This weekend a group of Christians from a Baptist Church in Adelaide will be running a stall at the "Psychic Fair" being held in that city. I happen to know about it because one of my sons will be involved.

Most churchgoers have probably never been to a 'Psychic Fair', and would have very little idea of what it involves. Yet these events are growing in popularity in the community at large, and represent a real challenge to all that the Church stands for. Many of the women's magazines give regular space to psychics and astrologists and at least one Sydney radio station has a regular psychic every Sunday night.

Even though the prevailing climate of thought in society claims to be "scientific rationalism", which rubbishes any idea of the paranormal or supernatural, these still find a strong interest in popular thinking. The popularity of TV programs like "Charmed" and "Buffy" and the amazing success of the "Harry Potter" phenomenon suggest that many yearn for something beyond the immediate sensory world.

The Bible, of course, leaves us in no doubt about this extra dimension of the supernatural. It permeates the story of the Bible from beginning to end. God himself is a supernatural being and continues to interact with our world in ways that are super-or-beyond the natural. Throughout the Bible he is spoken of as a God of signs, wonders and miracles.

From the parting of the waters of the sea to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt to the resurrection of his Son from the tomb, God has been working supernaturally on behalf of his people. But that activity did not stop at the resurrection.The New Testament tells of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' disciples and the supernatural powers that they received as a result. Ordinary working class men and women were given extraordinary abilities. Not only could they speak in other languages, they could prophesy the future, discern peoples secret thought, heal the sick and even raise the dead.

It has to be recognised, however, that the realm of the supernatural is not all good. The Bible also reveals a personal power of evil, called "Satan" or 'the devil', who also functions in the spiritual realm. Jesus spoke very clearly about such a being, and the extraordinary power he wields. Jesus also had many 'power encounters' with lesser demonic beings who also operated in this spiritual realm.

Rather than dismissing this evil supernatural realm, as many Christians today would like to do, the Bible takes it very seriously.We are warned to be on our guard against the devil's threat, and not to do anything that might give him a legal right to oppress us. In particular, we are forbidden to dabble with astrology, spiritualism, witchcraft, or anything else of the paranormal that is not of God.

On the positive side, we are called to use the supernatural powers we have been given to further God's kingdom. But this is where most of the Church has failed dismally. As we see the world around us expressing more and more a hunger for the supernatural it is time for us to rediscover, and learn to use, the supernatural abilities that God has given us. It is time for us to step out of our comfort zone and get on with the job that God has given us.

Instead of standing aside and looking askance at events like the "Psychic Fair", we need to recognise that these simply exist to meet a deep need in many human hearts. And we have a better and more powerful answer to that need! The early Christians went out into a world where magic and witchcraft were rife. But the power of the Holy Spirit was much greater than any demonic powers and the Christians out-performed the others. That was how the gospel went forward.  (See Acts 8:1-13). We will not evangelise today's world effectively until we rediscover our supernatural power.

Last Friday was the 24th anniversary of my induction into this Parish. As I look back over those years I thank God for what He has done in this place, and the lives that have been transformed. In particular, I thank God for what we have learned and put into practice, in the realm of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I was talking last week to a minister from another denomination on the North Shore. He spoke of how he thanked God for this church because he was brought to one of our meetings in the early days of the Father's Blessing, and God healed him of chronic fatigue that had kept him out of action for months! I frequently meet people in all sorts of places who tell me that a visit to our church changed their lives.

While we thank God for what He has done in the past, we must realise that there is so much more yet to be done. And it won't be accomplished unless we are prepared to step outside our comfort zone! Will you come with me?

John Davies
2 June 2002