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Page 15 "Talking It Over" by Glenn Ford
The discussion in regards of “greater works“ has come to my attention in a person to person discourse and through way of the media. It needs to be addressed by all concerned simply because our Lord explained how them that believed in Him shall do greater works than He did. The most popular understanding of this and / or interpretation is that the greater works are in the moment or on the spot healing or any change that is impossible with man's natural ability; because working “with God all things are possible.” That being the prelude let’s now deal with the actual meat for discernment. The verse we are referring to is John 14:12 which states: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
The key here is “works” while taking nothing away from “greater” which we will also discuss.
Although we are aware of the works of our Lord let us be more specific to get to the meat of subject matter. Let us go to an earlier verse John 14:10 which states: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” If I may, let me say, go back and read that verse again. Please, I’ll wait, really, go back, read it again! Do it now before we move forward. Get the Spirit down in your soul. Did you do it? If not do it now. Like I said I’ll wait; I’m not going anywhere. Now that you have done that, if you actually did, think on this: “....he doeth the works.” WHAT WORKS? It’s the speaking, the delivering of the gospel and I’ll let our Lord explain it: “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Do you now see the “works” is to be spoken. If you need to go back and read it again, do so!
Now let our Lord explain the “greater works:” “the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” “....because I go unto my Father.” Now see “greater” as not in spectacular, but as more of as in numbers of days. Our Lord delivered the gospel over a three year period. Through Him we have the authority to deliver it forever which is so much greater than a mere three years. In John 14:16 Our Lord stated: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”
Again “forever” is so much *greater* than three years. So again use “greater” as not in spectacular, but as MORE OF as in numbers of days.
So defining “greater works” our Lord showed us that “works” is the gospel / sermons, and I’ll let our Lord explain that: “....the words that I *speak* unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Now our Lord “miraculously” (naturally speaking) healed in the moment / on the spot as well as His disciples which leads to the ideal that those of us involved should be doing the same. Let us see what our Lord feels about that. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” (As Jonas was in the belly of that great fish three days and three nights so will our Lord be in the heart of the earth; his death before rising.) “....and there shall no sign be given unto it, (wicked generation)....” His reason for saying this was because people were more concern with being physically healed or fed or whatever their desires were instead of hearing the Word of God and being obedient / saved. That’s the very reason our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Now since our Father has things in perfect order what’s the point of “miracles” out side of the natural order. Let’s follow our Lord train of thoughts and adjust this. At John 9 it states: “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
All the “miracles” that our Lord did was to confirm who He was in order to spread the word / gospel. All the miracles that His disciples did to push the gospel of our Lord foward was for that same reason, that is to prove that God’s Word was also of our Lord Yeshua’s “aka” Jesus Christ’s Words. Confirming this at Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
SO IT HAS BEEN DONE; WE HAVE THE GOSPEL.
The laying of hands on someone for healing falls in this category also for it is a sign of our Lord’s power. It is not the natural order of things for God has went before us and what is, is how it suppose to be with things naturally added unto your life, and I’ll add a quote here from our Lord at Matthew 6:33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” So to keep it moving we must feel and teach what our Lord commands. Our Lord teaches us that He no longer will go to the Father on our behalf, but that the Father Himself loves us and if it’s anything that we need to pray to the Father ourselves. “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” THAT’S IT!
That is how you represent our Lord, that is how you pray in His name, not by using the words “ in his name” to end it, nor: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Which was added later, but not by our Lord.
Now as Jesus must work the works of Him who sent Him, we must work the works of Jesus who sends us out to preach / teach the gospel. We must speak the Word; remembering John 14:10 which states: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
*Take it not lightly our Lord saying: “....and there shall no sign be given....” And put extra emphasis on Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
**Obedience should always come before blessings.
P.S. The “greater works” is faith in the Father and the amount of time (forever) you’ll have to spread the gospel; Yeshua / Jesus did it in three years. "....and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father."
.
The key here is “works” while taking nothing away from “greater” which we will also discuss.
Although we are aware of the works of our Lord let us be more specific to get to the meat of subject matter. Let us go to an earlier verse John 14:10 which states: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” If I may, let me say, go back and read that verse again. Please, I’ll wait, really, go back, read it again! Do it now before we move forward. Get the Spirit down in your soul. Did you do it? If not do it now. Like I said I’ll wait; I’m not going anywhere. Now that you have done that, if you actually did, think on this: “....he doeth the works.” WHAT WORKS? It’s the speaking, the delivering of the gospel and I’ll let our Lord explain it: “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Do you now see the “works” is to be spoken. If you need to go back and read it again, do so!
Now let our Lord explain the “greater works:” “the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” “....because I go unto my Father.” Now see “greater” as not in spectacular, but as more of as in numbers of days. Our Lord delivered the gospel over a three year period. Through Him we have the authority to deliver it forever which is so much greater than a mere three years. In John 14:16 Our Lord stated: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”
Again “forever” is so much *greater* than three years. So again use “greater” as not in spectacular, but as MORE OF as in numbers of days.
So defining “greater works” our Lord showed us that “works” is the gospel / sermons, and I’ll let our Lord explain that: “....the words that I *speak* unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Now our Lord “miraculously” (naturally speaking) healed in the moment / on the spot as well as His disciples which leads to the ideal that those of us involved should be doing the same. Let us see what our Lord feels about that. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” (As Jonas was in the belly of that great fish three days and three nights so will our Lord be in the heart of the earth; his death before rising.) “....and there shall no sign be given unto it, (wicked generation)....” His reason for saying this was because people were more concern with being physically healed or fed or whatever their desires were instead of hearing the Word of God and being obedient / saved. That’s the very reason our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Now since our Father has things in perfect order what’s the point of “miracles” out side of the natural order. Let’s follow our Lord train of thoughts and adjust this. At John 9 it states: “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
All the “miracles” that our Lord did was to confirm who He was in order to spread the word / gospel. All the miracles that His disciples did to push the gospel of our Lord foward was for that same reason, that is to prove that God’s Word was also of our Lord Yeshua’s “aka” Jesus Christ’s Words. Confirming this at Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
SO IT HAS BEEN DONE; WE HAVE THE GOSPEL.
The laying of hands on someone for healing falls in this category also for it is a sign of our Lord’s power. It is not the natural order of things for God has went before us and what is, is how it suppose to be with things naturally added unto your life, and I’ll add a quote here from our Lord at Matthew 6:33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” So to keep it moving we must feel and teach what our Lord commands. Our Lord teaches us that He no longer will go to the Father on our behalf, but that the Father Himself loves us and if it’s anything that we need to pray to the Father ourselves. “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” THAT’S IT!
That is how you represent our Lord, that is how you pray in His name, not by using the words “ in his name” to end it, nor: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Which was added later, but not by our Lord.
Now as Jesus must work the works of Him who sent Him, we must work the works of Jesus who sends us out to preach / teach the gospel. We must speak the Word; remembering John 14:10 which states: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
*Take it not lightly our Lord saying: “....and there shall no sign be given....” And put extra emphasis on Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
**Obedience should always come before blessings.
P.S. The “greater works” is faith in the Father and the amount of time (forever) you’ll have to spread the gospel; Yeshua / Jesus did it in three years. "....and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father."
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Copyright © 2018 Glenn Ford
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GREATER WORKS
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