we need personal spiritual renewal and revival, to restore our "first love", our fervent, inner fire so that we have a restoration of active THAUMAZO! WHERE IS YOUR THAUMAZO? "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels." (Revelation 3:5)