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In Georgia, we suffered from a drought that lasted more than a decade. Water levels had fallen and we were under constant, and quite annoying, water restrictions. Water had become so sparse at one point that the City of Atlanta only had reserves for 90 days. Governor Purdue even called for days of pray asking God for rain.

One of the local news stations interviewed a scientist about the issue asking him his opinion on the drought. His response was startling, he said that since Georgia had been in drought or near drought levels for a decade that we should assume that this was the new normal. Georgia should not expect to have increased rainfall because a pattern of dryness had emerged. Dry weather had become the average, therefore it was now normal.

The meteorologists had performed a calculation based on the amount of rainfall each year for the past decade and had determined that low rain levels were now normal. This might be appropriate when predicting the amount of rain to expect over a given time period, but not to decide that “dryness” in our personal spiritual walk and church gatherings is normal.

We get saved and start going to church. We read the bible and see example after example of God supernaturally intervening in people’s lives to bring about healing, wholeness, deliverance, and joy.

We look around and don’t see that stuff happening in our lives or church. We don’t see our friends operating in the fullness of Holy Spirit where all physical and spiritual needs are being met abundantly and extravagantly.

We see a contrast between the “normal” Christian life in scriptures, and the “normal” Christian life of our fellow believers. Each of us is faced with a decision. Do we attempt to rationalize this average condition as simply being normal, or do we press in to the Father until we find our answer and experience the “normal” life of the early church Christian.

Unfortunately, most simply rationalize their current condition and lack of supernatural activity as being normal. They search the scriptures for ways to explain their condition, instead of improving it. This has resulted in bad doctrine and mindsets permeating our churches and disabling the work of Holy Spirit in our lives.

But, there are some (you ) who decide to press through the conflict and disparity of their present condition to discover God’s best for them. They soon find that their present condition is the same as the original twelve. They (we) were once sinners who are now born again as new creatures who carry the authority of His name and the creativity of His Spirit and simply need to learn how to walk in His Spirit.

These press in to the fullness of God until it overflows out of them and touches the lives around them. Some of the great spiritual mothers and fathers of the past have experienced this conflict and then overcome. Smith Wigglesworth, William Seymour of Azusa Street Revival and John G. Lake are just a few who found out what Jesus’ normal really is and literally changed the world.

Healing, miracles & deliverance is normal

“But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all” Mathew 12:15

“They went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” Mathew 6:12-15

“…to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.” Acts 5:15

“God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.” Acts 19:11-12

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” Acts 6:8

Preaching with authority is normal

“They were amazed at His(Jesus) teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22

“But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them… Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren *, what shall we do?” Acts 2:14-37

“And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number…” Acts 5:14

Hearing God is normal

“The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband ‘; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband ; this you have said truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” John 4:17-19

“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all ; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed ; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.” I Corinthians 14:24-25

Are you normal or average?

The choice is truly yours. Every good gift that the Father has is available to you. You can choose to make excuses and just be average, or you can learn first hand what God considers normal.