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.

GOD MADE YOU UNIQUE..DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY

1Co 4:7 (NKJV)  For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

THIS TEXT TEACHES US NOT TO BE PROUD. 

You and I must not claim the credit for what God has called us to do because with the calling, 

• God also gives the inspiration, the wisdom, the faith, the love, the knowledge, the strength and the skill to fulfil HIS purpose in His way.

However, there are other lessons hidden in this text.

Firstly, we do differ from one another. Some of the differences are by God’s design.

• God did not call Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel to be preachers, but to write some of the most glorious music ever heard on this earth.

• God did not call Billy Graham or Reinhard Bonnke to teach theology in a Bible college, but to preach to great crowds to bring millions of lost men and women into the Kingdom of Heaven.

If God has gifted you to transform the lives of children, He may not have given you the gift of preaching to crowds of adults. 

One of the saddest things in churches is the low value we put on children and children’s ministry.

• Samuel was a child when he heard the voice of God and became a prophet.

• Mary was a young teenager when she conceived the Son of God.

• In Mozambique, Heidi Baker adopts abandoned children and raises them up to preach the Good News of Jesus to hostile Muslims and witchcraft workers. 

  • Little boys and girls open blind eyes and deaf ears and whole villages come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Children’s ministry can be a place of training for preachers to adults. However, we should not only see children in this way.

• I often hear people speak of children as “the church of tomorrow.” I hate this saying. 

  • Although it is partly true, it poisons the church with unbelief concerning the potential of children to be heroes of faith right now.

• In churches where these thoughts are accepted, the adults are often spiritual underachievers as well. God save our children from becoming mediocre unbelieving believers!

Another reason for differences between believers is simply that only some believers have learned the secret of receiving in order to give.

“For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?”

Lk 7:47 (NKJV)  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

• The first thing we all need to receive is forgiveness for our sins. 

  • If we have a revelation of the wonderful goodness of God, we will see more and more how much we need His forgiveness and how great is His mercy and grace.

Some of us strive to be good but we are really trying to cover our weaknesses and faults.

• Paul wrote:

2Co 12:9 (NLT)  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

I love to hear preachers talk about their weaknesses and faults and how God has helped them overcome them. Unfortunately, few preaches dare to be so transparent.

There are other believers who depend on their knowledge and abilities instead of opening themselves to the wisdom and direction of God. 

• If you empty yourself and receive revelation, wisdom and direction from God, He will also use your knowledge and talents but your own ability must never be your starting point or the thing you rely on.

The Apostle Paul and John Wesley were both brilliant scholars but they laid down their lives to learn from the Holy Spirit. 

• God redirected their thinking and used their minds for His Kingdom.

1Co 1:21 (NKJV)  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

• We must also not go to the other extreme by despising intellect. 

  • We would not have bibles and study resources without highly educated believers. 

  • We also need believing doctors, teachers, writers and politicians.