POWER: AUTHENTIC OR COUNTERFEIT

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and LYING WONDERS” – 2 Thessalonians 2:9

There are two sides to Supernatural POWER – the real or AUTHENTIC and the corrupt or COUNTERFEIT. The authentic Power of God is that which manifests miracles, not magic; and works mighty signs and true wonders, not “lying wonders” (Rom.15:19a). Not all supernatural power comes from God. Negative spirituality comes from Satan and is dark, dangerous and deceptive. Satan’s imitations of divine power are sham, counterfeit, fake, and aimed at causing the unwary to fall. Acts 26:18 attests to the existence of the “power of Satan.” The reality of satanic deception means that we must be careful how to pursue the inherent desire for the supernatural. Satanic deception thrives in the absence of the true knowledge of God: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hos.4:6a). Paul warned: “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Cor.2:11).

Unguided longing for the supernatural has led some people away from God and along destructive spiritual avenues, such as magic, diabolical games, false religions, satanic sects, witchcraft, and much more. God wants us to be alert in order to avoid being deceived and allowing the enemy to gain a stronghold of deception and counterfeit power in our lives. The Lord Jesus Christ warns that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Mt.24:24). The end-times will be characterised my Satan’s deception (2The.2:9). Revelations 16:14 speaks of “spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

The devil’s deception, however strong, will never discount God as the Miracle-Worker. He is still the same God who created the heavens and the earth by His words;  the same God who breathed life into man and fashioned woman out of man; and the same God – the “Man of War” – who parted the Red Sea and brought the Israelites out of Egypt by His Mighty Power (Exo.15:3). He is still the same God who sent His Son to die for all the sins of humanity; the same God who raised His Son from the dead and defeated Satan’s hold on creation; the same God who has called each believer into a right relationship with Himself; and the same God who continues to work in and through His people. By His Supernatural Power, the Church is ordained and designed to display His Glory through miracles, signs, and wonders!

Believers have the awesome right and responsibility to walk in God’s miracle-working power. The early church petitioned God to give them the ability to preach the gospel with power and to work miracles through signs and wonders. They longed for His power to invade their lives so that they could share His goodness and love in dramatic ways through miracles, healings, and deliverances, and God hearkened (Acts 4:29-31). They pressed passionately into the supernatural. We are called to be supernatural, too. The supernatural move of God is what separates the Church from simply being another civic organization. Well-meaning outreaches are good, yet all our noble and diligent work will never equal God-ordained miracles. He tells us to feed the poor, care for widows and orphans and help those in need, but our efforts are strengthened by supernatural manifestations when the Holy Spirit is involved.

Maturing believers who have tasted God’s supernatural power must share the truth of it and how to walk in it with emerging generations, otherwise, the enemy will introduce them to counterfeit experiences. He will try to draw them away from God and Spirit-directed signs and wonders with false power. The Holy Spirit is working through us to do all that Jesus did and more: to heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, feed the hungry, and provide for the needy. It won’t be by our strength but by His, as we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to cancel all counterfeit powers and manifests His authentic Power!