Should we Avoid the Supernatural?

 

Currently, I have been hearing and reading about the New Age movement creeping into the Christian church, "Christian" being defined as followers of Christ based on the Greek and Hebrew Biblical interpretation and model.  I haven't seen it happening personally, but if this is true, then this is nothing short of witchcraft, idolatry and doctrines of demons.  New Age is associated with spirit guides, humanism (where man is glorified and considers himself a supreme being or "little god"), and seeking paranormal experiences outside of what is true and acceptable according to the Bible.  We must never seek the supernatural, paranormal or metaphysical experiences outside of the safe confines of what Scripture teaches.  In fact, we are to seek a relationship with the Holy Spirit first and foremost, and not just supernatural occurrences for the sake of the experience.   

Yet, some people are perhaps too concerned about anything happening in the supernatural and fail to receive the many gifts and experiences God wants to freely give.  This also goes against Scripture since it could be considered unbelief, fear and lack of understanding of Scriptures.  We are to be open to the leading and promptings of the Holy Spirit, and not refuse what He wants to do in our lives and in the lives of others.  Look at the following: 

1Th 5:19    Quench not the Spirit.

1Th 5:20    Despise not prophesyings.

1Th 5:21    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1Th 5:22    Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

This is a balanced view of Scriptures.  How do we quench the Spirit?  I believe it is by not allowing Him free reign in our life.  We must trust Him to lead and guide us and it will always agree with Scripture.  Prophecy is necessary for the edifying of the Body of Christ.  The Lord knows how difficult it is when we are treading along on the narrow road with many temptations, pitfalls, discouragements and persecutions, and He wants us to hold each other up along the way.  God most often works through other believers.  Shouldn't we be open to His workings and in whatever way He wants to work? 

People that are liberally minded and believe that every religion is okay will often rebuke Christians for saying theirs is the only true religion.  But these same people are missing the point.  Christians aren't saying that theirs is the only true religion, we are simply saying that we serve the only true and living and AWESOME God, able to save our soul and do supernatural and awesome works in and through us, and in whatever way He chooses.  Unlike other pseudo, so-called gods, our God is a loving God and loves us unconditionally and takes us as we are, mistakes, flaws and all.  In fact, according to Him, we are lawless, rebellious and at enmity with Him until we turn to Him, the One who created us in the first place!  He is the only God able to hear and answer our prayers, and He cares about everything that concerns us (see Matthew 10:30-31.) 

We should never be afraid of the supernatural when God is at work.  While some people feel very uncomfortable with the word "supernatural," yet any work that God does can only be described as supernatural because it is so beyond man that it is anything but "natural."  In fact Scripture says that the natural man (in his sinful state) cannot understand the things of God because he does not have the ability to discern what is of God and what is not because He doesn't have God's spirit indwelling him.  

1Co 2:14    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

And even for a Christian, without a working knowledge and revelation of God's Word, he cannot understand the supernatural things of God either.  In fact, a Bible-believing Christian must not only know the Word of God, but has to live by it and act on it and experience it in order for it to become real and a part of the very fabric of his being.  And here is where many Christians disagree.  Fundamental Christians tend to shy away from anything to do with "experiential" Christianity, but those who are more open to receiving the many gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit, will tend to go deeper in their faith and in their walk with God.  Their experience, when it is genuine and received with trust in the work of the Holy Spirit, can always be backed up by Scripture.

 

At least this has been true in my own life.  So many things have happened to me that I could write a complete and lengthy book on all that God has done in my life, each event and each incident a miracle in itself.  I know my life has been spared from the jaws of death more than once.  If you read my books you will find such miracles that have happened to me.  Some things are hard to explain, but with the human mind, many things can never be explained.  How do you explain forever and ever?  How do you even begin to think of the fact that God has always been?  We think in terms of time.  God is outside of time - He is everlasting - the Alpha and Omega.  As spiritual beings created in His image, we too are everlasting - our soul lives forever.  Now that is supernatural and far beyond anything our mind can begin to grasp without going a little crazy.  Maybe we can think of 1,000 years, but what about 10,000 years or a million years, and even beyond that? 

If you think about it, every time someone becomes a born-again Christian, this is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.  People, on their own steam, cannot be saved because they are born with a sinful nature that is at enmity against God. 

Rom 8:6    For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom 8:7    Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Rom 8:8    So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

No good works can ever save a single living soul.  It has to be by a supernatural work of God, and for every person presented with the Gospel, all they can do is receive it.  They cannot add to it or take away.  They must believe it and receive it. Then the Holy Spirit does the rest, indeed has already done the work through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ.  

Tit 3:5    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit 3:6    Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; Tit 3:7    That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Every time a prayer is answered, this is also a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.  Every time we change and grow in the things of God, this is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.  The fact of creation and how everything came to into being is a supernatural work of God.  The way the seasons change, a blade of grass grows, or leaves spring out from what looks like dead branches, this is also a supernatural work of Creator God.    Think of the billions of stars and the fact that the earth is suspended in space by gravity!  This is astounding!  Think of how a baby is formed in a mother's womb - this is beyond any human understanding how perfect the baby develops to maturity and is born.  Supernatural occurrences are every-day and are all around us for we are in the presence of a Holy and Awesome and all-powerful God!  There is no place we can escape and He is not there.  We may not "feel" His presence, but we are always in His presence.  That is an awesome supernatural miracle. 

So we must never be afraid of the supernatural when our great and mighty God is at work, for we are surrounded by the evidence of it everywhere!   And we must never quench the Holy Spirit and not allow Him to work in our lives, for He is counting on us to be willing to be used for His glory and according to His plan for each of our lives.