SAME FAITH

Is there a different faith required for those believing for relief from great financial need than those who are believing for a family member to be freed from substance abuse? Is there a difference between the nature of faith it takes to pray for others to be healed and the nature of faith it takes to receive healing for ourselves? I contend that the faith is the same, but that its application and the roadblocks to apprehending that faith may differ depending upon the situation. Paul says that there is one faith (Eph 4:5), and that the same faith that saves the Jews, saves the Gentiles as well (Ro 3:30). It is that, “Same Faith” which I want to talk about.

Faith is not something we produce out of our will. While faith can be stirred up and encouraged—something we should spend more time thinking about—we have absolutely no power in ourselves to create faith so that God will answer our prayers. Zilch! There is truth in the idea of believing “more,” but not in the context that we can believe “harder.” Think back to when we first met the Lord. Somehow, we heard the Word of the Gospel and were able to believe it. And this, the greatest miracle of all, did not come because we had all the answers.

We heard the Word and were empowered to believe in Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and man. We believed that he was just who he said that he was and somehow, we believed that he would adopt us into his Kingdom. How could we believe all that through what little had been presented to most of us? I contend that in that moment, it was the power of that faith, a faith which could be argued as being “little faith,” which translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son! And, it was also “little faith,” perhaps as small as a mustard seed which empowered Peter to walk on the surface of Lake Galilee. Because of who Jesus is, anything is possible for those who believe, that is, those who apply their faith in Jesus (Mark 9:23). And that’s where the difference lies.

We apprehend our faith in Jesus based upon the task or need before us, but our focus must be upon Jesus—who he is, what he’s done, and how he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews calls faith, the, “…Confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb 11:1 NIV). We have confidence in what we hope for, and are assured about what we do not yet see before us only because of Jesus. This is not a different faith from that which saved us, it is merely an extension of that same faith.

I love the HELPS Word Study available on biblehub.com as they do such a good job of illuminating the original text. Here’s what they say about the word translated as “little faith.” They note that “little faith,” (oligópistos), is a compound word meaning “little in number”…”faith.” In context of its five appearances in the New Testament, it is used as a rebuke each time the disciples failed to hear what Jesus was saying and failure to put their faith into practice, that they had little or few occurrences or few applications of their faith.

So Jesus was not chiding them for not ramping up enough faith, or trying to push the right “faith buttons,” but was admonishing them for not putting their faith into practice by acting upon what he had said. While we can’t produce faith out of thin air, something we sometimes try to do, we can exercise, practice, and expand upon the faith we’ve been given. The more we do, we’ll move from being those who have little faith, to those who walk in faith…and isn’t that the goal? If that little bit of faith was enough to get us saved when we were still yet sinners and his enemies, how much more is available to us now through that very same faith, now that we have been reconciled to him? (Ro 5:8-11) So let’s drop all pretense and simply say, “Jesus, I believe you. Show me how to practice my belief in you because I am in need.” Remember, a bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out (Mat 12:20). Draw close to him, using the same faith that brought you in, and he will draw near to you. That’s how Paul could say…

“…I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me…Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?…He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 2:20, 3:3-5, 14).

There’s a lot of faith found in those passages. Believing what we hear from God is Paul’s prescription for the Galatians and for us, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit in our lives…the same Spirit that Jesus said would be with us and alongside of us, so that he could remind us of what Jesus is saying, that is, what we have heard (Jo 16:13-15). That’s what Jesus rebuked his disciples for, they were not listening to and heeding what he said by putting their faith into practice. And where do we get that kind of faith? As believers, we all have that kind of faith already, but we must cultivate it. It is not a different faith for those other, more faith-like Christians, it is the measure of faith given to each of us as a deposit that we might expand upon it in our lives and affect those around us. That’s who we are and we can always start right where we’re at, especially if we feel faithless and full of failure. That might actually be the very best place to begin, understanding that it even those with faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot a tree planted in the earth, and replant it in the sea (Luke 17:6). So, start by taking what Jesus has said and begin by putting him front and center, relying upon his faithfulness. Start digging up that, “Same Faith” today!

Is It Today Yet?

I was recently in a conversation where the idea that God still speaks today was in question. The person making the point believed that God only speaks today through his written word. That logic, however, creates quite a conundrum because the Bible, gives no indication that God would or has ever stopped speaking. Jesus Christ is, after all, the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). After his resurrection and ascension, he, along with his Father and the Spirit, are found speaking to believers in various ways up until the final pages of the New Testament.

It is today with which we should be most concerned, but before we go there, let’s first dismiss the idea that God could lose the will or the ability to speak, that he has had his larynx legally tied in a knot, or that he has taken a vow of silence seeing that everything that he had wanted to say had finally been written down. I’m finding that reasoning very difficult to support, especially since God also indicates in his written word that even inanimate objects like rocks could cry out if necessary (Luke 19:40). In addition, we're told that the blood of Abel, though dead, is still able to speak (Hebrews 11:4). And if God does not speak today, how were any of us enabled to answer his call?

As I read them, the Scriptures indicate that God is a God of and for all seasons and dispensations, not a God of the past only. Furthermore, the written word, which I am told is the only means by which God speaks today, promises us that in these last days, Jesus is indeed speaking (Hebrews 1:1-2). Since the time that this passage was written, the only thing which has changed in the new, everlasting, and final covenant is that there have been more last days added to the tally. As long as we are his sheep, we should be hearing his voice (John 10:27). While yesterday is gone, eternity starts fresh each morning, becoming a day which the Holy Spirit calls, “Today.” And according to the author of Hebrews, as long as it is called, “Today,” we are called to encourage one another, keep our hearts soft and on target, and of course, hear God’s voice (Hebrews 3:7-15 NIV). Everyday is “Today,” yet, we’ve not yet excelled in keeping our hearts from getting hard and have a long way to go to perfect the art of encouragement. Is that merely because we’ve not responded well to his voice, or is it because we have come to deny that he is even speaking?

So while it is one thing to acknowledge that the Bible contains the very thoughts and expressions of God, we must not fall prey to the notion that God no longer speaks today. He has not imposed a gag order on himself, freezing himself in time while posting his instructions for life on the outside of the fridge. For all intents and purposes, many have put God in just such a box, unintentionally rendering his voice as the dead author of a living autobiography, instead of a very present voice which makes his word alive in us. God did not speak from the beginning of creation so that we might one day receive his thoughts in written form alone. Instead, he recorded all those things so that we might seek out and listen to his voice. Today, if you hear his voice, don’t let your hearts become hardened for as long as it is called, “Today,” his living voice still speaks…at least that’s what the Holy Spirit says. 

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7 NIV).

This Is That!

While we might desire to easily understand the workings of the Holy Spirit, God makes that very difficult. We desire straight-edged explanations as well as the means by which we can measure what God has done and is doing. Yet, even a Spirit-inspired explanation by an eye-witness participant on the Day of Pentecost appears to generate more questions than answers. While that day obviously impacted the crowds, Luke’s account of Peter’s sermon continues to make many of us scratch our heads. 

Let Me Explain

It seems, at first glance anyway, that Peter did a lousy job of explaining the events of Pentecost—at least by quoting Joel. On the morning when 120 spoke in languages they themselves didn't know, but that their hearers could understand, he had this to say in explanation:

“…This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Acts 2:17-21 NIV).

This seems more mystery than explanation. What was Peter doing?

This is That

This passage never mentions the phenomenon of speaking in different languages nor does Luke care to give commentary on the day’s events. Watchman Nee, however, adds an interesting perspective to Peter’s reference to Joel’s prophecy:

“What did Peter mean? Imagine him quoting God's Word to show that the experience of Pentecost was the outpouring of the Spirit spoken of by Joel, without a single one of the evidences mentioned by Joel being found at Pentecost. What the Book mentioned the disciples lacked, and what the disciples had the Book did not mention!…Note carefully that Peter did not say: `What you see and hear fulfills what was spoken by the prophet Joel'. What he said was: ‘This is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel’ (Acts 2:16). It was not a case of fulfillment, but of an experience of the same order. ‘This is that’ means that `this which you see and hear is of the same order as that which is foretold'…The outward evidences may be many and varied, and we have to admit that occasionally they are strange; but the Spirit is one, and He is Lord.” 
(Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life)

Nee does a good job of putting Peter’s explanation into perspective. Gifts of other languages, the ability to operate in inspired knowledge and speech, receiving inspired dreams, and other such manifestations of the Spirit, were of the same source. They were all those things Jesus said believers would operate in (Mark 16:17-18) and they all come from the same Spirit.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)

In addition to this message of oneness concerning the expression of God’s power, there is a familiarity about Peter’s lack of specificity which he must have learned from Jesus during the three years prior to this day of the outpouring of the Spirit.

Seekers

Jesus always spoke to the people in parables, saying, “This is what the Kingdom of God is like,” never saying, “This is what the Kingdom of God is.” It’s not that Jesus and Peter did not give details, nor did they neglect referencing relevant Scripture passages, but they proclaimed the Gospel in a way which made people seek after it if they wanted to enter in.

“…Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 NIV).
(Mt 5:6, Acts 15:16-17, 17:26-27, Ro 8:5, 1 Co 12:31, 14:1, etc.).

The reason many don’t pursue the gifts of the Spirit initially poured out on the Church at Pentecost, seems to stem from ignorance of them. To be sure, the gifts of the Spirit are not easily understood. Paul’s treatise on the subject in Chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians, intended to put the operation of the gifts in their proper perspective, these are the same passages many rest upon to dispute their operation today. We tend towards clear and exact definitions, that which we can grasp and understand. That’s how we like our theology and the power of God isn’t so easily codified. However logic seems to become less important to us in the realm of relationships and perhaps we should consider God’s power from that perspective.

The Mystery of His Power

While building a meaningful relationship, especially a romantic one, we are often less concerned with collecting facts as we are experiencing the presence of, and building a rapport with the other person. In other words, we enjoy experiencing the mystery of the relationship.  We must take the same approach as we seek to understand how and why God releases his power and why he has designated the Church to be the expression of that power.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the…incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead… And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:17,19-20,22 NIV).

His power remains a mystery only to those who approach it through wisdom and reasoning alone, or who choose not to approach it at all. That is not to say that God is not interested in reason, but simply that his reason surpasses our finite understanding. This knowledge can only come by faith and experience. And so, we can’t measure God’s power. But, we can at least measure the effectiveness and witness of his power through us.

Spiritual Impact

Remember that the Day of Pentecost began with an outpouring of the Spirit and concluded with the influx of 3,000 believers into the Church—some of whom had been cheering on the death of Jesus just weeks before. How did this happen?

While even sincere believers can shy away from, and even become ashamed of how God expresses himself in power as on the Day of Pentecost, we cannot escape the fact that such expressions can be extremely effective in confirming the Gospel. We must, then, weigh our comfort level against what God might do if we were to participate in those things which are “like” those described by Joel. Pentecost was not an isolated incident nor a singular display of God’s power, nor was it intended to be.

The Power of Power

Prophecy is one of gift of the Spirit which holds great power. Through Joel, God promised that all “…sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17), in the same way that Jesus told us of the supernatural signs that would follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18). In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reveals that prophecy is the gift which we should most eagerly desire so that the Church might be built up (1 Co 14:1). But this gift also holds great power for the Church in reaching unbelievers.

“But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25 NIV).

So while it is true that Paul reasoned with the Jews and Greeks alike on a regular basis, there is little mention of any great effectiveness in employing that practice; and we owe it to Paul himself to explain why that might be. He understood that reason and understanding have their place but are limited by the nature of human wisdom. Instead, he relied upon the power of God.

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV).
“I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God” (Romans 15:18-19 NIV).

Despite the fact that it doesn’t seem to make sense, we must accept Paul’s testimony that the presentation of God’s power is the firmest foundation for faith to rest. That’s what happened on the Day of Pentecost. It was strange, it was off-putting to some, and yet that’s what drew in 3,000 believers. This is what Joel prophesied and what manifest on that day—it was a sign on the earth below.

Measuring Up

While we can’t quantify or measure the power of Pentecost, we can begin to measure our own effectiveness. If our efforts are not making people fall down and exclaim that God is really among us, to what extent is God really among us? I suggest that as the Church, we have room to grow into the full stature of Christ so that we might begin to look and act more like Jesus (Eph 4:13), and the early Church. What are we afraid of?

While the first stage of wisdom is indeed reverential fear, our wisdom must mature beyond fear. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites were given the Gospel, but their fear of the presence and power of God kept them from acting in faith (Ex 20:18-19, Heb 4:2, 12:18-21). But, we are better equipped to move beyond our fears. Consider that while we respect the awesome power of electricity, we don’t shut it off in fear of what it might do to us. We understand what it can do for us and so, move beyond our fear. We must do the same with the power of the resurrection as displayed on the Day of Pentecost and throughout the Book of Acts.

Pentecost

Jesus called the outpouring of the Spirit, the promise of the Father. While he personally told the disciples to wait until they received the Spirit, the promise is for all believers. It was granted for all alive in the last days, and is a direct result of Jesus’ resurrection:

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17 NIV).
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:32-33 NIV).

According to Peter, it is Jesus himself who has poured out the Spirit. The crowds both saw and heard the power of God in action, and they came to believe. It’s not easily understood, but can be easily received. Peter was just a fisherman, and until he received the promise of the Father.

“…Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4,8 NIV).

We are able to receive the same promise of the Father that Peter and 120 received in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost for as Peter said:

“…You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39).

It is not easily understood, yet worthy of our pursuit (1 Co 14:1). 

...As the Waters Cover the Sea

The Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord

“…the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14 NIV). 

Have you ever stopped to think about how it is that the waters cover the sea? The simple answer to this question is that they cover the sea completely—from the surface all the way to the ocean floor. And so, in like manner, we look forward to the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covering the earth fully and completely. This sentiment is echoed throughout Scripture -  

“May the whole earth be filled with his glory” (Psalm 72:19 NIV). 

“... as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth” (Numbers 14:92 NIV). 

“The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:2 NIV).

What is the Glory of God?

God's glory has to do with his power, and his renown, but it is also directly related to his nature. When Moses asked to see God's glory, Scripture tells us that God acted by showing Moses the one thing the world needs the most...his goodness.

"Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence’” (Exodus 33:18-19 NIV).

The glory of the Lord is awesome in its splendor like a vast, deep ocean which covers everything beneath it. Yet, beyond its depth and its fullness, the ocean exhibits other qualities and attributes which address the implications of the manifestation of his glory. These four states of oceanic glory help describe the magnitude of the majesty and glory of God. 

Still Waters

At times, waters are placid, peaceful and still. This glory emotes safety, serenity, and rest. Not only is it peaceful, it is a state that reflects on earth, the glory of heaven above. In this state, we might be tempted to sit and be stagnant in the status quo of the moment, forgetting the deepness beneath. 

Wind and the Water

Gentle motion, navigable sea lanes, and the ebb and flow of normal life are accomplished in the midst of fair weather. Wind that fills the sails and ruffles the surface of the waters makes for easy travel. The glory of this state is that learned skills can be applied in conjunction with the rhythm and flow of nature to produce forward motion and momentum. 

Stormy Weather

Heavy storms can unsettle the sea, bringing challenge and risk, making travel dependent upon the mercy of the waves. The vast majority try to avoid its unavoidable glory and run from its transformative power. But the fact that at least two miracles recorded in the Gospels took place amidst stormy weather, should encourage us to trust and leave fear behind.

Volatile Conditions

Harsh atmospheric and geological events can turn the sea into a force to be reckoned with. An earthquake, for example, can set water in motion, building wave upon wave until it reaches critical mass, not unlike the waves of revival. Often resisted, this force of glory is actually the remedy for those who possess an unquenchable thirst. Here, there is no more argument as to the majesty of His power.

Navigating the Glories

If we pray for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, then we must respect every aspect of how his glory manifests and the manner in which it covers creation.

What are Works and Why Should Believers Perform them?

The Works

Work: 2041 érgon - work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…” (John 14:12).

Types of Works

In the New Testament, works (sometimes translated as deeds or some other variation) consist of anything from clothing or feeding someone in need to healing the sick. When the word work (ergon) is used in Scripture, there is no indication as to whether it refers to a natural or supernatural work, outside of the context in which it is used. That said, even passages which favor natural works to supernatural works, or vice versa, don’t necessarily exclude works on the other end of the spectrum. So the above passage could also include natural works like feeding the poor, and James 2:14-25 could also include healing the sick, without either passage specifically referring to these alternate works.

Work Standards

Whether supernatural or natural, it is clear through scripture that we are to do the works of Jesus—and as Jesus said, greater works than he performed. It is not clear whether Jesus was saying that we will perform more powerful works than he performed, or merely that we will perform a greater quantity of works. Regardless, we would do well to at least attempt to match the works of Jesus, despite not having a full record of the works he performed.

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name…Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 20:30-31, 21:25 NIV).

The Worth of a Work

The deciding factor in terms of a work’s worth, as far as it concerns those who perform them, is whether the work is done in the name of Jesus and if it is performed in love.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed (ergon), do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV).

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV).

When Jesus rebuked those who would perform works in his name, he did so because they performed these works outside of a relationship with him while at the same time, they tried to justify themselves by their works, not by the righteousness imputed to them by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV).

While God is omniscient and is familiar with the entirety of his creation, this passage refers to a lack of intimate relationship which was not of his choosing. This situation speaks to the state of their hearts and not their performance of the miracles. Jesus would not punish anyone for doing the very works he commanded us to perform, but he is obligated to judge the heart and motivations of man.

“…He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” (1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV).

We should not neglect the works of God for fear of punishment.

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:17-18 NIV).

The opposite of the fear of punishment is love and in this love, we are empowered to be like Jesus so that we can perform the same works that he did.

Works Commission

John 14:12 does not stand alone as a command to do the works of Jesus. The Great Commission, given to all believers, is a call to spread the Gospel in tandem with performing the works of Jesus.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:16-18 NIV).

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV).

“…Wait for the gift my Father promised… the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-5, 7 NIV).

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’… Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:17, 38-39 NIV).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke settle the argument of whether the performance of supernatural works were just for the original disciples, or for all. Mark tells us that “those who believe” will do these things. First of all, those "who believe” are what we refer to as believers—the same believers who in the previous verse are saved by means of their belief. Then, becoming believers, they will do these works—unless of course, they stop believing. Are you a believer? 

Matthew lets us know that the things Jesus commanded them to do, they were to teach those who came after them, up to the end of the age. Luke reiterates the same theme that supernatural ability accompanies the giving of the Holy Spirt who is offered to even those who are “far off” into the future. As believers, we’ve been commissioned to repent, believe the Gospel, and do the works of Jesus. That’s what believers do!

Love Your Work

As already stated, a work as referenced in the New Testament is more than an action; it is an expression of love as Paul so eloquently expresses in his letter to the Corinthians:

“But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way…Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy…So also you — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:13, 14:1, 12 HCSB).

So in these passages, Paul reiterates Jesus’ intention that we should perform the works of the Spirit and he does so in the most intense way. The term eagerly desire means to burn with zeal, to be jealous for, and to bubble over out of desire. It would be difficult to believe that Jesus would ban us from performing these works, then allow Paul to endorse them with such intensity. Jesus’ rebuke, while off-putting, should not overwhelm the subject as his rebuke does not apply to those who are in good relationship with him, are pursuing love, and are not seeking to establish their own righteousness by means of the works they perform. 

And, remember that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear (1 John 4:17-18 NIV) and it is fear that keeps most from pursuing the gifts so that they may perform the works of Jesus. In addition, if we love our work, we won’t hide our light under a basket, nor will we, through fear, bury in the ground the investment that he’s given us.

Why Works?

The works of Jesus are performed to confirm his word. Scripture could not be clearer about this. These passages show that they were performed by Jesus and all who come after him so that it is clear that God’s kingdom has begun to manifest as an ongoing and perpetually growing witness of that Kingdom until he returns with a full manifestation of heaven on earth.

“For the works that the Father has given me to finish--the very works that I am doing--testify that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36 NIV).

“Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38-39 NIV).

"Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know” (Acts 2:22 NIV).

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28 NIV).

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness” (Matthew 9:35 NIV)

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…’As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give’” (Matthew 10: 1, 7-8 NIV).

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV).

Jesus sent his disciples out to proclaim the Gospel in the same way that he proclaimed the Gospel—with signs, wonders, and miracles. He then commanded them to teach others all that Jesus had commanded them. Years later, Paul followed suit with the same emphasis upon the power of the works of God. 

Keep Working!

We do the works of Jesus because:

• He commanded us to do them (John 14:12, Mark 16:16-18, Matthew 28:18)
• He demonstrated how to do them (Matthew 4:23, Acts 10:38)
• He empowered us to do them (Acts 1:9, 1 Corinthians 12:11)

Believers should do the works of Jesus out of obedience to his word and out of love (John 14:15-23). Yet it is clear that many believers are not aware of what Bible says about the works we are to perform, nor have they been exposed to a proper demonstration of their use. As believers, our first priority is to read the Scriptures and prayerfully consider what they say and then, seek an opportunity to fulfill them.

Remember that:

“..Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV).

If We Like Him, We Should Be Like Him!

Jesus tells us that we need to receive power from the Holy Spirit to become his witnesses (Acts 1:8). That word receive means "to lay hold of." We must purpose to "take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [us]...," and "...press on toward the goal..." (Phil 12:8-14 NIV).

While attaining to the resurrection of the dead is a future promise, it is also a present reality for Jesus said, "I AM the resurrection and the life." We must walk in that resurrection power now, just as Paul prayed for the Ephesians:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead..." (Eph 1:17-23 NIV).

Paul understood that his audience didn’t fully perceive that they had been given the very same power that raised Christ from the dead. How could anyone fully comprehend that all at once? Regardless, this is a truth that we must lay hold of so that we might have a better relationship with the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. His power is the key to understanding the love and compassion of God.

We have often felt unworthy to walk in that power because we've felt that we come up short and lack the love of Christ. We haven’t understood that we must walk in the midst of his power so that we might be transformed. We’ve had it backwards! Subconsciously, we thought, "Get right and God can use you." Instead Scripture tells us things like, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” and “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Co 2:11, 12:9 NIV). Our weakness is the conduit by which his power flows and that power, according to Paul, is for us who believe.

It is in that spirit that Jesus said, "These signs will follow those who believe." He wasn’t speaking to an elite group but simply those who believe, and then lay hold of what he promised. If we like him, we must be like him!

We become like him by believing (agreeing with) what he has said. Do we want to know Christ? Then we must walk as he did and BE Jesus in the world. We are to do the works of Christ, and greater (Jn 14:12). As we do them, we take another step closer to knowing him better. After all, how can one know a man unless he walk in that man's shoes? That has been the goal all along. We walk by faith, not by what we see concerning our unworthiness. Faith says that in my weakness, I lay hold of the truth that God has made me worthy to accomplish (Eph 2:10). We know him BY walking in faith and we know him by walking as he did. Humility is not displayed by how low we denigrate ourselves, but in how highly we esteem what he has said about himself and what he’s said about us. If he says we are, “More than conquerors,” “The light of the world,” “The salt of the earth,” and other lofty things, who are we to disagree?

"This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus" (1 Jn 4:17 NIV).

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did" (1 Jn 2:6 NIV).

If we like him, we must be like him! We must lay hold of what he laid hold of for us.

Think Different!

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple Computer back in the late 1990s, Apple launched an ad campaign using pictures of iconic achievers who went against the grain, like Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Over their heads were posted the words, "Think Different!" It was an effective and inspired campaign. Like Steve Jobs, God wants us to think different. 

The words, holy, saint, and sanctification, are all forms of the same Greek word, hágios, which is normally defined as being “set apart.” Recently, however, I heard someone define holiness as being "different, or of a different nature. It is that quality which sets something or someone apart:

hágios – properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, 40 (hágios) means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world.” (HELPS Word-Studies)

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁?

God’s ways are more than just a better version of what we can conceive, or merely an amalgamation of the best of human qualities. He is different! That’s why Scripture uses words like wonderful, majestic, glorious, awesome, etc., to attempt to describe him. He is full of wonder, majesty, glory, awe, etc. That’s very different!

The thing about different is that it’s…well, different. You can’t conceive of different until you experience different. With God, he is not only different, he is multi-faceted. That means there are many different aspects to God that we can come to know. We know all that is different about him through faith.

𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

Faith has to do with believing that God’s invisible qualities and blessings become visible to those who believe. This is different from the way we naturally think, and it distinguishes faith from wishful or positive thinking. Faith comes from hope, and hope is built through our experience in our knowledge of God and his faithfulness, based upon Scripture. If our natures are no different than that of those around us, it’s likely we haven’t been seeking and experiencing just how different God is.

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

Jesus was different. Those who met him noticed he was different.

”No one ever spoke the way this man does…” (John 7:46 NIV)

“…the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matthew 7:28-29 NIV)

“Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:32-33 NIV)

Do people ever say these things about us? Are we that different? Different is scary. Different is uncomfortable. By human nature, we don’t seek out or readily accept what is different. But, we’re encouraged in Scripture to seek his kingdom - a kingdom so different, it is not of this world.

𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

When we talk about seeking what is different about God, we’re not talking about some vague, supernatural, or esoteric world. To seek God is to seek him through the Scriptures and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Although we’ve been born into a different kingdom, there are parts of us which haven’t been transformed and been made different. These “unspiritual” parts will not accept, nor will they seek out God’s nature on their own; in fact, they’ll avoid what is different altogether:

“A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.” (1 Co 2:14 ISV)

It takes risk and trust to move forward in the kingdom of God. Like Abraham, we have to trust that God is leading us somewhere. We can’t stay in the same place, we must get on board.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻

We need different now more than we’ve ever needed it before. If insanity is doing the same thing over an over, but expecting a different result, by doing so, we’re seeking the rewards of being different without becoming different. It’s like burying our talents in the ground and expecting a return. It’s like carrying a lamp, but leaving the oil behind. Different is a moving train. Taking the same old train, or camping out at the train station will not move us forward. We don’t want to miss that train’s visitation.

As previously stated, we don’t know different until we’ve experienced it. Therefore, we don’t know what to ask for in prayer so that we can move towards different. To keep it simple, we might merely ask the Lord to show us something different and to give us a path forward to reach it. As Watchman Nee said -

“Our prayers lay the track down which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” ~ Watchman Nee