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.

Spiritual Warfare

 We see in the New Testament that the war has already been won. The devil was defeated by Jesus on the cross. But if Jesus has already won the war, why do we still have to fight? Do we still have to fight? Of course we do.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11 NIV

But some say we don't have to fight because the battle is not ours; the battle belongs to the Lord.

But this passive view leads to disaster. Turkey was once a region where the gospel spread marvellously. But the Christians gradually became religious and no longer devoted disciples.

Then Islam came and Christianity was almost one hundred per cent abolished. The devil can win battles if we don't hold on to Jesus and fight for our faith with God's power.

…  for the battle is the LORD’s, … 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

This Bible text is often quoted and misinterpreted. It is said that we do not have to fight against the devil because the battle does not belong to us, but to the Lord.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

But we must understand Bible texts in context. David said these words and then he fought against the soldier of Satan and struck Goliath dead with the supernatural help of the Lord.

There are situations where we must fight the devil with God's help and we may defeat the devil, not with our own strength, but by God intervening supernaturally because the battle belongs to the Lord.

I prayed for a long time for some women who were mentally ill. These were not passive prayers, but a battle in the spirit with the help of God's Spirit. I persevered in prayer for a long time, and not just for a few years. I then saw amazing improvements.

Anyone who does not believe in spiritual warfare and does not believe that miracles are necessary understands very little about Christian love and prayer.

You don't need a miracle until you need a miracle.

Spiritual Warfare

We see in the New Testament that the war has already been won. The devil was defeated by Jesus on the cross. But if Jesus has already won the war, why do we still have to fight? Do we still have to fight? Of course we do.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11 NIV

But some say we don't have to fight because the battle is not ours; the battle belongs to the Lord.

But this passive view leads to disaster. Turkey was once a region where the gospel spread marvellously. But the Christians gradually became religious and no longer devoted disciples.

Then Islam came and Christianity was almost one hundred per cent abolished. The devil can win battles if we don't hold on to Jesus and fight for our faith with God's power.

…  for the battle is the LORD’s, … 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

This Bible text is often quoted and misinterpreted. It is said that we do not have to fight against the devil because the battle does not belong to us, but to the Lord.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

But we must understand Bible texts in context. David said these words and then he fought against the soldier of Satan and struck Goliath dead with the supernatural help of the Lord.

There are situations where we must fight the devil with God's help and we may defeat the devil, not with our own strength, but by God intervening supernaturally because the battle belongs to the Lord.

I prayed for a long time for some women who were mentally ill. These were not passive prayers, but a battle in the spirit with the help of God's Spirit. I persevered in prayer for a long time, and not just for a few years. I then saw amazing improvements.

Anyone who does not believe in spiritual warfare and does not believe that miracles are necessary understands very little about Christian love and prayer.

You don't need a miracle until you need a miracle.

Praying for Unbelievers

 Richard Wurmbrand was a preacher in Romania. He was persecuted under the Nazi occupation, but then things got even worse under the communists.

When the Russian army arrived, it was not really a liberation for the Christians, but Richard Wurmbrand evangelised fearlessly. He even tried to win the Russian officers for Jesus.
 
One Russian officer denied that he believed in God, but with God's wisdom Richard Wurmbrand was able to see through this atheism.

‘But you still pray in an emergency, don't you?’
The communist was caught out and embarrassed.
‘When we were besieged and surrounded in Stalingrad, we all prayed.’

When my mother was 70 years old and still healthy, she didn't want to take my prayers seriously, but at 76 she was close to death. Then she was very grateful for my prayers and she died in peace with God.

Between 1982 and 2000, Argentina experienced a powerful revival. One of the prominent preachers in this revival was Ed Silvoso.

Ed Silvoso explained that many Christians want to pray for unbelievers, but without speaking openly to the unbelievers. They are afraid that God might not answer these prayers and then their faith would appear weak and useless.

Ed Silvoso began his missionary work at the age of 16.

After many years, he has learnt that many non-Christians appreciate our help through prayer, even if they do not expect results and may not even have a clear idea of God Himself.

When we ask our colleagues or neighbours if we should pray for them, they are often grateful for our charity. When they experience that God hears them, his intervention can awaken their faith.

I once spoke to a witch. I tried to win her over to Jesus, but the conversation was very difficult. She had a cunning answer for everything.

Finally, I realised that I should stop striving. I asked God for wisdom on how to end the conversation, and God gave me the right words.

I told her, ‘I will pray that Jesus will visit you in a dream.’

Her demonic power could not resist this attack from the Holy Spirit. Suddenly I saw fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

Your prayers have a power that intimidates even the demons.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NLT