Heavenly Treasure or Heavenly Tokens?

Over the past few years charismatic and prophetic Christians throughout the Body of Christ have demonstrated an increasingly growing hunger for more and varied supernatural manifestations. This hunger may stem from mere boredom with the overall lack of supernatural power manifested in many of our “status quo” churches, or from a sincere desire to see God’s power change the lives of saints and sinners alike. As I’ve been seeking the Lord for 2006, He has impressed me to admonish the Body of Christ to carefully distinguish between seeking heavenly treasure and heavenly tokens in their pursuit of the supernatural.

Heavenly Treasure

After Jesus’ great commission to His disciples, He did not leave them helpless, but empowered them and all believers with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17). The Holy Spirit was given not only for believers to continually commune with the Father, but also to transform us into Christ’s image, going forth as His ambassadors, bearing the fruit of the Spirit (II Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:22,23). The Holy Spirit was also given by the Father that we might be empowered to perform the works that Jesus commanded us in His great commission (Mark 16:15-18).

Matthew 10:7, 8 “And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

The power of the Holy Spirit is manifested through the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit outlined in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. The nine gifts include the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, the gift of tongues, and interpretation of tongues (I Corinthians 12:8-10). Without these nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, believers are devoid of the supernatural power needed to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, work miracles, or administer life changing words of wisdom, knowledge or prophecy.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians to not only pursue love and the other fruit of the Spirit, but to desire (literally “earnestly covet”) the nine spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 14:1). Unfortunately, many in the Body of Christ today are not earnestly seeking the Lord to operate in the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit that yield heavenly treasure, but have settled for seeking heavenly tokens.

Heavenly Tokens

Heavenly treasure is not cheap. The high price of fervent prayer and fasting is the cost for operating consistently in the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit that yield the miracles, healings, deliverance and life changing prophetic words. Many ministers and Christians are not willing to pay that price, so we may find ourselves settling for seeking after heavenly tokens, supernatural signs or mementos of God’s presence.

Popular heavenly tokens include gold dust, angel feathers, heavenly gems and fragrances, halos, varied manifestations of light, etc. Some of these heavenly tokens and signs are nonetheless supernatural, and encourage people regarding the Lord’s manifest presence. However, some of these tokens can be imaginary, possibly empowered by darkness and serve to mislead well-meaning Christians. Unfortunately, some people are building their ministries today on heavenly tokens, enticing curious, spiritual thrill seekers to their meetings, who hope to witness some supernatural sign or heavenly token. True supernatural signs from God are sovereign tokens of His grace, presence and love. Although signs do follow believers, Jesus clearly teaches us not to seek after signs, but instead His kingdom, righteousness, holiness, peace, fruit and spiritual gifts (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:14, I Corinthians 14:1).

Matthew 12:39 “But He (Jesus) answered and said to them (scribes and Pharisees), ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.’”

Bearing Fruit that Remains

There is one primary difference between heavenly treasure and heavenly tokens. Heavenly treasure bears lasting fruit, where heavenly tokens do not.

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Therefore, let us repent of seeking supernatural signs and heavenly tokens. Let’s consecrate ourselves to pay the price in prayer to operate in true spiritual gifts that yield heavenly treasure and bear fruit that remains.