Supernatural (4)

Getting the Super in the Natural

As we continue this series we are going to talk about 5 ways the disciples worked in the super part of their lives.

I love the book of Acts because it is the original display power. When the Holy Spirit fell among God’s people there was this joy that broke out to the point where people were accusing the disciples of being drunk. This joy brought attention to them.

This issue with the modern church is that we act too sober at times and we aren’t drawing people’s attention.

This isn’t saying to act a fool for a fools sake, but rather God should be shining through your ordinary life. God in you should be noticeable at all times. Christianity should be joyous and celebratory.

Isaiah 8:18 ESV

18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

We should be a walking sign and wonder. If we are liing the supernatural lifestyle than our relationship with God should be intensely public. I cringe when I hear people say that their faith is between them and God because thier faith should be so bright that it blinds everyone between them and God. We worry so much about being offensive that we look more like the world than Christ. Christ was offensive. He was loving, he was kind, but he was offensive and abrasive to the world around him.

Let’s read this mornings scripture.

Acts 3:1–16 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Look at us V 4. Peter yelled at this dude. The greek words used here written in the emphatic state. Meaning they yelled at him look at us. They not only wanted the attention of the man, but they desired the attention of the crowd around them. Have you ever went into a crowded area and screamed look at us. It would be the introverts nightmare. But this is Christianity on display. If this happened today Peter and John would be told they were too proud to be disciples. Someone would be trying to cast out a spirit of hautiness. How dare you draw attention to yourself and the miracles you about to do. Jesus would have done it silently and told him not to tell anyone. We would get angry and judgy. But we are called to be loud about our faith.

So there are 5 steps about putting the super in your natural.

Live the natural.

Peter and John were on their way to worship at church. They didn’t go out of their way to find places to do miracles. These people were in their everyday wonderings.

You have to have the busyness of life in order to have places to leak Jesus.

We often think we have to be doing something special to show Jesus to people. Homeless min is great. Extra church services are awesome. Canvasing and street reaching have their place, but you don’t have to any of those to find people to minister to.

2. Give what you have

Acts 3:6 (ESV)

…but what I do have I give to you.

And then you need to do good

Acts 10:38 ESV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

If you aren’t doing good, bringing healing and casting out the demonic how do you show that God is with you. Now I’m not saying you aren’t saved, but how do you testify to people about your salvation. One of the hurdles I have to jump is the question “how do you know your God is the true God.” And I have these testimonies I am armed with that I didn’t have to sacrifice my child to receive.

But I want to focus on the term anointed for a second. This is where we must be careful because you can have the Holy Spirit without his anointing. But you can’t have the annoining without spending time with God because the anointing is what you get while you’re in his presence.

We see this with Moses. Moses’ face shown with the anointing, but the more time that passed between his God encounter and the days he lived the glow decreased till it was gone.

3. Living in Healing

Acts 3:8 ESV

8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

I love this image. And we understand God isn’t redundant. Each of these actions show different portions of healing.

Walking- Which is was physical affirmity being healed.

Leaping-Which biblically is a sign of joy-A healing of the soul. The person. Restoration of joy.

Praising-Which we know is a Spiritual healing.

You have this man who sat outside the temple, but wasn’t allowed inside the temple.

Lev 20 tells us that the blind and lame couldn’t enter the temple. They weren’t allowed in God’s presence. So there was this joy and restoration as we probably entered the temple for the first time in his life

God desires each one of us to be physically, emotionally, and Spiritually whole. This doesn’t mean he will heal every physical ailment, but he will touch every emotional and spiritual ailment we bring to him.

A Super Natural Life

4. Point People to Jesus

Acts 3:12–13 ESV

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.