Greater

“Truly, truly, 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 the Father” (John 14:12).

Greater works will he do. As I look around the broad scope of Christianity in America, there is one thing I do not see happening: great works. Jesus raised people from the dead; Jesus healed the sick; Jesus wasn’t on this earth more than twenty minutes and there were already a bunch of rich guys looking for Him. Yet, I see sick, broken, angry, unhappy Christians. Or, I see an abundance of very happy men and women of God who are, well… Useless. Religion has taught us to accept mediocrity as a sign of Christian piety. In spite of the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises “plans for welfare and not calamity,” we have accepted pain as a form of God’s correction in our lives. Jesus said we would do greater works than He, so when pain or sickness comes along we should be casting it down and walking away victorious. Why don’t we?

We have not been trained to think that way. 

It is easy for us to believe that God came down to earth in the form of a man; that this Man lived a perfect life; this Man healed sick people, brought dead people to life, fed over 20,000 people with the meager lunch of a twelve-year-old boy, and had leftovers for a week. This Man died at the hands of the Roman government, descended into Hell, broke the power of sin and death, came back to life, ascended into heaven and now sits at the right Hand of God Almighty. Through simply believing in this Man, we can be assured that our sins are forgiven, and that one day this Man will return in the sky and capture us all into His Presence to live for eternity. This is easy for us to believe! (I hold to all these confessions, but when you read them out loud your mind will play some tricks on you and make you think you are crazy)  

How can we so easily uphold all of these confessions, yet it is so hard for us to believe Jesus’ promise that we will do greater things than He in these last days? Why are churches holding garage sales to meet the financial needs of their outreach programs? Scripture tells us that God shall supply all of our needs (Phil 4:13). Jesus said that if we place Him and His Kingdom at the forefront of all that we do, everything else in our life will fall into place (Matt 6:33). God promises us that if we follow all His commands that Blessings shall surely come upon us and overtake us (Deut 28:1-13); and for any of those who think that that is Old Testament only, Galatians 3 explains that all these promises belong to us as the seed of Abraham through faith in Jesus.  Yet, many churches are struggling to meet their financial needs.

Why do elders pray for God to bless the physicians, rather than letting Him be the Great Physician? Please do not misunderstand; God gave us wonderful doctors so that we may know how to treat and care for our bodies. However, the Word says, “with His stripes we are healed” (Isa 53:5). It also instructs church leaders to “pray for him [the one who is sick], anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (Jas 5:14b-15a). Yet, whenever most Christians see a healing ministry in action, they are quick to attack. They assume it is fraudulent; they think it looks creepy; others will claim that going to the Bible, rather than conventional medicine, is foolishness. These are Christian people saying these things – yet Jesus said we would do these things, and more. I know, occasionally some scumball comes along and dupes a bunch of people out of money with false services on healing, prosperity and revival. Those guys are making the rest of us look really bad. Yet, just become some slimy individual twists the Word of God for personal advantage does not mean we should all abandon what the Lord said. If I based my understanding and relationship with God on my experiences in church I would no longer be a Christian! You must do what the Word says, not what others say. Jesus said we would do greater things than He did. Why aren’t we?

Jesus said the traditions of men have made the Word of God of no effect (Mk 7:1-13). Paul gives us a clear warning against the vanity of religious traditions (Col 2:6-9), that we should not be led by the philosophy and rudiments of the world, instead of being led by Christ. We must be led by what Jesus said, not by what our pre-conceived notions about Him are. Jesus said we would do even greater things than He did while He was on this earth. The traditions of men shut down the effectiveness of God’s Word. Just because someone (maybe even you) tried it and it didn’t work does not mean it is not God’s Will that we do bigger and better things than Jesus did. It means we must continue to grow in our faith so that we will come to a place where anything will be possible. Nobody said anything was going to happen over-night. Jesus compares the Word of God to “seed” (Matt 13:1-23; Mk 4:1-32; Lk 8:4-15). Seeds need time to grow! Just because it didn’t work one time does not mean it will never work. 

We must train our thinking. We can make all these earlier confessions about Jesus, which in the natural mind sound absolutely ludicrous, because we have been taught and trained to do so. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). We know how to believe Jesus for salvation because we have been consistently taught, from the Word of God, to do so. That’s what it will take for everything else! More time in the Word. Find the promises of God for healing and meditate on them to the same degree you have for salvation and eternal life. Find the promises in Scripture for provision and confess them with the same ferocity that you do His promises for heaven. In the natural mind, everything in the Bible sounds far-fetched! How is it so easy to believe in Heaven (which we have never seen), but it is so difficult to believe God wants us healthy, prosperous, and victorious in every aspect of our lives (when we have seen that in lives of Christian people in the world today)?! We must re-train our thinking. Romans 12:2 tells us to retrain our thinking so that it lines up with God’s way of thinking. We do that through daily time in God’s Word.  2Timothy 3:16 tells us that all of Scripture is applicable to our lives. God wanted every word in that Bible to be seen by you. God is not a man that He should lie (Num 23:19); so if He said we will do greater things than Jesus, He meant it! 

Jesus did some really big stuff. He promised that we would do even greater. Yet, today we find a bulk of Christianity hanging on for dear life until Jesus comes. We are struggling with finances the same way the world is; we are dying of the same diseases the world is; our marriages are just as bad (sometimes worse) than the world’s are. And every time a Christian finds the promises of God for healing, prosperity, and “the good life” (Eph 2:10, Amplified), the traditional church world blasts them for heresy. Jesus said we would do these things. Either He is lying, or religion is lying. I pick religion.

The True Vine - John 15: 1-17

(I recommend grabbing a Bible before you begin)

What is the focal point of your life? What drives you? What is your passion, your substance, your reason? What is your purpose? For many of us – especially Christians – we have made our jobs, the pursuit of money, providing for our needs, fulfilling religious “duty,” and a wide array of earthly fluff the focus and purpose of our daily lives. Jesus said “I am the true vine… apart from Me you can do nothing.” If Jesus is the “true” vine, then obviously there are “false” vines, as well. Is Jesus the focus of your life? The Word of God is the standard of our Christian living. However, listening to Christian leaders, watching the lives of the men and women in our churches, even a simply glance of the latest Facebook status,’ are showing me that this is no longer the case. Worldly influences and desires are coloring the way Christians view their lives – both physically and spiritually. In order for God to have the necessary access in our lives to make any real change, our life must first be rooted in Jesus. 

It is God’s desire for us that we “bear much fruit,” that we be as productive in this life as possible. God may require us to remove some things from our lives (TV, movies, and other distractions), in order that we may be of an even greater value to His Kingdom, and the world around us. Anything that takes away from your time with God and His Word is on the chopping-block. Remember, it is your heart that is the issue – not the Magic Picture Box. It is God’s desire that we grow as much as possible, and anything that gets in the way He will prune away. He is after your own good, so anything that He asks of you to do should be done with the attitude, “thank you for making me better, Lord” (see Romans 8:28; 1Corinthians 2:9). Notice, however, that if you are unwilling to grow, unwilling to make the changes God asks of you, God will remove you.  If you are unwilling to be a blessing, you never will be. 

How does God make these requests of us? How do we know what it is He is calling us to do? God’s Word is His tool for pruning back our lives (see Hebrews 4:12). Jesus tells us, “you are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]” (v. 3, Amplified). The teachings of Jesus, the Word of God, is how we are cleansed and pruned to be more fruitful in our physical and spiritual lives. Sickness, disease, calamity, poverty – these are not God’s tools for pruning away the junk in our lives. They are the result of sin, the fallen nature of the world around us, the thievery of Satan (see John 10:10). I have heard too many Christians praying, “Lord, we don’t know why You do the things You do... It’s hard for us to understand Your ways… We do not know Your Will…” All spoken with the attitude of, “God is doing this.” Stop blaming God for the bad things that happen in life! God is not the author of calamity. Now, there are times when God allows some things to continue longer than we may like, but, again, for the benefit of our growth (see James 1:2-3). He is not the author, but as we saw in Romans 8:28, He will turn it for our good. 

Seven times Jesus tells us to abide in Him as the vine. You can do nothing apart from Him. We do not even have license to pray without Him. What is wonderful about Jesus, is that He promises “much fruit.” Abundance is found in being a disciple of Jesus! In Him you can do everything (see Philippians 4:13). That is the hope Jesus gives to His disciples. However, be aware of motive. If the only reason we are seeking Jesus is for the “stuff,” then we will receive nothing (see James 4:3). Jesus words here are an encouragement to His disciples – to all those who treasure His Word in their hearts. He takes it to a level many Christians never dare to dream: “ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” Whatever you ask. That is not greed; it is growth (see Psalm 37:4). If God’s Word is truly abiding in you, how can you make an unholy request? “If it’s God’s Will” is not going to be an issue; you will already know it! Jesus tells us that God is glorified through this. Our discipleship is proven through our fruit, through the fullness of our growth – spiritually, physically, financially – in everything. God is a big God! Jesus produces big results! Jesus promised us that we would do even greater things than He did if we continued in His word (see John 14:12). So why aren’t we? 

Jesus commands us to abide in His love. We do this by following His commandments. The more we walk in His ways, obeying His voice, the greater His love will grow inside us. We are to keep Jesus’ commands to the extent that He kept the Father’s – which led Jesus to the cross. We must be willing to do what is uncomfortable, unpleasant, even painful. We all hear that many times in church. However, one thing I have experienced to be over-looked is Jesus promise after that: “so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be made full.” Our joy will be made full, not if we suffer, but if we are willing to follow His voice through whatever He tells us, regardless of what anyone around us may think. Jesus is trying to get you to the next level with God. He even says that we are called His friends! How often do you hear that in church? 

“Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus laid down His life for us, because we are regarded as His friends. Those of us who follow His teachings, obey His word and do what He says are His friends. I am not disregarding any other role a man or woman of God may have towards Him. I am emphasizing an aspect of our life that gets too often over-looked. If you obey God, you are Jesus friend. Reread verse 15. Everything Jesus has said up to this point He heard from the mouth of God. It is God who desires that our lives be as productive and abundant as possible. It is God who desires to make our joy complete.  It is God who desires to remove the title “slave” off of His people. Jesus said we are no longer slaves, but sons –and friends. Jesus chose us to bear much fruit; He desires that our fruit will remain, “so that whatever you ask of the Father in [Jesus’] name He may give to you.”

Jesus is trying to bless His friends. Think about that.    

Dear Christianity

Dear Christianity,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today. It is no secret that we haven't always gotten along; we have had our fights; we have said things we regret. As with all relationships, there have been growing pains. But you have really done it this time, my friend. I hope this letter is received well by you, and that you understand that it is not my intent to cut you down, but to show you what going on around you - and why I feel the way I do.

First, I must commend you: you have done many wonderful things in our world. Thank you for showing me Jesus, and for keeping me from abandoning Him in times of crisis. Thank you for your servants heart; for blessing many less-fortunate in communities both at-home and abroad. You have a good heart, Christianity. I know you mean well. You are trying to follow the commands of our Lord. Unfortunately, I must inform you: you are becoming a menace - causing more grief than good. And so I write, imploring you: get your act together, Christianity.

How do you teach from one Manual, and yet you continue to do nothing but divide? How is it that you claim to have The Answer, yet you live in a constant state of fear, doubt, and despair? You are full of bickering, battling over ridiculous dogmas and creeds. I find that you rather follow the religious musings of dead men, rather than the precious Word of our Living Father. Instead of heeding the warnings of the risen Jesus in Mark 7, you continue to embrace your religious traditions - thus making the Word of God of no-effect in your life. Christianity, you teach the writings of Paul, who pleads and warns us against such vain deceit in his letter to the church at Colossae. Then you proclaim these vain deceits and traditions of men as truth from your pulpits! You are becoming a hypocrite; you are increasingly double-minded. Are we lowly sinners, or are we the righteousness of God? You can never decide. What happened to "one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism"? Christianity, many of your churches have no faith. Few believe our Lord will give them desires of their hearts, or that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think. You taught them that: to go against the very words of our Father in heaven. You have found ways to contradict the very words of God you claim to profess.

Look at your history. Many have given their lives for our Lord's cause - but they died at your hand, Christianity. Even now people go to war within your congregations. You have a form of godliness, but you deny your own power to bless, prosper and heal. Do you still not realize that it is our Father Who has given us His Word, and that it is pure and holy and right? It needs no further academic interpretation! How are we so divided?! How do you sing songs of being blessed and highly favored, and then cut-down the men and women who preach that blessing from the pulpit? You teach us that God will always provide, and then you live constant fear and doubt that calamity will strike. It is said in your sanctuaries that we are not of this world, but your members look no different those who regret our Lord and Savior. They are broke, angry, slanderous, unbelieving gossips. And you have taught me to be just like them.

Many will not come to know the goodness and glory of our Father because of what you have done, Christianity. I still have difficulty seeing it. they will not Jesus as I do, nor will they listen to me try, because they have watched you from afar. They watch you cut-down your own. They see your divisions; they hear your hypocrisies; they feel your judgment.

Your enemy is running rampant about you. He scoffs at your in-fighting. He revels in your poverty. He knows you have the power to thwart his every step, but his deceitfulness and distractions have left you more concerned for "being right" in your doctrines than for the lives of men. Your enemy has filled you with fear of walking in the fullness of our Lord's Blessing. Now he has the hearts and minds of our Father's beloved, because you lack the means and resources to reach them.

Because of you, I have friends who do not know Jesus. They don't even want to listen to me. They have been hurt by you, Christianity. I have been hurt by you. I have been in your midst for decades, yet I am still so under-prepared to tackle the Commission our Lord has given me. I Implore you to get yourself together! Stop diluting our Father's holy Word with your religious trash! Put away your powerless doctrines, your ancient dogmas, and your lifeless theologies. Pick up the Word of God Almighty; it needs no academic interpretation. Remember where you came from; remember who you are and Whose you are. You have The Answer people need; I would appreciate it if you would act like it.