Living Testimony

John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
 
THIS is the third look at Jesus’ two promises in this passage. Our previous two lessons were understanding Jesus’ first promise here that “anyone who has faith in me will…do even greater things than these (things I have done). We considered how his disciples – you and I included – would do the work of evangelizing, leading people to Christ and healing. These activities have occurred throughout church history around the globe. The Spirit has empowered faithful gospel disciples to do more than Jesus did in three years on earth.
   Then we looked at our Lord’s second promise, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” To truly understand this is “the truth”, we recognize this kind of prayer response comes to us when we are in a close, Spirit-empowered relationship with our Lord. We pray in all circumstances as Jesus would.
   To help you know Jesus spoke the truth, here is a testimony from a pastor in Africa. He testifies to the power of God’s Word to do God’s will on earth: “Thanks man of God. I believe so as you have written, and the Bible declares. These are my prayers, too. Yes, I have experienced that miracle in the ongoing gospel crusades we are doing now. Marvelous healings, demons fleeing in Jesus’ name. We are celebrating the name of the Lord by what God is doing by miracles. Please prayer for more souls to be saved. We are in the outer remote regions of northeastern Kenya until June in the whole country. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.”
   Even more, we have recently heard similar testimony from a church near our home in Tennessee. God powerfully answers prayers as people are healed and lives changed. Yes, it is possible and real when we faithfully pursue God’s will.
   This is the power of God alive in his church and his people. I pray it is so with all of us.