Does your life lack the fingerprints of the miraculous? Do you believe in God but don't see much happen?
Well, you're not alone. There is a battle raging to keep the supernatural lifestyle quenched. Have you felt it, heard it, seen it? I certainly have.
The Battle Against Spiritual Powers
Ephesians 6:12 unveils to us the battle against "spiritual powers." That sounds pretty mystical and elusive. But very practically, these battles with spiritual powers often come as a war over thoughts. When we embrace wrong ideas, they become anchored in our minds like fortresses or strongholds. If enough people believe these lies, then they become generational culture shapers.
What do we do? Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we have the divine power to take those thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ, which basically means it's our responsibility to make our thinking and behavior conform to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. God has given you grace and equipped you to win this battle.
The Lie of Cessationism
Recently, I've preached a few messages on overcoming personal cessationism. Cessationism is one of the lies that has infected modern culture. It's the idea that supernatural miracles and God encounters don't happen today. The real danger to the supernatural is not just in a conscious agreement with cessationism but in the agreements we may unknowingly make.
Thinking That Must Be Taken Captive to Win the Supernatural War
Here are three subtle ways of thinking that start you down the road toward a stronghold of unbelief:
1. You think something is possible, not probable. Most people believe miraculous or unexplainable things can happen but that they just don't happen very often. Many churches and Christians believe in miracles, encounters, and the supernatural, but it isn't a real and active part of their daily life or church structure. (Photo via Max Pixel)
How do we combat this lie? Faith. Faith is not just our belief system; it is the code of beliefs we choose to live and die by. It's what we are willing to take action on and responsibility for.
Personal cessationism creeps in when we quit taking risks and fail to be intentional about demonstrating our faith. That's why Paul wrote to Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV). We win the battle for the supernatural when we quit waiting to be stirred and intentionally stir up gifts with our faith.
2. You value education over experience. I'm from a family line of teachers. I have a huge value for study and education. But God calls us to have a living and active relationship with truth (Hebrews 4:12; John 8:31–32).
Biblical truth is an invitation to encounter. Scripture tells us that "'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV). As Christians, we can get all puffed up by what we think we know about God. But if we don't act on our beliefs, then they never find their intended expression in love.
Love requires positive action toward another human. The power of the Holy Spirit is attracted to faith and love. We win the war for the supernatural when we stir our beliefs into actionable demonstrations of faith and love. (Photo via Unsplash)
3. You value organization without leading. Organization is a great thing. Many believe it is even connected to a spiritual gift. There isn't a problem with organization unless it squeezes the life and breath out of God's leading. We can all be guilty of "having a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). Some churches are so zealous that "everything be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40), they never get around to doing the "everything."
God has given the Church a "go and do" commission. We can't wait around for the supernatural to happen to us. To win the supernatural war, we must actively pursue greater gifts and power that express the love of God effectively.
Return to Childlike Faith
In addition to taking captive the lies that dull belief, there are other battles for the supernatural lifestyle. Sometimes it's the busyness of life that chokes out spiritual fruit. Personal pain or disappointment can often stall our active faith. We can also dull our spiritual edge of faith and love when God doesn't show up the way we expect Him to. If you don't adjust your thinking and deal honestly with your disappointment, then you paralyze future risks of faith.
It's good to be honest about these things. Give them to God. Talk to Him about them. Repent of wrong ideas and expectations, and return to the childlike simplicity of faith expressing itself through love.
I have a friend who says, "We owe the world an encounter with God." It's true. Culture is being shaped by what we believe and demonstrate. There is a supernatural war attempting to limit the presence and power of God shining through Believers. Let's fight to win.
Whatever you do, don't miss another ELIJAH LIST email! Subscribe here.
Dan McCollam
The Prophetic Company Global
Email:Â prophetictrainer@gmail.com
Website:Â www.propheticcompany.com
Dan McCollam travels internationally as a prophetic speaker and trainer. One of his great passions is to create prophetic cultures where everyone can prophesy, activate their spiritual gifts, mobilize their prophetic words, and discover their unique purpose in life. Dan is co-founder of the Bethel School of the Prophets in Redding, California and The Prophetic Company Global group of activation-based trainers. He has authored over twenty-five books, manuals, and resources on supernatural life, prophetic gifts, and worship.
To receive more words like this in YOUR inbox, subscribe FREE to the Elijah List here.
Thank you for making the always-free "ElijahStreams" possible. To partner with us, click here.
Your donations truly help us keep these emails free for you.
To find us on Facebook, click here
