Calling All Superheroes

Today is National Superhero Day. The word superhero might conjure up images of Superman, Batman, and other DC Comics or Marvel characters. While growing up, one TV show I watched on Saturday mornings was “Super Friends”, featuring a team of superheroes fighting for justice.

However, my favorite superhero was Underdog. I constantly watched this cartoon canine who almost always spoke in rhyme (“There’s no need to fear/Underdog is here”). A few times as a boy, I played Underdog with other kids. I ran around the yard with a towel tied around my neck simulating a cape and wore a ring pretending it contained an Underdog Super Energy Pill. My sister often played the part of Sweet Polly Purebred, Underdog’s damsel in distress. One of the other boys portrayed the villain Simon Bar Sinister.

Movies about superheroes often do well at the box office. This would suggest many people desire to be one. Once while ministering at a parade with some friends, I witnessed to a lady dressed as Wonder Woman. She claimed to be “good with God.” When asked if she was certain of going to heaven, Wonder Woman’s reply was “nothing is certain.” I then told her Jesus is the Ultimate Superhero who came to save the world.

There are other individuals in the Bible that some might label superheroes. Hebrews 11:33-35 talks about those “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.” The supernatural powers manifested not as they willed but because they aligned themselves with God’s will. Examples include Moses parting the Red Sea, Joshua causing the sun to stand still and Elijah commanding it not to rain for three years plus multiplied flour and oil to sustain a widow woman.

Under the New Covenant, anyone can be a superhero. Those who obey the Great Commission can save people from eternal damnation plus heal the sick, cast out demons and even transform nations. Romans 8:37 says that in Christ Jesus, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 

Just as Superman has kryptonite, God’s people can experience a loss of power. That will happen through sin and disobedience. Samson’s strength temporally disappeared after allowing himself to be betrayed by Delilah. Nonbelievers attempting to access God’s power without knowing Him could experience disastrous consequences. Consider what happened in Acts 19…

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Tina Turner had a hit song called “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” The truth is this world needs more heroes…specifically on-fire-for-God superheroes who know their authority in Christ. Too many Christians don’t allow God’s power to function through them due to ignorance or fear of man. If every believer stepped out in faith and always gave Him the glory, more supernatural manifestations and changed lives would result.

God is looking for people to do supernatural things for Him. Will you be one of them?

“…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” 
- Daniel 11:32

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