Calling All Superheroes

Today is National Superhero Day. The word superhero might conjure up images of Superman, Batman, and other DC Comics or Marvel characters. While growing up, one TV show I watched on Saturday mornings was “Super Friends”, featuring a team of superheroes fighting for justice.

However, my favorite superhero was Underdog. I constantly watched this cartoon canine who almost always spoke in rhyme (“There’s no need to fear/Underdog is here”). A few times as a boy, I played Underdog with other kids. I ran around the yard with a towel tied around my neck simulating a cape and wore a ring pretending it contained an Underdog Super Energy Pill. My sister often played the part of Sweet Polly Purebred, Underdog’s damsel in distress. One of the other boys portrayed the villain Simon Bar Sinister.

Movies about superheroes often do well at the box office. This would suggest many people desire to be one. Once while ministering at a parade with some friends, I witnessed to a lady dressed as Wonder Woman. She claimed to be “good with God.” When asked if she was certain of going to heaven, Wonder Woman’s reply was “nothing is certain.” I then told her Jesus is the Ultimate Superhero who came to save the world.

There are other individuals in the Bible that some might label superheroes. Hebrews 11:33-35 talks about those “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.” The supernatural powers manifested not as they willed but because they aligned themselves with God’s will. Examples include Moses parting the Red Sea, Joshua causing the sun to stand still and Elijah commanding it not to rain for three years plus multiplied flour and oil to sustain a widow woman.

Under the New Covenant, anyone can be a superhero. Those who obey the Great Commission can save people from eternal damnation plus heal the sick, cast out demons and even transform nations. Romans 8:37 says that in Christ Jesus, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 

Just as Superman has kryptonite, God’s people can experience a loss of power. That will happen through sin and disobedience. Samson’s strength temporally disappeared after allowing himself to be betrayed by Delilah. Nonbelievers attempting to access God’s power without knowing Him could experience disastrous consequences. Consider what happened in Acts 19…

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 

14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Tina Turner had a hit song called “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” The truth is this world needs more heroes…specifically on-fire-for-God superheroes who know their authority in Christ. Too many Christians don’t allow God’s power to function through them due to ignorance or fear of man. If every believer stepped out in faith and always gave Him the glory, more supernatural manifestations and changed lives would result.

God is looking for people to do supernatural things for Him. Will you be one of them?

“…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” 

- Daniel 11:32

The Mr. Ed Doctrine

Before committng my life to the Lord in 1991, I worked primarily as a nightclub disc jockey.  Bar owners were usually difficult people to work for.  The first five clubs that hired me let me go after a short period of time, mostly for not talking enough.  I felt that club DJs should simply shut up and play the music.

The Bible has much to say about the power of the spoken word.  But that doesn’t mean increasing the amount of our words will make more of a difference.  Ecclesiastes 5:2 commands to “…let your words be few.”  When God spoke creation into existance, He didn’t utter a bunch of words but simply said, “Let there be…”  In Mark 4:39 when Jesus rebuked the wind, all He said to the sea was “Peace, be still!”

Consider these other Scriptures…

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” - Proverbs 10:19

“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” - Proverbs 17:27

“And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.” - Hebrews 13:22

Nowadays whenever someone tells me I don’t talk enough, I respond by saying I follow “the Mr. Ed Doctrine.”  If you’re familiar with the old TV show’s theme song, you'll remember the talking horse never spoke unless he had something to say.  That’s good advice.

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” - Matthew 12:36

Speak To Your Storms

One sign that we are living in the last days is an increase of inclement weather. This year the United States has experienced a record amount of tornadoes. The deadliest of which occurred last Sunday in Joplin, Missouri that killed scores of people.

Earlier that afternoon, another tornado hit north Minneapolis where I’ve been staying with friends. I wasn't even aware a tornado had touched down in the area until hours later after coming home from a bike ride to downtown Minneapolis. An air raid siren had been wailing but I didn't think much of it because it wasn't very loud. I figured it was due to bad weather out in the suburbs...not 20 blocks away!

Meanwhile, one of the guys I was staying with had slept in late and was awakened by the siren. In response, he simply rebuked the tornado. It lifted within five seconds! Five minutes later the sun came out and there was beautiful weather the rest of the day. After he posted this testimony on his Facebook page, several of his friends shared similar praise reports of seeing storms disappear after speaking to them.

Just in case you are skeptical of testimonies like this, here’s one you can see for yourself. Two years ago, Jeff Jansen saw a tornado approaching his ministry headquarters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can hear Jeff speak and then watch the storm dissipate in this video…

Jesus said in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” This includes speaking to storms that threaten our lives. Look at Mark 4…

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38 But He [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

On the other hand, we might find ourselves in storms due to our disobedience (remember Jonah?) or someone else’s like the centurion and the ship’s crew ignoring the Apostle Paul’s warning in Acts 27:10. Despite the resulting shipwreck, Paul and his fellow passengers all escaped safely to land.

Until Jesus comes back to set up His millennial reign, unstable weather will continue to occur throughout the world. So the next time a storm comes near your dwelling, remind yourself of the Greater One who lives on the inside of you. If you have full confidence that you are in the will of God, then there is no need to panic.

Speak to your storms!

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” - Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)