• NOT ON OUR WATCH-WAR ROOM #15

    When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday Night Football on January 2, 2023, the nation held its breath and sent up prayers for him. We watched in horror as he was given CPR on the field for nine minutes, was intubated and taken away in an ambulance. Sportscasters reported that Hamlin was in critical condition on life support following a cardiac arrest.

    For the first time in NFL history, the game was cancelled due to medical emergency. Players, coaches, officials and viewers were traumatized and unable to focus on anything other than the outcome of the life and death drama that had just played out before our very eyes. 

    As terrifying as that was, the updates from the hospital seemed extremely positive over the next few days. Three days later Hamlin began to awaken and communicate in writing. The following day his breathing tube was removed and he was able to speak. Doctors reported there were no neurological deficits despite being down for nine minutes! 

    On January 8 in an interview following the Bills first game since Hamlin’s collapse, Josh Allen, the Bills’ quarterback said It’s going around my team that God is real. His eyes filled with tears, he choked up and had to pause before he was able to continue. We had two kickoff returns for touchdowns today—one for 96 yards and one for 101 yards. It’s been exactly 3 years and 3 months to the day since our team last returned a kickoff for a score!

    Damar Hamlin wears #3. 

    There was a palpable holy silence as viewers witnessed Josh Allen in the tearful throes of a spiritual awakening on national TV. Perhaps many realized the significance of 333—Father, Son and Spirit!

    But then the network switched to the Sports Center broadcast booth. Recapping the game, one of the sportscasters said, The football gods intervened and the Bills had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in their first game since Hamlin’s collapse.

    After just witnessing Josh Allen have a profound moment with God, this was a very disturbing remark. It felt as though something had been stolen.

    The next day there was a news report about Hamlin’s recovery. A field reporter was asked if his recovery was actually miraculous. No, not really, she replied. We can’t characterize it as miraculous because we now have such advanced CPR. The trainers and medical personnel on the field are highly trained and their expert intervention kept him alive. He’s experiencing a remarkable recovery because of the quality medical care he received on the field and is presently receiving in the hospital.

    Another theft! 

    On the appointed day Herod, wearing royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:21-23

    Damar Hamlin’s story is miraculous on so many levels. His tragedy became a miracle that united a divided country in prayer for his life. Despite the fact that we’re constantly being told we can’t get along, we’re so divided, we have nothing in common with people who are different from us, and we actually hate each other—our country came together to pray for this young man’s healing and recovery. Miraculously he was discharged from the hospital exactly 9 days later, which is 3 x 3!

    A worldwide revival is underway and it will include an increase in miracles—miracles that come from the hand of God—miracles that belong to Him and Him alone. God wants us to be vigilant about our witness to His miracles in the face of those who would trample His glory. It’s our responsibility to stand up, call out lies that seek to steal His glory, and not allow godless media mind control to appropriate and distort His victories. Instead let us boldly praise Him and be fearless to declare the truth of Who He is and what He has done!

    I am Yahweh; that is my name. I will not give my glory to another god nor my renown to idols. Isaiah 42:8

    Let’s join together in speaking truth that counters lies:

    • We declare in Jesus’ name that the ‘football gods’ had absolutely nothing to do with the kickoff returns and win for the Buffalo Bills.
    • We declare in Jesus’ name that Damar Hamlin’s healing is truly a miracle from the hand of God and with thanksgiving we offer Him our praise.
    • We decree in Jesus’ name that the self-professed spiritual awakening experienced by Josh Allen and other teammates is a fire of revival burning across our country.

    Are there other declarations you feel prompted to make?

    Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be glory because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1