I have been wrestling with these words from Jesus in John 14 –
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Last night during our small group gathering we had another great discussion of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 and then we made our usual transition to prayer. Instead of a time where we share our needs and the needs of those around us (which is great), the time really focused on how God had answered our recent prayers. We heard how God had specifically answered prayers that our group had been
praying over in recent days.
praying over in recent days.
There were stories of God drawing a young man to himself who we had bathed in prayer… and a story of God’s healing hand on a precious little baby… and a story of God delivering a beautiful little girl out of some recent oppression. Each of these had been our group’s prayer list and on our groups lips as they interceded for these hearts in need. It was an undeniable affirmation of God working miracles for His glory in our midst.
God has me in a place where I desperately want to grasp the fullness of what he meant with those words in John 14. As he was preparing his listeners for his departure and for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, he made some really huge statements. He made promises and extended authority… he spoke of POWER (Acts 1:8)… and here I sit as one who has been given those promises, authority, and power and yet so often I forget that he heals the sick, delivers the oppressed, and redeems those who seem ‘too far’ away from his presence.
I’ve been asking him to help me be a pastor who functions under those promises and power leading to his greater glory. I have to say that I am always a bit nervous when I am praying those words, but my heart yearns to see it happen. Words fail me as I think to describe this emotion; but an ‘anxious anticipation’ seems to be the best I can do. Maybe he has you in a place where you can join me in this pursuit? What might God do in your life if you began to pray and believe like this?
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.