Supernatural Commission
“Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness... Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, ‘...As you go, make this proclamation: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.’” (Matthew 10:1, 7-8)
I’d like to name the elephant in the room: This is our commission. I know it’s uncomfortable to talk about this, but we need to talk about this. We, as his followers, are meant to operate in the earth-shaking, supernatural power of Jesus Christ. Miracles, signs, and wonders included. [1] When it comes to evangelization, I know it’s a lot more comfortable to talk strategies and programs and passively witnessing the gospel by living a virtuous lifestyle, but these are the words of Jesus to us. If we’re willing to embrace Jesus’ other words to his disciples, we must embrace these as well.
There is a new standard that has been set for us because of what Jesus’ resurrection makes possible. When we hear that phrase, “new standard,” we tend to associate it with stricter rules to follow, but I don’t mean it in that way. I mean that our expectations need to shift, both in what we aim for in our own lives and what we seek to offer those around us.
What Jesus did while he walked the earth and what he commissioned us to do upon his departure is a supernatural displacement of darkness with light, of evil with good — of a lesser kingdom with a greater kingdom. It is radical and it is measurable. It looks like healed bodies, like minds freed from torment and affliction, like reconciled relationships. It looks like Isaiah 61, it looks like the book of Acts. It looks like the Garden of Eden with an upgrade. It looks like the restoration of all things and the merging of heaven and earth. This isn’t some fabricated, overly-optimistic pipe dream. This was the bar set by Jesus himself, which he extended to us when he instructed us to pray “on earth as it is in heaven.” As his commissioned followers, that is our target. If it’s not part of heaven, it doesn’t belong here. This matters, because we need to know what we’re aiming and fighting for. And we need to acknowledge that it cannot be done apart from the supernatural power of God.
“For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20)
Here is my unpopular opinion: If the gospel we’re currently living does not require God to show up, then we’re living a watered-down gospel.
If the things we’re doing and the fruit we’re bearing can be achieved apart from any supernatural backing or contribution from the Lord, we are missing something. The bar is too low. Now, in saying this, I am not in any way trying to diminish the importance of humanitarian efforts and social justice undertakings — these things are valuable and necessary in the pursuit of God’s Kingdom. But if we, the Church, make these our highest aims, we are no different from man-made institutions. Any community organization, club, or government program is capable of doing good works. Grace is not needed for that. But we as believers have received access — through a VERY high price that was paid — to the supernatural power of the Almighty God. We are tapped into something that goes beyond the restrictions of this natural world. What we bring to the table ought to look different than that which comes from limited human strength. It ought to look extravagant, other-worldly, impossible.
When we speak, our words are meant to shift realities. When we lay hands, the sick are meant to heal. When we pray, demonic influence is meant to lift. When we give, our offering is meant to multiply. When we walk, God’s presence is meant to manifest through us and transform all that is within our radius.
We are commissioned to do the impossible. Jesus expects us to do the impossible. And he has set us up for success in doing it — he gave his disciples authority over every principality [2] and the power of his spirit [3] to do what we otherwise could not do. He has positioned us for victory.
We are living in a day that necessitates the might and magnitude of God’s touch. There are impossibilities that need to yield, and for this to happen, we must learn how to walk in the supernatural power available to us through the Holy Spirit. In a world that is broken and hurting, we are the ones commissioned and equipped to do something about it. We are the powerful ones.
“Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons [and daughters] of God… in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage.” (Romans 8:19-21)
All of creation is groaning for us to finally step into our full identity, because the world desperately needs what we carry — it needs the power of Jesus. And we, his ambassadors, are the means by which it gets released on the earth.
1. Among many: Mark 16:17, Acts 2:43, Acts 5:12, Acts 6:8, Acts 15:12, Romans 15:19, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4.
2. Cf. Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1, Luke 10:17-19.
3. Cf. Acts 1:8.