As I read and study the New Testament, I have learned that the Christian life is a “supernatural” life. Supernatural? Yes. By definition, the Christian life is a supernatural life. So, what is supernatural? What does that really mean? Well, Holy Spirit is supernatural. He operates outside and above the natural realm, which is subject to Him, not the other way around. The very first example of this in Scripture is revealed in the opening verses of the Genesis narrative …
Genesis 1:2-3 (NIV) “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
God spoke, and Holy Spirit made it happen – He commanded and ordered into alignment the natural realm; the physics, chemistry and everything else, according to God’s will. And there was light. This continued until God finished His work of Creation. So, it stands to reason then, that if this same Holy Spirit is living in us, when we are born again, all the potential of His supernatural power and abilities are available to us. When we are born again, our relationship with God exists on another plane altogether, one not limited to the natural order of things. The apostle Paul made this clear when he said, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28, NIV) Jesus also made the point to Nicodemus that, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6, NIV). He was speaking of two distinct realms – one limited by natural constraints, and the other, was the unlimited supernatural realm. The apostle John, in his Gospel also agreed when he wrote, “Yet to all who did receive Him [Jesus], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” You see the difference, I’m sure.
Now, if this is true – and it is, of course – why do many Christians not live truly supernatural lives a lot of the time? Why are we so limited to the physical circumstances such that faith is diminished in everyday life, and not fuelled by God’s power? Why do we not experience the supernatural presence of Holy Spirit when His presence is actually in us? Well, one reason is because we so often limit God to what we can only see or think is possible in the natural realm. What we see with our physical eyes and then rationalise with our minds, is the biggest limiting factor to the Christian’s supernatural living. We are almost searching for God externally, instead of communing with Him in our sanctified spirit – which is His dwelling place.
Did not Jesus say, “… behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21, KJV).?
Yes, there are times when God does speak to us externally through signs and portents – the miracles of Jesus are prime examples of this. God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, and so, we do need to pay attention to such things. But primarily, we are to rely on the inner witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who then guides us and empowers us when we are obedient to His leading – and that’s when the supernatural stuff starts happening. To practice being led by Holy Spirit lessens the likelihood of us being led by what we only see in the natural realm – which is so limiting. Once again, the apostle Paul makes another point about this:
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NIV)
”So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
The “worldly point of view” is better translated “according to the flesh” – which is not supernatural. We once regarded Jesus this way before we were born again. We don’t do that anymore because He rose from the dead – the most supernatural event in history. The Spirit of Christ lives in us. We are joined to His resurrection life, which is not limited to anything – it is not subject to anything in the natural realm. We need to understand that, grow in our understanding of that fact and learn to move in this supernatural power by faith as Holy Spirit leads us. And faith is about trusting God regardless of what the physical circumstances look like to us. To God they are not a problem.
Now, I realise some will have concerns about my use of the word “supernatural” here. But I am simply making the point about the difference between our old flesh-soul life and the new born-again life where Holy Spirit empowers us to live this new life in Christ. This new life is the real deal. It is not the old life improved and dressed in religious clothing. What would be the point of that? There is no power in that. Which reminds me of another observation by the apostle Paul:
Romans 13:14 (NIV)
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,
and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Now, preachers often use this verse to make a point about living holy lives, which is completely valid. But there is more to it. The gratification of the desires of the flesh also includes our tendency to want to be led by what we can see, rather than by Holy Spirit when we cannot see. To clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ means more – it means making the decision to live, move, and think, in terms of supernatural possibilities as Holy Spirit prompts and encourages us. Once more, the apostle Paul …
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
This is the beginning of the supernatural life.
Think on these things.
Ps Milton