Supernatural Power for Everyday People: Experiencing God’s Extraordinary Spirit in Your Ordinary Life

by Jared C. Wilson

Acclaimed writer and pastor Jared C. Wilson reveals how God has a plan for you that involves doing the ordinary, mundane stuff of life in a supernatural way.

Would it change your life to know that there is a way to live your everyday life supernaturally? Most of us would say “yes,” and Jared C. Wilson’s new book reveals how. For the homemaker wondering how to get through the stress of washing dishes and making meals nobody seems to appreciate; for the cubicle jockey punching her time-card every day wondering if what she does really matters; for the teacher or leader wondering if he is making an impact; for the student afraid of the future; for every believer struggling to get through daily life, Supernatural Power for Everyday People offers the hope of meaning and purpose, and also the promise of power. We can get beyond just “getting by." We can prevail and live a life of far more joy, contentment, and peace than we ever thought possible.

A practical book written in a devotional tone, Supernatural Power for Everyday People shows readers how to rely more fully on the power of the Holy Spirit for growth and satisfaction in their lives.

Genres: Christian Living, Theology, Christian, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion, Faith

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2018

About the author

Jared C. Wilson is the Director of Content Strategy for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Managing Editor of For The Church (ftc.co), and Director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of numerous books, including "Gospel Wakefulness," "The Prodigal Church," and, most recently, "The Imperfect Disciple." Wilson blogs regularly at gospeldrivenchurch.com, hosted by The Gospel Coalition and is a frequent speaker at conferences and churches around the world.

Reviews

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and balanced

Wilson is a talented writer. A cessationist will agree with most of this book and if they're impartial, all of his emphases. A very encouraging and enjoyable read that reminds us of the primacy of the gospel and necessity of The Holy Spirit in living the Christian life. Highly recommended.

[Tung · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by Wilson I have read. I enjoy his readable prose, gospel-centered writing, accurate understanding of the Bible, cohesive theology and perspective on faith. In this book, Wilson tackles why it seems like early Christians seemed to exhibit more supernatural power than modern Christians. More specifically, Wilson is attempting to explain whether there is a difference in how the Holy Spirit works in today’s Christians compared to earlier believers. Wilson essentially answers these questions in two ways: (1) modern believers don’t understand how the Spirit works; and (2) in actuality, the Spirit works far more supernaturally now than He did in the early church. The first few chapters lay out a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit (e.g. He is a person not a thing). The next few chapters lay out what the believer needs to do to more fully abide in the Spirit (read the Bible and pray). The last few chapters lay out how the Spirit works in believers today. Wilson even includes a chapter explaining his theological position on cessationism vs continuationism. Because of the subject matter, unlike other books by Wilson that are for both Christians and non-Christians alike, this book is very much directed at Christians only. Overall, I enjoyed the overall framework and points being made, but didn’t find it as engaging as his other books. A solid read nonetheless.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a helpful book for those awakened by the work of the Spirit and the glory of the gospel in their lives. Wilson does a good job of exposing the goal and work of the Spirit and lives we are empowered to live in light of the work of Jesus for us.

[Bryce Beale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decently good book on how to "walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16). The style is conversational, the matter pastoral and personal. Wilson begins with the fictional "Bill" who is living a mediocre Christian life, and throughout the book shows how every "Bill" may gradually and thoughtfully put off old ways and put on new, Spiritual ways.

I especially appreciated Wilson's honesty about past wrestlings with despair (chapter 8 is about the Spirit's comfort for those dealing with similar pain). And although Wilson is a cautious ("noncharismatic") continuationist, he only presents his views (and presents them quite fairly to the other side, on which I sit) in one chapter toward the end of the book.

[K B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good reminders, lots of Calvinism, mediocre at best.

[Andy T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a 5-star book. One critique. I didn't enjoy Bill, the fictional guy walking thru these things. I know he served as real-time application for the material, but it just felt a little too contrived. Other than that, excellent book.

[Bob Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books by Wilson and continue to be encouraged and challenged by his writings. This book is no exception. The title captured my attention because I always wondered, as an ordinary person what am I missing. My life does not feel supernatural. Thankfully Wilson starts by reminding us that supernatural living is not lightning and fireworks. In fact, most supernatural living takes place in ordinary days and times. He says we spend all of our time wondering when something big is going to happen when in fact (if we are a Christian) the biggest thing to happen to us already did. To be greedy for more suggest that what already happened was insufficient. Craving more and more extravagant evidences of the Spirit is an easy way to demonstrate our lack of satisfaction with the gospel of Jesus. (p 14) I needed to hear this and I would venture to say most of us do.

I should state now that this is not a critique of other streams of Christianity, an attempt to restrict the work of the Spirit or anything like that. This book gives a healthy biblical overview of how the Spirit works in the believer today. In so doing it confronts the excess as well as those who minimize the Spirits works.

Wilson works thru various areas where the Supernatural work of the Spirit is evident. In the chapter on prayer we are reminded that the power of prayer is not inherent in our words or how much we name and claim as if the power of prayer was in our control. Instead prayer is powered by the Spirit who intercedes for us and brings our prayer to the Father. FOR those of us who struggle Wilson outlines a few ways to prime our pump with written prayers, prayer journaling, praying Scripture etc.

Again, the power of prayer is not in us but in the one prayed to.

One chapter that really struck me was were Wilson time spent addressing where we spend our resources. An entire chapter is spent on the Blessing of Going Without. He says how can we say with integrity we want the Spirits filling when we keep going to the well of culture and worldliness. This is not a chapter on monasticism or asceticism. He does an excellent job of relating fasting to Spiritual power. He states that our need to fast from something does not mean that thing is sinful, but we are sinful. Things like food and sex are not evil but how we use and abuse them are. When we are filled with the joy of communion with God, we can say no thanks to other things.

He also says that the devil will use pain as a last resort. He knows that in pain we are more likely to call out to God so if he can sedate us with material blessings, drunk on worldly consumption he will name it and claim it for us. Our spiritual warfare happens more while watching TV, washing our car or enjoying a comfortable bed before church. That is our temptation.

The next chapter, Breaking Free from the Drama, reminds us that another area of supernatural work is in our relationships. Wilson says “when the Holy Spirit take up residence in our heart, he immediately begins renovating the place. It doesn’t matter where you placed the furniture before; he’s going to rearrange it into a home more suitable for himself.” (p123)

This does not mean we are free to start cutting out people who don’t meet our needs or live up to our expectations. In fact, he goes on to remind us that now that we belong to the King and have access to the throne it changes how we respond to relational wounds and slights. We will stop looking at people as existing to meet our needs because Christ has already meet all our needs. Now we can demonstrate the Christ and His spirit is at work in us in how we serve others.

I could go on because there is so mush good stuff in this book. In the end we are shown that through the Spirit we have all the fruits, all the gifts necessary to live a supernatural life. These are not given so we can be super-Christians but so we can participate in the magnification of Jesus (p182)

As Christian, there is nothing ordinary about you. You are created in the image of God, redeemed by the King and baptized by His Spirit into His body. Wilson concludes with helping us see that because of the Spirit we have; the Gospel, Belief, open eyes, indwelling Spirit, love poured into our hearts, assurance empowered prayer, unction, a revived church, the law written on your heart, good works to do, hope, just to name a few.

I loved this book because not only does Wilson unpack the work of the Spirit, he helps us see how this works in very practical ways. And with a pastor’s tone he helps us realize this is a lifelong work, and we will get there.

[Ernie Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supernatural Power for Everyday People by Jared Wilson is a book about “experiencing God’s extraordinary Spirit in your ordinary life.” I don’t know that I have read a book quite like this one. Part systematic theology, part sermon, and part Christian Living, Wilson has given us a book that is aimed at Christians who are bored, just going through the motions, feeling spiritually apathetic or irrelevant, but don’t want life to be like that (those are my words, not his. His are way better written than that.) It is a book about bringing the power of the Holy Spirit to bear in your life. But before you get out your Strange Fire Conference issued charms to ward off charismatic theology, it is worth noting that there are only a handful of pages spent on the “sign gifts” of the Holy Spirit. Wilson is a self-described non-charismatic continuationist (that explanation by itself might be worth reading for), but he intentionally dwells on the aspects of Holy Spirit theology that are available and applicable to all Christians, everywhere. It is a remarkable feat and one he does well. If your spiritual life is stagnant, if you want more of what we would have called “fire” back in the 90’s, or if you just want to have a more active, Spirit-led life with Jesus, this might be the book for you!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2018 - A book you can read in a day.
Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2018 - A book published in 2018.

Listened to the audiobook on the drive back from my sister's house in South Carolina yesterday. It was perfect - perfect length and perfect content.

As a Jesus follower of almost 40 years, the faith journey has had many ups and downs, dusty dry desert days, mountain peaks of encouragement and refreshment, flames of passion and intense worship, floods of sorrow and doubt, waves of conviction and guilt, etc. You name it and I have experienced it. Jared's book is encouragement - a great reminder of Whose I am; that even when I am in a spiritual struggle, God is there. His Holy Spirit is always with me to encourage, lift up, pray for and with me, to love me, to guide me, to give me life. I know this and yet I forget it at times.

Yet I believe this book would be an excellent gift for new followers of Jesus, too. For the person beginning their journey of faith in Christ, this book would be an excellent explanation of who the Holy Spirit is and how He can/will shape their life as they grow in their faith.

I highly recommend this book.

[Ben K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this with my family - an accessible and gospel-saturated look at the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. In lieu of a review, I’ll just share my favorite quote from the book:

"Too many of us spend our Christian lives waiting on something big to happen, completely oblivious to the fact that the biggest thing that could ever happen to us already did, and it’s more than enough. In fact, to be greedy for something more is to suggest that what’s been given is somehow deficient. Craving more and more extravagant evidences of the Spirit is an easy way to demonstrate our lack of satisfaction with the gospel of Jesus. No work of the Spirit, in fact, can be as big or as glorious as the work of converting our hearts to Jesus. So if our spiritual appetites are constantly set on more, we may find ourselves, ironically, experiencing less, even if something extraordinary happens to us."

[Layla Gatlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this book and it's author. I believe appreciate is the best word. When I read some of the reviews on here I was nervous that this would be just another reformed author bashing charismatic beliefs. However, it turned out to be a pretty well rounded and thoughtful consideration of both sides of the arguments. It's obvious this author and I do not share the same theological views on all subjects but I was very pleased to find this book was considerate at least of other viewpoints. There were several parts of the book that I absolutely loved and more than a few times made a mental note of. Sometimes audibly reacting to express how interesting or even convicting it was. Overall I was very glad to have found the book and thoroughly enjoyed it, even despite the few instances of disagreement.

[Don Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t be fooled by the title. This is not a book about magic, mysticism, or miracles. It is instead a very practical book about becoming a mature Christian, and it is a valuable resource for that. I learned a lot—and confirmed a lot more—about my faith.

I read an advance copy of Mr. Wilson’s book, which I received through a Goodreads giveaway. Much of Mr. Wilson’s writing is compelling and enlightening, but I did stumble over some awkward sentence structure at times—and I found two typos. Hopefully those issues will be fixed in the final version.

I recommend this book for Christians who want to grow in their faith. Christians who are self-satisfied will probably find this book to be a waste of their time, as will non-believers who have no interest in the Christian faith.

[Bro. Austin McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jared C. Wilson does a great job of walking though how the Holy spirit effects every part of the Christian life. Throughout the course of this book, I was encouraged to know that there are other Christians that struggle with “autopilot Christianity”. While encouraged to know I’m not alone, I feel challenged to walk in the obedience of the Spirit.

This book builds up to chapter 9, where Wilson brings out the differences between the role of the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit (whether Charismatic gifts are still biblically in usage today or not). I don’t agree with Wilson’s view on the role of Charismatic gifts, but I appreciate the purpose of the book. It never felt as if this book was written to influence you of the views of Jared. C. Wilson.

[C.J. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on the Holy Spirit is theological, biblical, and practical - a work that will help most any Christian to better understand the third person of the Trinity and his particular work(s). As well, if you find yourself to be continuationist who does not identify as a charismatic then this may help you better articulate your position to others. If you think that’s where you may land, read it and find out, and if you don’t identify that way, then read it to better understand where others are coming from.

More than anything though, this book is for those who feel they’ve gotten out of touch with the Spirit’s work and presence in their lives and for those who identify as Christians but maybe have never gotten any sense of the Spirit’s “everyday” work in their lives.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with a man who goes about with his normal everyday life, who goes to church on Sundays, and then starts to feel like something is missing from his life.
If this describes you then this is the book for you. This book focuses on the Holy Spirit in our lives and how it can help us in our relationship with God. The book focuses on the Holy Spirit in our lives, in praying, in fasting, in reading the Bible, in comforting us in uncertain times, and in providing us spiritual gifts for God's glory. This is one of the best books I have read on the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads but my opinions are my own.

[Raul Caban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supernatural Power Indeed

It is easy to concentrate on how the spirit of God makes us like some kind of superhuman with magical powers. The reality is that that is not how the bible portrays the spirit's power in our lives. Jared Wilson in his book shows us the things we miss everyday where the spirit is working in us and through us so we can be more aware of his ongoing work so we can start looking for the real supernatural power in our lives; the transforming, comforting, guiding and forever presence of God's spirit in his sons. I gladly recommend it, it will give you a different perspective. The real one!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

** GoodReads Giveaway ** I had to put this aside for a little bit after receiving my copy. The book begins with an Average Joe who goes about in normal everyday life, goes to work, Church and then a feeling grows of something missing from his life, but isn't sure what. The book will help those impassioned by the work of the Spirit, both new and renewed. The book taught me something new and confirmed what faith I already had. There are a few bumps in the road with the writing, but I did have an advanced preview copy. A good read for anyone, especially if you feel you're in a rut or displaced.

[Joan Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Experiencing the Daily Ministry of the Holy Spirit

I appreciated Dr. Wilson's down-to-earth style of writing, which helped me feel that we were chatting together. Having become a Christian as a 7 or 8 year old, it was helpful to be reminded of all that the Holy Spirit has accomplished in my life, and also of the power He gives me each day. I especially enjoyed the clarification of the difference between creationists and continuationists, and the grand tour of the ministries of the Holy Spirit throughout history and in the life of a Christian.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

Not at all what I planned on reading and I do see validity in the words this author chose. I do also see a lot of ways that I would not be swayed to believe in the book. I think the author pushes his views to the extent that this is all your getting and it was very much not as open minded as I would have liked. There is a setness to the way the chapters are displayed and I feel like as a reader that you could take this with a grain of salt or really get into a depth of the words depending on how you view your religion stance.

[Christian Wermeskerch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful book, within certain parameters. Of course, non-Reformed, non-Calvinists wouldn't be attracted to this much at all. It leans really hard into his Reformed views of Scripture and the Spirit, definitely alienating those in different traditions. If you are Reformed, you'll find a lot to like here: solid exegesis, points toward the Scriptures often, and extols life in the Spirit without muddling his views. It's clear and precise, but some may not feel it goes far enough. If you are Reformed and are looking for a solidly Reformed book on the Spirit, this is a good choice.

[Geoff Lanotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Jared Wilson writes and he seems to identify so many of the areas where I struggle with my faith. This book was a practical book on the Holy Spirit's role in the life of a believer. He tackles hard issues with grace.

My only critique of the book is "Bill" a fictional character that the author used throughout the book to play out his points. I felt it was a little forced and Bill had the "uncanny valley" effect, he looked to perfect and I just rejected it. In my opinion, the book did not need Bill and would have held up just fine.

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supernatural Power for Everyday People by Jared Wilson is a wonderful novel that is sure to remind you of all things in your life that’s been accomplished because of the Holy Spirit. A book that is written in a down to earth style which makes you feel as if you are talking to a friend. The ideal read for when you feel as if your life is missing something or lacking and you are not sure what to do. Wilson lets you know that you are not alone.

[Timothy Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great take on the truth that God offers supernatural power to anyone who believes in Jesus for eternal life. You don't have to be a pastor to seek and reap the blessings offered by the Spirit of God. Nice down to earth approach to applying this truth to /normal/ people's lives. I don't agree with his defense of all spiritual gifts for today, but that was at the end. Jared is respectful in his presentation, and I'll continue to buy his books.

[Vicki Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reminders

Not an exciting read, but a thorough covering of an important gift we have received and how to know you are blessed by the very presence of God. I had just been working on a lesson of spiritual gifts and found Wilson’s points toward the end of the book to be very helpful.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Well written. Easy to read and moves you along in a well thought out flow. Jared Wilson has done a great service to the everyday believer by making clear both the theological and functional aspects of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Highly recommend this book to both seasoned and new followers of Christ.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible and devotional. But, the book still addresses some of the hot topics and doctrinal issues well. Often upon looking back at a chapter, you are surprised at the depths you waded through. This is due in part to the author's skillful writing style. Jared Wilson writes in the language of the everyman using engaging illustrations and a sense of humor that I connect well with.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to learn about your purpose for the Lord. In this book I learned more about the author and that he is just a regular guy that also struggles with sin just like me. He teaches in a way as if your sitting with him drinking coffee. I really enjoyed reading this book and learning more about how to look at my purpose in this world.

[Tim Genry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book written “for” Christians as we seek to discern what the Bible teaches us about the Holy Spirit. I found it interesting & informative … and it did cause me to think. It was not his magnum opus on the subject and therefore is very accessible to those of us who are not professional theologians.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you feel like your life is missing something that you aren't sure how to get, this book helps get in touch with the joy you are lacking. It helps you feel loved and cared about when you are feeling alone. I'm thankful I received this book when I did!

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. I am paying it forward by passing this book along to a family member who I think will enjoy it too.