From the beginning of 2021, I knew this was going to be a year that I’ll experience the supernatural like never before. In November 2020, during the week of my birthday, I attended a conference themed, “Engaging the Supernatural.” I was so blessed by that conference. In retrospect, I now understand that the conference was the beginning of a higher dimension in my walk with God.
I’ve never been so conscious about my rights and privileges in God’s kingdom. Now, whenever I get to study the Bible, I just feel the need to never take my spiritual reality for granted again. Like never before, I just don’t feel comfortable living an ordinary life anymore. The saying, “I am a child of God” has never felt so special and exceptional. I have affirmed, “I’m not ordinary. I’m not just extraordinary; I’m supernaturally extraordinary” so many times than I can ever remember, in the past few months. That’s how much I’ve become conscious and crazy about my reality in Christ.
Few days ago, I was studying the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and I just couldn’t get over the lessons I was learning from the story of the man that lived among the tombs. I left the place of study and my heart is still overwhelmed by the truths that jumped out of that passage in the Bible….and I just want to share. I want to invite you into the thoughts that are taking my audacity in Christ to a higher dimension. I pray the next few words blesses you so much more.
More than a stage performance
Almost seven years ago, I had the privilege of sharing a short exhortation with other young believers. As I shared, I remember telling my listeners that we’ve reduced the wonder working power of God to stage performances. That exhortation came back to mind, as I started writing this post. Most times, Christians only show God as powerful, when we act out a play on a stage. So, in a staged play, the kingdom of darkness is defeated but in our real lives that is rarely the case. We believe God is very powerful. We believe in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. We believe in the empowerment of the Holy Ghost. But our lives, our real lives, don’t experience and manifest what we believe. That is an anomaly, an anomaly all Christians shouldn’t be okay and comfortable with.
If you belong to the body of Christ, you shouldn’t be comfortable with living in the ordinary. Living that way isn’t just an anomaly, it isn’t fair. It isn’t fair that the devil can have a say in your life, when he doesn’t have the right to. It isn’t fair that demon possessed humans are exuding the power of darkness and you can’t exude the supernatural power of God. It isn’t fair that you have to miss out on God’s Peace and Joy, when they’re already all yours. It is in your hands to change the game. You change the game by changing your thoughts and beliefs.
Flood your mind with these thoughts from the story of the man that lived among the tombs
The demons in the man broke shackles and handcuffs and wrenched chains apart.
We can never compare the power of the legion to that of the Holy Spirit. But if we try to create a picture that isn’t even anything close, then we’ll say the power of the legion is like a grain of sand in an ocean, and the power of the Holy Spirit is all the sands in all the oceans in the world. But this description isn’t sufficient enough to even capture how greater the power of the Holy Spirit is.
If the power of this legion can break chains and shackles into pieces…how much more can the same power that raised Jesus from the grave do for and in you? The “how much more” is beyond anything you can ever dare to fathom. Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.”
No one could restrain the demon possessed man.
Nobody was powerful and “full of strength enough” to bring the possessed man under control. I want to believe that strong, vibrant and healthy men came together to try and subdue this man, but failed. If demons are that strong, can you take a moment to imagine what the Holy Spirit can do in and through you, if you let Him. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think-infinitely beyond our highest prayer, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams.”
The man had physical evidences to prove that demons were living in him.
It couldn’t hide. Everybody could see it. The man shrieked, screamed, bruised and cut himself with stones. The demons had all of him. The demons were very visible in his life. The Holy Spirit wants that for you. The Holy Spirit wants everyone and everything in your world to see His signs and prove of ownership in your life. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit filled the lives of the Apostles and the early church. From that moment until their last days on earth, the power of the Holy Ghost was very visible in their lives.
The demons separated the man from others.
The man couldn’t live where every other person lived. He lived where the demons wanted him to live…among the tombs. Are you where God wants you to be? Are you separated from every other person and living in the uniqueness that is specially designed for you by God. You’re called to live a separated life. You can’t live a separated life without the help of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit can’t help you if you don’t yield to Him. As a Christian, in the spiritual realms, you’re already separated from the world. 1 Peter 2:9, says we’re a “Chosen race” a “royal priesthood” “a dedicated nation” and “special people.” In Matthew 5:13-14, we’re called the “Light of the world” and the “Salt of the Earth.” But, are these spiritual realities your physical experiences? If no, then you have to be uncomfortable.
Now it gets interesting in this story. The demons in the man saw Jesus and, immediately, ran towards Jesus, bend the knee, and paid homage to Jesus.
This Jesus lives in you. Demons: addictions, anger, lack, sickness, unforgiveness, etc. shouldn’t dare you! Demons should fear you! In Ephesians 1:20-21, we see that Jesus is above “…all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named-above every title that can be conferred- not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.” In Ephesians 2:6 we see that God raised us up together with Jesus and made us sit down together with Him in the Heavenly spheres. The devil and all his forces joined together are beneath you. Rebuke them…they’ll flee.
The demons asked Jesus for a favour. Yes, demons asked Jesus for a favour. And guess what? Jesus granted them the favour. Yes, Jesus granted them the exact favour they asked for.
They asked Jesus to send them to the hogs, and Jesus gave them the permission to go to the hogs. Now, you’re a child of God, and 1 John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us- whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.” God is ever faithful to grant your requests that are according to His will. Go, boldly, before Him and ask in the name of Jesus. Then watch God wow you.
Finally, the only miracle Jesus performed in that region was drive the demons away from the man. The only message He preached was what He told the “free-from-demons-man” to do when He was about leaving the region.
More than you’ll ever want God in your life, He wants you. We can never comprehend how much God loves us. He can show up, big time, in a place…just because of you. Like we see in Luke 15:4, He leaves “the ninety-nine…and go after the one that is lost, until He finds it…” You’re very valuable to God…never forget that.
Where ever you are in your walk with God…there’s SO MUCH MORE. Refuse to settle.
My prayer for you and me:
May we never be comfortable with the ordinary and may our lives, daily , exude the supernatural power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Do get in the gym, and
Stay Spiritually Fit.
