Normal or Supernatural – 6

Normal or Supernatural – 6

Subject – Ordinary Men Transformed to the Supernatural

by Rick Welborne

Acts 6:1-7 (NKJV)
¹  Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
²  Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
³  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
⁴  but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
⁵  And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
⁶  whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
⁷  Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. 

--The early church was no different than our churches in that they had issues just like we do. The good news was that their problems were an issue because the church was growing so quickly.

--God, give us problems like that. Many of our problems are because we circle the wagons, no one gets out and no one comes in. Our problems cause us to devour one another.

--The Hellenist widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The scriptures are pretty clear about what real religion is all about.

James 1:27 (NIV)
²⁷  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

--The disciples needed help because the church was multiplying. They recognized for the church to be successful, they would have to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 

--I truly believe the need is still the same. Too many pastors are doing way too much stuff that is absolutely important but should be done by others in the body of Christ.

--Yes, some pastors have difficulty with turning people lose to do ministry (they are insecure) but to go from normal to supernatural, others will have to be raised up to shoulder the load.

--On the other hand, some churches believe the pastors should do pretty much everything because that is what we pay them, for goodness sake. The lady in Stavros.

--What has to be understood between those called into the ministry as pastors and those raised up as the laity, to go from normal to supernatural, there has to be love and co-operation. There has to be more.

--Today I want to focus on what will make laity, deacons, board members, ushers, greeters, choir members, department heads, elders, missions, and everyone who serves in church go from normal to supernatural. HOH!

--Of course, it has to be understood between laity and pastors that there is a divine connection which causes them to work together for the ultimate good for the Kingdom of God.

--Let me establish from the “get go” that the common bond for this divine purpose and mission to be accomplished has to be Holy Spirit. Supernatural power.

John 16:7 (NIV)
⁷  But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

--For simplicity today, I will place all of those who serve in the local church as laity. It will get very redundant to attempt in naming every aspect of ministry every time I mention them. 

1. Going from Normal to Supernatural Requires Laity to be Spirit-filled.

--Of course, I am not saying that if you have never been baptized in Holy Spirit power, that you have no place to serve in the Body of Christ. 

--But what I am saying, based on God’s Word, is that when the church needed people who would serve and truly take care of the widows, they chose people filled with Holy Spirit. Their qualifications:

Acts 6:3 (NKJV)
³  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

--Understand this, the church was looking for people to serve widows food every day and make sure they were treated fairly. The disciples said this job is so important that these people must have these qualifications.

--Men of good reputation, men full of Holy Spirit power, and full of wisdom. Also, they must know the Word of God. Read Stephen’s biblical history lesson in chp.7. Philip guided the Ethiopian Eunuch in the scriptures. 

--Again, no one is telling you not to serve if you do not have these qualifications. What we are saying is to seek God until He baptizes you in Holy Spirit power so that you can be more effective in your ministry.

--Let me give you an example. Your pastor and Board of Deacons were going thru a list of names of potential Board Members so their names could be voted on in February. 

--One of the men who was approached let us know he wanted to serve on the Board but he had not been baptized in the Spirit. Instead of getting hurt or discouraged, he started seeking God.

--Every time there was an opportunity to seek God, he was at the altar praying. Guess what? God baptized with Holy Spirit power and he was voted onto the Board and is now serving. A great blessing.

--There is no good reason that we should not want what God has for us to take us from normal to supernatural. Holy Spirit baptism does not make you perfect. Nicolas did not turn out that well. One of the deacons. 

--To serve as laity in the church there is obviously a need to have help beyond yourself. Wouldn’t you want to be best equipped to serve? Right after Jesus said it is necessary for Him to go away He said this about the Spirit.

John 16:8&13-15 (NKJV)
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
¹³  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
¹⁴  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
¹⁵  All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

--Many in the church need to get rid of their pride and fear when it comes to Holy Spirit baptism. You have seen abuses in the church so therefore you dismiss everything about Him. Very sad!

--People abuse cars, they speed, they drive reckless, they drive drunk, they pull out in front of you, they text while they drive, but I am not going to start walking because of crazy people. They’ll run over you!

2. Going from Normal to Supernatural will Require the Laity to be Focused on the Great Commission.

--I want to make sure you understand before we talk about Stephen and Phillip that they were chosen to be deacons by the people. They were not pastors or missionaries in the traditional sense. They were laity.

--Here your pastor, just because God has not called you to be a pastor or missionary does not mean God cannot use you in an amazing way. That has been God’s intention sense the beginning.

--Way back when God first transformed my life and filled me with Holy Spirit power, I had no intention of going into full time ministry but I wanted to be used by God for His glory.

--Holy Spirit was given so we could be witnesses. I started going everywhere telling everyone about Jesus. Many were coming to church and giving their hearts to the Lord.

--The pastor calls me into his office and tells me he wants to make me the evangelism director. I said “no thanks” I would rather just go out and tell people about Jesus. I didn’t know the lingo. Stephen was laity:

Acts 6:8-10 (NKJV)
⁸  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
⁹  Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
¹⁰  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

--Here is a board member, a deacon, who is full of Holy Spirit, full of power, full of wisdom, and being used by God to do signs and wonders. Stephen could have been anything in the church but he wanted God to use him.

--You know the story, Stephen got much opposition from the people and they brought him before the council.

Acts 6:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

--Stephen displayed the presence of God and then, he preached a beautiful sermon giving all these religious leaders a history lesson from Abraham to Jesus. Could we do that?

--Remember how Jesus told Peter that going from the normal to the supernatural would cost him his life. The same was true with Stephen. They stoned him as he cried out for their forgiveness. He was laity.

--Paul was there consenting to Stephen’s death. I believe Stephen left his soul print on Paul. Changed him.

Acts 8:3-5 (NKJV)
³  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
⁴  Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
⁵  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 

--Again, Philip was a deacon but he was being used by God in such an incredible way. Why? Same reason. He was full of Holy Spirit, full of power, full of wisdom, and being used by God to preach the Word.

--The power of Holy Spirit was never to be exclusively for the pastors, missionaries, and evangelist. You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you was intended for everyone in the church.

3. Going from Normal to Supernatural took Philip into a Chariot Ministry.

Acts 8:26-29 (NKJV)
²⁶  Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.
²⁷  So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
²⁸  was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
²⁹  Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

--Your ministry as a layman or as a pastor may be a chariot ministry or a golf ministry or shopping ministry but the point is to go from normal to supernatural you must be filled with Holy Spirit and willing to go. 

A. Philip was sensitive to hear the voice of the Lord and to do what He said.

--This is key in being used by God to witness to the lost. Holy Spirit will guide you where you need to go.

John 16:13 (NKJV)
¹³  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

--We must be sensitive to Holy Spirit at all times. He will guide you where you need to be. My sister Barbara.

B. Philip was observant to what was happening with the person he was trying to share Jesus.

Acts 8:29-31 (NKJV)
²⁹  Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."
³⁰  So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
³¹  And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

--Philip saw he was reading Isaiah and because he was being led by God he asked him if he understood what he was reading. The door swings wide open. He gets the invitation to sit with him.

--This is crucial in witnessing. As a pastor or as laity we must be able to recognize opportunities when presented. So many push themselves on people at the wrong time. You do more damage than good.

C. Philip was sensitive to know “now was the time to preach Jesus.”

Acts 8:34-35 (NKJV)
³⁴  So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?"
³⁵  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

--All of us have the opportunity to go from normal to supernatural if we are filled with Holy Spirit power and wisdom. People need Jesus and we need to reach them. All of us. What’s your ministry?