Living Supernaturally Naturally

The Easter Season can mean a lot of things to different people. For students, it can mean a break from the rigors of studying and classes. For others it coincides with the annual pilgrimage to the American version of Mecca, namely Myrtle Beach. For many, it's just another day in the calendar where businesses try to make a quick buck. But for followers of Jesus Christ, who see Him much more than just a "holiday experience," Easter has a totally different meaning. Because of this day, and an empty tomb to back it up, believers have been given the opportunity to live each and every day with the conviction that in their grasp is the power to live" Supernaturally Naturally." Let me explain it by painting this simple picture.

Every waking moment we are presented with the possibility of making a difference in someone's life; the question is are we aware of the opportunities surrounding us, or just as important, are we even looking to be used in making a difference? What it boils down to is a basic understanding of why we exist and the power present to pull it off. It also is a matter of the heart, as to whether my "rebirth" experience in Jesus has led to a repositioning of my priorities away from what I can get to how I can be His hands and feet. From 40 years of experience as a believer, I can assure you that when a person has a true experience with Jesus and not just a fleeting emotional one, the vision to reach the whole world takes on a whole new dimension. I'm not saying that one automatically becomes an evangelist, but what I do know is that "relational evangelism"-extending" Jesus love" to anyone who will listen and then following up words with action, takes center stage.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Romans 8:11. "The Spirit of God, who raised Christ Jesus from the dead lives in you, and just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He will give life to to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." Wow! God wants to place supernatural power into the lives of those who believe in Him. If that is true, shouldn't supernatural living be a natural bi-product of simply living life? I believe the answer is definitely yes but the application is a bit of a problem for most believers. Let me illustrate.

Six months ago, I came to the realization that my life was ceasing to be as productive as it had once been. I always seemed to have a knack for "Divine Appointment" type experiences. From the streets of Southern California to the back woods of Armenia, God has always had adventures waiting for me in meeting all sorts of people who were seeking to know Him. But something seemed different; Divine Appointments were far and few between and with that said, excitement and joy seemed to be a thing of the past.

I had all sorts of reasoning's; maybe my evangelical fervor was being channeled in other directions, and even worse, maybe that part of my life was just over. It all came to a head one Sunday morning when a young lady from our youth group asked me to meet one of her friends from high school visiting for the first time. When I didn't do it and worse than that had no desire to, I became very fearful of just where I was at. After all, a pastor who doesn't want to be around people is a problem indeed; for me , it was an issue that I had never faced as a believer.

But thankfully, we serve a God of second chances, because the following week the young man returned, and his faithful friend gave me no chance to miss a second opportunity. As she escorted me to the back of the church to meet him, I suddenly began to shake all over. Then ever so clearly, in my spirit, I heard these very simple words; "You asked me if I was done using you...I never left you...I have always been there waiting for you...Now I have set before you someone if you will pour your life into, I will use him to shake the nations..."

The past six months have been as spiritually rich as the past year had been as dry as a desert. Suddenly, I began to flow again in authority and power. As I became obedient to that soft still voice that had my knees knocking, divine encounters have taken place in the craziest of places and many have come to know Jesus again, including that young man.

Practically speaking, we all go through seasons where nothing seems to be happening let alone supernatural encounters. But what I learned, I want to conclude by sharing with you, that you might again flow in the power that is rightfully yours. First of all, never take for granted your giftings and God's desire to teach you new things, no matter how long you've been a believer, because there are times when He wants to get our attention and revive us. Secondly, recognize when your focus turns within, it will effectively cut off any discernment with those around you. I know now that I was struggling with mild depression which was a culmination of any number of things, and that depression blocked my spirit from seeing the needs around me. Thirdly, always be listening to others words that your response and comments might build bridges of communication, trust, and relationship. Pray for openings. I believe that relational evangelism is the key in reaching this generation which is fatherless, in many ways hopeless, and desperate for love.

We should be living lives filled with supernatural excitement that are a natural by-product of the God who lives inside of us. If you are a believer and are bored with life, then you must get reconnected to the source of power and be willing to use it passionately. Only then can you fulfill the reason for which you were made; LIVING SUPERNATURALLY NATURALLY!

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Balance is the Key to Everything Spiritual

Recently, while in Armenia, I visited a pastor who lived deep in the forest outside of Vanadzor, where our sister church is located. The beauty was breathtaking, with emerald green mountains rising on either side of his small wooden home to meet the turquoise blue sky high above. The simplicity of he and his family's life being lived out before me brought to my mind what America must have been like 150 years ago.

After we had been blessed with a wonderful dinner of I'm not sure what, the pastor took me into his small office which was the size of most American bathrooms. There, he pulled out his prize possession- a small satellite dish which, he claimed could pick up American Christian programming from all across the USA. My first reaction was one of thankfulness, until he began to tune in various channels. It was then that I began to get a very sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I quickly recognized a variety of evangelists, teachers, and speakers, whose messages left me with some feelings of anger and dismay. It almost seemed like many of the programs, at the very least, were espousing some different doctrine or beliefs that were counter to Historic Christian Belief, and at the very worst some of the programming was down right heretical.

My first reaction to all of this was what should I say, if anything. I didn't want to attack my fellow American teachers and leaders, but at the same time, I didn't want my dear friend to be "taken in " by the latest spiritual fad sweeping the church landscape. After all, I had, first hand, experienced the destructive and divisive nature of 'unbalanced teaching' when it takes hold in a church body, leading people away from the purity of Christ and into false teaching and manipulation, as well as personality cults. Before I could say anything, my friend responded with the wisdom of a spiritual father and mature leader. As he flipped through the channels, he looked me directly in the eye and responded in a very gentle way. "Pastor Chuck, I watch a lot of speakers on tv, from your country and around the world, but I don't believe everything that I hear."

To the say the least, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace, knowing the he moved in the gift of discernment and had the wisdom to know the truth and not be swayed by fancy words, emotional appeals, and doctrines not found in God's word.

Sometime ago, while interviewing a pastor on television, I listened with deep interest as he shared his particular view of "health, wealth, and prosperity. " After a period of time, I asked him a simple question. "Pastor, of course you have taught this same teaching in the poor and developing nations of Asia and Africa, right? How did they recive your teaching and did it bring forth fruit?" Well, that was simple enough, but as he stumbled over his response, it only revealed something very wrong in what he was teaching.

We immediately went to a song break after his weak response, and it took him no more than 5 seconds to express his extreme displeasure with my very direct question. "What are you trying to do to me, he shouted?" With no more than 3 minutes before we were to be back live, I had to respond quickly, as well as very simple. " Pastor, I began, if your teaching cannot be applied in those countries as you teach it here, then it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The American church is facing a dilemma. It is facing a "down sizing" of the truth, as Historic Doctrine is taking a beating from those who are taking liberty with Scripture and coming up with all sorts of abherrant teaching that emotionally inflames our passions but leaves us bankrupt spiritually. Of course, I believe in Faith.I believe in God's desire to prosper His saints and bring healing to our mind ,soul, and bodies. I believe in prayer and prayer summits and gatherings. But when each of these areas of our spiritual walk or any other area becomes unbalanced in focus and purpose, error, confusion, and salvation by works result.

Let me illustrate. God had a very special love for His people Israel. All that He ever desired was to have an intimate relationship with them. But Israel repeated the same mistake over and over again; a mistake that the church in America is making today. Israel repeatedly left that simplistic first love which they had with God for other idols; other teachings and false gods which aroused their emotions but led them astray. From the "golden calf" to acceptance and compromise with false foreign gods, Israel always seemed to be looking for a new spiritual high that would excite their spiritual appetites.

Let me be very direct. I have lived long enough to see many doctrinally "unbalanced" waves hit the church at large. While their leaders mostly have right motives, the directions which they seek to lead the church are dead wrong. I don't care whether it is any of the aforementioned spiritual dogmas or others not mentioned, when we take a specific aspect of faith and doctrine and raise it out of context and make it central instead of supportative to the Love of God, we are out of balance.

Jesus gave us 2 commands, which were to love the Lord God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourself. That is pretty simple, and I might add direct. Lifting any other movement, thought, doctrine, faith venture, or new spiritual fad above love, is out of balance.

Why do we Christians make believing in Jesus so difficult? We are losing this generation which is seeking truth that is relevant but instead often sees the church as irrevelant. Why do we confuse new believers with a litany of rules, regulations, and strange twists on doctrine which are not Biblical and certainly not conducive to growth? I have to confess that sometimes I see people coming to Jesus despite the believers surrounding them who should be there to encourage them in love but seemingly are all too ready to espouse some spiritual fad that is here today and gone tomorrow. For reference, consider all of the "revivals" that have broken out across America and Canada this past decade which in a few short months burned out like a Fourth of July rocket. True Revival has lasting power and brings about true growth.

When we stop preaching Jesus and His love, when we cease to relationally build bridges to the lost, and finally when our focus becomes centered upon one aspect of faith, no matter how valid, we cease to be the hands and feet of Jesus and sink into the swamp of spiritual imbalance and misdirected focus, pleading the newest spiritual abberation and not being the light of the world Jesus called us to be.

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