"SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT": WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY

Greater Miracles Than Our Lord's?

Rev. Richard Abel

As Biblical Pentecostals we certainly believe in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit of God being made manifest within the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord made this truth very clear:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. A-men. Mark 16:15-20 (KJV)

Sadly enough, however, on the basis of John 14:12, many of today's hyper-charismatics and neo-pentecostals would have us believe that Christ had promised His Church the ability to perform more spectacular miracles than He Himself performed while walking the face of planet earth. I believe a close, contextual study of John 14:10-14 reveals this sort of teaching to be nothing more than egocentric deception. Let us read these verses and seek to understand the true meaning of our Lord's words.

What Jesus Really Said

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. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:10-14 (KJV)

In verse 10, Jesus Christ declares His "Oneness" with the Father; just as He declared in John 10:30, "I and my Father are one." Not one and the same person (as the United Pentecostal Church holds to), but two distinct Persons... Father and Son who together with the Holy Ghost are One God, one in essence, nature and purpose. This essential doctrine is foundational to the Christian faith. The Bible clearly declares one God of trinity in unity.

Here in John 14:10 Jesus declares: "... I am in the Father, and the Father in me...". How could there be a more perfect union or oneness between the Father and the Son than this? Once again, as He had many times in John's Gospel, Jesus declares the fact that the words he spoke and the works or deeds He did all found their source in His heavenly Father. "... the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works". Here in verse 10, Jesus asked Philip if he believed this truth. Then, in verse 11, Jesus told Philip that he needed to believe this truth. "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake."

I believe Jesus was telling Philip: If you can't fully believe on the basis of the words the Father gave me to speak, at least believe by reason of the works He gave me to do.

The "Works" of Christ

If we return to the original text of the New Testament, the word translated "Works" here is the Greek word ergon. Mr. Strong defines the word ergon: toil as an occupation; an act, deed, doing, labour or work.

It is from this Greek word ergon that we derive such English words as: erg, ergometer, ergonomics, ergonamist. All these words pertain to the science of work, its measurement and its study. We hear a lot about tools and utensils with, "ergonomically designed" handles and the like nowadays. Such implements are supposed to make our work easier, and help us to work more efficiently.

When we think of the "works" which Jesus did, we likely think of the miracles or signs and wonders which He performed. However, in the King James Version of the New Testament, the word ergon is never translated "miracle" or "sign/wonder". There are two other Greek words translated miracle or sign/wonder.

The first of these words is dunamis, which means miraculous power. The other is semeion, which means supernatural miracle, sign, token or wonder.

From this brief word study, I believe we can see that when Jesus spoke of: "... the works [ergon] which the Father hath given me to finish... " (John 5:36) He was speaking of far more than signs/wonders and miracles (although these would be included within the realm of His works). I believe the works Jesus spoke of encompassed every area of his earthly life. His preaching, His teaching, His miracles, His way of life, His interaction with both saint and sinner, His prayer life, His sacrificial death and resurrection... all of our Lord's actions were the sum total of, "... the works which the Father [had] given [him]... to finish."

I believe this insight gives us a healthy understanding of verse twelve, a verse that has suffered much abuse at the hands of numerous ego driven "wannabe" miracle workers.

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. John 14:12 (KJV)

The promise found recorded in this verse is given only to... "He that believeth on me." Such belief goes far deeper than simply giving mental acceptance to the historical Jesus of Nazareth. The belief Jesus spoke of here is the placing of ones' complete trust and faith in Him. This is repentance of sin and faith in Christ Jesus that leads one to being "born again" of the Spirit of God. The truly regenerated/born again life should be marked by an ever increasing death to the old sinful nature and an ever increasing evidence of Christ's image shining forth from that life. As John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." This is in reality the work of sanctification. As his old carnal nature dies, the believer becomes conformed more and more to the image of Christ. It is to such a person that Christ has made the promise, "...*the works that I do shall he do also;..."

"The Works That I Do Shall He Do Also"

Those who believe on Christ Jesus shall preach, teach and witness to the truth of the Gospel. They shall live the life of Christ before both saint and sinner. They shall watch and pray and obediently serve the heavenly Father. They shall walk in the power of the Spirit as they daily take up the cross and follow their Lord and Master.

These, dear friends, are the works of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do;..."

I am afraid that many people whose spirituality goes little deeper than their skin have, in their own foolish pride and ego, tried to limit "the works" of Christ to His miracles, signs and wonders. Then with great presumption some have tried to claim "the promise" that they could reproduce the miracles of Christ, and then go on to work even "greater works" (i.e. miracles) such as would make The Feeding of the 5,000 or Walking on Water look like Ned in the first reader. Some of the promoters and practitioners of the current false revival movement would have us to believe that the weird paranormal manifestations being experienced (the shaking, jerking, falling, animal sounds, gold dust, etc.) are the "greater works" Jesus spoke of in John 14:12. What nonsense!

Miracles With An Obvious Purpose

When I consider the miracles of Jesus I see within each of them an obvious purpose. Jesus' miracles served to:

1. Confirm His deity

2. Glorify His Father

3. Promote faith in the human heart

4. Minister to humanity (feed the hungry, heal the sick, comfort the bereaved, etc.)

Neither Jesus nor His Apostles were in the business of cheap and pointless theatrics and tricks. If believers would consider the true manifestation of the works of Christ such as obedience, holiness, servanthood, humility, prayerfulness and such, they just might find that true miracles would take their proper place within the framework of Christian ministry.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

"Faith without works (ergon) is dead... " When James spoke of the "ergon" that justified or validated ones faith he was speaking of practical works (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc.). I suppose giving a cup of cold water in the name of the Lord is just not as flashy as giving them "gold filled teeth". Prideful man wants to believe that greater must mean more spectacular. Pride wants to be a "little god", working more spectacular miracles than Christ ever produced while in human flesh. Sadly enough, the church is saturated with such charismatic hucksters today. If Christ's followers were able to work more impressive miracles than their Lord, I suggest we would find them recorded for us in The Acts of the Apostles. Wonderful and mighty miracles are indeed recorded in those pages, but I can find none which I would consider more spectacular than the most astounding of those wrought by the Master.

In II Corinthians 11:25, Apostle Paul tells us of being shipwrecked three times during his life. In Acts 27, while at sea, the ship Paul sailed on faced a tempestuous wind called "Euroclydon". It was this storm that left Paul shipwrecked on the Island of Melita. If Paul were to work more spectacular miracles than his Lord, then a simple "Peace, be still!" from the mouth of Paul should have taken care of his predicament. But we know from the record, that this did not happen.

This being the case, we must understand "greater" to mean greater in number and range. The Acts of the Apostles does indeed bear this out, demonstrating this understanding of "greater" to be the correct one. The works of the early church clearly touched a greater number of nations and people by the very reason that many had now taken up the work that was at one time appropriated, for the most part, to Christ alone. Jesus went on to say that these "greater works" would be made possible, "... because I go unto my Father". This going of Jesus to His Father would be preceded by His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

The Promise of the Father

Let us consider the chain of events Jesus declared would occur following His return to His heavenly Father.

And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven, And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. A'-men. Luke 24:46-53 (KJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ promised His disciples that after He had returned to heaven, He would send them what He referred to as "the promise of my Father". In similar terms John the Baptist declared some time earlier:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. Matthew 3:11 (KJV)

And as Doctor Luke recorded for us in The Acts of the Apostles:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-8 (KJV)

Christ made it abundantly clear to His disciples that the baptism with the Holy Ghost, which John had prophesied, was clearly synonymous with that which He called the promise of the Father.

There can be no doubt that "the greater works" which Christ said His Church would accomplish would be the result of His going to His Father and subsequently sending His promised Holy Spirit to enable and empower it. The reality of this is certainly borne out in the second chapter of Acts.

For us to think that we can do or accomplish anything of eternal value in God's kingdom apart from the precious Holy Ghost is nothing less than prideful self-deception.

The Image of Christ

I surely believe that the works of Christ made manifest through His Church are in reality the direct result of believers being conformed to the image of Christ. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an instantaneous experience by which Christ empowers His Church to do His work. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a progressive work of the Spirit by which believers are transformed into Christ's holy nature. As Apostle Paul states:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)

Both the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and Sanctification by the Spirit are absolutely essential to effective Christian life and ministry. So, then, being baptized with the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit and sent forth by the Spirit, the Church will manifest the works of Christ in a way that is greater in number, range and scope. I believe that a correct understanding of John 14:12 depicts a church that is conformed to Christ's image, and filled with His Spirit. It is to such a church, to such believers, that Christ promises...

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13,14 (KJV)

Christ makes the promise of answered prayer in verse 13, and then repeats it immediately in verse 14. Asking in Jesus' name does not mean that simply tacking the words, "In Jesus' name" to the end of a prayer will make it effectual. To use the name of Jesus as a vain chant or incantation will by no means move the hand of God. This is not what Jesus meant by praying in His name.

In the Full Life Study Bible, Donald Stamps gives us a good concise explanation of what it means to ask in the name of Jesus.

Prayer in the name of Jesus involves at least two things: (1)*praying in harmony with His person, character, and will; (2) praying with faith in Him and His authority, and with the desire to glorify both the Father and the Son [Acts3:16]. Praying in the name of Jesus, therefore, means that Jesus will honor any prayer that He would have prayed Himself. There is no limit to the power of prayer when addressed to Jesus or the Father in faith according to His desire.¹

I think we can see a vast difference between truly praying in Jesus' name and merely saying the words, "In Jesus' name", when we pray. Effectual prayer truly comes from a life that:

1. Has made its abode in Christ

2. Has put on the mind of Christ

3. Hungers and thirsts after the righteousness of Christ

4. Is being conformed to the image of Christ

5. Is filled to overflowing with the Spirit of Christ

This is the life that will do the works of Christ. This is the church that will do the works of Christ and greater. This is the life that will have its prayers answered by the Son that He may, in turn, glorify the Father through us.

Richard Abel resides in New Windsor, Illinois with his wife Janet. He is pastor of Landmark Christian Fellowship an A.B.P. affiliated church. Brother Abel also serves as Vice President of the Alliance of Biblical Pentecostals.

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