Month: January 2020

Jesus said, 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 (John 14:12).

Note the condition? Faith in Jesus. For the first five keys (faith in his love, sacrifice, word, power, and example,) see my earlier blog. Here are five more:

Jesus said, 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 (John 14:12).

Faith in his authority

“All authority has been given to me,” said Jesus in Matthew 28:18. He is Lord of the universe. Everything is under his authority, and everything must obey. It’s not hard for the God who created the heavens to move a mountain or grow a leg. Meditate on that word all.

Faith in his command

Matthew 28 continues, “Therefore go and make disciples… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The command transfers the authority to us.

Obedience is the mark of a disciple. He commanded the apostles to preach the kingdom, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead. He told them to teach us.

You think you can’t? Totally irrelevant! He told you to do it, so off you go. You’ll be amazed.

Faith in his Name

In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a crippled beggar. A crowd gathers, and Peter preaches, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong” (Acts 3:16).

There is power in the name of Jesus! It is the name above every name. At a big rally, a preacher commanded a deaf person to be healed using the names of other religious leaders. Nothing happened. When he used the name of Jesus, the man was instantly healed.

It’s not enough just to use the name, like the sons of Sceva in Acts 19. We must have faith in the name. It’s holy, it’s powerful, and it works!

Faith in his presence

Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This is not a conditional promise, but a statement of fact. The Lord of creation indwells every atom. There is nowhere he isn’t!

He is not just with you, he is for you. All we do in the kingdom of God is a partnership with the Lord, for nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). When you stretch forth a hand to heal, it is his. When you command a spirit, it is him speaking.

Faith in his promise

No matter how many promises the Lord has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. Galatians 3:5: Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

All God’s promises are conditional. Under Law, the condition was obedience. Under the new covenant, it’s faith. Jesus said to Jairus, whose daughter had died, “Only believe.”

We don’t put our faith in our own efforts, gifts, methods, prayers or even in faith. We put our faith in Jesus.

Jesus said many crazy things, but this is right up there: 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 (John 14:12).

How could we possibly do what he did, never mind even greater things? Surely, he was exaggerating? No. He began with I tell you the truth. He meant it.

Like all his promises, it’s conditional upon faith in Jesus. When we set out to do what he did, we must trust (have faith) in these ten things.

Faith in his love

Jesus healed because he loved people and hated sickness. The Lord mourns over the suffering of his people. “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed,” he cries in Jeremiah 8:21.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14).

Compassion was his motive and must be ours. We must know that he loves them and wants them whole. Any less is compromise.

Faith in his Sacrifice

The cross of Christ is the fulcrum of history. All healing, salvation, deliverance, and restoration are paid for on the cross. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke called it the most righteous claim on earth—the will of God, paid for by the Son of God.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24).

Past tense. Do we believe it?

Faith in his Word

At a moment of crisis, the Lord told Bonnke that God’s word in Reinhard’s mouth was as powerful as God’s word in his own mouth.

When Jesus went to heal the centurion’s servant, the centurion said, “Just say the word.” When a royal official came to him, Jesus said, “Your son will live” (John 4:50). The official took Jesus at his word. That’s the key!

Faith in his power

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and … he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him (Acts 10:38).

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Jesus healed because he was anointed with the Holy Spirit. If we are filled with the Spirit, we have the SAME POWER available. If we believe.

Faith in his example

If we are his disciples, we should emulate his ministry, message, and methods. Jesus said, I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you (John 13:15). He is our pattern. He commanded us to follow him. To follow means:

• Let him go first
• Stay close
• Watch and listen
• Copy

The other five keys next week!

Or why we sometimes don’t hear God.

We blame the donkey, but in the story of Balaam and the Ass (Numbers 22), it was Balaam who wasn’t listening. The donkey knew all along. God speaks even through donkeys, which gives me great comfort.

The Pride Earplug

Nineteen times the Lord calls his people stiff-necked. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15). When we know best, we dismiss alternatives.

The Mindset Earplug

Jesus continually warned his disciples of his death. They couldn’t get it, because his words didn’t fit their image of a Savior. When I first witnessed a withered arm grow, in ten seconds, I thought it was a fake. Miracles trash people’s mindsets. I had to find another worldview.

The Distraction Earplug

Mary sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha got dinner. Her distraction wasn’t the meal, but her attitude—frustration at her sister’s behavior. Anger, judging others, and jealousy put fingers in our ears.

The Doubt Earplug

He who doubts. . . should not think he will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7), including hearing. We doubt he wants to speak, we doubt he will speak, we doubt he will speak to us.

We doubt our ability to hear, or that we’ve heard correctly. I have found the Lord honors those who step out in faith, trusting him, even if we didn’t get it quite right. Faith pleases him.

Do an earplug test: Are these hindering you from hearing? Because the Lord is speaking, all the time (see my previous blog.)

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning