From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? ~ Mark 6:2b.
Introduction
As we think about the life of Jesus Christ, we stand all amazed in every way! For example, we can’t mistake the uniqueness of the circumstances surrounding His coming to earth — His conception and His birth. All the works He did, and is still doing, both for us and through us, are simply wrapped up in absolute wonders.
Indeed, Jesus Christ performed wonders without number! He defeated evil forces everywhere He went. He made the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the infirm to stand (Mark 1:21-27; 7:31-37; Luke 9:37-43). He fed multitudes of people with supernatural meals. He also walked upon the sea, raised the dead, cleansed lepers, etcetera.
He once called forth an incredible draught of fishes at the same location and time where great toils had produced none (Luke 5:9). Peter was a veteran fisherman, but he toiled all night and caught nothing until Jesus intervened. At His Word, Peter cast his net again, and he caught a boat-sinking and net-breaking multitude of fishes!
We are amazed at His life, His baptism and His supernatural operations. At only twelve years of age, He was already about His Father’s business, discussing very intelligently with the elders in the temple (Luke 2:49).
In His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ spoke with an unusual authority (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Luke 4:32). He also dazed the whole world with His incredible wisdom and mighty acts, to the extent that His generation asked: “Is this not the Carpenter” (Mark 6:1-3). They missed it by a very wide margin. Jesus Christ is the One in whom “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9-10).
Meanwhile, as incredible as this may sound, the truth is that the believers were recreated in Christ Jesus to live in the same realm of wonders as Jesus did. Everything Jesus did we're supposed to do, and in whatever way He manifested we're meant to manifest, “because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
The day we became born-again, we were born into a family of wonders. No matter your stature, present position or social status, the moment you're born-again you become a walking wonder. And, irrespective of where you were born or live, you’re no longer a wanderer but a wonder on earth (Psalm 71:7).
The Bible uses the word “sons” in John 1:12, not “sons and daughters”, intentionally. No variant of religious discrimination or misogyny, such as was characterized under the Old Testament, is any longer tenable under this new dispensation of grace. Women are now co-inheritors of God's riches and divine nature.
The total truth is, as children of the Most High God, we’re spirit beings, not just lumps of flesh (Hebrews 12:9). God dwells in you (Colossians 1:27). You're a God-carrier, and therefore, the Headquarters of the Universe is inside you!
This is an incredibly dizzying truth indeed. No wonder Jesus Christ said the believers carry a staggering capacity for wonders, in the class of the works He did and even greater works (John 14:12-14).
How Jesus Did It & How We Too Can Live In Wonders Today!
We may ask, how did Jesus live, walk and operate so easily in the realm of wonders? He never failed; no, not once.
On one occasion, the tax collectors thought to embarrass Him by demanding tribute from Him. At His word, the mouth of a fish became a money dispenser! But how did Jesus operate in such a superlative status? He simply operated in the power of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:1-3; Luke 4:14, 18-21; Acts 10:38)!
The essential question of destiny at this juncture is: how can we also live in the same supernatural realm as Jesus did? By simply following in the steps of Jesus, living and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit as He did in all our daily operations.
The early Church practically operated in the realm of wonders at the instance of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-7). The Apostles acted, and the people in their generation marveled because they operated the way Jesus did. Today, if we also dare to live our everyday lives in the realm of the Holy Spirit, operating in the realm of the supernatural will be a given.
Creating The Enabling Environment for Wonders
In order to walk in wonders, we must devote quality time to dwelling in God's presence. Jesus Christ often retreated into lonely places to be in the presence of the Father, to commune with Him as well as to renew His strength. The early disciples also spent quality time with Jesus Christ before their practical manifestations in the power of God (Acts 4:13).
Unfortunately Christianity has become so modernized by our modern-day errors to the detriment of the realm of wonders. Our generation is rather far too noisy, too gregarious and too toxic to attract the glory of God's presence for any appreciable length of time.
No one ever thinks great thoughts in a noisy atmosphere. Excessive joke-cracking, laughter, mirth, talkativeness and noisiness bring much pollution to the soul. Those who talk too much cannot think or do so much, neither can they enjoy the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.
As such, no one that’s immoderately engrossed in the socio-political dimensions of social media — WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter etc — should hope to operate fully in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Most importantly, serious-minded Christians cannot afford to be given to impetuous cursing, bitterness, caustic and combative words for any reason and still expect to relish in the wonders of God’s presence.
I am most amazed at the moment when Jesus, after staggering under His load to the crest of Calvary, said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”(Luke 23:34). This is a higher order of amazement! How could He forgive His tormenters at that moment? With all that pain? With blood dripping from every pore? Still He was thinking of others?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also gave something of a last requirement for walks of wonder. He said all must “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
This is one of the most difficult things to do; yet, Jesus Christ did it. Through it all, He would not condemn those who persecuted Him. We also must strive to emulate this, if we ever hope to live in the realm of wonders.
Furthermore, to enjoy the realm of the supernatural, you need a regular devotion and an aloneness with Jesus. Being with Jesus, giving quality time to dwell in His presence will always enable you to reflect His glory and majesty, and generate amazement amidst God’s people, even today (Zechariah 10:1).
We must be focused, diligent and determined under God to give supernatural living all it takes: holiness, prayers, fasting, and a diligent pursuit of God’s glory. When we do, Jesus Christ, the Wonder of All Ages will also tip us forward to our era of wonders. Never forget: He’s living in you! Beloved, you will fulfill destiny, in Jesus Name! Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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