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John 14:12 (NIV)
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.
Let's point two key things out from that scripture: faith in Jesus and greater works. Those are the basis of what we want to discuss today.
Remember we already discussed as found in the Bible that everywhere Jesus went, He did good and it is expected of us to do good. Jesus spent only 3 years for His ministry as He died at the age of 33. Paul, an apostle and a believer of God had more ministry time and of course, He was able to do greater works than Jesus, just as Jesus rightly pointed out in the scripture passage above, but that doesn't mean He is greater than Jesus.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one gets to the Father except through Him. So, Jesus wants us to do greater works than He did and we would be led to do those with the help of God's spirit. This is why it was pointed out that the thief on the cross doesn't have the time to do any good works because of the condition he was, so his faith alone was enough for him.
Psalms 92:1 (NIV)
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
Praising God is part of the many good works we can do for God and yes, there are good works we can do for our fellow humans too, as the Holy Spirit touches our heart.
The thief on the cross had limited time and that was why his faith alone was needed. He cannot sing praises with a broken leg or with nails on the legs and hands, seeing he was in excruciating pain. The time element was a huge factor here why his faith alone without good works was enough for him to go with Jesus into Paradise.
John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
With God, we can do more good works. We cannot do it by ourselves but we need the help of God because He is the one who wills in us to do His good pleasure as the Bible told us. Remember we already discussed that our righteousness is like filthy rags in the sight of God, so when we try to do things on our own without Him being in us, it is us trying to justify ourselves. We are not good, only God is good because He is God and not a man. He told the apostles that He would be with them until the ends of the earth. He is the vine and we are the branches.
When we try to do good with the help of God and the leading of His spirit, it becomes acceptable to Him because it was an act spur by obedience, desire to please Him and an act of faith to Him.
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Most people think faith alone is necessary to please God. Faith is good, yes but God wants us to do good works and good works include a whole list of things that pleases God. So, as long as we live, God wants us to have faith in Him and having faith in Him should and must spur us on to do good works.
Have faith in Jesus and everywhere you see that you can do good with the help of the Holy Spirit, don't shy from it.
What do you have that you have not been given and if you have been given, why boast as though you weren't? Remember, God sees our hearts and knows the intentions therein. We are to follow Jesus' pattern and standards and that is the only way to please God and reign with Him eternally.
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Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
Even in our final breath God will give chances to repent and be saved.