Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.
-John 14:12-14 (NIV)
Those words met me several years ago and led to a powerful shift in how I follow Jesus today.
My walk was confined to how I served in my local church and the ministries I was involved in, not how I lived out my faith in everyday life. I always believed people could lay hands on those who needed healing, and miracles would happen. I guess I compartmentalized the idea of doing the works that Jesus did — that type of faith was for others. I wasn’t connecting with the fullness of Jesus’ invitation for myself on a personal level. But when those words sunk into my soul, I was met with a burning question: do I believe?
I knew that question was from my Heavenly Father who was calling me to step into greater facets of faith. My heart whispered back, “Yes, Lord, I believe.”
That yes shifted something I can’t quite put into words — a strength and faith I had never felt before rose from within me.
I believed in Jesus; Therefore, I could do the same works He did.
The Holy Spirit is in Me.
I am filled with the fullness of Christ.
I am a vessel of the living God, the hands and feet of Jesus, called to go and do what He taught us to do….the will of the Father.
The mission—
The call of the church —
Go and do the same as Jesus did…
Is my call too.
That revelation led to a shift in the atmosphere of my home during the early years of raising my kids. It became normal to see fevers leave my children’s bodies in the name of Jesus, sprained and broken ankles would heal instantly, and nausea would lift and not return. This way became so normal in our home, that if my kids felt off, they came to me for prayer, not medicine or a doctor.
Not because Mom heals.
Mom taught them to believe that in the name of Jesus, they would be healed.
This lifestyle was not limited to only me who would pray; my kids would lay their hands on each other and pray for healing in Jesus’ name, and we would witness God move. When mom was sick or hurt, my kids would place their little hands on me and release healing over my body.
My heart was to teach them what the Holy Spirit taught me; the same Holy Spirit in me is in them.
Because I believed, I raised up believers who live this out today.
This way of living went beyond our living room. People were getting touched and healed by Jesus in our everyday lives.
Years back, I had a neighbor who was dying. I believed Jesus was going to touch his body and prayed. Instead of dying, he came home from the hospital and lived.
Jesus healed him through the faith of a believer.
Friend,
I’ve witnessed four different types of people in the body of Christ:
- People who don’t believe that we have the authority in the name of Jesus to release the same works He did today.
- Those who believe they have to go to an anointed person, a church or healing service, or the one with the known name to get prayer for healing.
- Those who believe we have the ability through Jesus to do the same works as He did but don’t walk it out.
- And there are those who believe and live it!
There are many belief systems in the body of Christ, but only one truth. Our belief system will determine what we experience, what we release, and what we witness.
Realize unbelief is still a belief.
If you don’t believe, you won’t walk in the authority Jesus has given you in His name. And you won’t see the miraculous either. You may even hear of testimonies and refute the validity due to your unbelieving belief system.
If you believe that you need the person with the title or the known name to pray for you to experience a touch from Jesus, that’s the level of faith you will live by. I know many are chasing down ministries, always hoping a particular person touches them and prays, and if they don’t, they’ve missed their chance for healing.
The Word of God is clear: “Whoever believes in Me will do…”
We don’t need a healing service, the right song, the perfect atmosphere, or the “anointed” person to pray to see the healing nature of Jesus at work.
We only need to believe.
Prayer:
Lord, I read what my Bible says, but I have belief systems in my mind that argue and conflict with Your Word. I was taught a certain way, and I have trouble believing that I can do the same works as Jesus did. I struggle to believe that others can too. Lord, help me with my unbelief. I submit all of my thoughts and belief systems that aren’t in agreement with Your Word. Holy Spirit, come and fill me with the faith to believe and the boldness to do what Jesus did. In your Holy name, I pray, amen.
