Once we start praying and working for a better world, there is a risk of struggling in our own strength and power. And since everyone are sinners (Romans 3:10-18), the human way lined with failures, accidents, discouragement and fatigue. The Bible says that through the power of God, we are able to more than in our own force (Philippians 4:13). And that can sometimes be a little bit more dramatic than getting some extra energy as by an invisible vitamin kick. Sometimes, it means walking on water or raising the dead.

Our biggest problem when we work for peace and justice is that we aren’t able to do the impossible. It is this which forms the border of our activism for a better world. But Jesus said: “With God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27). In what context did He said that? Well, concerning that the rich are going to sell everything and give the money to the poor.

The ministry of Jesus and the apostles not only included human deeds but also acts of God, things that only God can do. While they gave money to the poor (John 13:29) and taught about peace and justice, I would say that their greatest merit to the distressed was that they did the impossible. They performed Holy Spirit activism, and thus they achieved much greater results than if they only devoted to human deeds.

The acts of God are desrcibed in the Psalms as something we shall declare (71:15-18, 73:28, 118:17), consider (105:1-5, 111:1-4, 143:5) and praise Him for (86:8-10, 92:5-6, 150:2). Consider this: if we took away what God does and says in the Bible, what would be left? Unless God intervened and did things, then we would not have any of the Spirit-inspired Scripture, we would not even exist. And when God does things, then we have – per definition – with the miraculous to do.

Psalm 77:11-14 says:

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Miracles are acts of God, something to contemplate, praise Him and preach to other people. It is this perspective that we should have on the Charismatic gifts. Can we really say “I am open to the gifts”? Are we just “open” for te acts of God? Is it not so that we should strive for the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:12)?

The people of Nazareth hindered Jesus from doing mighty works, because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). Let us not repeat their mistakes, let us fervently pray for God’s works among us, according to Psalm 90:16. We should definitely not pray for abusive and insane form of charisma where you commit atrocities in the name of the Holy Spirit, which many have been damaged by. This we should stay away from and not be open towards. But the genuine acts of God serves and helps people in ways that the church, by its own efforts, fail to do, since only He can do the impossible. We need this deseprately.