The Two Sources of Supernatural Power

There is a rise of supernatural activity in these days, and it is important that we understand the difference between what is of God and what is not. A perfect illustration of this is when Moses and Aaron faced off in a supernatural showdown with the Egyptian sorcerers.

And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

–Exodus 7:10-12

It is clear from the Scriptures that God is a supernatural God and that He empowers believers to walk in supernatural acts. However, He is not the only source of supernatural ability; Satan also has supernatural powers and can give these powers to people as well.

Moses and Aaron were clearly operating in the power of God, and when Aaron threw his rod to the ground, it became a serpent. Pharaoh’s magicians and sorcerers were also walking in supernatural power, and they were able to cause their rods to become snakes as well. But their power did not come from the one true God; it came from the devil. In the same way, those who engage in occult activities today are tapping into real power; but it is power that comes from the demonic real.

There are two sources of supernatural ability: God and Satan. God is supernatural, but supernatural is not necessarily God. If you were a casual bystander watching this scene unfold, you might be tempted to think that Moses and Aaron were operating in occult power because they did the same miracle as the sorcerers. On the other hand, you might be tempted to think that the magicians of Egypt were operating in the power of God because they did the same supernatural act as Moses and Aaron.

We often see two extremes playing out in the church. Some believers are so afraid of deception that they reject anything supernatural and think that anyone with supernatural power must be of the devil. Others are so desperate for the supernatural that they think that anything supernatural must be from God and therefore open themselves to demonic counterfeits. One extreme is a fear of the supernatural and the other is a fascination with the supernatural. We must avoid both of these extremes; we need to move in the genuine power of God, and expose the enemy’s counterfeit.

Any attempt to access supernatural knowledge or power outside of the one true God is spiritually dangerous, and is considered involvement in the occult. However, it is also dangerous to ignore the power of the Holy Spirit that is available to us as believers. Just like Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the Egyptian sorcerers, we need the true power of God at work today to swallow up the false like never before!