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Certainly God does miraculous acts quite independently of people. But usually he responds because people have prayed and gotten involved. He invests people in areas of need and gives them the gifts they need.

God's supernatural gifts are available for leaders. But in government and in business, people who rise to power as a result of expertise and experience and education often rely on their own talents.

The supernatural gifts—wisdom above the accumulation of information, discernment beyond our analysis of the facts, prophetic vision beyond our capacity—the Holy Spirit provides these gifts when leaders realize they're facing challenges beyond their abilities.

So your role is to point people to God when they recognize their own insufficiency.

Exactly. And that's why it's important to combine the Bible studies with personal counsel. In Bible study you can proclaim the objective truth of God's power. Then as people face crisis, they have heard the truth proclaimed, and the time comes when they want to talk over how to receive that power.

A while ago, Senator Max Cleland, who lost both of his legs and his right hand in Vietnam, came to the Bible study withdrawn and tired. A senator said, "Max, are you all right?"

"Not really," he said. "I've been having the same dream for 30 years. I accidentally drop that grenade, and I leap on it, and it explodes and blows my legs off."

We knew he needed special prayer. So we gathered around and prayed that the Lord would heal that memory.

Two days later the History Channel broadcast the story as he remembered it. A man from Annapolis saw it and phoned Max: "Senator, you have the story all wrong. That wasn't your grenade. I was on that helicopter. It was a young recruit behind you who had opened the pins on his grenades before jumping out of the helicopter. And one of them popped out of the belt and rolled on the ground, and you leaped on it to save us. I wrapped you up and got you to the hospital. I know how it happened."

Well, Max came to the Bible study a new man. He said a gigantic load had been lifted off.

We had been studying Romans 8:28. As you know, in the Greek, God (not "all things") is the subject of the sentence, "God works all things together for good." So now, when I see Senator Cleland hurrying around in his wheelchair, he'll wave and say, "Chaplain, remember. Things don't work out; God works out things."

It's ongoing involvement in prayer and Bible study that opens the way for people to receive supernatural power and healing and hope when special needs arise.

— Reprinted from Leadership, Fall 2000. Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.

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