Common sense is the enemy of the supernatural life

It’s interesting how God revealed Himself in the three persons of the Trinity sequentially and how each step takes that revelation to a deeper, more intimate level. 

I owe a lot to Cecil B. DeMille and Charlton Heston for my introduction to God in the movie The Ten Commandments, a burning bush on Sinai, His mighty deeds in Eygpt – this was a God I wanted in my corner. As a boy I rather hoped to climb Mt. Sinai and see if He was in. 

The image of Jesus is certainly different, more personal though not lacking drama by any means. I find that the scene on the shore of Lake Galilee, after His work, death and Resurrection is completed, tells a lot about Him. It’s a rather ordinary scene, breakfast on the shore with His friends to strengthen their hearts and celebrate. There is no pomp and ceremony; if you’ll excuse the absurdity, St Peter’s doesn’t put on a big hat while the apostles line up in height order and start chanting (in Latin) while he wafts incense in Jesus’ general direction. I wonder if we have lost sight a bit of what He is really like. 

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit is revealed to us and this is the area where we have really lost the plot. The principle thing that happened with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the beginning of the supernatural life of the church. As the apostles witnessed, their word was confirmed by the miracles that accompanied their testimony as they were led by the indwelling Spirit. 

Are we led by the same indwelling Spirit ? It’s said that “common sense (worldly wisdom) is the enemy of the supernatural life” or the life in the Spirit as often the supernatural life is counter intuitive. For example in Acts 3:6-7 where Peter meets a lame beggar at the beautiful gate. Common sense may lead us to help in a practical way, food, small change, etc. but the supernatural life says “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk” which of course he did. Similarly in Acts 9:36-40 where a believer called Tabitha dies. Common sense might recommend an undertaker, the supernatural life caused Peter to kneel down and pray and say to the corpse “Tabitha, get up” which she did. For that to happen in our day we must be open to the Spirit, develop the interior life and listen to the Spirit or we will miss those moments in hesitation or because of our allegiance to common sense..