Caution: This is tough read!

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

A few prominent church leaders were asked the following question in this short video clip:  “What is the single most important need in the American Church?” After the third pastor said discipleship, I was hoping that the last one will say something different.

Here is what I think and I’ll tell you why.

We are generally skeptical to anything supernatural. We’re encapsulated in a worldview that is materialistic. In other words, if I can’t feel it, touch it or wrap my brain around it, than I don’t want to come anywhere close to it. We usually write it off and condemn. Even some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, have a difficult time accepting what the bible teaches about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Healing, prophecy etc…

God is Supernatural. Everything He does is supernatural:

The creation

The New Birth of Salvation

Regeneration

Everything God does is supernatural. So it’s not very strange to me that He wants to move supernaturally in our lives and in our Churches. We shouldn’t think it strange that God can and certainly does heal sick bodies and even raises the dead. In order to experience the supernatural in our lives and in our churches we must embrace the power of the Word of God as infused and empowered by His Holy Spirit.

I understand that a lot of abuse happens when it comes to the supernatural. We have seen doctrinal and emotional abuses among those who are most comfortable with the supernatural moves of God. The sin of greed, lust, unhealthy sense of ambition, hunger for power, and status seems to drive most into the realm of weirdness, faking a move that is not of God. We must sound the alarm, and pray with persistence that this evil spell lifts from God’s church so that the authentic and real moves of God can sweep through our churches.

The single most important need of the church in America is understanding, discerning and experiencing the supernatural power of God. We should make room for him and involved Him in our church life and every day affairs. He still works miracles.

Sometimes people think we are saying, let’s set aside our ability to think, let’s set aside our intelligence, let’s set aside our theology, let’s set aside the word of God, let’s set aside training leaders and making disciples – just rely on the Holy Spirit. It is not against the Holy Spirit to do a good marketing campaign or sent our young people to Bible School. Not at all! What we are saying is never leave Him out, never forget that He is more that able to help us. Too often we simply act like He is not even in the room.

In places like Africa, the debate of whether there is a God or not does not exist. It is not a daily conversation. People on the continent have a supernatural worldview.  Most of them may not serve the true Almighty God, or even believe in Jesus, but from morning till night – from life to death, life is lived with an understanding of the supernatural.

For example, when a child is born, a ceremony is held and he entrusted to some ‘god.’ When a person dies a ceremony is held and he is given back to the gods for safe keeping. I caution you though, never dismiss these things to merely superstition. Here is why: Everything you call superstition is a manipulation by Satan and his demon spirits and these my friend are real.

Here is how I know that there is a God in heaven who still works miracles today:

• The powerful name of Jesus… at the mention of that name demons tremble… “every knee bow”
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ… when preached it makes men “wise unto salvation…”
• The Spirit of the Living God… comes with power to “cut to the heart…” bringing conviction and new birth.

Pastors, leaders, no matter how well versed we are, no matte how intellectually sound we are – we still need the weight of His glory resting on us. Don’t let your worldview encapsulate you to the point you miss the supernatural worldview that God longs to infuse into your church and home. Remember that our western and materialistic worldview refuses everything supernatural. But we are not bound by that worldview anymore since we all have received a supernatural worldview from God.

Understanding and experiencing the supernatural is the most pressing need in the American church. It has always been and will always be. Somehow with His supernatural wisdom, we will find a remedy to church drop-outs, church doors closing, church compromise to sin, and spiritual death. Let’s make room for Him

If you had asked the very same question to a group of African pastors and they said, “we need more of the supernatural.” I’m going to say “no you don’t, you have a lot of that.” Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that there is no room for more, but what the African church really needs is bible school teachers, more solid pastoral training, a discipleship program that is effective, reaching the countless millions who are without pastors and teaches. That is the greatest need of the church in Africa, not in America. We have those in abundance.

America it is your time to experience the supernatural. It is time to call the church back to prayer, holiness, and dependence on God. It is your time to get with the move of the supernatural. People are hungry, broken, messed up and looking for something more. I see the Church every day, wasting precious time, trying to entertain, while people stay broken, empty and desperate. People need something more than a “three-point sermon and a poem.” They need something more than the duplicate. Why do we settle for the duplicate when we can have the real deal?

The church has always thrived on prayer, holy living, fasting, discipleship and good old fashion signs and wonder. That is what we call the kingdom of God!

Blessed is the one who is not offended by the supernatural.

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”