CHRISTIANITY IS SUPERNATURAL

“That I may know Him, and the POWER of HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” – Philippians 3:10

CHRISTIANITY is SUPERNATURAL. Our Faith is based on a supernatural event: the Resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:33)! Paul knew the significance of this, and prayed for a more intimate knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and “the Power of His Resurrection” (Phil.3:10). After having been dead and buried for three days, Jesus Christ spontaneously came back to life by the Power of God. This cannot be explained rationally or understood scientifically. Medical Science confirms that the brain begins to deteriorate after eight minutes without oxygen. After three days, it would be so badly deteriorated that, if someone came back to life, he would be a total imbecile. Yet Jesus Christ miraculously rose from the dead and was even more glorious in resurrection than He was before His death. When we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified and raised from the dead, we are declaring a supernatural event.

The Gospels – with accounts of the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus – are full of supernatural events that Jesus accomplished. We read of the wonderful healings and miracles that He wrought. He healed lepers, opened the eyes of the blind, unblocked deaf ears, caused the lame to walk, fed thousands with few loaves of bread and pieces of fish, and manifested “words of knowledge,” such as the one about the fish with a coin in its mouth which He foretold that Peter would catch (Mt.17:24-27). None of these supernatural happenings can be analysed or explained scientifically, but they attest to the “supernaturality” of our faith in Christ. And we do not serve a merely “historical” Jesus: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8).

The early disciples walked in supernatural power. Walking in the supernatural, Peter healed the lame man at the gate of the temple by the Power in the Name above all names: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). When Peter was imprisoned, an angel came and opened the prison doors, took him out and closed the doors again (Acts 12:5-19). God is never limited to the same method in similar circumstances. When Paul and Silas, were in prison, He descended in an earthquake to release them (Acts 16:23-34). Beyond the earthquake, He also caused the chains to fall off the prisoners and all the prison doors to be opened. The Book of Acts also records: how the shadow of Peter passing by raised the sick from their beds and couches of affliction; how aprons from the body of Paul healed the sick and expelled evil spirits; and how Paul raised a dead man and brought him back to life (Acts 5:15; 19:12; 20:8-12).

Jesus Christ left this guarantee for all who believe in Him: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jh.14:12). Jesus was not only talking to His immediate disciples, but to every believer in every age. This remains a mandate for as many as believe in Him. Not only are we to exhibit His Love and Holiness supernaturally, we are to manifest His supernatural power, through miracles, healings, signs, wonders, and diverse gifts of the Spirit. These are not optional extras; but commands. Christianity is Supernatural. It never stopped being supernatural from the days of the Old Testaments saints, through the era of the early Church, until now. Even those who think that the gifts of the Spirit ceased during the first century will agree that, through the centuries, there have been miraculous manifestations by God’s supernatural power. We are still in the days of Power!

God’s supernatural power is for every Christian! Let’s accept it, go with the flow, and enjoy the power that God has released to us. But He wants to use it only for His glory and His Kingdom, and not for selfish human purposes.