Today we have people seeking God for the "supernatural." It is common in Neo-Pentacostal circles to hear the people crying out, "God we want the supernatural! We want to see your miracles! We want to see angels! God give us your angels! Give us your miracles! God give us your supernatural!" Almost seems as though they were begging God for His power to be shown. They are begging God to show Himself in His power.
Jesus had a similar problem with the Pharisees. When Jesus told them that He would do something they asked Jesus for a sign. Not just a sign, but a miraculous sign. Why were they so caught up on miraculous signs when they had Christ in their midst? Was Christ not enough?! If you truly understand that God was standing before you in a man's body that should be enough! Because they did not recognize God in the form of man.
In fact Jesus answered the Pharisees request for a miraculous sign with a rebuke. Matt. 12:38-40,
"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
The Pharisees were not just asking anyone for a miraculous sign. The Pharisees were asking Jesus for a miraculous sign. Jesus told them that a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign. Why did Jesus say an adulterous generation? Did that mean the Pharisees were cheating on their wives?
No! The Pharisees were adulterous to Jesus. Instead of remaining pure and living entirely for Christ they commited adultery against Jesus. How did they do so? By puffing themselves up with pride and sinning without repentance. The entire chapter of Matthew 23 records the sins of the Pharisees. They were proud, they took the seats of honor, they caused other believers to sin, they stole from God's people, lied, were hypocritical, the list goes on.
Jesus told the Pharisees something very interesting. The only sign the Pharisees would be given is Himself. The sign of Jonah Jesus related Jonah to Himself dying on the cross, remaining in the belly of the earth for three days, then rising against to defeat Satan and death! Jesus' reply to the Pharisees' request of a miraculous sign was Himself dying on the cross for them.
The meaning of "supernatural" is "above or beyond what is natural." Only God is above the natural. God created all that we know to be natural (Genesis 1-3). Why are we then asking for the outpouring of Christ instead of Christ Himself to dwell in us to a full measure? Jesus Christ only did what He saw His Father doing. John 14:9-14 explains how miracles and healings will happen,
"Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
Jesus was able to do the miraculous and "supernatural" because God was IN CHRIST doing the works through Him. God is the supernatural, He is the only thing above the natural. When we see a miracle or sign it is God speaking. It is God Himself made evident in a situation and the natural obeying and changing to a command from the supernatural God.
The supernatural can be described by one person; GOD. God is the supernatural. Angels have no power and authority apart form God. Miracles are not powerful and have no authority. Signs are not powerful and have no authority. Miracles, signs, wonders, etc are only our recognition to the natural obeying the command of a supernatural God. Angels are a created natural spiritual being, just as we are, obeying the command of a supernatural God.
If you want to see signs, miracles, wonders, etc then you need to ask God for more of Christ in you. Jesus Christ promised us that we would do even greater things than He did if only we would seek Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. If we would love Jesus and obey Him then God will begin to speak through Christ, and consequentially through you, and command the natural to obey. Then we will see the signs, miracles, wonders, etc. But again these workings were done out of obedience to God prompting the disciples' and Christ's heart to allow God to use them for those works. They were not performed by man prompting God's heart.
Seek Christ and the works will follow. Don't seek the miracles, signs, wonders, etc. Seek Jesus Christ because He will then be dwelling in you and able to command the natural through you. They will happen spontaneously and in the way that God wants to work them at that given time. Let go of the control and let God take control of all of you. Then God will be able to work through you in signs, wonders, and miracles.
2 comments:
Great article! You bring up a great point about those who seek only the power or authority of God ... they want it for themselves ... but how is that different than what Lucifer wanted for himself?
Its not any different. There are those who seek Christ with all their heart, mind, and soul out of great love for him. God speaks through them and the natural obeys.
Then there are those who seek God in order to see Him move in power but don't love God with everything within them. Those people either have fake signs, God uses them despite their behavior, or God only gives the sign of Christ.
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