Supernatural Gifts for All Believers

When Peter preached the first Christian sermon after the cross, he proclaimed a revolutionary message. The glory of God is no longer just for prophets, kings and priests, as in the Old Testament, but for all who believe in Jesus and receive and give free rein to the Holy Spirit.

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17–18 NIV

Religious tradition has robbed us of our inheritance. The spiritual gifts and manifestations of God's power and presence are severely limited or excluded in many churches.

In some churches only men and not women are allowed to speak for God.

In other churches, only pastors, preachers or leaders are allowed to speak for God.

But Peter totally abolished these rules and restrictions in his preaching.

But this was not just in one sermon.

We read something similar in the Gospel of Mark.

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.” Mk 16:17–18 NIV

There are extremely strange cults where people play with snakes, but that's not what the Bible meant. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake.

But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:5 NIV

We should not play with poison or snakes but God promises us his protection in our time of need.

I have an Arab friend who converted from extreme fundamentalist Islam to Jesus but along the way he was led astray and became a Mormon.

When God delivered him from this sect, he visited many Mormons and also helped them to escape from the evil religion.

Then all the Muslims in his neighbourhood heard about his new faith and some converted.

He was not ordained but God used him with supernatural power.

An Arab once gave him something to eat. A week later he was amazed that his Christian compatriot was still alive. He had put enough poison in the food to kill a camel.

The unsuccessful assassin converted to Jesus.

Heide Baker is a missionary in Africa. She rescues little girls from sex slavery and little boys from forced service as soldiers.

She adopts these orphans and they get to know Jesus well.

A girl of 11 became a preacher, not ordained of course. She went to a village where Islam and witchcraft were totally dominant. When she spoke loudly about Jesus, people started throwing big stones.

Suddenly she proclaimed healing for a dove among her persecutors. The deaf man dropped his stone. He could hear and cried out loudly. ‘I can hear.’

The stones stopped flying. The crowd heard the gospel and were converted en masse.