Have I got news for you...!!!
I was provoked to thought after receiving an email from a friend the other day. He was quoting a statement from a popular 19th century writer, the famous Oswald Chambers, from his well-known book, My Utmost for His Highest. Apparently Chambers beleives that the 'greater works' Jesus promised the disciples in John 14:12 is a prayer-life.
The 'greater works' wonderment has been the 'proverbial carrot' dangling in front of the church's nose for centuries. We want them but defining them has been difficult. Would they be instant, extreme miracle makeovers? Happening as we preach and teach or even in walking by a funeral parlor all the dead would be instantly raised to life? Could anything be greater than raising the dead? Indeed, could anything be greater than that which Jesus had ever done? The saints of the ages have speculated but none seem able to pin the 'greater works' down to anything specific. We can only imagine them!
Out of curiosity I went immediately to my online Bible program (e-sword) and read the whole of John 14. I have always held to the rule of interpretation that a scripture is defined by the context of the chapter it is found in. To my amazement I found that John 14 has nothing to do with prayer as Chambers alluded to. Rather, it is all about Jesus going back to the Father, reassuring the disciples it was for their benefit that He go. (Up till then, they only had Jesus' authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons. But they didn't have the power in themselves) Furthermore, there was only themselves and Jesus at that point that could do these things. So their questions were justified, because how could anything like that ever happen again if He went away?
The context is that Jesus relieved their fear by promising He would send another Helper / Teacher that would come from heaven and live separately in each of them. They would never be alone or without Help. This Helper would be a personal, guide that would always be there, night and day. That meant they could separate and go everywhere and preach and teach the resurrection and Salvation and Healing through Jesus Christ. Thus the miracles and works that Jesus did singly would increase in number and quantity through their going out. They would go in different directions, each one of them having the Helper, [the Father/Son] giving them the authority and power they would need 24/7, to 'go and make disciples of all nations,' who, in turn, would receive the same Helper and Teacher as they had. Folks, it's called 'multiplication' of power and results; greater numbers of the works of God being done on the earth in human lives as the Word spread to the four corners of the globe through twelve disciples and other followers who went their different ways to proclaim the Salvation sent by God.
To prove the authenticity of my new found theory I looked up the Greek meaning of greater in John 14:12. To my surprise and utter pleasure, it means: larger (amounts), bountiful (in number) Fruitfulness! Read it! John 15 continues the concept of John 14 ! The issue isn't the greater quality of the works but the greater quantity of them.
It makes so much sense! Let us not lose sight of 'greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. GOD is bigger in us than any human could ever imagine. We must use our power and authority to ask anything in His name, knowing that He will be true to His Word and do it! Greater works, [more miracles] will follow us because He has gone to the Father.
John 14 ends with Jesus words: "Arise, let us GO from here! [ on both sides ]
In other words: " Let's get going, boys! On with the job!". And He takes them past a vineyard and teaches them how to become fruitful in greater measure. John 15 is very vital to us today if we are to have those 'greater works'!
A Man's Point of View . . .
Grant Holcombe, a highly successful business man has responded to my blog posted a few weeks ago on male/female issues in the church and society.. . . Needless to say, his words have warmed the cockels of my heart. (If the term is foreign to you, grab a dictionary and look it up!)
Grant writes:
"Genesis 5:1-2 (NIV)
1This is the written account of Adams line. When God created man
, he made him in the likeness of God. 2He created them male and female and blessed
them. And when they were created, he called them man.
Something to ponder. Read the above passage of scripture from Genesis carefully. There
is sometimes a line of thinking that Women [females] are looked at differently in the eyes
of God as far as their roles in the church and their roles in a Christian society. Think on
these points for a moment and see what you now think.
God created man.
He created them. [ 'Them ' would indicate that there is more than one created ]
Them [man] were created male and female.
He called THEM man. I read this verse this morning, and even though I have read it before, I have looked at it in
a different light.
This is my point. Sometimes I think that women are made to feel that they have a lesser
role in the church and in society. Some cultures even go as far as to have women assume
a different status within family. This has been more so in the older generations, than perhaps
in our current society. Is this really a valid point of view to be taken? Is this the reason that
things such as the Womens Liberation Movement for example have sprouted up?
If both male and female have been created by God and both referred to as man, then
would it not be logical to consider that all that God has for [man or men] would refer
equally to females as to males?
When God said that he created males and females, referred to as man, then they
obviously have different roles [some very obvious] but they do not have any different
status in the eyes of God, society, family or culture.
I dont know why I am thinking about this, but you may want to think on it. Any
comments ?
Thank you Grant for your thoughtful input! I invite readers to respond.
Your yea's and nay's are both welcome!
Have a great Friday the 13th...!
Greta
The Power of Sitting Down at a Table...
My husband and I walked into the softly lit room. People of different ages were mingling in small groups, sparkling glasses of beverage in hand. The atmosphere hummed with the soft murmur of old friends exchanging greetings, broken only by the occasional giggling and sudden outbursts of laughter as memories were reborn. Suddenly, as if on cue, all heads turned towards us when we entered the room. Voices died. For a moment the silence was scary. Only two people in the forty plus crowd knew who we were. They were the bride and the groom.
It was a pre-wedding rehearsal/cocktail party in a hotel suite up in the mountains about 50 miles from where we live. I was the officiating minister. Art had come with me because it happened to be our 57th wedding anniversary and the groom had graciously given us a complimentary room to stay the night. It could have been an awkward moment with all eyes silently fixed on us as we entered, but I believe in seizing moments like that. My favorite phrase at the weddings I perform is: "Milk the moment and make a memory." I searched the room quickly for a glimpse of the bridal couple. The groom smiled and nodded a welcome from behind the bar. He gave us the cool drink of our choice.
(Not to worry! It was non-alcoholic).
We made our way to a table with four empty chairs and sat down. In less than a minute the step-father of the bride pulled up a chair and leaned into our faces. We soon discovered he had attended sunday school in a Full Gospel church where we had ministered many years before. To say the Holy Spirit was absent from that table would be a denial of God Himself. The gentleman was so startled by the oddity of us knowing the pastor of that church. He broke out in a sweat after admitting, with great conviction resting upon him, that he doesn't do church anymore. He begged to leave the room to get some air! To make a long story short we were never alone at that table. Others came to sit as others left. Each person had a story to tell. Often with tears of brokeness. We were strangers in their midst, but for some reason they felt safe with us. When we returned to our room three hours later we were astonished at the opportunities to show kindness, graciousness, humour and Holy Ghost wisdom all at the same time. Talk about a spiritual high! The grooms older brother and his recent bride just couldn't get enough of us, so they said. They lingered the longest. And did they have needs? Oh yes, they certainly did! Did we respond? Suffice it to say, the Unseen Guest made His presence known through the words of our mouth and our unguarded transparency! All without even a hint of religion!
I tell this story to remind us all that when we walk into a crowded room, the Holy Spirit walks in with us! All we did was sit down at a table, and God did the rest. They came to us. When we stand at the food check-out counter the Holy Spirit is there. When we are stalled in traffic, muttering unkind words, the Holy Spirit is in the car with us. Let us never forget He is in us! It is impossible for Him to stay home when we choose to be out and about.
Yesterday I picked up Bill Hybels book:
Just Walk Across The Room : Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith.
It's all about stepping out of our comfort zones to take an interest in others. Listening to their stories.
It's all about God's love in our smile and being seen in our actions.
Bill's book drove home our own story of a week ago, where just sitting down at a table in a room full of strangers made a difference in some lives.
