Lately, I have been pondering some of the extreme visible supernatural manifestations in the Scriptures. For the last two years, I have observed an uptick in the activity of the enemy against the Church. I’ve seen an increase in occurrences that can be nothing less than demonic influence over the lives of men and women and teenagers. People that I never thought would have acted in ways that clearly violate the heart of God and the word of God have engaged in things that have left me speechless at times. Another result of this type of increased, targeted activity of the enemy is that, more and more, I have seen Christians excuse carnal behavior and deny the clear truths of Scriptures so that they can justify ungodly beliefs and actions. You may wonder why what I am describing has led me to intentionally refresh myself in the visible, supernatural manifestations revealed in the Scriptures. The reason is because I am also witnessing an increase in the holy activity of God. There is an elevation of Holy Spirit movement in just about every place I am making connections in the Kingdom. Entire denominations that have been previously disinterested in the Person and work of the Holy Spirit are now shedding denominational norms and investigating Scripturally the ways and works of the third Person of the Godhead. People are waking. Churches are repenting. Cities are being transformed.
As we approach the end of the age, you and I need to be prepared to witness with our own eyes a fuller unveiling of both what the enemy can do and what the Lord can do. We are ramping upward and onward into the full unleashing of unbridled supernatural activity that we read about in the Book of Revelation. Think about what Scripture reveals about the ways, words and works of God. Firstly, let’s consider a few of His words:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” – Mark 16:17-18
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12
Let me just stop there and hope that these verses alone leave us with the understanding that God has declared that His ways are unlike our own, and so is the way He thinks. Never forget that or you will invariably reduce God down to less than what He is. God is able to far surpass anything that we can conceive, and the power by which He does it, according to Ephesians 3:20-21 above, is now the same power alive in believers. Jesus declared that miraculous, supernatural power will characterize those who believe in Him. Jesus said that, not some rabid Charismatic televangelist. Then, Jesus declared that believers would be able to do the same works that He did when He was here – even greater works than even He did while on the earth. Jesus said that, and he didn’t ask for a move, second and majority vote.
Then we consider the ways and works of God. God works all throughout the bible in what is a concerted effort to humble the logic and pride of humans. He flooded the earth and saved an octet of people in a massive boat who were the only ones who trusted Him. He destroyed Pharaoh’s pride by unleashing ten plagues on his land, and then He split the Red Sea to allow His people to escape. He would repeat that supernatural waterworks miracle later at the Jordan River when His people entered Canaan. He supernaturally rained down manna from the sky every day for forty years to what was likely a group of two million people who needed to eat. He raised the dead – lots of them. His presence knocked people out, flat on their faces in moments wherein He manifested Himself. He cured sickness, brought water from rocks, stopped the earth’s rotation, toppled towering walls around Jericho, made a donkey talk, made metal float, delivered sons from a fiery furnace and gave lockjaw to a den of lions who would have made a meal of Daniel. God enjoys putting His power on display that leaves humans scratching their heads and, hopefully, bowing their knees in awe of Him. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that part of God’s strategy with us is to confound the seemingly wise and shame the presumptuously strong (1st Cor. 1:28). There is something in Him that confronts our proud hearts with things that we cannot explain nor control. He wants us to always remember that He is God and we are not. He wants us to be convinced that He is not obligated to explain Himself to anyone.
So, what is your point, Jeff?
My point is that we have been lied to. It is either that or we have either become numb to the self-disclosure of God in the Book we all say that we believe, or we have become proud and crafty enough to fabricate entire theological positions which can conveniently explain why we should not expect the God of the Bible to show up in our lives the way He did all throughout biblical history. It is astounding to me that those of us who believe in the present day supernatural miraculous works of God actually find ourselves defending our beliefs – as if the Bible actually teaches something other than what we believe. Friends, the book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible which is entirely future tense…and guess what? It is the single most supernatural book in all the Scripture! The supernatural activity of the Godhead does not decrease as the Church age concludes. It increases! It surpasses anything that has ever occurred up to this point. Read it yourself. It’s all right there.
So, in the Old Testament, God worked emphatically in the supernatural realm.
So, in the Gospels, God worked emphatically in signs, wonders and miracles.
So, in the book of Acts, God worked through Christians to do the same wondrous works that Jesus did – plus more!
So, in the letters of Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude, supernatural activities are taught, referenced and encouraged for all believers.
So, in the book of Revelation, all of heaven breaks loose on earth and concludes this age with most abundant display of unbridled supernatural activity ever known to humankind.
Tell me again, then, why some have relegated you and me to a present-day Christianity wherein it is heretical, fanatical, dangerous and unbiblical to expect, pursue, teach and experience the wondrous ways and works of God?
I don’t know the answer to that. But wherever they get their answer, it is not from the Bible.
I don’t want to give lip service to some theological position which validates the supernatural ways and works of God. I want to experience them. I am expecting them in my life. They have occurred, are occurring and will increasingly occur. That may make some uncomfortable but God, frankly, does not care all that much how comfortable we are with Him. He is Lord.
So, as in every other matter pertaining to our life in Christ, concerning my position on the supernatural, miraculous works of God in the Church today…I’m sticking with the Book.
My brother you are dead on.
It’s all I see from cover to cover!
AMEN!