The Price of God's Miracle-Working Power #1

This series is to instruct us in what it takes to have God’s miracle – working power operating in our lives in a way that we have not seen before. The world needs to see Christ’s disciples lay hands on people and see them instantly changed and healed i.e. blind eyes opening, tumors disappearing, the lame to walk, deaf ears opening, the dumb to speak, people instantly delivered, etc. With all the turmoil that Satan is causing, God wants to show forth His glory and power though His people like never before. The first requirement is entitled:

1.)    “The disciple is not above his Master”  Jesus said in John 14:12 “he that believed on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.” Jesus was limited by time and transportation. There were no electrical amplification systems and television and radio to preach to vast audiences. The works of power are the same works that He did – greater in quantity, but not in quality. In Matt. 10:8 Jesus instructed His disciples to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. But these wonderful promises of power also included warnings of persecution-“Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake” (v. 18). “The brother shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death” (v. 21). Even though Christ’s followers had the same power to do the things that He did, they were not promised deliverance from this persecution. Christ Himself was persecuted. If His disciples could do the same works, and yet be delivered from persecution, then, indeed, the disciple would be above his master. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Persecution is one of the universal results of God’s power manifesting in our lives. Jesus was not persecuted while he worked as a carpenter in Nazareth, but the moment He started doing mighty things, He was called the “prince of devils” and there were many attempts to destroy His life (see Luke 4: 29). Peter was a “good fellow” as long as he was a fisherman, but when he healed the lame man they threw him in jail (Acts 3:7; 4:3). Stephen was just a member of the church in Jerusalem and got along nicely with people, but when he did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8); he was called into judgment and stoned. Paul never had to flee for his life until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

When you accept God’s promises for your life opposition will come. This opposition may appear to come from people, but it is really directed by Satan. Again and again Jesus pointed out to His disciples the price of following in His steps,     recommending that they count the cost. All who seek to share in God’s power and glory must follow the same path of suffering, faithfulness and consecration that He followed. To know the abundant, powerful life and share in heaven’s glory, we cannot be greater than our Master. His disciples may also suffer to carry deliverance power to those in bondage. Jesus rejected all earthly ambitions. We must have the same single purpose of God, rejecting all offers but His, no matter how attractive they may be. Paul said “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus”      (Philippians 3:8).

Jesus also spent long hours with the Father in order to cast out demons. He said “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21). We must do the same with the

Father, waiting upon God and learning to think and act in unison with God, before we can expect to cast out such demons. Prayer was more important to Jesus than working of miracles, for miracles do not generate themselves: “in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed (Mark 1:35).  

A disciple cannot find a shortcut to power with God. If he tries, his life will be shipwrecked and his ministry useless. If he could he would be greater than his Master!

We will continue this series of “The Price for God’s Miracle-Working Power” in the next message.