Christians Have Superpowers

To be able to fly like Superman or run like the Flash or have the strength of the Hulk or control the weather like Storm or to have the power of invisibility are the things of childhood dreams and imagination. The superpowers of the superheroes are the subject of countless shows, movies comic books, etc.

This is not just the subject of secular media. The Bible speaks of men who possessed superhuman powers. Samson was endowed with superhuman strength. He could tear apart a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6) or slay thousands of Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. After his challenge with the priests of Baal which led to their deaths, Elijah demonstrated super speed as he outran King Ahab’s chariot. A horse has the average speed of twenty-five miles per hour. Perhaps he had to run up to sixty miles per hour to overtake the chariot which had a head start.

There are many others who demonstrated superpowers among God’s heroes in the Bible. Moses and Elijah both went without food for forty days. Moses used hydrokinesis or the manipulation of water in Exodus 14:21. Daniel’s three friends survived without even singeing their clothing in a burning fiery furnace (Dan. 3:27). Paul was immune to a poisonous snake bite (Acts 28:3-6). There is even an example of teleportation with Philip the evangelist (Acts 8:39-40). That one could come in handy in getting to services on time by avoiding traffic. Of course, all of these superpowers came from God.

Superpowers from God are not just a thing of the past. Today, every Christian possesses powers from God. Which super power would I like to have? The power to preach and force people to repent. God has already given every man and woman the great power of freedom of choice. Like Joshua, we can only encourage people to use the power or freedom. Joshua told the Israelites, “and if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua. 24:15).

Jesus assured His disciples that faith is a great power which they can possess. “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matt. 17:19-20).

Believe it or not, prayer is a superpower given to us by God. We have the power to communicate directly from anywhere at any time with a supernatural Being. Again, Elijah is a wonderful example of this. James says, “confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (Js. 5:16-18). Like Elijah we have the promise of answered prayer. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22; see 1 John 5:14).

Nearly all the superheroes of man’s invention are mortal. They all can die – even Superman. However, we have been granted as saints the power of immortality. In one the seven beatitudes of Revelation we are told, “blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

In addition to these we have: “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7) and “joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8) and God’s grace which is sufficient and makes strength perfect even in weakness “that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Not only do superheroes have superpowers, but they often possess super, powerful weapons or tools. Thor has his hammer. Wonder Woman has an invisible jet and golden lasso of truth. Captain America has a shield. Batman has a plethora of weapons, tools, and vehicles, like the Batmobile. Ironman would be nothing without his suit. Dr. Strange has the Cloak of Levitation. Finally, Aquaman has the Trident of Neptune.

The superheroes of God in the Bible were not without their weapons and tools. Some of these were even weapons of mass destruction. Like Shamgar who killed 800 Philistines with an ox goad. The five stones and sling of David took down the giant, Goliath. The Rod of Aaron was used by Moses in parting the Red Sea.

The Christian soldier is given the armor of God (Eph. 6:13-17). This includes the powerful sword, which is, the Word of God. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

What is the true source of a superheroes’ superpower? It is our sun for Superman. A radioactive spider bite gave Spiderman his powers. But for a Christian, the source of his superpowers comes from God. The saint’s abilities certainly cannot come from within. After all, we all have sinned. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Jesus warned his disciples of their need of a relationship with Him or else they would be powerless. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Without God we are all powerless to save our souls from even one single sin. With God, the Christian can enjoy great power and strength. “His eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20). We have through Him been “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power” (Colossians 1:11). Paul claimed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Spiderman’s uncle gave the young superhero some wise advice: “with great power comes great responsibility.” The same thing is true for Christians. We have the responsibility to share our great abilities to help others. If you had great superpowers, would you fight crime or defend the helpless or deal with a natural disaster? This is the premise of almost all superhero stories. How can we fail to use the great and powerful Word of God to help others (Rom. 1:16: Mark 16:16)? To fail to do so is a sin. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

How does one get these powers from God? It begins with obeying the Gospel and becoming part of God’s kingdom. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). When we obey the Gospel, all sin is washed away, we are given grace, joy, peace, the promise of eternal life and the right to prayer.

The world needs superheroes with superpowers more than ever. These are not miraculous or supernatural, but they are just as powerful and even more so. Put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27) and get your superpowers today. Start using them every day to the benefit mankind. And do not forget: the Son is your strength and sin is your kryptonite.

– Daniel R. Vess