THERE’S A MIRACLE I'MR noise O _ nlution Starts tat You Have cTfus book belongs to Claudia Oi^ora C[ hope ^ou enjo^ reading it. (P[ease return it to me so Q m«^ share it with others. Gphank Y"ou Study to show thyself approved unto God. 2 Tim. 2:15 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation https://archive.org/details/theresmiracleinyOOOObarn m CREATION HOUSE BOOKS ABOUT SPIRIT-LED LIVING ORLANDO, FLORIDA Copyright © 1993 by Tommy Barnett, 13613 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85022 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 92-75648 International Standard Book Number: 0-88419-330-6 Creation House Strang Communications Company 600 Rinehart Road Lake Mary, FL 32746 (407) 333-3132 Fax (407) 333-7100 This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963,1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked NEB are from the New English Bible. Copyright © 1961,1970 by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973,1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980,1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc., publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved. First printing, October 1993 Second printing, April 1994 Third printing, September 1994 Fourth printing, April 1995 Fifth printing, March 1996 Sixth printing, August 1997 I would like to dedicate this book to: • my staff— people who were miracles in my own congregation and have come to play a very important role in church leadership; • our deacons — they had more vision and daring than I did and stretched me to believe God and trust Him to provide for our financial needs; • the people in my house, my congregation — they helped carry out the dream God gave us; • the miracle in my own house, my wife, Marja, and our three children, Kristi, Matthew and Luke — Matthew and Luke are both powerful evangelists and preachers; Kristi’s goal has always been to have a family and be a mother, and she’s given me three wonderful grandchildren; • and my wonderful heavenly Father, who is the source of all miracles. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS F OR THE writing of this book I am indebted in a tremendous way to the assistance of two men, Ron Hembree and Walter Walker. Ron Hembree is an outstanding, award-winning author of many well-known books, including St. Mark of Cal¬ cutta; a TV personality; and a dear friend of many years who knows me as few people do. He took time out of his busy schedule to use his talents on this project, and I thank him. Walter Walker, former editorial director of Creation House, heard me speak on this subject at the Charismatic Bible Ministries conference in 1991 in Tulsa and chal¬ lenged me to write this book. Without his encouragement it never would have been written. He hounded me per¬ sistently until the dream became a reality. I appreciate his patience with my busy schedule and his helpful in¬ sights and teaching. I would also like to thank the staffs of Creation House and my church for their hard work and patience in seeing this book become a reality. CONTENTS Preface.7 1 ❖ Down and Out in Davenport.9 2 ❖ Tell Me — What Do You Have in the House?.21 3 ❖ Being Led to Your Next Miracle.33 4 ❖ What’s That in Your Hand?.44 5 ❖ Finding the Miracle Within.55 6 ❖ How Many Loaves Do You Have?.66 7 ❖ Miracles on My Doorstep.76 8 ❖ Don’t Let Troubles Keep You From the Making of a Miracle.92 9 ❖ Pass on to the Positive.109 10 ❖ The More You’re Spilled, the More You’re Filled.116 11 ❖ The Miracle’s in the Bush.125 5 12 ❖ The Interval Between Promise and Miracle.134 13 ❖ Whatever He Says to You, Do It.142 Questions for Discussion or Reflection One.152 Two.154 Three.156 Four.158 Five.160 Six.162 Seven.164 Eight.166 Nine.168 Ten.170 Eleven.172 Twelve.174 Thirteen.176 Notes.178 6 PREFACE N OTHING BAD ever happens to you,” the radio talk show host blurted out during an on-the-air inter¬ view with Tommy Barnett. She was so overwhelmed by the popular preacher’s positive attitude she began to think he led some kind of charmed life immune from the petty problems plaguing the rest of us mere mortals. Of course she was wrong, and Pastor Barnett quickly as¬ sured her he was very human and had faced his share of problems. “But,” he said, “nothing bad ever does happen to me because our great God takes even the bad and makes it good. So, ultimately, you are right, even though there might be momentary misery and misunderstanding.” Ever since Tommy Barnett started storming through the country on his “special divine mission” over four de¬ cades ago, the world has had to sit up and take notice. His life and career have been such a series of miracles that many, like the radio host, wonder if he does lead a charmed existence. Like a perplexed physician seeks the cause of a mystery disease, many have probed and pon¬ dered the reasons for Tommy Barnett’s success. Both crit¬ ics and admirers have offered their opinions, but that is all they are — opinions. 7 There’S a Miracle in Your House! Perhaps the best way to discover the answer to this enigma is to meet the man himself and get to know what lies beneath the polished exterior of this remarkable pas¬ tor. In doing so we discover the same flower of faith will bloom for all if we but learn and put into practice the great principles that were forged in the furnace of his life. This ordinary man has become quite extraordinary and insists that we can all grow far beyond ourselves if we really want to. He says, “The miracle is in the house!” Those of us who have known Tommy Barnett through the years recognize his uniqueness and, at the same time, his “commonness.” The thousands of pastors and leaders who attend his annual pastors’ school leave far different from when they arrived. For us to touch this man’s life is to touch the potential of greatness within ourselves. This book seeks to capture the passions of this highly successful pastor-preacher. Tommy Barnett is consumed with advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ through reach¬ ing the helpless, homeless and hurting of our world. He believes in “vicarious” success. That is, he believes all those God permits him to touch can do greater things than he has accomplished. It thrills him to see their success because his single passion is not recognition but that all men might come to know Jesus Christ. Most want “magical” answers rather than spiritual ones. Not this unique man. Tommy Barnett rejects “pop psychology” and the various fads in the church. Rather he insists there are age-old, available and viable principles in God’s Word giving us information and inspiration so we all can discover and unleash the miracle that is in the house. All those desiring to make the most of their poten¬ tial would do well to hear and heed: The miracle you need right now is already within your grasp! Ron Hembree Phoenix, Arizona 8