By Pastor Bob Lawrenz
We read in Acts 2 that there were Disciples from Asia present at Pentecost, and pockets of Believers sprouted up as they took Jesus message back to their homes. Prior to that though, there were Disciples of John the Baptist that had done similarly, taking John’s message of Baptism and Repentance home.
Part of Jesus’ message to the Apostles and Disciples was that they would do many greater things than just healings and miracles. John 14:12 describes Jesus telling them that because He goes to the Father, Believers shall do many more miraculous works than just what the Apostles saw during Jesus’ ministry of preaching, healing, and feeding large crowds. It is there in John 14 that we find Jesus saying that if He goes up to the Father, His Holy Spirit will come down with, upon, and in the Believers. It is the Holy Spirit who allows us, enables us, and empowers us to greater things than physical miracles.
We know that Jesus changes hearts. And from that same chapter of John 14, we also know that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, and reminds us of the things that Jesus has said.
To not receive the fullness of the Gospel leaves us with only a portion of God’s will for us, and in the case of the church at Ephesus and elsewhere, a full experience of Faith is missing! Some churches today don’t think the Spiritual Gifts are for today, and that must grieve the Holy Spirit! If Jesus were only to have preached a message of salvation, without proof of His mighty ability to change lives, how many would have ever have followed Him. And though John’s message is one of hope, it still presents a salvation based on works: if I repent and be baptized, I will be acceptable to God. That still leaves me with a corrupted heart, and a daily internal struggle for righteousness.
The greatest work of the Apostles was that they changed the whole world.
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:
or else believe me for the very works' sake.” - John 14:11
Works then, are the evidence of true faith in Christ Jesus.!
