One On One #24

     I encourage every believer to have a one on One relationship with the Lord. Many don't even know that this is possible, because they've been taught that this sort of relationship is "only for the leaders or special persons in the Church."  What we've lost in our understanding about this, is that all these "supernatural things are for those who believe," according to Mark16:17-20.

    For centuries, the Church has been losing sight of the supernatural Church, becoming just "natural." We've been told that "these things have passed away, are not for us today, and you never know what God can do." The Supernatural is what makes the Church, the Church. When you remove the supernatural from the Church, we become just another religion. Like the scribes and Pharisees, we've "made the Word of God to no effect, because of our traditions." We've been simply going through the motions.

    The existence of the Church, depends wholly on the supernatural power of God and His Word. No one can cast out a devil, without the supernatural. The dead cannot be raised to life, without the supernatural. The sick can't be healed, if we don't depend on the supernatural power of God. Jesus said in Mark16:17(Amp), "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages." These are supernatural signs that accompany those who understand the authority in and of His Name, which is the supernatural power of God Himself.

    Notice that Jesus didn't say, "These signs will only accompany the five-fold ministry." He said that they would accompany those who believe. One can be part of the five-fold ministry, but never see these accompany his/her ministry, because they don't believe in them. Jesus spoke about those He sent out to preach the Kingdom. They had been casting out devils and healing the sick. These weren't His disciples, but those who believed.  Luke10:21(Amp) tells us, "In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things relating to salvation from the wise and understanding and learned, and have revealed them to babes, the childish, unskilled and untaught. Yes Father, for such was You gracious will and choice and good pleasure."

    These people weren't the twelve disciples who spent so much time with Jesus, but they were people who heard Jesus speak and then believed what He said. Jesus sent out seventy others to go out ahead of His arrival, in order to prepare His way and prepare others with the news of His Kingdom. They displayed the Kingdom with supernatural signs that opened people's eyes. 

    Jesus said that, "These signs will follow those who believe." Do we still believe in these supernatural signs in the Church today? Or, have we become traditional like the scribes and Pharisees? Mark16:20(Amp) says, "And they went out and preached everywhere; while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it. Amen, So be it." They simply followed Jesus' teaching and the supernatural took place everywhere they preached it. Jesus confirmed His Word by the signs and miracles as they preached it. Do we still preach the supernatural part of God's Word, other than just the new birth? The new birth is supernatural and it opens the door to all the supernatural power of God to set captives free. You'll probably suffer persecution from many, even believers, for operating in the supernatural. So did Jesus and those who believed. Are we to please the Father or please mankind? Has God lost His ability to still do what He said or have we lost sight of His ability to act on His Word? We must spend time with the Lord in the Spirit and listen to His directions.