Go Deeper

Go Deeper

 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” – John 14:12-14

One of the greatest obstacles to our growth as Christians is the feeling that we have somehow arrived at the destination of our faith.  We know God’s word, we pray daily, we live upright lives as examples of holiness, we go to church, we serve in church, we witness, we tithe, and the list of our accomplishments toward Christianity goes on and on.  We look around at the rest of the world, evil abounding in every flavor, and we feel as if we have completed all that God has given us to do.  We are set apart – check it off the list.  We are a separate people – check!  Now, we can give ourselves a big ole pat on the back, and sit back and just wait for our blessings to flow! 

But is that all it is?  Are we really judging ourselves fairly if we judge our relationship to Christ based on a comparison with the world’s relationship with Him? 

Friends, unless you have walked on water as Jesus did (Matthew 14:25), you’re not there yet.  Unless people are healed when your shadow falls on them (Acts 5:15), you’re not there yet.  Unless demons cry out “Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29) at your appearance, you’re not there yet.  Unless you speak and the winds and the waves obey you (Matthew 8:27), you’re not there yet.  Unless you do even more than Jesus did, you are not there yet!

John 14 records Jesus speaking to His disciples about the power of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  He says in verse 12 “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father”. Because He was going to His Father, God, through the resurrection the Holy Spirit would come to us, and live in us.  We were given a Spirit of power (2 Timothy 1:7) when the Holy Spirit entered us.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said we can do the works that He did, and even greater works. 

Are we doing even greater works and miracles than Jesus?  Are we touching the sick and watching them be healed?  Are we speaking to evil spirits of depression, suicide, and self-harm and watching them run for cover?  Are we speaking blessings on people and watching Jesus fulfill those blessings?  We are not there yet.  We have yet to accomplish what we are here to do.

Our ministry is not completed at our extensive knowledge of the God’s word.  Knowledge of God’s word is the equipping of the Saints for the work of ministry, not the ministry itself!  The ministry of the Saints is to do as Jesus did while here.  Until thousands follow us to hear us speak and receive salvation, until all that come near us just want to touch the hem of our garment to be healed, we’re not there yet.

C.S. Lewis said it best when he said “We are like children playing in a rain puddle while God has invited us to swim in the ocean.”  Go deeper.  We have deep water faith, but shallow ideas of what it means to be a Christian.  We are not there yet.  Go deeper.