Have We Lost the Supernatural in Our Proclamation?
Until recently I was leader of a street church in downtown Dallas among the homeless. As the Lord moved me out of that setting, I began to reflect on what we had done wrong and what we had done right.
God was gracious and there was fruit. We baptized new believers. Some ended up getting jobs and got off the streets.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t any real reproducing fruit in it. They weren’t reaching out to people and as a result they weren’t making disciples.
I believe I’m responsible for that. When I started going downtown, I used an approach called servant evangelism to reach out to people. It’s an approach I enjoy. It’s easy and relatively non-threatening.
We would take socks, hot hand (hand warmers), bottled water, winter caps, jackets, and such downtown (depending on the season) to give to people who had need.
Our guys watched this form of evangelism. They actually joined us because of this form of evangelism. The problem is that I modeled a form of evangelism they didn’t believe they could reproduce. They were homeless, without jobs and for the most part without money. Therefore they couldn’t buy things to use to serve people.
So, I’ve been looking at scripture a great deal more. I’m reminded of the story in Acts 3:
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
If scripture shows us how Jesus lived and modeled the Kingdom and then how it impacted the apostles and disciples, have we missed something in our proclamation and discipleship. Is healing and casting out of demons still supposed to be part of the process?
Here are some scriptures on healing and casting out demons. Some are duplicate stories in various Gospels. The list is not exhaustive either.
Jesus Healed
Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:14, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 9:20, Matthew 9:27, Matthew 12:15, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 15:30, Matthew 17:14, Matthew 19:2, Matthew 12:14, Mark 1:29, Mark 1:32, Mark 3:10, Mark 5:29, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:13, Mark 8:22, Mark 9:14, Luke 4:38, Luke 4:40, Luke 5:15, Luke 6:17, Luke 7:7, Luke 8:43, Luke 9:11, Luke 13:14, Luke 14;1, Luke 17:15, Luke 22:51, John 4:46, John 5:1, John 5:13, John 9:6
The twelve Healed
Luke 9:6
The seventy healed
Luke 10:9
Apostles Healed
Acts 3:1, Acts 5:16, Acts 8:7, Acts 9:32, Acts 14;9, Acts 28:8
Regular disciples healed
Acts 8:7, Acts 9:17
Jesus Cast out Demons
Matthew 8:28, Matthew 12:22, Mark 1:34, Mark 5:1, Mark 6:13, Luke 6:18, Luke 8:2, Luke 8:36
Apostles Cast out Demons
Acts 8:7
Regular Disciples casting out Demons
Mark 9:38, Luke 10:17, Acts 8:7
Spoken of for all followers by Jesus
Mark 16:17-18
Is this still part of the proclamation and demonstration of the Kingdom of God?
If it is still part of the proclamation and demonstration of the Kingdom of God, why aren’t we seeing it more? Do we still have sick people? Is it because we have more Doctors? Is it lack of faith? What about casting out demons? If the first century Jews had demons, what about 21st century gentiles? Does God still do this?
God was gracious and there was fruit. We baptized new believers. Some ended up getting jobs and got off the streets.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t any real reproducing fruit in it. They weren’t reaching out to people and as a result they weren’t making disciples.
I believe I’m responsible for that. When I started going downtown, I used an approach called servant evangelism to reach out to people. It’s an approach I enjoy. It’s easy and relatively non-threatening.
We would take socks, hot hand (hand warmers), bottled water, winter caps, jackets, and such downtown (depending on the season) to give to people who had need.
Our guys watched this form of evangelism. They actually joined us because of this form of evangelism. The problem is that I modeled a form of evangelism they didn’t believe they could reproduce. They were homeless, without jobs and for the most part without money. Therefore they couldn’t buy things to use to serve people.
So, I’ve been looking at scripture a great deal more. I’m reminded of the story in Acts 3:
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
If scripture shows us how Jesus lived and modeled the Kingdom and then how it impacted the apostles and disciples, have we missed something in our proclamation and discipleship. Is healing and casting out of demons still supposed to be part of the process?
Here are some scriptures on healing and casting out demons. Some are duplicate stories in various Gospels. The list is not exhaustive either.
Jesus Healed
Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:14, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 9:20, Matthew 9:27, Matthew 12:15, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 15:30, Matthew 17:14, Matthew 19:2, Matthew 12:14, Mark 1:29, Mark 1:32, Mark 3:10, Mark 5:29, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:13, Mark 8:22, Mark 9:14, Luke 4:38, Luke 4:40, Luke 5:15, Luke 6:17, Luke 7:7, Luke 8:43, Luke 9:11, Luke 13:14, Luke 14;1, Luke 17:15, Luke 22:51, John 4:46, John 5:1, John 5:13, John 9:6
The twelve Healed
Luke 9:6
The seventy healed
Luke 10:9
Apostles Healed
Acts 3:1, Acts 5:16, Acts 8:7, Acts 9:32, Acts 14;9, Acts 28:8
Regular disciples healed
Acts 8:7, Acts 9:17
Jesus Cast out Demons
Matthew 8:28, Matthew 12:22, Mark 1:34, Mark 5:1, Mark 6:13, Luke 6:18, Luke 8:2, Luke 8:36
Apostles Cast out Demons
Acts 8:7
Regular Disciples casting out Demons
Mark 9:38, Luke 10:17, Acts 8:7
Spoken of for all followers by Jesus
Mark 16:17-18
Is this still part of the proclamation and demonstration of the Kingdom of God?
If it is still part of the proclamation and demonstration of the Kingdom of God, why aren’t we seeing it more? Do we still have sick people? Is it because we have more Doctors? Is it lack of faith? What about casting out demons? If the first century Jews had demons, what about 21st century gentiles? Does God still do this?
Tags: cast, deliverance, demons, evangelism, healing, out, supernatural
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Suzette Lambert on -
Here is just my two cents worth. People are afraid of the supernatural. When we as a body decide to live the supernatural life we will change things. We will also become a foe to be reckoned with. Most people do not want to do the warfare that is involved in living the life immersed in the supernatural. If more people chose that life the warfare would be more easily balanced. People like to talk about this kind of life, and those who are seriously active in it live in communities where they are encouraged by one another to do this - such as at Bill Johnsons church in Redding, CA.
Sadly, we are addicted to our own comfort. To go out and ask a stranger if you can pray for them takes a lot of guts. I have heard people talk about those who exhibit this kind of love spoken of in very duragatory terms which is sad because Jesus encouraged us to do this.
Anyway, I believe Father is calling His body back to touching people in this way. It's not about bringing them to Christ at that moment as much as it is about creating relationship with them so He will bring them in. I would gather the man on the steps of the temple met with them in homes after that. Most likely many of the early believers were those Jesus healed. Isn't that a fun idea!
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Permalink Reply by Kim Bartlett on -
Can I ask you a question? Do you believe God heals today? If you want to see a demonstration of His power (as opposed to wise words), will depend upon what your answer is. For the most part, I believe, it is a lack of faith, in answer to your questions. Even the disciples couldn't cast a demon out and Jesus said to them "unbelieving and perverse". Wow. It is also evident that we can move in faith and doubt at the same time. Jesus said "if you believe and doubt not". Which means that we can believe and also doubt.
God is taking me on a journey to absolutely know His Word, to absolutely believe His Word and then to allow His Word to rise above all of mine and others circumstances.
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Permalink Reply by andrew zoppelt on -
If we are honest, the body of Christ in the NT didn't know what it was not to have power... including healing. It was one of the foundations that their faith was built on according to Paul.
We hear of miracles taking place in a lot of the 3rd world nations, in the U.S. we see more deaths than healing...is that a wake up call for us?
Andy
www.TheRealChurch.com
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Permalink Reply by John Lunt on -
Some great discussion here and it appears most everyone is on the same page (or at least the same chapter :-).
I've prayed for healing and seen God move miraculously. I've been involved in some deliverance with folks as well. But it has mostly been among believers. I haven't actually moved in this way yet in an evangelism thrust.
Do any of you have experience in that area?
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Kopp on -
Most definately. God hasn't changed and neither has the human condition. The problem in the church today is that no one believes that the "supernatural" should be natural for a disciple of Christ. The pentecostals claim to believe and some have churches that are living kingdom lives. In your examples time after time when something "supernatural" occurred ...."their numbers were added to daily..." It is that old addage give a man a fish and feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Give someone a coat and they'll be warm for a season. Teach them to enter the kingdom and their need will be met for eternity. "All things are possible to those who believe" "Signs will follow those who believe" Mark 16.17; Matthew 17.20. the modern American church is filled with unbelief and that renders us powerless. House churches produced disciples who believed in the power of the Holy Spirit and lived in power (all three greek words). Believe what the Word of God says and live it.
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Permalink Reply by Don Davis on -
I heard it said this way; "Signs and wonders are given to confirm the Word of God, if there are no signs and wonders then the problem may be that there is no Word of God."
We need to check what we are communicating and determine if it is what God wants us to say, and if it is clearly the gospel of the Kingdom.
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Permalink Reply by Suzette Lambert on
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I have gone out and done this. I have been in malls, Costco, fair grounds, Starbucks and given people word. I have seen healing taken place amongst the unsaved and it was amazing. Did I bring them to Jesus that day, no, however I bet they are looking. Yes Kim, we do talk. We talk alot about this yet we do very little. The thing is, I love this stuff, a lot. And I receive a lot of flack from others - even people close to me - for doing it.
I have also experienced people telling me no, they don't want prayer - even Christians. The last time I had this experience I was given a word of knowledge about an ailment a woman had in Costco. She said she had people praying for her, no thank you, I could not and that was weird that I knew.
I have had lots of experience with this, I also wonder if my words are wrong - a thousand things - however Father said 2 nights ago in a dream that it was going to come around again for me - and that it would be a group effort, which sounds wonderful because I have been alone doing this for a long time.
What I am saying is when we follow Jesus, sometimes He asks us to do stuff and then those around stand in judgement, but mostly it becomes a dying process for those of us who do it. One must die daily and be okay in this. For me it is not easy, maybe it is for others. All I know is to do the stuff.
I have also been to Brazil and laid hands on people and saw one after another person healed. It was sooo cool, I could hardly believe it. I have often wondered why Father has not showed up like that here in the US. I look forward to that day. The prophetic have been talking about it for quite some time. I believe it is on the way.
I'm done beating myself up for who I am and what I do or don't do - I have found others to do that quite well for me. I just desire Jesus, to show His love and move past all this we are not enough stuff and move into greater relationship with Him who has made us more than enough. It is from that place of being that I will do the greater works He has called me to do.
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Permalink Reply by Carole Steinberg on -
God has really been dealing with me lately about the healing thing. I don't have any problem sharing my faith or praying with people or calling people out about their false religions, but recently the Lord has begun to tell me about this neglected area, so I guess this was another reminder. God still heals, he still shows signs and wonders. Thanks for the post.
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Permalink Reply by Johnnie on -
I have problems sometimes when people say "Maybe it's not God's will to heal this person". I have not found anyone in the bible that Jesus didn't heal if the person asked ! Never read anywhere that it is not God's will to heal.
Maybe some have seen these billboards http://www.patsysmiracle.com/
I have become friends with Patsy and her husband. What most do not know is her husband was posting the billboards BEFORE Patsy was healed.
A couple of things I have pondered lately, Paul told Tomothy to take a little wine for his belly. Why would he tell Timothy that ? Couldn't Paul have healed Timothy if there was an affliction caused by a disease ? The verse is even out of place seemingly, so I wonder if maybe it was affliction caused by stress ?
The other thing is the Sword of the Spirit. I was grounded with everyone shaking their bible as their sword. Being enlightened by Frank's book on the new testament church, the group of people that were given that phrase didn't have a bible ! My thought is the Spirit itself, the spoken Word, being our Sword, our offense when He directs us to do or say something. Just a thought. Bless Ya'
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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on -
I think you're on to something here, Don... I also believe that what we're preaching, the old "God's mad, you're bad, try harder" message is nothing like the gospel of the Kingdom.
In fact, I'm beginning to see that most of us have no fathomable idea of what the Kingdom is, how it's at hand, what's possible, and what Jesus has for us, all of us, now.
It's rather blowing my mind, quite frankly...!
Shalom, Dena
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers."
"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West
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Permalink Reply by Don Davis on
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That may be true to some degree when speaking of cultures and peoples already reached with the gospel. It certainly has been for me. But when we are speaking to people who have never heard of Jesus (there are over 6,000 people groups who have never heard) as well as individuals who have no confidence regarding what they have heard or they have heard a religion rather than the gospel of the Kingdom, the Lord will confirm his Word to them through signs and wonders. When we look at Jesus' command to go, he let's us know that signs will follow those who believe (healing, casting out demons etc.) as they go to where and to whom the gospel has never been heard.
We you enter the village of a people who have never heard the gospel, seen a church or a Christian for than matter, it is quite different. What transpired in the 1st century, in another part of the world (the middle east), has no real relevance to them historically. That is until they believe in what Jesus did, and they become connected to the historical events of the Bible. Until then they may need to have what is being ministered to them confirmed by the power of the Holy Spirit through signs and wonders.
I know this subject has brought division to the body of Christ over the years and this is not my intention, I would be glad to discuss these differences privately rather than detract from John's initial question. God Bless!
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