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Greater works – Part 3

By Chidi Okoroafor
06 May 2018   |   4:22 am
A critical look at John 14:12 may confront one with the question: does it mean that believers in Christ should perform more miracles than Christ did? In saying that those who believe in Him...

Chidi Okoroafor

Text: John 14:10-14
Key Verse: John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (KJV)

A critical look at John 14:12 may confront one with the question: does it mean that believers in Christ should perform more miracles than Christ did? In saying that those who believe in Him would do the works that He did, Jesus was not saying that every Christian would walk on water and raise the dead.

The apostles in the book of Acts performed some miracles that were similar to Jesus’ works, but even they did not walk on water or feed multitudes, as far as we know.

The Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:4). Not everyone has the same set of gifts. Some believers have more public gifts, and others have quieter, more private gifts. To do greater works means to rule in your area of calling or gift. It also means that you can manifest the gifts of the supernatural, when the occasion arises but not limited to that.

Jesus’ earthly ministry had been largely limited to Galilee and Judea. His disciples, however, were going to extend His ministry to the uttermost parts of the earth. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, His followers numbered in the hundreds. Forty days later, in response to the preaching of the apostles, that number leaped into the thousands (Acts 2:41). By the end of Acts, the gospel had made its way to Rome. This is a practical example of doing greater works.

To do greater works also means to preach with greater clarity, have a greater passion for souls, pray with greater compassion than Jesus and heal the sick with greater power. When we preach the gospel and sinners believe, we are doing the greater work.

You cannot do greater works without the power of prayer. You must yield yourself as a vessel to be used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish great works. But how do we do what Jesus did? How do we do even greater works than He did? He tells us in verses 13 and 14 of John 14: “Whatsoever YE SHALL ASK in my name, that will I do. . . . If YE SHALL ASK any thing in my name, I will do it.” We will accomplish the greater works through the power of prayer!

Prayer was never meant to be a last resort. It was meant to be a source of continual communication between God and us. Prayer is the responsibility of every Christian. Prayer is so important that God commanded us in His Word to pray (Eph. 6:18, 1 Thess. 5:17, 1 Tim. 2:8).

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will show us things to come (John 16:13), but how can God warn us about something, if we never talk to Him? If we spent more time in prayer, we would be able to pray on the offensive, instead of having to pray on the defensive when problems arise. When we enter into a life of prayer, the Lord will show us things to come!

The ones who do the works are believers in general: “he who believes in Me.” This promise is not restricted to a special class of elite Christians or latter day apostles. This is an important consideration. The purpose of the works is to lead people to faith in Christ.

Your lifestyle as a Child of God should be exemplary to others, so that you can win sinners to Christ. In Mathew 5:16, the Bible says let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

As you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, your works shall be bigger, better and greater. May your lifestyle be filled with shining examples that shall draw men to Christ.

Today’s Nugget: Greater works are done through the power of prayer

Prayer: Lord, I receive Grace to do greater works than Christ did.
Prayer lines: 09078154261.
E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria

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