Supernatural Gifts Today

 A conservative Bible-believing preacher in Australia was travelling through the country. As he left one village, the local tribal elders waved goodbye to him.

When he drove into the next village forty minutes later, the same tribal elders greeted him. He was driving his car, but they had already arrived using magical powers.

The preacher knew that he had failed as an evangelist. The indigenous people looked down on him because their witchcraft was more powerful than the theological doctrines preached from the pulpit.

The frustrated evangelist went to a charismatic preacher and sought advice. He had come to the conclusion that charismatic gifts of the Spirit are still necessary today.

In the Bible, we repeatedly find spiritual warfare. Sorcerers persecute the believing Jews and, in the New Testament, the Christians, but the prophets and later the apostles prove through miracles that the true God is stronger.

When Moses stood before Pharaoh, he threw his staff on the ground and God turned the staff into a snake. The Egyptian magicians also produced snakes, but Moses' snake swallowed the Egyptian snakes. 

In Acts chapters 2 and 3, God used amazing miracles to bring thousands of Jews to faith. In chapter 2, 120 disciples proclaimed the gospel in various languages they had never learned.

In chapter 3, Peter and John healed a paralysed man in Jesus' name.

In Cyprus, the mission was hindered by an evil sorcerer.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 
“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 

Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately, mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Acts 13:9–11 NIV

During the Cold War, a faithful Christian wanted to bring a shipment of Bibles to an Eastern European country. At the border, he had to go through customs. The customs officer looked directly into his car, where there was a stack of Bibles, but he could not see any Bibles. 

From the first day of Pentecost, the spread of the gospel was accompanied and confirmed by signs and wonders. God has never ceased to reveal His miraculous power.
 
In our time, millions of Muslims are converting to Christ. 
Numerous Muslims experience or observe miraculous healings in Jesus' name.
Countless Muslims are visited by Jesus in dreams and visions.

What is God's key to opening this seemingly locked door?
Signs and wonders. What is behind them? God's love for lost souls.
How is God's power released in such a wonderful way? The passionate intercession of faithful Christians.

Prophecy. Hearing from God and Telling Others

 Prophecy is hearing from God and telling others.

Some Old Testament texts would indicate it is better never to prophesy at all than to make a mistake when claiming to speak for God.

But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.” Dt 18:20 NRSV

But as we read the New Testament, we see strong instructions encouraging all believers to prophesy, not only church leaders.

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1 NRSV

How strange, that the Old Testament should warn against prophesying unless you know that you know that you are a true prophet who infallibly hears the exact words spoken by God.

How strange that the New Testament, inspired by the same Holy Spirit should encourage all believers to prophesy. Surely God knows that we will sometimes make mistakes! Surely He knows that we often only partly understand what He wants to tell us!

Scripture seems to put us in a no win situation. If we boldly encourage everyone to prophesy, are we encouraging false prophecy, confusion and condemnation?

Many Christian leaders today are intimidated by this problem. They teach prophecy is no longer for today. This teaching is without biblical evidence.

Others water down the concept of New Testament prophecy so that is just another word for preaching or general exhortation. 

There is plenty of New Testament evidence to suggest that God still appoints believers to hear messages from heaven and to tell others what they hear, not with the same authority and literal accuracy as scripture but still representing a direct message from God.

Others only allow pastors, elders or leaders to prophesy. But this too is dangerous. If prophecy comes only from leaders, and church members are not supposed to question their authority, then errors will go undetected and mislead many.

The best solution is for leaders to encourage all believers to learn to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and to learn to discern between the leading of God, their own thinking and the voice of dark spirits.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27 NRSV

Bible knowledge is essential but knowledge is not enough. 

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. Jas 1:5 NRSV

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.

We Need Supernatural Gifts Today

 Why do we still need the supernatural spiritual gifts that appear in the New Testament?

God still wants to heal supernaturally today.

Why did Jesus heal? The suffering of the sick aroused such compassion in Jesus that his stomach turned. He never changed. God is love. He has never changed.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb 13:8 NRSV

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NRSV

We need to release the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit because Jesus commanded it, because he loves sick people.

We need the gift of grace to discern spirits. (1 Cor 12:9)

So many Christians try to discern spirits, but only on the basis of Bible knowledge. But how can we help a mentally ill person if we don't know what the cause of the illness may be? Natural or demonic?

• Is the sick person demonised, or do demons play a lesser role?

• Should we pray for miraculous healing or cast out demons?

• Does this person need counselling or psychiatry or simply deliverance?

Bible knowledge or psychology often cannot provide answers. We need revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Once I wanted to help a person who had taken a lethal overdose. I prayed for hours in unknown languages from the Holy Spirit. God intervened and the person recovered without harm.

Why was praying in tongues necessary and effective? I desperately needed a miracle from God, but my faith was not enough to get the miracle I needed, but the gift of praying in tongues added God’s supernatural power to my limited faith.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:26–27 NRSV

Paul did not want to speak in tongues in the church service, but rather prophesy so that the congregation would understand, but in his private prayer time it was quite different.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 1 Cor 14:18 NRSV

Guidance of the Holy Spirit

 How can you perceive the thoughts of God?

I once drove a young man to church every Sunday. The teenager was immature, unstable and unpredictable. It took all the patience I could muster to help him.

One fine Sunday morning, I was driving him to church when he suddenly lashed out without warning and hit the dashboard hard with his fist. Without even a second's hesitation, I ordered the devil to leave.

Was the young man offended? Not at all. Peace and quiet immediately prevailed.

I have never reacted in this way in similar situations. This was not my usual approach and had no time to consider the situation.

This was the spiritual gift of discernment of spirits. God moved my spirit immediately. My thoughts were not involved. I only analysed the situation afterwards.

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor 12:8–10 NASB95

Many people zealously try to detect false prophecies or fake tongues, but we must also be even more eager to know when gifts are genuine.

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1 NASB95

The discernment of spirits often works quite differently.

I was in a house group. A very religious man pretended to worship God with over dramatic gestures. He looked really ridiculous and I was irritated. I told the religious spirit to stop his comedy, but only in my head, without saying a word out loud.

The theatrical performance stopped immediately. The man looked confused and scratched his head.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Lk 10:19 NASB95

Of course discernment of spirits also involves perceiving the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. This is even more important than perceiving demonic activity.

It is so important to know which people to trust and when to distrust people.

There are apparently highly gifted preachers who will lead you astray. On the other hand, God can connect you to people who will be open to the gospel or who will help you on your way. 

When Samuel had to choose a king to replace Saul, God showed him that the young boy David was the chosen one.

Choosing a church to join involves spiritual discernment, how to let God show you where to go and who to trust. 

The Bible is our map book but the Holy Spirit is our guide. We need truth but also God’s direct personal guidance.

The HOLY SPIRIT Can Change YOUR Life

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; Luke 4:18 (NKJV) 

Jesus grew up in Nazareth as an apparently ordinary Jewish boy. He was filled with the Holy Spirit from His mother’s womb but the Holy Spirit did not come upon Him and rest upon Him until He was baptised in the River Jordan.

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mark 1:9-11 (NKJV) 

This was the anointing of Jesus for the preaching ministry and this is what He was telling the people of His hometown in Nazareth. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Jesus made Him different, empowered and commissioned by the Father to change lives in a way the Nazarenes had not seen before Jesus became a preacher. 
This was not just to identify Jesus as the unique Son of God but also to set an example for us all to follow.

And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' John 1:32-33 (NKJV) 

When you trust in Jesus and you are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to make His home in you, just as He did in Jesus from before His birth. But when Jesus baptizes you in the Holy Spirit, His Spirit comes upon you and changes you for a purpose, to reach out and change lives around you with the power of God and the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV)

Are the Charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit necessary for salvation? Yes and no. You can be saved without speaking in tongues but gifts like healing and prophecy can be the evidence which convinces many others of the reality of God and lead them to salvation.

If we use the divine gifts with a heart of love, we can continue the mission of Jesus which He described in these words.

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 

WHAT IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE?

What is the greatest miracle of all?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NRSV

What is the most amazing miracle?

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2
… AND …

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy ...Jude 1:24 (NKJV)

But does that mean we should not desire lesser miracles like healing and prophecy?

The Bible teaches us we should earnestly desire God's supernatural blessings here and now!! 

In Matthew 17, the disciples of Jesus failed to heal a sick boy because they could not cast out a demon. Jesus was not pleased. Jesus himself thought healing was important and He has not changed.

What is the greatest thing in the world?

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Co 13:13 NKJV

If Love is the supreme good, what value should we place on miraculous gifts?

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 1 Co 14:1 NRSV

A complete and balanced Christian life is a life of love and practical kindness but we must not forget that salvation is supernatural from start to finish.

We must not and dare not neglect to manifest the supernatural power of the love of Jesus.

Miraculous spiritual gifts are not necessary for salvation. All you need is to trust in the love of Jesus and the message of salvation. But in another sense, supernatural Charismatic gifts are essential for salvation, for the salvation of others. 

 

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Jn 4:48 NKJV

...and so it is today. Millions of people will never believe unless they see our faith, hope and love confirmed by miraculous spiritual gifts, such as prophecy and healing.