It really is amazing how the church has adapted to being a manmade and powerless version of the church Jesus is the head of all the while still believing that God is blessing and present. But due to the rebellion of the church, God has turned His face from us. I am including both charismatic and non-charismatic in this as both do not have the power of God at work though most will say He is at work. Yes, sometimes there is power, but the power seen especially in charismatic circles is not power from on High. Matthew 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” This adaptation to a church that talks about Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:20 “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.) and gospels has the appearance of the church yet looks nothing like what Jesus showed us the church would do in the Gospels or the church that was empowered to do as Jesus did at Pentecost. Basically, each group that calls themselves the church has followed their own version of the bible by adding to and subtracting from scripture, even though we are told not to do that. Each groups modifies and distorts scripture to satisfy their own appetites. Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” The one thing that most have accepted as normal is the lack of supernatural in the church. Again, the manifestations some are seeing in charismatic circles are not from God. Yes, there may be a few miracles here and there but what we see in the Gospels and Acts is not happening in the church.
Years ago, I came across information on Jefferson’s bible “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.” I think this really illustrates what the church has done, even though most have not literally sliced up the bible as Thomas Jefferson did. His work was void of anything supernatural. “It was crafted in the fall and winter months of 1819 and 1820 when the 77-year-old Jefferson used a razor to cut passages from six copies of the New Testament—two in Greek and Latin, two in French and two in English—and rearranged and pasted together the selected verses, shorn (cut out) of any sign of the miraculous or supernatural in order to leave just the life and teachings of Jesus behind. Jefferson, who had suffered great criticism for his religious beliefs, once said that the care he had taken to reduce the Gospels to their core message should prove that he was in fact, a “real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.” The core message of the Gospels cannot be separated from the supernatural and this is a different Jesus he was making. “Jefferson wanted to distill the Gospels down to core teachings of Jesus as a moral teacher. So he went through copies of the Bible and cut out with a penknife everything that had to do with Jesus’s life and teachings as opposed to the mystical and supernatural. In Jefferson’s Bible, there is no water into wine, no healing the sick, no raising Lazarus from the dead (no resurrection). Jefferson thought that Paul and every other interpreter really missed the point with Jesus. He felt that the authors of the Christian tradition, for “reasons of their own roguery or stupidity,” couldn’t comprehend what Jesus was offering. So as a result they deified him.” Pretty sure it wasn’t the apostles who were the stupid ones! Another at the time said, “I have heard that the Jefferson work does not contain a single derogatory word against the Christian religion. Let us remember that ‘he who is not against us is for us.’ This so-called revised bible may help us.” No, it did not, but painted a clear picture of what the church would look like.
Now most do not carry around a bible that has all the supernatural parts cut out, but most do not actually believe the bible they carry around. Most have done exactly as Jefferson did with a penknife except only with their beliefs. They may not go as far as Jefferson and reject what he cut out (some have) but when most read the bible, they do believe that Jesus actually did what they read but they do not believe that power is available today, even those who are not cessationists. Instead of the bible being the living word of God, it is just book that talks about events that happening in the past and irrelevant for today. If the church actually believed Jesus rose from the dead, and is alive, then the power and authority given to His disciples would still be given. Most have become content with attending a service, singing, listening to a sermon and then going home and then repeat. They have become content with powerlessness. Hopefully you are not wanting another year of rituals on repeat but are expecting God to move in power.
Believing in Jesus means believing the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, healed the sick and cast out demons is available today. Believing in Jesus means that when the kingdom comes near, there is power and authority to do as Jesus did. Since the church is not seeing that power, our only option is repentance and turning back to the word of God and expecting all the supernatural we read about to be normal for the church once again. As I said, how can you read the bible and not expect all that Jesus and His disciples did to happen today. The answer is do as Jefferson did; cut and paste your beliefs. Take the time and read the Gospels and Acts and focus on the supernatural and then look at the church. Here are just a few verses of power and authority that should still be happening in the church today.
Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”
Matthew 8:3 “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. 14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Matthew 9:18 “While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.”
Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
John 7:37 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”
Luke 24:46 “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:4 “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”
Acts 3:4 “Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”
Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”
Acts 6:8 “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.”
Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.”
Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."
Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
After you have read the Gospels and Acts, ask yourself if you truly believe what you read? If Jesus lives, as most will be celebrating at the beginning of April, then that means He can still call and send disciples with His power and authority so the church will continue to do as the first disciples did. Mark 6:12 “They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Jesus said, Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” When the kingdom comes near, that means God will turn His face to shine upon us and the church will once again do as Jesus did and defeat the work of satan. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
