We would like to suggest that there are a number of levels that we find man in this present age relative to supernatural activity. The first level is that of man without any direct spiritual involvement (Paul referred to this as the ungifted man, I Corinthians 14:23) - we will simply call that level "Natural Man." There is zero supernatural energy involved with this individual. He functions in the natural, concerning himself only with phenomena of his physical environment.

The next level of supernatural activity we will call "Religious Man." This person exhibits minor supernatural energy. He may attend church or synagogue services. He may make confessions of belief in a "supernatural god" although little, if any, supernatural energy is manifested through him.

The third level of supernatural activity we will call "Spiritual Man." In this individual, some supernatural energy is manifested. He worships in the body of believers with limited manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

The final level of supernatural activity we will call "Messiah Man." This individual embraces the Spirit of Messiah. He actively believes that the ministry of Messiah Jesus is being manifested through him. He is a willing vessel for the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Miracles, Prophecy, Healing, Discernment of Spirits, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues). All of this is pursued under the covering authority of the local church. This represents the "full stature of Messiah" spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Parallel in the Physical Creation

There exist many parallels between the physical and spiritual creations. I believe that the physical creation was modeled after the spiritual creation. To illustrate our point, we will consider the energy states of an electron associated with the Hydrogen atom.

The Hydrogen atom is the simplest atom in existence consisting of one proton and one electron. The electron is envisioned as a very small, electrically charged mass orbiting about the much larger proton nucleus. The proton has an equal but opposite electrical charge to the electron. Under normal circumstances the electron is stable at its lowest possible energy state. It can move into higher energy states but it must absorb energy to do so. Once the electron has absorbed a "quantum" of energy, it becomes unstable and will tend to discharge the extra energy and return to the lowest possible energy state. This process results in the emission of specific spectral lines of light characteristic of the atom.

Now the same thing is true of supernatural activity in man. The lowest possible energy state is that of "natural man." Nothing is required to function here and unless some spiritual energy is added, man will remain at this lowest state. Additional spiritual energy results in the man being raised to a higher level of supernatural activity. As with the electron existing in a higher energy state, this condition is unstable. The electron tends to return to its lowest energy level and remains there. This is true also of the individual existing in a higher state of supernatural activity. If no more spiritual energy is added, he will return to the state that we call "natural man."

How is spiritual energy added to the individual? Prayer, devotional reading of the Scriptures, fasting, praise and worship are some of the means by which one is raised to a higher level of supernatural activity. Since the higher level of activity is unnatural, or supernatural, these activities that add spiritual energy are continuously required to maintain the higher level. If more spiritual energy is not added, the individual will simply revert to the lowest level, that of "natural man."

This is troubling to many believers. Many embrace the illusion that since they have been believers for some significant period of time, they should be able to maintain a higher level of supernatural activity without adding the required spiritual energy. They cease praying, fasting, spending time reading and studying the Bible; they become inconsistent in praising and worshiping God and wonder why they feel spiritually dried up. They have simply reverted to "natural man" exhibiting no supernatural activity.

Every prophetic sign indicates that these are, indeed, the last days. The world needs to see a church operating in the highest level of supernatural activity. Are you committed to adding sufficient spiritual energy in your life to cause you to be an effective witness of God’s supernatural power working in you? If not, it is time to make a change.

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