Normal Christianity is Supernatural (Part 2) - Chris Kent

God has a vision and mission to fulfil. His mission is to see His Kingdom come to earth and to overthrow every evil work that is against His Kingdom.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. - 1 John 3:8

God’s mission is that ‘none will perish’. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Through scripture, you understand that God’s priorities are often different from ours. So we are faced with a conflict. Do we lay down our vision and priorities? Or do we try to fit God’s priorities into our list?

Jesus brings clarity to this conflict when He says to us So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. - Matthew 6:33

God’s heart is to bless us with the things that we desire. He longs to prosper us in every area of our lives. He wants us to be fruitful and that has always been His heart for His people; so that we would be a blessing to everyone around us. However, His vision and priorities have to come first. He wants His Kingdom to be established in every area of our lives - there is no sacred/secular divide when you are in Christ. It all becomes His.

One of the ways I have tried to practice this is by asking God on a regular basis ‘What are You doing and what are You saying?’

In an airport, coffee shop, pub…just wherever we are, God is speaking, His Kingdom is waiting to crash in and we are His sent ones. He is waiting for you to say, I will seek Your Kingdom first, and I will say YES.

Again just before Christmas I was asked to give a short gospel message at an open mic event which was hosted by two of our missional communities. It was an evening event at a coffee shop in the financial district of the city. I was nervous for about 2 weeks before the event. What was I going to say? How can I describe what Jesus has done in a few minutes in this unlikely setting? I wrote down a short talk and prayed. Two days before the event I asked God, as I sat at my computer in the Frontline offices, ‘What are You saying and what are You doing?’

I felt a vague idea appear in my mind. I could have easily dismissed it, but I have learned to listen. As I concentrated I felt God say “There will be a man there who has had a reoccurring injury where his right arm dislocates.”

I wrote it down in my phone notes. I didn’t keep thinking about it or try to understand it, because I know if I do this I will somehow talk myself out of this moment. If I overthink it, I will dismiss it because I have never heard of this issue before or because it sounds weird or awkward. I left it in my notes and committed to God that I would share it. It always occurs to me in these moments What if it’s not God?

I have decided not to even entertain that question anymore, because I know again this is one of the ways I will talk myself out of taking risk. I do of course weigh any words against scripture – is this encouraging, loving etc etc

The question What if this is not God? is just fear talking. If it is not God, what is the worst thing that can happen? I will probably feel a little daft and embarrassed. A more important question should be What if this is God?! What if this is a moment, in which the Kingdom is going to crash in? What if this is the day this person meets Jesus? I am driven by this question…even when I am full of my own fears and doubts.

I stood up and awkwardly delivered my short talk. I then said something like As a Christian I sometimes hear God speaking to me about people around me and I felt God say there was a guy here with a reoccurring injury where his right arm keeps dislocating.

I felt so self-conscious as I stepped away from the tiny stage. I was instantly filled with doubt and anxiety. I felt like I’d blown it and I was certain that this word definitely wasn’t from God but was just my own imagination.

A few moments later, I was tapped on the shoulder and was told the person the word was for is totally freaked out and is scared and cannot work out how I knew about his shoulder/arm. In fact, he was so scared and freaked out that he didn’t want to come and speak to me. So I gradually and probably not very subtly made my way over and sat on his table. After a bumbling introduction, he asked me how I knew about his injury. I told him, it was no magic trick or mind reading, but the God who created the universe knows him and knows every detail of his life. This God longs to be in relationship with him and for him to know His love. He was blown away. He had never heard that before. I then told him God is going to heal him if I can pray. This might sound like a crazy statement. You might wonder how did I know. The truth is I didn’t. Faith is spelled R.I.S.K. When we turn up the risk, it creates a space for God to crash in. I prayed twice and his arm was healed. He left knowing God’s love and I am sure feeling utterly perplexed!

My friends you are God’s beloved. He longs to use you. You don’t need some crazy experience at a conference before you are ready. You don’t need to be prayed for by an amazing man or women of God before you get the ‘anointing’.

The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you.
Believe me you are ready. Jesus said it is finished. His work is complete and we cannot add to it, but it is waiting for us to take hold of it by faith. He longs to partner with you.

So how do you start?
Start simply and start slowly.
Begin by spending time with God. Not with a list of prayers, but simply spend time with Him. He saved you for relationship. He longs to spend time with you and share His thoughts with you. Find a way to connect with God. Wait patiently for Him to come. You are one with Him by spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17), it’s not about pleading or begging or jumping up and down for His attention. His eyes are upon you. He is with you. When we take time, it allows us space to become more aware of His presence.

Commit yourself to prioritise His vision and His mission. Your Kingdom come and Your will be done! Ask Him often - What are You doing and what are You saying?
When you ask, commit to do what you hear Him speak.

Lastly, take risk. Risk is an essential ingredient of seeing the supernatural. Unless we step away and beyond what we can do in the natural, we will never step into the supernatural. A step of risk is what puts our faith into action. Let your mouth set you up for the supernatural. I often find my mouth setting me up. It’s brilliant and scary all at the same time.

When we take risk - when we believe - we open the door that allows God’s supernatural power to break into our circumstances. - The risk factor by Kevin Dedmon

We believe as a leadership team that God is calling us to see more of His Kingdom come. He longs to break out in the midst of us, at the bus stop and in the park, in your office building and doctor’s surgery.

Jesus we say YES. Your Kingdom come and Your will be done! Amen.

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