Work of Faith With Power
Wherefore we also pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. [2 Thessalonians 1: 11]
Believe it or not, the Christian life is a life filled with the work of revealing the goodness of God through the demonstration of His power. Too many Christians have missed this vital truth, which is why the Church as a whole is of very little real effect in the world today. We have Christian activists, and men and women who preach a portion of the gospel, but few and far between are the men and women, who like the Lord Jesus, both preach and show the gospel of the kingdom of God. The Bible says, And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him. [Luke 8: 1]
The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was a ministry of power; and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why, if He is our example—not only in how to live, but to minister as well—don’t so many of us even attempt to imitate Jesus in this fashion. Along with preaching and teaching the good news of the kingdom of God, Jesus healed the sick; cleansed the lepers; opened blind eyes; made the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak; raised the dead; made the lame to walk; made the bound free; cast out devils; fed thousands miraculously; turned water into wine; walked on water; escaped angry mobs; calmed the winds and waves; killed a fig tree with His word; told a woman all she had ever done; knew a stranger’s name; knew a fish had swallowed a coin; and even predicted His own death and resurrection.
Knowing this, a person would be a fool not to believe that the ministry of Jesus was a ministry of power. Of course, there’s not a Christian around that doesn’t believe that Jesus did these mighty things. The problem is that not many Christians believe that as His disciples, commissioned and anointed to preach the gospel to every creature, we have been given the same power through the Holy Spirit of God to do the same things by faith in His name. Jesus said, Truly, truly I say unto you, He who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go to my Father. [John 14: 12]
In the gospel accounts, there are seven passages of Scripture that confirm the Lord’s direct anointing of power to do the works of God. They are as follows: Matthew 10: 1; Mark 3: 15; Mark 6: 7; Luke 9: 1; Luke 10: 19; Luke 24: 49; Acts 1: 8. There are five direct commands for the disciples to go and heal the sick as part of preaching the gospel. They are as follows: Mathew 10: 1; Matthew 10: 8; Mark 3: 15; Luke 9: 2; Luke 10: 9. And there are three general inferences that we would be given power to do the works of Christ in the world. They are as follows: John 14: 12; John 17: 18; John 20: 21.
It is not my intent to prove through Scripture what most people believe—that Jesus did mighty works; and the apostles and members of the early church did these things; and that some specially anointed people can do these things perhaps today. Rather, it is my intent to prove the necessity of every born again believer in Christ to do these things—and that we have been given the power to do so.
Most importantly, I want to assert that this is the model by which the Lord Jesus and the early church were able to turn the world upside down [Acts 17: 6]. Therefore, in order for us to truly affect the world as Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, the Lord Jesus, the apostles, and many regular believers have, we must embrace the model of the work of faith with power. At this writing, the Lord has led me to begin writing a book called, Occupy til I Come: The Work of Faith With Power, of which this section is a part. In this teaching, I share a word of prophecy from the Lord that will encourage you and yet will cut many to the core as the Lord, in a few words, explains why He has tarried for so long before returning to re-claim His kingdom.
Jesus—the Revelation of God
If we examine one of the most important reasons that Jesus came to earth, we will learn that it was to be a physical revelation of God the Father. The Bible says that God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has is these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. [Hebrews 1: 1-2] In time past, God had rarely manifested Himself in physical form to people, but spoke to His children through prophets and angelic visitations. Now, in Jesus, God had actually manifested Himself in the flesh and revealed Himself to the world—not only to redeem us back to Him, but for Him to reveal His incredible love to us.
Jesus said to Roman governor Pilate, To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. [John 18: 37] Jesus also said, He that has seen me has seen the Father. [John 14: 9]
Therefore, if we understand this purpose in Jesus, we can also understand God’s purpose in us—to be a revelation of His Son in the world. Since Jesus was the revelation of God and is no longer in the world physically, but seated at the right hand of God, does this mean that God no longer desires to reveal Himself to the world? Absolutely not! Through His Holy Spirit, God desires for us to be a revelation in greater number than He was able to accomplish previously in Jesus—through faith and being born again in Christ. The Bible clearly supports this truth: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. [1 John 4: 17] I like to say it this way, “As Jesus said, ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father,’ we should desire to confidently say, ‘He who has seen me has seen Jesus.’”
However, after reading this, most people immediately look in the mirror (at their flesh) and see that this statement would be a lie. Their flesh is weak and for the most part their minds are focused on fear, death, and worry. As I explained before, you cannot look at your body and soul to see Christ in you, because He is found in your spirit. The Bible says Wherefore henceforth we know no man after the flesh. Yea though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet henceforth we know him no more. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. [2 Corinthians 5: 16-19]
Teaching the same principle to the Philippians, Paul wrote, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. [Philippians 3: 3] Therefore, by embracing God’s purpose for us in Christ, which is revealed from our understanding of our identity in Christ, we should be diligently seeking to emulate how the man Jesus brought revelation of God during His lifetime on earth. As Christians, we have been given the very nature of Christ; therefore, this is the fruit we should be producing. Many Christians have worn a wristband with the initials W-W-J-D, meditating on What Would Jesus Do. Instead of just considering what the Lord would do, we should be steadfast in doing what Jesus did, knowing that we have been given power to do so. The apostle Paul encouraged us this way, Be therefore followers of God as dear children. [Ephesians 5: 1] The Greek word translated as followers is the word mimetes, which means to imitate. The Lord Jesus imitated His Father as it is written, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do. For what things soever he does, these also the Son does likewise. [John 5: 19] As Jesus imitated His Father, we should imitate Christ.
The Word with Power
Some Christians have embraced, at least in a limited way, the preaching aspect of the gospel, in which they “share their faith;” but because their preaching is lacking in supernatural power, their entire ministry is one of empty words. Although I understand and believe in the power of words—that they bring life and death as it is written in Proverbs 18: 21—the gospel is not complete without a manifestation of God’s power. I liken preaching the gospel without the power of God behind it to trying to put out a house fire with a water pistol.
The apostle Paul wrote it this way when challenged by people who doubted his ministry. Now some of you are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. [1 Corinthians 4: 18-20]
Paul also related in his letter to the Romans that the fullness of the gospel involves the manifested power of God. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Ilyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. [Romans 15: 19]
Romans 1: 16 says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and many people have taken this to mean the preaching of the gospel message only is the power of God. This thinking violates not only the ministry of the Lord Jesus and the apostles, but also the word of God itself as it is written in Mark 16: 20, And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Jesus had previously indicated some of the signs God would use to confirm the word, And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [Mark 16: 17-18]
Notice that the Scripture plainly says that these signs would follow them that believe—not just ones who have been called into full-time ministry. This power is available to the everyday believer. Here is another example where you can clearly see that the preaching of the gospel is always associated with the manifestation of God’s power. Together and in one accord, the early church lifted up their voices to God and said, And now, Lord, behold their threats; and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus. [Acts 4: 29-30] It was their confidence in the manifestation of God’s power that gave them boldness to preach the gospel.
What is perhaps most astonishing is the notion in some Christian circles that we no longer need to demonstrate the power of God like Jesus and the early church did because we have been given the written word of God; and it, therefore takes the place of the power.
While I cherish the word of God, and I study it daily as it gives life and stirs up my mind; and through it, I have grown leaps and bounds in my relationship with the Lord; and it is the measuring stick to all we should aspire to become, it is not the complete fulfillment of the gospel. If it were so, Jesus would have just preached and taught the gospel instead of demonstrating it through healing, casting out demons, raising the dead, etc.
Some of you may choke on this, but I believe that Scripture supports this truth. Jesus used the demonstration of the power of God to prove He was the Son of God—not to Himself, but to the people He encountered and ministered to. For example, Jesus could have simply done what many Christians in the world today do, and shared His faith, and preached the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, and some people would have believed Him. In fact, some people were amazed by His words because He spoke with such authority and confidence. [Matthew 7: 29; Mark 1: 22]
However, there were multitudes of people who followed Him because of the miracles He performed, because of all the people He healed and delivered. [Matthew 15: 30; John 12: 17] Jesus used healing and deliverance to draw multitudes to hear Him preach the good news of the kingdom of God—to demonstrate the great love He has for us. It was because of His power, the Lord was able not only to preach the good news, but also to show it clearly through healing and deliverance. How often have we heard the saying, “Don’t just tell me you love me; show me you love me.” This is what Jesus did—not only did He speak about the love of God, but He showed the awesome love of the Father to the world.
The Lord’s own words prove this point. In Mark’s gospel we read that Jesus was about to heal a man sick with the palsy, and the Lord told the man, Son, your sins are forgiven. But there were certain scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this man speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned with themselves, he said unto them, Why do you reason these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy) I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying we never saw it in this fashion. [Mark 2: 5-12]
The Lord was teaching that the power of God revealed through this healing proved His ministry to those who doubted His word. Jesus is saying, “It’s easy to say to a person, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘God loves you,’ but I’ll prove it by demonstrating not only that God loves you, but that the words I say are true.”
Again, the Lord’s own words support this point. In John’s gospel the Lord said, But I have greater witness than that of John (the Baptist). For the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. [John 5: 36]
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works; that you may know, and believe that the Father is in me and I in him. [John 10: 37-38]
The Lord also repeated to His disciples the fact that it was His works that were proof of His identity as the Son of God. Have I been so long time with you, and yet you have not known me, Phillip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. And how do you say then, Show us the Father? Do you not believe 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 who dwells in me; he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the very works’ sake. [John 14: 9-11]
And finally, other people recognized the Lord’s power and therefore linked the demonstration of this power to a person being from God. One of these people was the Jewish leader Nicodemus. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God. For no man can do these miracles that you do except God be with him. [John 3: 2]
Another person who attributed a manifestation of supernatural power to being a man of God was the woman at the well. The Lord had utilized the gift of the Spirit (word of knowledge) to reveal something about her life. Her response was, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. [John 4: 19]
Of course there is a balance to all of this. I am in no way minimizing the preaching of the gospel, because as it is written in 1 Corinthians 1: 21, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. There is no substitute for receiving the gospel message, whether it is from preaching or through the written word. Salvation can come from no other source than the word of God. I like to say it this way, “Supernatural power without the gospel message is a sideshow; and the gospel message without the supernatural power of God is an inspirational speech at best.” Again, I do not deny that people get saved through hearing the awesome message of the gospel alone, but I want to stress is that the gospel is not complete without the supernatural power of God in manifestation. Like hydrogen is to water, power is to the gospel—it is a necessary element because without it, all we have is a bunch of hot air.
Neither am I asserting that every person who displays supernatural power is of God. The acid test of every minister of the gospel always goes back to the written word of God. Regardless of whether a minister heals the sick or raises the dead, if he is not preaching the true word of God, do not follow him. So-called prophets and other ministers of God have deceived many people by performing a few tricks; then, they, as Peter described, with feigned words make merchandise of you. [2 Peter 2: 3] This is why it is so vitally important that you know and study the word of God for yourself.
The Power of the Spirit—Why Do We Need It?
Notwithstanding, as I have explained in great detail, the power of God is used to draw people to hear His message, and also to confirm and demonstrate His goodness, which results in more people being reconciled to God, as it is written in Romans 2: 4 that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. What I find so appalling is the fact that many in the church today believe we do not need to demonstrate the goodness and love of God through healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead in order to preach the gospel. How arrogant can these people be?
If Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God, Who walked in perfect faith, needed the power of the Spirit to prove His ministry and message, how much more do we need it? And this, I believe, is why the Lord said, He who believes in me, the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. [John 14: 12] I truly believe that the Lord was saying, “If I needed to perform miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons to cause people to believe, then you will need manifestations of power greater than what I accomplished. ”
Brothers and sisters, the truth is that we need to go back to the gospel accounts and see how Jesus, our example, preached and demonstrated the gospel message. And He accomplished this by doing three things: teaching, preaching, and healing. [Matthew 4: 23; Matthew 9: 35; Acts 10: 38] If Jesus needed power in a time of relative simplicity, how much more do we need it in today’s world of rampant unbelief and rebellion against all things of God?
I understand and accept that many people have been born again and their lives wonderfully transformed through hearing the gospel message alone. In fact, I was born again through reading the Bible so I am not against a person whom has never witnessed the power of God in action; and neither do I doubt anyone’s salvation just because their church doesn’t lay hands on the sick. Furthermore, I am not criticizing any minister, ministry, or church that does not seek to see the power of God manifested.
Rather, I am simply presenting the model that Jesus used to preach and demonstrate the good news of the kingdom of God, and encouraging all of you to re-evaluate your ministry—especially if you are not having anywhere near the same success as Jesus and the apostles had. I dare say that no one alive today can make this claim. Even if a ministry has had success without demonstrating the power of God, then how many more souls would have been won with the power? How many hearts, too hardened to receive the gospel message, could have been melted by witnessing a blind person’s sight restored, or a deaf person’s hearing restored? I have seen hardened men fall on their faces, their hearts melted from just one prophetic word of knowledge. How many more would be won to the kingdom of God if we all did what Jesus did? Jesus was God’s best and all of us want to experience God’s best, so why don’t we just imitate Him? It’s that simple.
The power of God is not just for the evangelists, prophets, apostles, pastors, and teachers in the church; it is for all who believe. Every Christian has been called and commissioned to preach the gospel, and by the Spirit of God, we have been endued with power from on high [Luke 24: 49] to preach and demonstrate the gospel the same way Jesus did. After giving His disciples power over all unclean spirits, and power to heal all manner of sickness and disease, Jesus sent them forth and commanded them, And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely you have received, freely give. [Matthew 10: 7-8]
According to What You Believe
The reason most Christians do not regularly, if at all, witness the power of God in manifestation, is that they do not expect it. And if they do see someone come out of a wheelchair, they’re extremely shocked and amazed. The truth is that they place a greater expectation on the word of God failing than it working, which is why they’re so amazed when it does work. Truthfully, you should be shocked and amazed when the word does not work instead of the opposite. Most churches don’t preach about healing and power over demons; and consequently, they do not see these things in manifestation. Why? Because God will not steamroll you with His will as it is written, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. [Mark 16: 20]
God will only confirm the word that has been preached. If the message preached contains truths about healing, then God will confirm His word with healings. If repentance and forgiveness of sins is the only message preached, then God will confirm this word only with people being born again. One thing to note, however, the word also must be mixed with faith on the receiving side in order for it to be profitable. [Hebrews 4: 2] You can preach about healing all day, but if it is not received by faith, there will be no manifestation of it. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to receive the word of God for himself, and as I said before, God will not override your free will and force you to be healed or delivered as much as He doesn’t force salvation on us. The power gifts of the Spirit (healings, miracles, and prophecy) were given to help people in cases where they are not in a position to believe completely for themselves. Therefore, as long as they cooperate with the word of God, using what I call a passive faith, then the power will be released. However, afterward, the person must continue to hold on to what he has received because the devil can steal or choke the word if it is not deeply rooted.
It’s great to see people born again and ecstatic about being reconciled to God, but most churches, since they preach nothing but repentance and forgiveness of sins, this is the extent of their lives in Christ. Or, like some churches, they drag people into the kingdom through fear of hell, which predisposes them to a life relating to God out of fear rather than love. Regardless of the message, there is no further discipleship other than encouraging a person to share their faith, and the demand to live in obedience to a strict moral code.
Other than going to Heaven when they die, they have no victory in their lives that makes them any different than their unsaved neighbors. They still suffer from the same sicknesses and diseases; they still have the same emotional and stress problems; they still have the same addictions and destructive habits. Yes, they’re still saved because salvation is by grace through faith, but their lives do not reflect God’s best. In other words, they are not receiving the fullness of what the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died to give us. This is the real tragedy as Satan, through religious teaching, has proven to be successful in deceiving so many Christians, thereby devouring the victory the Resurrection is supposed to bring.
Most everyone of you are familiar with the childhood game Simon Says. The person delegated as “Simon” gives commands for action, but the action can only be performed when the command is preceded by “Simon says…” The Christian life is as simple as Simon Says, and as I said before that doing the works of Christ was as simple as imitating Him. Yes, it is simple, but it always begins and ends with faith in the word of God, or what Jesus says. In order to realize this power, you must have received revelation of it yourself—either through this teaching, the Bible, or somewhere else. Once this revelation is deeply rooted in your heart, then you will begin to believe in what the Bible says, Christ in you, the hope of glory. [Colossians 1: 27] I will relate a conversation I had with the Lord some time ago when I was eagerly seeking to walk in His power. I said, “Lord, if you would just show me it works, then I would believe.”
And the Lord replied, “Jeff, if you would believe, then I would show you.”
The Bible says that God is faithful, and yet He will only meet you where you are presently. Jesus said, According to your faith, be it done unto you. [Matthew 9: 29] The Bible also says that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. [Ephesians 3: 20] This verse teaches that God is able to do mighty things in our lives, but He can do them only in proportion to the faith that is at work in us, or in other words, our strength in faith. Brothers and sisters, the apostle Paul urged us in Ephesians 1: 17-23 to receive wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of what God has made known and provided for us, according to the riches of his grace. The last part of it relates to what I’m teaching here.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and [to know] what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and [to know] what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come; and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.
The Spirit is telling us that we have been given the exceeding greatness of His power—the same power that He worked when God raised Jesus from the dead and set him above all things. Therefore we know this applies to all of us since the Scripture says, There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of his calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [Ephesians 4: 4-6]
Since Christ and the name of Jesus have been exalted so high above all things, and also since we are part of His body, we (the church) therefore, have been highly exalted and placed in charge over all things on the earth, to fulfill the will of God. This, my brothers and sisters is what Paul was teaching when he wrote that you would be counted worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12]
When we live a life filled with the abundant blessings of God—of divine health, prosperity, joy, love, peace, faith, and the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit, we are able to then utilize the same power to minister to others, thereby allowing the work of faith with power to glorify the Lord Jesus. Therefore, we must do as the Lord instructed, Freely you have received, freely give. [Matthew 10: 8]
But how can you give something you haven’t yet received? This is why it is so important for you to embrace the truths of who you are in Christ, and receive all that the Lord Jesus died to give you, and then, will you be able to freely give. We can no more minister salvation without first being saved. Therefore, we must first partake in the blessings of healing, deliverance, and prosperity if we are to be able to minister them to others. I doubt I could minister healing to anyone if I hadn’t ever been healed of anything. Before healing a lame man in front of the temple gate, Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give unto you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. [Acts 2: 6]
Again, there is a balance to all of this in that just because someone hasn’t received their complete healing or been delivered from a disease or affliction, it does not mean they are forbidden to share these truths. The word of God is true whether anyone believed it or not, and it only takes faith to receive and to give. However, if these blessings are not manifested in your life, it diminishes the power of the word because most people will ask, “If what you say is true, then why don’t I see it in your life?”
Once again, it falls back upon our foundation in the word of God. God first blessed Abraham so he could be a blessing [Genesis 12: 2], and He has blessed us and empowered us, not only for us to receive, but also to freely give and share. It’s time for the body of Christ to rise up and walk in the blessings and power in the name of Jesus so that He can be a real and loving Father to the world today and the world to come.
Part IV-- Work of Faith With Power
Part VIII-- The Balance of Grace and Faith
