An answer

It's been a few days since I started asking the Lord what he wanted me to know about his promise of doing "greater works than these", and I think I have something to share. 

First, here is the verse again:  John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."  It's always good to read the context, so the following verses (13 and 14) are:  "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."  These words in John come at the Last Supper after Jesus has washed his disciples feet.  Jesus is responding to a request that he show them the Father.

My Bible cross references verse 12 with Luke 10:17 which says "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'" which is cross referenced with Mark 16:17 which says "And these signs will accompany whose 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."

So I found that these "greater things" include exercising authority over demons and other miraculous manifestations of supernatural power.  We know the promise was fulfilled in the early church and such things are going on today.  My question for the Lord is about how this applies to me (and to us) personally.

the light house at Corolla, NC

When I prayed, parts of Romans came to mind so I started reading at Chapter 5 with the promise of doing the things Jesus did as my frame of reference.  I couldn't get away from this verse:  "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)  It's talking about reigning.

It says that death reigned before Christ died for us.  We were subject to everything that came along with being cut off from life with God, and this eventually leads to death.  Apart from being restored to spiritual connection with God, we fall into disease, depraved thinking, deep isolation and fear.  But because of "God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness" through Jesus, we are not only fully alive, but we are able to reign in life.

The more I think about that the more huge it seems.  If we know that we are meant to be reigning in life "through the one man, Jesus Christ" we are hard to deceive and hard to intimidate and hard to accuse.  We can advance in the purposes of our lives as we understand them through prayer and our relationship with God. "I am redeemed and the enemy cannot touch me!"  "I am forgiven and arrows of shame have no place to stick."  "I belong and I am known, loved and favored by the God of the universe."  "I am confident in using the gifts and talents I have been given."

"...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" Romans 8:37

This is the attitude that the enemy cannot stand.  He wants to steal, kill and destroy.  But with the knowledge and conviction that we are in Christ and he is in us, we can literally push back the darkness.  We do it by loving others, by bringing creative ideas and solutions to problems, by forgiving, by including someone who is lonely, by instilling Biblical truth in children, by praying with faith, by blessing and calling out the potential in others.

hot springs flowing into the Rio Grande

None of this comes as a result of our own work, lest we begin to feel burdened that God places these expectations on his children.  No, no, no!  These things well up in us and flow out as we enjoy our belovedness, rest in unassailable security, and learn to abide in the peace we have with God through what Christ did for us.*

Ongoing, courageous faith in Jesus is the key that unlocks full transformation into a life of doing the things he did.  He is the light that overcomes the darkness in us and the darkness around us.  We are equipped to reign in life through Jesus and there is no telling where that can lead!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may...praise your Father in heaven" Matt. 5:16

*Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

John 14:12

"I tell you the truth anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father."

This is going to be a leap!

 I was shredding old journals the other day.  I had a box of them in the attic going back 20 years.  The box came down out of the attic so I could do something with the old journals, but it has been sitting on the living room floor for several months!  I decided I was tired of looking at that box, that I probably wasn't ever going to do anything with the writing in it, and that I wasn't going to be having access to an industrial strength shredder anytime soon.  So I took several spiral notebooks and began tearing out pages, feeding them into the blades of our own little shredder.  I stopped to read here and there just to be sure I was ready to destroy what I had in my hand.

It was very interesting going back to 1992.  I allude to my past a lot in this blog - to the progress of my healing and to how far I've come in my knowledge of God in His three persons.  I was surprised at what I have forgotten -- and yet that's good.  I'm glad that I don't live with reminders of all that struggle and hurt in the present, but also glad that I was led to look at some of what I was recording in 2005.  I haven't finished shredding, but that particular time period was pretty remarkable and I am so thankful I was led to read some of it again.

"the Lord turns my darkness into light"

I saw passages of writing done with my left hand which were an attempt to hear from myself as a small child.  And I read touching exchanges with God as the Holy Spirit counseled me with truth.  Someone reading this might wonder if that could be real.  I wasn't sure either, in the beginning, but conversing with the Wonderful Counselor through writing became a powerful tool in my healing.  As I read I was amazed at how meaningful and not of me the exchanges were.  I am totally convinced that God met me in this way with great love and infinite patience.  I remember that at times His responses were puzzling, but if we kept "talking" amazing things would emerge and I was marveling all over again at the greatness of having a relationship with God!  I recall times when I didn't get an answer I could understand right away, and just sitting with it would bring illumination and blessing.

My take-away from this experience of remembering and shredding was some appreciation of how deep we went to get the foundation of my life established on solid truth.  I honestly did not remember how much self-hatred and rejection I had stored up, but it was there along with the faulty reasoning behind it.  Because of the lie that I had to be perfect and meet every (perceived) expectation to be loved, I was committed to covering up every flaw.  Any part of me that wouldn't serve that agenda had to be silenced and buried.  Even having grief over moving so many times was threatening to my safety as I saw it.

 balance and peace in a Japanese garden

Then today as I was reading John 14 in my Bible, verse 12 stood out -- "...anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these..."  I am a prayer minister at my church.  I know that God wants me to help others with the help I have received.  I have come to the place where my confidence rests on Jesus with me and in me.  So what would He like me to know about this promise?

I'm going to be asking just that.  I'm going to meditate on this and perhaps have a conversation with Him about it.  I was also recently drawn to the contrast of Peter in Luke 22:61-62 (where he wept bitterly because he had just denied knowing Jesus 3 times) and in Acts 9:40 (where he prays for the dead woman, Tabitha, and she is raised from the dead).  What does the Lord want us to know and believe?  What is it about faith in Jesus that enables us to do greater things than He did as a man on the earth?

I think that this feels important to me right now because of this little trip back to see the miraculous things that have happened to make me psychologically whole.  I have just been reminded of how much faith in Jesus has already done for me and in me.  I wonder how much is possible for Him to do through me if I have the faith he speaks of.

Our Friend

water-sculpted rock in Antelope Canyon, AZ

I am so taken with God's gift of the Holy Spirit!  I've known about the Holy Spirit and I've seen the evidence of his presence in my life, but not felt I had a relationship with this person of God.  Now that is changing, too!

In the 14th Chapter of John, after the Last Supper, as Jesus prepares to be sacrificed on the cross, He says "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.  The world ... neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans;" (from John 14:16-18)  "...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

I see now that this whole chapter is filled with tender care.  Jesus has washed his friends' feet.  He has given them symbols of his body and blood just as he will give his real body and blood in a few hours..  He is assuring them that they will not be abandoned even though it will look that way.

What if we didn't have the Holy Spirit?  Actually, there would not have been a church at all.  Jesus could have taken the punishment for our sins on the cross and God could have forgiven us, but how could we have known Him?  How could we have turned from sin to live differently?  How would the fearful disciples have come out and convinced anyone to believe?

sunrise in a cactus garden

The power for true life is from the Holy Spirit.  The power in the Word of God is in the Holy Spirit.  But he's not just a form of power, he's a person.  He's a Counselor, a Helper, and a Comforter.  He represents the maternal side of God - the nurturer who brings growth about.  He opens our eyes and gives understanding and assurance (the "knowing that you know").  He quickens faith in us.  He is the spirit of truth and the spirit of Jesus Christ.

I was so excited when our pastor explained that the spirit of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit that unites with our human spirit. That is how Jesus "comes into our hearts".  His very spirit comes in and joins with ours.  That is how he can live through us, and why we can have his faith, and his love for someone, and his mind.  Wow...  Does that not open up a whole universe of possibilities?

One of the best things I have ever done, is attend a conference called "Ruach"** (which means breath of God).  It was 3 days about the Holy Spirit and our spirits.  I didn't know that God intended our spirits to be the dominate part of us.  We are spiritual beings, but we often live like just physical beings.  We let our bodies or our souls (mind, will, and emotions) dictate how we view the world and life.  That is what someone who hasn't been born again of the spirit has to do.  They have no choice.

We do have a choice.  I think we want to be more spiritually mature in our response to things, but we sometimes don't know how.  We try, but if we are trying in the energy of our souls, or flesh, we will fail.  Our souls are meant to rely on our spirits.  When our spirits are in Christ and Christ's Spirit is in us, there is a strength to behold!  No wonder the enemy cannot stand up to that!  When we realize this, we can have a deep unshakeable confidence that has nothing to do with self or pride.

wild horses on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

This confidence, or conviction of where we stand with God provides the strength to stand firm under temptation to doubt that God is for us and will never leave us.  It's the strength to refuse shame and to keep trying when things don't go well.  It's the source of hope that allows us to persevere in prayer for "impossible" things.  It is the way we walk above our circumstances - the way we reign in life.

Thank you, Father, for sending the Holy Spirit to take over when Jesus had to leave.

**here's a link to the Ruach Journey website:    http://www.ruachjourney.com/

A prayer for help!

Even in a solid relationship, because we are growing, there are times when faith falters.  It is normal, as far as I can see, for to God allow things to touch my life that push me beyond the level of faith that I am comfortable in.  He lets this happen so that my faith can grow and areas of unbelief can be revealed.

Does that mean He is challenging me to deal with more and be stronger?  Not at all!  It is an opportunity to know Him more as the strong, attentive, faithful one on my behalf. 

One thing that helped so much was when a brother in Christ told me that the "secret" to remaining unafraid was knowing God's presence with me in everything.  If I can know Him as He truly is, and then remember that He is always there to hold my hand, hold me up, fight my battles, comfort me and heal my wounds, then I can let go of the fear of being out of control.  In fact, I can learn to ride along with the wind blowing through my hair, messing it all up, and look at the scenery.


There are times, though, when it can seem like disaster has fallen upon us.  There are times when no one remains unshaken.  And as I write this, I am reminded of Jesus in Gethsemane. Mark 14:33-34 says Jesus was deeply distressed, troubled, overwhelmed with sorrow, and Luke (22:43-44) says he was in anguish so that "an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him" in prayer.

In the following passage we hear a crying out prayer made at a desperate time.  Prayers like this one, preserved for us in the Bible, have carried me through some very hard times.  I hope it encourages you .

Psalm 143:7-12

 "Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.












Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life;

in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;

destroy all my foes, for I am your servant."



Psalm 143:7-12

Relationship

sheep & Shepherd

We are made to be relational beings and we all have relationships.  Hopefully they are good, sometimes they are not.  When I think about a person that I have a close and important relationship with, it feels comfortable.  I don’t wonder whether this person really likes me or worry about what they might be thinking.  I don’t censor myself, but speak and act with freedom.  It feels natural that I am understood and accepted. And there is room for working out disagreements and misunderstandings that inevitably occur.

Father & son

Is this in any way similar to our relationship with God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?  Christians talk a lot about our faith being a relationship with God or with Jesus Christ, but is that what we experience?

or daughter

 If God wants to have a relationship with us the way he did before sin entered the world, then something has to happen to clear the way.  That, of course, is why Jesus came.  He came to take sin out of the way – the guilt and shame we feel, and the need to keep on sinning as part of life.  With that done, the way is open to closeness and intimacy and security and rest with God.

It can be a challenge to receive cleansing if you feel guilty and can’t accept that the blood of Jesus has truly washed you white as snow.  Some of us really hang onto our guilt and condemnation, but faith knows that God’s word is true.  He wants to be near me, so he made the way.  He did it for me.  Believing that, agreeing with that, can be a process, but God says that the work He began in me, He will complete (Philippians 1:6; 2:13) to his satisfaction.

His satisfaction doesn’t mean that I will be good enough to satisfy Him.  It means that I will finally understand that I am good enough to satisfy him.  When I receive the knowledge that His righteous wrath against my sin was satisfied by the death of Jesus and personally accept the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf, I have done what it takes to please God. 

ultimately His bride

What is it that so pleases and satisfies God about me already?  Faith in His Son!  It is faith in His Son that brings me to the narrow gate and faith that qualifies me to be adopted by the Father, and faith that transforms me more and more into the image of His Son.  I don’t have to look like Jesus to be saved and I don’t have to look like Him to satisfy God in our relationship. From this position, I can have faith to yield to the process of ‘becoming’ by grace.  No fear or anxiety, just His love transforming me -- victory to victory.  Stumbles are acceptable.  It really is so much more simple than we try to make it.

Hallelujah!  What freedom, what joy!  What a great relationship!  What we often turn into 'religion' is the relationship which is meant to be secure and delightful and comforting and fun and strengthening and complete.  Many people feel that kind of joy and peace when they are first adopted, but lose it as they begin to feel responsible for growing up to meet a standard.  People may ask you to live up to a standard, but God does not.  He doesn’t expect us to achieve anything because we can’t.  Trusting His unconditional love unconditionally is all there is to do.

Really?  What about all the verses that tell me to do things? 

God forms Christ in us

Those commands are part of becoming more like Jesus.  But who can live like Jesus, except Jesus in us?  It is still grace by faith that enables me to become a person through whom Jesus is free to live out his love.  Don’t the commands come back to love?  The whole point is about being so loved by God that I can be a vessel of His love for others.

And by making this process of growing as a Christian about Jesus instead of about me, He is honored and glorified.  He is the Name above all names.  He gets the glory and He is exalted.  I like that, don’t you?!