DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG | NAIMA LETT
SUPERNATURAL
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It surprises some that I believe in the supernatural.
I’m not talking about CW hits Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, and The Secret Circle. Or mega franchises Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Twilight. Or even Superman, Batman, and X-Men, though all of these deal with supernatural heroes. Anybody flying, flipping, and fighting without a breathing apparatus in outer space is classified as supernatural.
But I’m referring to my belief in the supernatural God and Creator of all things and the supernatural world that exists around us. Our God, by His very nature, is supernatural or “beyond natural” and “unexplainable by natural law”. He defies natural. He created natural.
Remember bodies of water parting, unexplainable plagues, all kinds of miracles and power over death? And that’s just the Old Testament. By the time Jesus enters the picture and brings the kingdom of God with Him, it’s an all out cosmic war.
We see one of the mini battles in our passage today.
Yesterday we read how Jesus is #MovingForward after His Homecoming-gone-bad, where He almost gets thrown off a cliff. Then, He moves on to teach in the synagogue in Capernaum. That’s where things get really interesting.
Today’s Meditation
Read below or click: LUKE 4:31-37
31 Then he (Jesus) went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
NO SURPRISE
Nobody in this passage is surprised by the supernatural or the demon-possessed man. Jesus is not surprised. The people in the synagogue are not surprised. The demon-possessed is not surprised. He sees Jesus “the Holy One of God”, knows exactly who Jesus is, and wants Him to go away.
Want to know how my mind works?
My very first thought when I read the passage was, “The demon possessed man is chillin’ in the church”. Why is he at home in the church/synagogue? Why is he cool? Why are the church folk comfortable?
Things get turned upside down when Jesus comes on the scene, but prior to Jesus showing up in the synagogue, seems like everybody’s cozy with this arrangement.
Anybody else see something wrong with this picture? Have you ever been in the presence of someone who has obviously given themselves over to the demonic? It ain’t pretty. I’m not talking about the spin we see in our films. I’m talking about actually standing in the same room with someone who is filled with hatred, violence and evil.
The first time I experienced it, all of my senses kicked in. Not just the hair on my neck, but the hair on my arms stood at attention. Not in fear. But in full awareness that the atmosphere in the room had shifted and this demonic force was making his presence known. The person was still human, but their facial features appeared trollish. I stood flat-footed on the truth of God’s word, which is the only thing I know that actually works in said situations. It was intense. So, I’m not sure why those in the Capernaum synagogue were content, unless this was the first day the demon-possessed man showed up.
What I am confident of is that the people of God need to pray for God’s presence, power and Word to be so pregnant in our houses of worship that the demonic have to flee, not chill.
THE SURPRISE
What actually surprises the church folk in Capernaum is that Jesus makes the impure spirit come out and leave the man unharmed. Verse 36 says ALL the people are AMAZED that Jesus commands the demons and they come out.
My question is, what has been happening before Jesus shows up? What have people done? Just suffered? Remained tortured?
Is it not the same today? How many people do we know who are suffering and tortured? How many do we know have given themselves over to roots of bitterness, unforgiveness and anger, thus opening a door to a demonic presence and stronghold in their lives? It’s real for them. It’s real for those of us who counsel. It’s very real for family members fighting to get their loved ones back from their madness. If this is not your world, then pray for those who are dealing with it. It’s not a lazy walk in the botanical gardens.
I haven’t “lost” it. I’m very much grounded in the Word of God and theology with years of study, seminary and hands-on ministry experience.
All I can say is that the people of God should not be surprised that Jesus has power over evil and restores people to their right minds. We should expect restoration, and indeed pray for it.
NO MORE SURPRISES
We just celebrated Easter Sunday and we are in the Easter season for the next 50 days leading to Pentecost. This entire period celebrates the supernatural event of Jesus rising from the dead, after being crucified, and existing on the earth in resurrected bodily form, before ascending back to heaven.
Nothing about our faith is “natural”.
I’m not saying that all Christ-followers will deal with heightened supernatural-type events on a daily basis, but I am saying that we should not be surprised in the power of our supernatural God to do such things.
Besides, correct me if I’m wrong, but that same supernatural power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is what we are counting on for Him to raise us from the dead, right? (1 Corinthians 15) If God does not have power “beyond the natural”, we’re in a whole lot of trouble. :=)
So, yes, I believe in the supernatural.
And honestly, I hope you do too,
Digging-Wonder-Woman’s-Lasso-of-Truth,
Naima