| Lesson #7 – Walking in the supernatural should be the normal lifestyle of every Christian, and every Christian leader must be found championing this course.
Beloved in Christ, can you list 3 things that you have achieved in the last one year that cannot be explained using natural laws? What 3 things have you achieved that an unbeliever cannot achieve? If there is nothing supernatural about what you have achieved in the past year, it could be an indication that something is fundamentally wrong with your Christianity! The believer is a supernatural being and this should be reflected in his/ her daily walk. Take an inventory of the achievement(s) we celebrate in church today … Increase in finances, success in examinations, weddings, birth of children, construction of houses, purchase of cars, vacations in beautiful cities, promotions at work, etc.? These are all good things, but people who never encountered Christ also have them. So how are we different? What are we achieving on the earth that is clearly above and beyond the natural, and cannot be explained by natural laws?
When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he began to describe a new breed of people that would be called Christians, and here are some ways they are to be recognized: “Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my name; they will speak in strange tongues; if they pick up snakes or drink any poison, they will not be harmed; they will place their hands on sick people, and these will get well.” Mark 16:17-18 (GNB) It is saddening that when anyone walks in the supernatural or performs miracles today as described in the verse above, he is regarded as God’s General whereas all of God’s Recruitsshould make walking in the supernatural a lifestyle, and our leaders should be championing this course.
James 5:14-15 (CEV) says “If you are sick, ask the church leaders to come and pray for you … If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well…” Unfortunately in this day, if you tell a Christian leader that you are sick, the first thing he/she is likely to ask is – “what have you used?” There is a dearth of the supernatural in our day. Our churches are full of experts and not elders; they possess great charisma but lack spiritual character; they display the outward form of Christianity, but reject its real power; many have replaced “the move of the Spirit” with the “jokes of the day”. We give sinners our pulpits to teach us success and money making principles, indirectly teaching our followers to neglect the all-surpassing power of Christ (success personified) that is in them. We act like pendulums on social media, ‘liking’ the philosophies of those who are dead to Christ and ‘sharing’ the principles of Christ as well. We visit the rich, political juggernaut to make special prayers for them, but we let the phone calls of the poor go to voice mail. We excuse our persistent ‘lukewarm-ness’ by reminding everyone that “Jesus could not do mighty works in his own town. . .” and attempt to excuse our drunkenness, with – “Jesus turned water to wine”. Thou man of God, God expects more from thee!
I’m not implying that every church leader should focus on organizing healing crusades or saying it is wrong to use natural means to solve problems. No! This is just a reminder for us leaders – we must demonstrate basic faith in the finished work of Christ as instructed in the verses above, no matter the type of ministry we claim to have. How can we claim – “in Christ we move, live and have our being” when our lives are not constantly punctuated with the supernatural? Isn’t that a paradox? Oh weep, this generation of Christian leaders, again I say, weep! For we have replaced supernatural activities with carnal proclivities, and the fatal consequences are all around us. I see many religions springing up in Nigeria; they hold fellowships on Sunday; they also have camp meetings and hold vigils. Some have TV and radio programs and even have platforms that reach out to the needy in the society like we do. How are we different from them if we only have all these forms of godliness but deny the power thereof? How can we afford to make Christianity – a spiritual walk with God, look like Boys Scout or Girls Guide Associations? Hebrews 13:7 (GW) says – “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.” The leader’s faith is meant to be imitated. It is not an option; we must all be examples of the faith in Christ.
I have also had my share of behaving like “experts”. But today, we strive to ensure that we are sensitive to the move of the Spirit in every meeting we hold and we constantly experience healings and miracles. We also strive to make the supernatural our daily lifestyle. I’m trusting God that in the following years in Christ Lifeline, we would be good examples of walking in the supernatural and many in this generation will be witnesses of the life of Christ. I see a revival in our day!
Do you feel you have derailed from this high calling in Christ? Make a drastic U-turn today! Like Pastor John Maxwell once wrote, “though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.”
– Tope S. Aladenusi
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The bible says in 2Corinthians 5:17, 20 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature … Now then we are ambassadors for Christ …”
We (believers) are Christ’s ambassadors! I like the way Philippians 3:20 (BBE) buttresses this point – “For our country is in heaven …” We don’t belong here. We are only here on a temporary basis and soon, we will return to our country – heaven. Are you really living the lifestyle of an ambassador?
Some dictionaries define “ambassador” as an important official who represent his or her government in a foreign country. An understanding of how the average ambassador in the world behaves may shed more light in areas where we need to up our game:
- An ambassador is not in another country on his / her own accord. You are on an assignment and you should be working with your home country (heaven) to achieve that.
- Ambassadors are officially protected from harm by what is known as diplomatic immunity. The host government cannot detain or arrest ambassadors. Are you enjoying your diplomatic immunity in this world? Are you ignorantly allowing the god of this world to tamper with your immunity? If you claim to be molested, oppressed by people, witches, wizards and the devil, do you know who you really are?
- Ambassadors reflect the life (and lifestyle) of their home country, even in a foreign land. You don’t expect the US ambassador to Nigeria to live in one of the slums in Lagos. They live in very nice places. Does your prosperity reflect that of your country?
- An ambassador is usually appointed for a specific length of time. Your tenure as Christ’s representative is gradually being exhausted. Are you making the best use of the time?
- An ambassador’s main function is to advance the interests of his country in a foreign land. Are you focusing on pursuing your personal interests or the interest of your country? Are your prayer points overwhelmed with your interests or the interests of heaven?
- Ambassadors are sent to countries with which diplomatic relations are maintained. The diplomatic relation your country has with this world is for a major strategic purpose – to reconcile men unto God. Is that your focus in life?
- Ambassadors are spokespersons for their foreign offices. Have you been speaking on behalf of heaven recently?
We could go on and on. But at this point, I ask you this: Are you an ambassador for Christ in words alone, or in deed and truth?
We are living in a day and age where everything is customized. From T – shirts, to shoes. Even haircuts. Nobody likes to be among the majority. Everybody wants to have his own version of everything. “I am doing it this way because that is the way I want it” is a popular expression. That is the way I like it.
A problem however is that Christianity is now also being defined by the person. Each person has his own idea of how he ought to live as a Christian. Haven’t you heard “Well that is my own way of loving, I cannot kill myself”. Or “I cannot do what he is doing as a Christian but I can do this one”.
Christianity however is beyond what each of us wants to make of it. It is a life and not a religion that considers the input of each individual person. It is not defined by factions or by groups. Not by a person.
Rather we all have been called into a unique lifestyle. The very life of God. I love the way Ephesians 4:20 puts it … ‘you have not so learned Christ’. It is he who defined the standard when he birthed us as new creatures. While your personal opinion is important. It is given significance only when it has been subjected to the will of God in Christ Jesus.
The early church all walked with oneness by giving heed to the apostles’ doctrine. Let us learn to peer over the word understanding who we have been made in Christ. Let us learn to exalt the word above our differences. Let us learn to exalt the new creature above our desires or our shortcomings.
Let us learn only to walk according to one rule. That is the rule of the new creature. Gal 5:15 – 16
Peace
Dr bolaji akanni
