Supernatural: Good and Evil

Supernatural: Good and Evil
By Nathele Graham

Many Christians tend to see things with an “either or” mindset. Either something is good or it’s bad. The distinction between good and bad is usually dictated by a particular denomination. Too often denominational teachings aren’t as Biblical as they should be. God’s word is the authority and it hasn’t changed. Every Christian needs to look at all things through the lens of Scripture and act in a Biblical way. For instance, Scripture says not to judge. On the other hand it also says we are to discern. There’s a fine line between discernment and judgment, and God gave us Scripture to use as a guide for our own actions and to discern the actions of others. We cannot expect people who haven’t accepted Christ to act according to Scripture, and we cannot allow them to be members of a congregation. Unfortunately there’s a lot of un-Scriptural ways entering into many congregations because Christians are so afraid of judging that they forget to discern. Even people who claim to be Christians embrace sin and must turn away from it or leave the congregation. Satan is trying hard to destroy the Christian faith.

Jesus related a series of parables regarding the Kingdom of God and one warns of satanic forces entering congregations. “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:24-25. Jesus gives the interpretation of this parable. The One who sows the good seed is the Son of man (Jesus), the field is the world, the good seeds are the “children of the kingdom”, and the tares are the children of the wicked one (see Matthew 13:37-43). This “infiltration” by the enemy is growing as God’s truth is being ignored by Christians. As Christians sleep, Satan grows strong. We can’t control the tares of the world, but we need to control ourselves and what is allowed into our congregations. Only Scripture will help you discern the difference between good and evil so as not to allow the tares to take over. If a non-believer wants to become a part of a Christian fellowship, they must first accept Christ and turn from their wicked ways. The battle is real, but it’s a supernatural war we’re in.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines supernatural as “1) relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe. Especially of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil. 2) (a) departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature (b) attributed to an invisible agent (such as a ghost or spirit). Scripture tells us to stay away from certain things, such as drug use and witchcraft, because both allow demonic, supernatural forces to influence our lives. There are many other things which need to be avoided in order to serve the Lord. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lascivousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. This is a short list of satanic practices which are the tares infiltrating Christian congregations. If you look up these words in a good concordance you’ll see that many of these practices (such as homosexuality and other sexual sin) have a stronghold in Christian congregations. The word “witchcraft” is from the Greek word “pharmakeia” which is using or administering drugs, poisoning, and magical arts. Be very careful when taking drugs that alter your mind and behavior…prescription or non-prescription. When a person comes to Christ there must be an attitude change as well as a heart change. Jesus forgives all sin, but there can be no forgiveness without repentance.

We need to be extremely cautious about the supernatural. There’s both good and evil in the supernatural world. Many Christians are so afraid of embracing the evil supernatural that we forget that God is supernatural. There are good spirits of God and evil spirits of Satan. We need to discern the difference. Most Christians just group all supernatural activity together and don’t allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. By denying the supernatural power of God we allow evil to grow stronger. Do we really believe what we read in Scripture? God has done many supernatural things throughout history but do we believe it? For instance, during the Exodus from Egypt God showed His supernatural protection over and over to the Israelites, but they kept disbelieving. If the plagues weren’t enough to convince them that God was working supernaturally to benefit them, the parting of the Red Sea should have convinced them that Almighty God was helping them supernaturally. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” Exodus 14:15-16. Many people have tried to give a natural explanation for this, but there is none. This was a supernatural act of God. Not only did He part the sea so the Israelites could pass through, He didn’t force them to walk through a muddy, swampy bog. They walked on dry ground. The Israelites passed through safely, but when the Egyptian army entered they were all drown. That’s the supernatural hand of God at work. There are many more incidences just as miraculous as this. Water gushed from a rock, manna fell from heaven, a pillar of cloud led them by day and a pillar of fire by night, and so on. Instead of embracing the supernatural protection of God they kept yearning to return to the supernatural demonic evil found in Egypyt. Their disbelief stopped them from entering the Promised Land. God’s supernatural power is as real today as it was back then and we still deny His power.

Scripture reveals many, many supernatural events that God made happen, such as Balaam’s donkey speaking to him, Elijah and his showdown with the prophets of Baal, Daniel in the den of lions, and so many more that I can’t list them all. God’s supernatural powers are also clearly seen in the New Testament. Beginning with the Virgin Birth we see God’s power working through the Holy Spirit. Examples of the power of the Holy Spirit are seen when Jesus miraculously healed people and cast out demons, He walked on water, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost, the Apostles healed people, and so on. After His resurrection, Jesus supernaturally entered a locked room where His disciples were hiding. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19. Jesus, who had been crucified and buried, entered a locked room. That’s supernatural. If the disciples hadn’t accepted the fact that Jesus was supernaturally there with them, they never would have been filled with the Holy Spirit nor established the Christian faith. They did great things because they understood that they served a supernatural Saviour and weren’t afraid to allow Him to work through them. Many people today claim that the power given by the Holy Spirit stopped with the Apostles. That’s a lie which Satan has spread so that Christians will deny the power we have through Christ.

Make no mistake. Satan and his demons are real and a powerful supernatural force. Christians need to resist him and fight against the evil he spews. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. The entities mentioned here are evil satanic beings. Why don’t Christians believe God’s word? This fight, or wrestling, is with us every day, and if you’re not fighting against it then you might ask yourself “Which side am I on?” Everyday there are news stories about one evil manifestation or another. Have you heard of Slender Man? He’s supposedly just an internet story made up to scare people. This “story” prompted two young girls to stab a friend multiple times and leave her for dead in order to go to Slender Man. He’s a demonic force and has caused many crimes. Parents must be vigilant in what music their children listen to (so much is about demons), what movies they watch (so many have demonic storylines), what video games they play (yep, more demon infiltration), and what they look at on the internet (much content is demonic and aimed at children). Demon possession is real. Jesus cast out many demons but today medical “experts” just say it’s a mental disorder and dispense drugs to stop the bad behavior. Drugs open a portal in which demons can enter. Have you allowed your hyperactive child to take drugs to calm him? Ouija Boards are becoming popular, but they’re demonic and can lead to much evil. Christians must stand upon God’s word and eschew all forms of evil. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13. Spiritual weapons from God are required to fight the supernatural enemy.

Christians have protection. We have the Lord. The problem is we deny His power because we believe all supernatural is evil. Scripture encourages us to test spirits to see if they are of God. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. Someone may claim to be of God but in reality are working for Satan. Be cautious and pray. Many false teachings are entering our congregations and they are being accepted by wishy-washy Christians who deny God’s greater power. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14. Demonic evil can look very good if you don’t stay close to God and test the spirits by using prayer and Scripture.

Too often Christians divide life into categories – one category is what we do on Sunday and one category is what happens the rest of the week. We live with one foot in the world and that opens the way to being duped by satanic evil. How do we avoid supernatural evil? By closely following the Supernatural God of all creation. “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
[email protected]
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
[email protected]

All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.

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