"Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound ... It's Superman!"
Have you noticed that kids & adults alike are fascinated by the idea of supernatural power? Superheroes abound throughout history from the Roman god Hercules to modern day characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.
We love the idea of possessing a super power; be it superhuman strength, the ability to fly, healing, x-ray vision or time travel. You name it.
We adore the idea of doing the impossible.
The irony is we limit the idea to stories of fantasy, overlooking the reality of a true supernatural power that does exist!
No, I’m not delusional and believe I have a “S” on my chest, but I am confident that I possess a strength that sets me apart and surpasses anything a comic book or ancient mythology can fashion.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:19-20: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”
So, the same power that brought Christ from the dead is the same power that is available to us- to those that believe in Christ. All that is required to receive this power is to accept Jesus as your Savior, to embrace his gift of salvation, own your sins & ask Him to be the leader in your life.
(No comic book incident required.)
The moment you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into your life permanently (Romans 8:9). Then your superpower will be in full force!
Jesus himself promised this power:
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” ~ John 15-17
This superpower is the Holy Spirit.
To appreciate just how great this power is you have to understand who the Holy Spirit is- He is God. He possesses the same divine attributes as a member of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Holy Spirit & God the Son.)
I know this is a strange concept. But, think of it like this- water can take on different forms: liquid, solid (ice) or evaporation (steam or condensation) regardless of the form, its molecular properties are the same- still H20- still water.
Just like water can be in three forms so can God.
Ok, this “super power” is the Holy Spirit who lives within the Christ follower. So, what?
When partnered with the Holy Spirit we have supernatural powers available to us because--
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent (everywhere).
The Holy Spirit is omnipotent (all-powerful).
The Holy Spirit is omniscient (all-knowing).
The Holy Spirit is God!
An excellent example of the Holy Spirit working with supernatural strength and courage can be found in the life of Private Desmond Doss as portrayed in the movie Hacksaw Ridge.
Doss (an enlisted medic who volunteered to join the Army as a conscientious objector and refused to carry a weapon) went into the bloodiest battle of World War II’s Pacific theater armed only with his Bible, faith and the Holy Spirit.
On October 12, 1945, atop a 400-foot cliff, with orders to retreat and facing heavy fire, Doss repeatedly ran alone into battle to save his fellow wounded soldiers, carrying them to the edge of the cliff and lowering them to safety.
What is so remarkable about this story, is that after each soldier he saved, Doss would pray out loud, “Lord, please help me get one more” before returning to save the next. By the end of the night, an exhausted Doss saved an estimated seventy-five (75) men!
Seventy-five (75) men that were carried and lowered down a 400-foot cliff in the heat of a horrific battle by a single man who survived unarmed and unharmed!
That’s better than any comic book story!
Friends, there is no doubt the courage, strength, and protection that Doss needed to accomplish such a heroic feat were provided through the power of the Holy Spirit working within him!
When we allow & trust the Holy Spirit to work in our lives (like Doss), we can count on the power of:
Help
Strength
Courage
Power
Leadership
Teaching
Coaching
Comfort
Conviction
Intercession
Self-control
Blessings
The more you seek Christ, the more you read your Bible and the more you pray, the greater the Holy Spirit will actively work in your life; providing you with real super powers!
I urge you to unleash the super power that is alive and available to you!
When you do, He will provide what you need to succeed!
Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who provides supernatural powers in this life. May we embrace Him and give our faith and trust to do the impossible. Help us to daily look to the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. For those that don’t know Christ and don’t have the Holy Spirit working on their behalf, may they seek you, find you and accept your free gift of salvation.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” ~ Ephesians 3:20