Supernatural Christianity

Blind Faith

Ken

If faith can see an invisible God or can trust God to deliver in spite of invincible odds, then faith is blind to the natural world. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27 KJV). Faith is not the denial of what the natural eyes see, but it is the refusal to be limited by the natural, when God commands or calls us to act contrary to the natural. “And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus” (Matthew 14:29). “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2Kings 6:17). 

Before ignoring the danger signs placed by humans to prevent harm and death, of course, we had better consult God on the necessity of any action. We call it miraculous, when the natural is overruled by the supernatural. God is for the miraculous, but not if it is simply a shortcut from disciplined work. Miracles are to magnify God, not to remove the discipline of work and faith from the disciple. Let us not promote Blind Faith as acting contrary to what our natural eyes see, unless we have command or authorization from God. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Corinthians 5:7). 

Father, we desire to see Your glory. Teach us the discipline of a faith that worketh by love, so we can discern when You are commanding us to act contrary to the evidence of the natural. Preserve Your people from self-delusion. Take away the ammunition from the mockers, who do not know how to respond to the Elijahs. Raise up men and women of faith to inspire confidence in You. Awaken Your Church. Deliver and convert Israel. Support the Persecuted Christians of India, China, and North Korea, who view Christianity as subversive. Cause Your people to stand, thrive, and set the example for the rest of the world for faithfulness to Your name. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Meditate in Thy Precepts (Psalm 119:15)

Ken

“I will meditate [Hebrew, sîyach, ponder] in Thy precepts, and have respect [Hebrew, nâbat, focus upon] unto Thy ways [Hebrew, ôrach, behavior]” (Psalm 119:15 KJV). To ponder God’s Word means staying awake and thinking about His precepts. Our estimation of His utterances gives us a picture of God. We need to be careful about our own speech, since it gives others a measure of who we are. Though meditation can take place anywhere and at anytime, morning is a favored place because our mind has been rested, cleared of distractions, and reset to pursue the LORD. “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah” (4:4). To “have respect” (119:15) or focus on God’s behavior means to consider God’s ways or contemplate, Why did God do that? Modern psychoanalysis concentrates upon why we do something, but meditation preeminently focuses upon the why of God’s behavior. God demands implicit but not thoughtless obedience. Medication and drugs may mask and control our ability to clearly focus upon God, but must be overcome like anything else in our environment. “They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:19 NET). Father, give us understanding of Your behavior that we may imitate You. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Lazy Man Approach?

Ken

Work smarter not harder. Ever hear that said by a reproachful colleague at work? Wisdom is more economical with choices, unless the cheaper, quicker alternative is unethical. “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way [love]” (1Corinthians 12:31 KJV). Make no mistake, laziness is universally condemned by the LORD. “A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 19:24). The world may have no such aversion to sloth and may prefer it to the ‘stupidity’ of honest labor, if it gains the same money. Yet, the godly can be taught by even an ungodly, unethical colleague, when their lazy man approach accomplishes a task more efficiently. Love is “not self-serving… but rejoices in the truth” (1Corinthians 13:5, 6 NET). Just because our goal is the eternal does not mean we should be inefficient, but never sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate. Father, grant us the humility to be taught by the world, when their lazy approach is more efficient than our well meaning but less efficient attempt. However, cause our light to shine before the world at other times, when they notice we do not attempt to take advantage of them, if it is only self-seeking. Give them opportunity to seek the truth, or give Yourself evidence to condemn them in the Judgment. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Fulness of Time

Ken

A cup becomes full of water, and time flows like the Spirit. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4 KJV). Our 21st century mindset demands a digital time stamp. In our western mind, we become agitated, when we do not get what we want, when we want. Are we to conform to the Spirit, or are we expecting the Spirit to conform to us? Did we expect the Gift of the Spirit (Acts 6:38) to be another handy tool in our arsenal, or are we supposed to be made for our Master’s use? We will find peace, when we back down and are “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14 KJV). Then, we will quit trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. LORD, You are our Master. We are Your servant. Give us the humility and understanding to let You be God. Work through us that we may influence those around us. Make Your peace to be our peace. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen. 

Why Pray Return Suddenly?

Ken

Our Lord taught us to continually pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10 KJV). Jesus Christ suddenly returning to this planet is a theme of anticipation, moving forward, taking dominion, and building Christ’s kingdom, and not pulling back, losing ground, and dismantling Christ’s work on earth. All our projects, goals, problems, and aspirations will be concluded, when Jesus returns and we depart (1Thessalonians 4:17). “Surely I come quickly [Greek, tachu, suddenly]. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:2). All our prayers will be answered, e.g., healing, deliverance. What better pray request? Who wouldn’t want to pray, Lord Jesus, return suddenly? LORD, You are the focus for our building Your Kingdom on this earth, but we know Your kingdom is wherever You are. We desire You to return, ourselves to meet You in the air, then You to reign on this earth, again. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

You Don’t Have to Believe in a Rapture to be Raptured

Ken

If you don’t have to know about or believe in a Rapture to be raptured, then why talk about it? The Rapture is the part of the Second Coming of Christ, where we “meet the Lord in the air” (1Thessalonians 4:17 KJV), so we can return with Him to earth. If we “love His appearing” (2Timothy 4:8), then we are “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, [that] we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12). The Rapture is all about the hope of those who are living godly, for it is the godly who are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2:13). Likewise, only godly living will be “looking for and hasting [hastening, yes, hastening] unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2Peter 3:12). You can see that only a godly heart will love His appearing and will be raptured. LORD, work in us a godly heart that we might commune with You now, and that You might rapture us Home later. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 2)

Ken

Though the Rapture will be suddenly and instantaneous (Mark 13: 33, 35), the unbelieving world will notice the departure, just as they will inescapably notice the resurrection of the martyred Two Witnesses mere days before the end of the Tribulation Week. “3 And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (Revelation 11:3, 12). The unbelieving world will respond to the death of the Two Witnesses with glee; most likely, in the same way they responded previously to the Pre-Tribulational Rapture departure of the unwanted Christians. “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth” (11:10). When the Jews disappeared into the Holocaust of WW2, their neighbors knew of their removal. In our earth timeframe, seven years must pass, before Christ actually returns; but, in the heaven timeframe, everything precisely and necessarily can take place in the heavenlies, before all the Raptured and Resurrected Saints are returning with Christ (1Thessalonians 4:14, 17). Like the Second Coming Return of Christ with His Saints, the Two Witnesses will be visibly noticed by the world as they will be resurrected and ascend into Heaven. “11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” (Revelation 11:11-12). LORD, may we take encouragement from the resurrection and ascension of Your Two Witnesses that our return with You will be marked by the certainty of Israel’s Great Returning to You. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation [Israel] be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8).

Dealing With the Rapture (Part 1)

Ken

The Rapture is only one aspect of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which must take place prior to the New Heavens and New Earth, which was also promised to Israel and the Church. Everyone will have to deal with the miraculous, supernatural Rapture. Jesus will return, as the angels promised, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11 KJV). His Second Coming will happen for the entire world to witness. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV). His Second Coming requires a catching up of living saints to accompany the resurrected saints, who will then both accompany the returning Christ. “15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, to snatch out or away] together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:15-17). LORD, thank You for sharing future events with us. Though we know not when, return quickly, Lord Jesus, and deliver us. Amen. 

Punished for Our Great Grandparents’ Sin?

Ken

Great grandparents can live long enough to see the results of their sin upon their great grandchildren. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them [idols], nor serve them [false elohim]: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Exodus 20:5 KJV). Though a just God punishes us for our own sins and not our parents’ sins — “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father” (Ezekiel 18:20) — the evil example of the parents most likely will continue to the children. Generational curses like generational blessings are not easily lifted, for they are enforced by an Unseen Realm of demons and angels. Understanding of the Almighty must be elevated for the Rahabs and Ruths to be raised to the congregation of the righteous. “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). LORD, be merciful to us in learning about You. Teach us Your ways, and let not any evil way be named among us. Return quickly and deliver us. In Jesus’ name, amen and amen. 

Father of Lies

Ken

When we lie, we own the devil as our father and practice the same evil desires as Lucifer, when he coveted God’s glory. Lucifer murdered the Almighty in his heart, when he refused the truth that all glory belongs to the Most High. Denying the truth of our Creator’s worthiness of all glory is the foundation of all lies. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44 KJV). If simply not declaring all the facts about a circumstance is lying, then would a photograph where a house appears larger than it is, be lying? Intention is obviously the point. Do we see God as unworthy of His glory? Then we murder God in our heart. LORD, may we exalt You in our heart as worthy of the glory due You. May we not be those, who say, I know You, and keep not Your commandments, and be accounted a “liar, and the truth is not in [us]” (1John 2:4). Bless Yourself. Return quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.