"I tell you the truth..." John 14:12a

“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 am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that The Son may bring glory to The Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)

John’s account of the Last Supper provides further insight into the parting words of Jesus. One’s final words may be the most earnest words given to those dearly loved. Jesus was empowering His disciples to continue pointing people to the Kingdom of God through the sacred texts and prayer. He wanted their view of prayer to be active, not passive; to be powerful, not weak; to be supernaturally empowered, not humanly possible.

You might be asking yourself, ‘Is it really possible to do the things Jesus did? Am I able to do even greater things? If so, what are they?’ Prayer and God’s Word are heavenly gifts for preparing one’s soul for eternal life, as well as for equipping one for overcoming spiritual strongholds on earth.  So, why are we not seeing the release of God’s power on earth in our lives and in our time? We have not been taught how to pray. Most people consider prayer a memorized set of words to use before a meal or bedtime, when Jesus taught His disciples the discipline of breaking away from the world to converse with God.

The recent movie, “The War Room”, provided Christians and non-Christians a better understanding of the focused practice in the life of a Christ-follower. One must commune with God as friend to friend, while recognizing Him as Lord and Maker. Prayer begins with a heart overflowing of praise to God, transitions to intercession for others, followed by personal requests, and concludes with statements of confidence towards God to work in those issues presented before His Mercy Seat through the conduit of prayer. One is empowered to approach God after time spent in His Word, allowing one’s mind to be transformed by the Holy Spirit imparting understanding and conformed to the likeness and character of Christ in thought and action.

So, you see, prayer is not God’s rabbit foot for an unvetted supernatural wish list. Prayer is the result of a matured heart and mind empowered to activate heavenly power upon earthly situations for a heavenly purpose. It is not a difficult dynamic to comprehend, one must approach God as a child approaching a parent – having faith in the parent to provide wisely. Children know when err in asking for things unreasonable or selfish. In the same way, our Father in Heaven will qualify our prayers through the filter of God’s purpose and timing. The more we think as Christ thought: “…Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…”, the more powerful the prayer becomes, enabling the whole-hearted follower of Christ to do the things Christ did and bring Heaven to earth. Even greater things are possible through those who believe without doubting (Matthew 21:21), which was shown in the lives of the disciples after Jesus ascended to Heaven: raising the dead; healing the sick; casting out demons; and pointing thousands to Heaven’s Doorway through faith.

In the discipline of prayer, we are exposed to an eternal truth: as we bring glory to The Son, we are bringing glory to The Father – just as Jesus did. Begin expanding your boldness in prayer as you deepen your faith in Christ to do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13). Petition God to work through you to do even greater things for His Kingdom. Through Him we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39).

Have a blessed weekend.