THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE BELIEVER PART 1. God with man equals supernatural
The man in Christ is possessed of God. He is the embodiment of God’s supernatural abilities. Have you ever heard the word POWER ? What comes to your mind when you hear of an experience that is beyond natural explanation? The devil and the believer who is more powerful? Many times, people can easily say all power belongs to God, but in their subconscious, they attribute power to the devil and magic. If you were to be passing by a place and you notice rain falling everywhere around except a particular compound , what will you attribute that to ? The degree at which you still see the supernatural and think of devil or magic is the degree to which your mind has not been renewed.
WHAT IS THE SUPERNATURAL?
The super natural is what is beyond the natural. Webster’s Dictionary defines the supernatural as : unable to be explained by science or the laws of nature ; departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature. The supernatural is in different areas of life. In everyday experience, they seem to be what cannot be explained by nature or sciences. The best of the scientists and doctors can testify to the fact that there are certain things that cannot be explained. The supernatural doesn’t counter the natural. It only superceeds the natural.
THE POWER OF GOD IN MEN.
Power belongs to God not any other being.
Psalm 62 : 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Power belongs to God. So when it comes to powerful experiences and the supernatural we should be thinking what God can do and not the devil or other forces. The Bible is replete with supernatural experience with God. From Genesis 1, we see that God spoke and beings came to existence. Can you paint a picture in your mind of how that by the word of God animals came into existence. How can you explain that ? It is supernatural. Reading through the Bible you will always see experiences beyond natural explanation with God. Notice that after the creation, every other supernatural experience you see is with MEN that have God. Man was made to have dominion on the earth with God. So, the supernatural happens through a man that has God. Moses for example was able to wrought wonders in Egypt because he had God with him. From Exodus 3 when God appeared to Moses through an angel , we see that Moses could do things beyond the natural. Exodus 3: 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Moses became another man from there . What is called the ten plagues are the workings of power of Moses with God. Exodus 7: 1 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. So the God Pharaoh was seeing was Moses. Moses wrought wonders with the power of God. Notice even in Exodus 14, when Moses cried to God , God directed Moses to Himself. The supernatural belongs to the man with God. Exodus 11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh…
The prophets like Elijah did wonders because they had God. Elijah spoke and natural laws were suspended. There was no rain because he spoke. 1 Kings 17: 1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. Notice, it was Elijah who spoke then nature was suspended. Some other miracles of Elijah are: Drought 1Kings 17:1-: James 5:17
Meal and oil multiplied 1 Kings 17:14
Child restored to life 1 Kings 17:22
Sacrifice consumed by fire 1 Kings 18:38
Captains and men were slain by fire 2 Kings 1:10
Rain brought 1 Kings 18:41
Water of Jordan divided 2 Kings 2:8
Elisha also did miracles because He had God. Elisha fed one hundred men with little food. This is a miracle beyond natural explanation. 2 kings 4: 43-44. He healed Naaman of leprosy and wrought many other miracles.
NOTICE THE SUPERNATURAL WERE WROUGHT BY MEN not God. The men had God with them. It has always been the order.
Jesus came as God in man, He also showed us the pattern. See what was said of Jesus,
Acts 10: 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
He went about healing all that were oppressed because God was with Him. He showed us that as men what it takes to do the supernatural is to have God. Have you ever pondered on the miracles of Jesus. Let’s see some miracles of Jesus.
THE MIRACLES OF JESUS CHRIST
- Healing the possessed man in Capernaum Mark 1:21-28 Luke 4:31-37
- Healing of Peter’s Mother-in-law Matthew 8:14-15 Mark 1:29-31 Luke 4:38-39
- Cleansing of a Leper Matthew 8:1-4 Mark 1:40-45 Luke 5:12-16
- Turning Water into Wine at Cana John 2:1-11
- The Miraculous Catch of Fish Luke 5:1-11
- Healing of a Paralytic Matthew 9:1-8 Mark 2:1-12 Luke 5:18-26
- Cure of the Man with a Withered Hand Mathew 12:9-14 Mark 3:1-6 Luke 6:6-1
- Healing of Official’s Son in Capernaum John 4:43-54
- Healing of Centurion’s Servant Matthew 8:5-13 Luke 7:2-10
- Raising of Widow’s Son at Nain Luke 7:11-17
- Calming of the Storm at Sea Mathew 8:23-27 Mark 4:35-41 Luke 8:22-25
- Cure of the Gerasene Demoniac Matthew 8:28-34 Mark 5:1-20 Luke 8:26-39
- Healing of a Paralytic in Jerusalem John 5:1-18
- Cure of Woman afflicted with Hemorrhage Matthew 9:20-22 Mark 5:25-34 Luke 8:43-48
- Raising of Jairus’ daughter Matthew 9:23-26 Mark 5:35-43 Luke 8:49-56
- Healing Two Blind Men in Nazareth Matthew 9:27-31
- Healing A Possessed Mute Matthew 9:32-34
- Feeding the 5000 Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:34-44 Luke 9:10-17 John 6:1-14
- Walking on Water Matthew 14:22-33 Mark 6:44-52 John 6:16-21
- Healings at Gennesaret Matthew 14:34-36 Mark 6:53-56
- Cure of Syro-Phoenician’s Daughter Matthew 15:21-28 Mark 7:24-30
- Healing of Deaf-Mute Mark 7:31-37
- Feeding the 4000 Mattew 15:32-39 Mark 8:1-9
- Restores Sight to the Blind Man of Bethsaida Mark 8:22-26
- Healing of a Man Born Blind in Jerusalem John 9:1-41
- Casting Out of a Dumb Demon Matthew 17:14-21 Mark 9:14-29 Luke 9:37-43
- Healing a Possessed Crippled Woman Luke 13:11-17
- Healing of A Man with Dropsy Luke 14:1-6
- Cleansing of Ten Lepers Luke 17:11-19
- Healing the Blind at Jericho Matthew 20:29-34 Mark 10:46-52 Luke 18:35-43
- Healing of Servant’s Ear during Arrest Luke 22:50-51
- The Raising of Lazarus John 11:1-44
- The Lord’s Supper Matthew 26:26-30 Mark 14:22-26 Luke 22:19-20
Set out time to read and master all the miracles. The miracles above and many more actually happened. They are not fables. They are realities. Lepers were cleansed. Death men raised to life. All because God was with Him. There are many miracles that Jesus did in addition to the above. On many occasions, he also healed many possessed and oppressed of the devil.
Luke 6: 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, andhealed them all.
Matthew 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people
John 21: 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Nicodemus said to Jesus No man can do this things except God be with him.
John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
Notice Nicodemus knew that it takes God being with a man for him to do miracles. He was familiar with Genesis to MalachI. He knew what men did because they had God. Jesus referred him to a greater experience. It is the new birth experience.
THE NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE IS AN ORDINATION INTO THE SUPERNATUTAL AND THE MIRACULOUS
When a man is born again he can see the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke of this experience that will make men not just to have God with them but to have God in them. Just men are born of the spirit of God. They hail from God. These are the men the world is not worthy of. These men are possessed of the all powerful one. They are the temple of God. Who are these men? They are men with the very life of God. They have the very DNA of God. YOU ARE THAT MAN IF YOU HAVE Faith in what Christ has done to be saved. There is nothing normal about you. So, having the spirit of God in you is all it takes to be supernatural.
John 3: 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. note
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Notice the new birth experience is what makes you see and partake of the kingdom of God.
Imagine Elijah was able to do all of those miracles without having God in him. We have God in us now. We have so much more ability. God is with us by being in us. Matthew 11: 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
THE SUPERNATUTAL IS NATURAL TO THE BELIEVER BECAUSE HE HAS GOD IN HIM
Romans 8: 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
John 13; 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Jesus spoke of greater works because he goes to his father. His going to the father is being in us. For more on this read ONE GOD part one and part two.
In summary, we have seen that indeed all things are possible to the believer. Knowing that we are God’s temple and we have His ability, what manner of men should we be? We should be given to studying and meditating on the supernatural. In the subsequent parts of this series, we will look at other details about THE MAN IN CHRIST AND THE SUPERNATURAL.
BY EMEKE MODESTY OBIAZIKWOR
www.emekemodesty.com