The natural and the spiritual worlds are compatible. The “super saint” lifestyle – like the finely-tuned Ferrari ready for the racetrack but out in suburbia – is a false concept. We don’t need to be “super saints” in the supermarket, but simply saints with a Super Saviour who can move through us by the Spirit at will in miraculous moments. Put that in your shopping trolley!
BE YOURSELF IN THE LORD
Remember the scene in the movie “Superman” of Clark Kent wanting to discard his suit in a telephone booth? Only to find that the old-style booths that had provided a measure of privacy no longer existed? The same quandary faces those who think that some form of quick change – from natural to spiritual – is necessary before they can move in miracles.
DOES DRESS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
As to which kind of dress is the more holy – white suit or T-shirt and shorts: neither matters to the Holy Spirit. Which is more appropriate for the time and place? Would Benny wear his trademark white suit while doing beach evangelism? I don’t think so.
EFFECTS SANS FX
Does the Lord really need a thousand-voice choir to prepare the setting for something supernatural? In Borneo, His Spirit moved after 40-minute-long church announcements. In the Philippines, the Lord saved and healed despite the playing of out-of-date choruses on out-of-tune guitars. (The dirge-like “Come, Holy Spirit, we neeed Thee…” is a painful memory, yet the miracle-healings that followed remain pleasurable to the mind.)
As for Hollywood-style lightning flashes and thunderbolts that surely ought to follow commands issued in the Name of Jesus – the total absence of FX out in the field, while a bit bewildering to the beginner, doesn’t prevent multiplied miracles. Amazing.
YOUR MINDSET MATTERS!
Speaking of the troublesome Carthaginians, the Roman poet Virgil said, “They can because they think they can.” Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way, you are right.” Don’t set such mental barriers. Unbelief is a barrier you can’t go beyond. Prejudice is another. As you think, so you are.
A less obvious but equally restrictive barrier is: “I must fast 40 days, if I am to see the miracle-power of God in my life.” Give up on the 39th day and you won’t see it. Why? Because you set a boundary and failed to reach it! And you’ll then have to deal with the strong sense of disappointment that will come from falling short of your own expectations; and (in your mind) God’s. Another 40 days? I don’t think so. Better to reset the boundary more realistically.
THE UNWORTHY OBSTACLE
Conscience is moral consciousness. A Christian might have a bad conscience, and a non-Christian might have a good conscience. Because, to a great degree, your conscience is simply your consciousness of what’s right and what’s wrong. You can be right about what’s wrong; but you can also be wrong about what’s right. (Romans 14:14, 22, 23) The mind of Christ is formed in your mind by God’s Word and your love for others, and it is the very best guide! Philippians, chapter 2 shows how it worked in Jesus.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
It’s important that you develop a New Creation consciousness, as distinct from your past Old Creation mentality. You need to be faith-conscious rather than sin-conscious. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles you will face when ministering – not fear of Satan or fear of man but fear of God. Fear that you are unworthy to minister because of your personal sins and shortcomings. This is why the scripture says “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”
The antidote to all other fears is faith; but the antidote to the fear of unacceptability to God is love – God’s love. Our love is a response to His love. “We love Him because He first loved us.” When you fully accept this fact, your personal sins and shortcomings, although undesirable, will not hinder or prevent you from ministering – with marvellous results! (But claim 1 John 1:7 every day until you win and defeat that sin.)