Last Updated on March 26, 2024 6:54 AM by herald
We ended Episode 1 by mentioning and rejecting the teaching of cessationism – the idea that the written word of God or collection of scripture which we call the Bible, is “sufficient”, and there is no need for any further revelation, prophetic, supernatural or otherwise. You can find Caribbean Prophetic Briefing Episode 1 here.
In fact, if the whole purpose of the church, especially at this time, is clearly understood, there is a greater need now for prophetic in particular and the supernatural in general in the church.
The early church was promised the supernatural and was birthed in it.
Supernatural power for the church comes from one source: the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised in the John chapter 16: verses 7 -15. So important was that promise, that after his resurrection, Jesus reminded his disciples of it in Acts 1:4 where he directed them to wait for its fulfilment in Jerusalem. Again, in Acts 1:8 he announced the outcome of receiving that power with these words:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV
On the subject of the importance of supernatural in the church, the late Derek Prince, author and Bible teacher, had this to say, in part:
We Are At War
To grasp the importance of the need for the supernatural in the church, you have to acquire a deep understanding of a statement made by Jesus in Matthew 16:18.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matt 16:18
At first blush, that statement may seem to represent a defensive posture. On closer examination, we have to conclude that, quite to the contrary, it represents an offensive stance. How so?
Jesus’ statement means that the church is the aggressor here: the church is to see itself outside the spiritual gates of hell determined to break them down; it is the devil who ought to be defending from behind those gates! And we have his assurance that those gates will NOT prevail when we do attack them!
The job the church has been assigned by Jesus – who is the real head of the church – is to kick down those gates and set the captives behind them free from the control of Satan by bringing them into the kingdom of light- that is, the Kingdom of God – through preaching of the gospel.
We are, therefore, engaged in a perpetual war – a spiritual war- as Ephesians 6:12 declares:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJ
But as Derek Prince explained, you cannot do any of this without the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The church is the “visible” frontline in the war against the Kingdom of Darkness on the earth. That is why in Luke 10:19, Jesus gave his disciples “power over all the power of the enemy”.
In that offensive stance, the church is not to be cowering or entertaining itself somewhere within the walls of a church building. This does not mean that worship and events are not important.
What we are suggesting is this: if assemblies were required to give an account of their stewardship today, many might probably come up short regarding the attention devoted to preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the plundering of the kingdom of darkness in their spiritual territory.
Where is the Power?
But the church is not going to be able operate in the supernatural in the world if its leaders and members are not themselves walking in the supernatural. Many find themselves in the unenviable and prophesied state of having “a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Walking in the supernatural is supposed to be the norm for the Christian:
“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives”, Galatians 5:25 NLT and “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” Hebrews 10:38.
Therefore, we cannot excuse ourselves by pointing to the shortcomings of church leaders. As individual members of the body of Christ we have a personal responsibility to advance the Kingdom of God. Each and every one of us needs to operate in the supernatural as a matter of necessity and urgency on as many of those dimensions noted by Derek Prince.
Jesus has already given every single believer access to the supernatural through a prophetic statement which applies to all those who will become believers in the future.
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.” Mark 16- 17 -18 NIV
As the early church grew and developed, the Holy Spirit distributed other supernatural gifts to the body of believers.
God also testified to it [salvation] by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2: 4.
And then we have this exciting and encouraging passage in the Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12: 7 – 11 NIV
Acid Test
On a scale of 1 – 10 where 1 is “minimal or non-existent” how would you rate the supernatural in your church? If you cannot give it a creditable score, be the first to start the path back to the supernatural. If you do not have the supernatural operating in your life, can you really honestly demand it of anyone else including the church leadership?
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up 1 Corinthians 14: 26.
And just so that we are clear, having the supernatural operating in your life does not necessarily mean raising a dead person every week or having a dream every night or a vision every day. Both Old and New testaments are replete with the supernatural events involving ordinary people and mundane things. 1 Kings chapter 17 and 2 Kings Chapter 6 and are two examples of the supernatural interventions in ordinary matters. The Book of Acts is another good source of examples of the supernatural at work.
The opportunity for God to act supernaturally on your behalf are limitless. Just remember that you are not seeking to put God to the test or just trying to have something to testify about in church. Of course, it would be good if we could stand up in church and testify to some current supernatural event in our lives rather than simply repeat Scripture!
Embracing the Supernatural
But you do not have to beg God for the supernatural in your life; your very conversion – being born again – was a supernatural birth as Jesus tried to explain to Nicodemus in John chapter 3. However, our continued experience of the supernatural is going to be directly proportional to the extent to which Jesus becomes Lord of our life. Here is what that means: the greater the extent to which Jesus is Lord of your life, the greater the manifestation of the supernatural in your life!
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15: 7 NKJ
But that is a price many Christians are not prepared to pay. Many have not made Jesus Lord although it is a condition for being saved (See Romans 10:9). As the late Derek Prince once said, many Christians are saved by a stranger. Paraphrasing him: they were drowning, someone (Jesus) came along and rescued them, but they never got to know that person!
That certainly gives new meaning to Scriptures such as: “many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14) and “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Here is the rest of the Derek Prince sermon on the supernatural in the first church. You can find the full teaching here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkCy8aoWGeI. You might also want to read “Is the Church Preaching the Full Gospel?” available here.
Author: Aldon D. Tull
