It seems like when I meet other Christians and I start to talk about their church and my church I find out that some churches are all about the supernatural side of God and some are all about operating in the natural. But I want to ask the question, why does it have to be one or the other?
All throughout the bible I read time and time again about the miracles that Jesus did, the supernatural things that took place. There is no denying the healings that He performed and the signs and wonders that He did. From a woman being healed just by touching him and a little girl being raised from the dead (Mark 5), to thousands of people being fed with only 5 loaves and 2 fish (Matthew 14), to a demon possessed man being set free and made right in his mind (Mark 5) and another man being healed and regaining his sight (Mark 8). And these are just a few miracles that took place while Jesus walked the earth. But you can't just stop there. We also know by looking back at the old testament that God parted the Red Sea for Moses (Exodus 14) and another time Moses struck a rock and water came out of it (Numbers 20).....again, just a few of the many supernatural things mentioned in the old testament. So it's virtually impossible to accept the bible and yet ignore the fact that God has, God does and God always will operate in the supernatural. And we need to be thankful for this because without the supernatural we also would never be able to receive the Holy Spirit or the gifts that He allows us to operate in. (Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12). God does things in the supernatural every single day of our lives. He doesn't need you to believe that He does in order for Him to be able to, but He does need you to believe in order for Him to grow your faith.
But the bible also talks a lot about the things we are supposed to do in the natural, and how they are just as important. For instance, you must be a light to others (Matthew 5). Without being a light (in the natural eyes of the world) how do we expect to show others who Jesus is and how powerful He is? God wants us to help the poor, the needy, the hungry, the sick and even reach out to those in prison (Matthew 25). All of these things being things that are done in the natural. He expects to us to be wise with our money and tithe to Him because all that we have came from Him anyway (Mark 12 and Malachi 3). And He expects us to reach out to all the nations and physically go and tell them about Jesus (Matthew 28). So being outwardly driven in the natural and living a physical life the brings honor to God in the eyes of others is equally important as accepting, understanding and operating in the supernatural. God does not want us to pick a side and He doesn't want us to pretend that we only need to worry about one or that other. Being a believer and follower of Jesus Christ requires the acknowledgement of both and opening yourself up to either so God can be God in your life.
A verse I ran across recently really jumped out at me. It was Matthew 11:20 where it says Jesus began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done because they did not repent. What does this mean? To me it means we must not forget the point of it all!! We must not get so hung up in the supernatural side of God (or even the natural) that we forget that it's really about the salvation. It was, is and always will be about the salvation. A person can be healed and that would a great thing....a person can serve and tithe like they should and that would also be a great thing...but if either of those people don't make it to heaven or help other's make it to heaven then the entire point was missed. Jesus did come and open up that ability to do mighty things in His name, but the most important thing Jesus came for was to make a way for us to have a real relationship with God, receive complete forgiveness, be totally set free from the bondage and the control of sin on our lives... and to spend eternity with Him. If you lean more on the supernatural side, or the natural side...ask God to meet you where you are help you believe and receive both sides....and ask Him to help you ALWAYS remember that is about people finding their way to Him that really is THE most important thing!
God, thank You that You are not limited by the supernatural or the natural! Please open up our hearts and our minds so we are not limited in our beliefs or confined by them. Help us to keep in mind that every aspect of our lives should be pointing to you, and showing others who You are is the most important part of it all. Holy Spirt, help us remember that salvation is the goal....and that is achieved through introducing the love, grace and mercy of God to the lost. In Jesus name, Amen
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