GREATER WORKS THAN THESE!
INTRODUCTION:
When the LORD spoke unto the disciples that they would do greater works than the ones that He has done, He said it with affirmation or great conviction. That means it is possible with certainty that we can also accomplish the same exploits that He did even more. This is good-news to us believers today.
If we believe God we can do great things! This study examines some of Jesus’ works and how we too can do the same. May the Lord bless us as we study in Jesus’ mighty name (Amen).
CENTRAL BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 14:1-26
A. SOME WORKS OF JESUS
Jesus when He came to the world as God becoming flesh to reveal God in man. Jn. 1:1-10, He was guided by one major mission statement as enumerated in Luke gospel chapter 4 and verses 18-19. This is a fulfilment of the prophetic word concerning him (Isaiah 61:1-3). This states that God anointed Jesus by His Spirit for some major reasons or purposes. These are:
1. To preach the gospel to the poor;
2. To heal the brokenhearted;
3. To bring freedom to those held in captivity (bondage);
4. To open the eyes of the blind;
5. To set at liberty those under any form of oppression or affliction;
6. To proclaim (announce) the acceptable year of the Lord (which is from the time of His revelation).
The question that readily comes is did He truly carry out all these things. Yes He did. Examples abound in the scriptures to confirm this.
1) He preached the gospel to the poor. Mt. 5:1-48; 6:1-34; 7:1-4; Jn. 4:1-35. Some things noticeable with His preached with conviction with authority and with passion.
2) He healed the broken-hearted. Mt. 4:23-24; Mt. 9:2-8, 18-26; Mk. 1:40-45. Jesus healed with willingness, compassion, love and faith. Acts 10:34-38
3) To bring freedom to those held in captivity (bondage) Mt. 17:14-18; Mk. 5:1-20; Mk. 7:24-30, 31-37
4) To open the eyes of the blind. He opened the eyes of the man born blind. Jn. 9:1-11. He also opened the eyes of the blind Bartimeaus and many others. Mk. 10:46-52. Jesus is the Light of the Word.
5) To set at liberty those who are oppressed. Mt. 8:14-17; Mk. 3:1-5; Mk. 8:1-9
6) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. Lk. 4:21, 33-36
GREATER WORKS THAN THESE! (Part 2)
INTRODUCTION
In the last study, we looked at the works of Jesus. He brought salvation to humanity, the poor had the gospel preached to them, the sick were healed; the captives were delivered; the oppressed set free and comforted; the blind see; the lame walked, the dead raised to life and so on. Jesus promised his disciples that they would do the same and even greater works. The following investigates the reality of the saying of Jesus after he went to glory.
May the LORD bless us with tremendous insights into His word as we study in Jesus’ mighty name (Amen).
CENTRAL BIBLE PASSAGE: ACTS 3:1-26; 4:1-4
THE DISCIPLES CARRIED OUT THE SAME WORKS AS JESUS DID
From the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came mightily upon the disciples, power came upon them; they started doing the same kind of works that Jesus was doing when he was on the earth. They went about preaching the gospel, teaching the word of God, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, setting the captives free and many more. Acts 2:1-4; 14-41, 42-47.
Some of the works along the same line of Jesus’ six purposes are enumerated as below.
1. They went about preaching the gospel to people both near and afar off in obedience to the lord’s command. Mk.16:15-20; Acts 1:8; 2:38-41; 3:12-20; 4:4, 18-21, 31-33; 5:42; 8:4-5
2. They went about healing the sick; for example, the apostle Peter healed the lame man at the beautiful gate and performed other miracles; Deacons Stephen and Philip also did the same! Acts 3:1-11; 5:12-16; 6:8; 8:5-8
3. They brought deliverance to the captives; for example, Deacon Philip at Samaria, Apostle Peter at Lydia. Acts 8:5-8; 9: 32-35; 19:11-12
4. They opened the eyes of the blind; for example, Brother Ananias at Damascus and Apostle Paul at Paphos Island. Acts 9:8-18; 13:6-12.
5. They set at liberty those under any form of oppression or bondage; for example, Apostle Peter at Jerusalem and Joppa, Deacon Philip at Samaria and Apostle Paul at Lystra. Acts 5:16; 9:36-43; 8:7; 14:8-11
6. They proclaimed the gospel as happening in the now! 2 Cor. 6:1-2, Acts 8:5-8; 2:36-41; 8:34-39.
GREATER WORKS THAN THESE! (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION
In the last two parts, we have been able to examine the works of Jesus and confirmed that the disciples did the same. This goes to confirm the saying of Jesus that we can do the works that He did and even greater works than that as a matter of truth.
Today’s study makes us to discover who we are and the need to begin greater works. May the LORD by the knowledge we would gain today set us on motion for greater works in Jesus’ mighty name (Amen)!
CENTRAL BIBLE PASSAGE: MARK 16:1-20
A. TO DO GREATER WORKS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Many believers are not manifesting the power of God and their authority in Christ because they do not know who they are and if at all they know they are not walking in this consciousness.
Is. 8:18; Mk. 16:17-18; Mt. 28:18-20; Jn. 20:20-21; 1 Pet. 2:9-12; Eph. 2:4-14; Eph. 1:20-23; Jn. 15:1-5; Eph. 1:3-5; Rom. 8:19, 22; Gal. 4:1; Is. 9:6
B. TO DO GREATER WORKS YOU NEED TO BE EMPOWERED AND DEPENDENT ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
Signs and wonders are a result of the workings of the Holy Spirit. He is the producer of miracles on the earth. When a child of God is empowered by the Holy Spirit and dependent on Him, he too can do the same work that Jesus did, and also greater works.
Act 1:8, Num 11:7, Luke 4:14, Luke 24:49, Act 2:1-4, 37-42, Act 3:1-8, Act 4:31-33, Jhn 14:12, Jn. 3:34, Ez47:3-5, Ps. 45:7
