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.
John 14:12
This verse has always intrigued me. Jesus told His disciples that those who would follow Him could do the same miraculous works as He did. He did not stop there but went on to say that believers would also do greater works than He had!
I have heard many interpretations of what the greater works are that Jesus said His disciples would. Each was similar but also had differences in the perceived meaning. The common thread between them though was that they focused on the “greater” works.
Our focus on the “greater” works intrigues me because it does not seem that the Church is currently seeing the “works” that Jesus did. There are sprinklings of miracles and reports of healings but these are the exception rather than the rule for Christianity today.
Church history is filled with accounts of great men and women who walked in the power of God. Each impacted their generation but also were exceptions for the time they lived in. If God does not favor one person over another (Romans 2:11) we should be asking why more people have not walked in His power throughout Church history.
I believe the reason lies in the price that must be paid to walk in power. We have talked some about this.
Smith Wigglesworth was an English plumber who paid the price to pursue God. His life and ministry were a continuous manifestation of the miraculous!
Kathryn Kuhlman was from the small town of Concordia, Missouri. She often spoke of the price required and said the anointing had cost her everything. Her ministry was known for the miraculous healings that occurred in the meetings she held.
The Holy Spirit once asked me why I was so fascinated by the stories of ministries from times past which were filled with such anointings. This question shocked me as it seemed natural to be at least curious about them.
As I pondered His questions, He began to teach me. I saw that each individual who experienced the supernatural throughout Church history had not been selected over anyone else to do so. The main difference between them and their peers was the price that they were willing to pay.
It became clear to me that any person could walk in the same level of anointing that Smith Wigglesworth had walked in if they would only pay the price. It was extremely high and I’m not even suggesting that I’ve come close to being able to. I am seeking the Lord and have been asking Him to help me increase my willingness to do so.
God does have a plan for our lives that is as unique as we are. He will not force us to pay the price these people paid. We have free will and are free to determine the level of commitment we will have to pursue God. For those who will be willing, the doorway into the miraculous is available to walk through. It is just waiting for those who will pay the price!
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Mark 16:14-20
I acknowledge that some people believe only certain people are chosen to walk in the miraculous. Indeed, He sets aside certain people to fill a ministry office that may have a level of the miraculous accompanying it. Notice though that in Mark 16 Jesus does not mention ministry gifts.
The only qualification list in Mark 16 is “believing”. Jesus said that “these signs” would follow those who believe. This would mean that anyone who is not seeing this manifested in their lives is not believing.
A belief in a person is built through spending time with them. We build our faith in God by spending time with Him and by spending time meditating on His Word. Meditation is simply time given to focus on Scripture.
It should not be difficult to tell the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever but it often is. Christians should have the signs listed in Mark 16 following their everyday lives.
Christians are new creations in Christ Jesus!
Christians have been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Unbelievers are spiritually dead.
Unbelievers do not have access to the Holy Spirit.
I’ve heard ministers boldly declare that the time for miracles has passed. Jesus said that the signs would follow believers. If these ministers are correct, the time for believing must also be over. Verses like Hebrews 11:6 that tell us we cannot please God without faith counter this argument!
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