Christ said we would do greater things than He did, raise the dead, cast out demons and heal the sick!!! What could be greater than having the ability to do these miracles?
John 14:12-14
"12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father.
There are only two things greater than these miracles, that is the gospel to the unsaved and living our lives through the Holy Spirit. These are the greater things.
Many people saw Christ do miracles but didn't trust in Him. Seeing miracles does not cause people to trust in Christ, it is conviction of the Holy Spirit on a heart that is ready and willing to hear.
Luke 16:19-31 tells us about the rich man who asked God to send Lazarus to warn his brothers about hell, but God said: "‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
All these things we think might influence people to come to Christ, such as leaving an inheritance, a vision from heaven, and forgiving the unrepentant so they will like us and we won't be bitter are humanistic ideas based on psychology, they do not change a wicked heart.
Psychology asserts that people are nothing more than animals. If we treat animals well they will be loyal and do what we want. We are not animals and no matter how good you are to people it is not the kindness that changes their hearts. We are commanded to bless our enemies so that we will not become like them in our responses. God is more concerned about protecting our Spiritual life than He is about what others do to us, except that what they do to us strengthens us into a better person if we follow the principles of Christ.
Genesis 5:19-21 " shows us that whatever anyone does to us is allowed by God to shape our character.
By the way, not all animals respond well if you give them good things or say nice words to them. If you walk into the cage with a hungry lion and say nice words they will eat you, they don't care about your words or the pretty gifts wrapped up in bows.
The greater miracles in believers are those character growth spurts we have when we obey God's principles even when others mistreat us or lie against us. We benefit from all that happens to us even if no one around us changes.
No one else makes us what we are, it is our response that comes from our heart condition that proves our character.
The greater things we do as believers is sharing the gospel, growing in holiness while depending on Christ and the strength we show during illness and difficulties of all kinds. These are the works of the Holy Spirit in us, not our own works but His!!!!
James 1:2-4
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Our witness to the world around us is how we respond to all of the circumstances that come to us. Others see our maturity, our strength in adversity and our joy that is pervasive through all of it. This is a greater witness than if we did a miracle that skeptics could discount just as they did with Christ.
We are not to look for miracles and grandiose things that easily fade with memory. We are to live our lives in Holy Spirit strength without emotional outbursts of discouragement, these are the greater things.
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