Jesus told His disciples in John 14:12 that they would do greater works than they had seen because He was going to His Father. What they would be empowered to do would be greater than healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the masses through miraculous means, and even raising the dead. What is that power and what would be the results?
Acts 1:8 KJV – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
This is the greater work Jesus was referring to, the work of being a witness. All who were healed by Jesus later died. All who were fed got hungry again. All who had demons cast from them and even those raised from the dead still died and their encounter with Jesus’ miraculous power changed their lives to be sure. But it did not necessarily lead to the saving of their souls.
Many Christians today are longing to see the power of God manifested in miraculous ways, and sadly, few are doing the things that lead to God manifesting His power in ways that are greater than temporal miracles. Primary among these things is being a witness.
Acts 2:36-39 KJV – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
If the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who comes to faith in Christ, then everyone who comes to faith in Christ has the power to be a witness for Christ.
Paul likens being a witness to running a race and fighting the good fight of faith. This means it takes discipline like that of a runner who must train and deny themselves of things others are doing that would be detrimental to them on race day. He says we don’t fight like a shadow boxer beating the air with their fists. Rather, the fighter disciplines their body that they not be disqualified. What Paul was referring to was that in order to enter the Greek games every participant had to commit to 10 months of training before their event, and had to swear that they had kept this commitment. If they couldn’t, they were disqualified.
The greatest thing we can do in life is lead other people to Jesus, and He has given us His Spirit to empower us to do so. Sometimes it will be like a race – exhausting. Sometimes it will be a fight to do what we are called and empowered to do, but the one thing we need to recognize is we are all called to do it.
Mark 16:15 KJV – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:19-20 KJV – “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.”
If you want to see the miraculous power of God manifested in your life, go tell people about Jesus. Whatever power is needed to do so, you will have. If it’s a word of knowledge, He will give it to you. If it’s discernment you need, you’ll have it. If someone getting healed will cause them to turn to Christ, He can even do that through you.
We already have the command to go. Too many Christians today want to see God’s power just for the experience’s sake. Mark says the signs that confirm the word were present everywhere the disciples preached.
Go out and tell people about Jesus and see what the Lord will do through you!
