“DOING THE GREATER WORKS OF CHRIST”..

WHAT ARE THE GREATER WORKS?

The "greater works" of Christ relates to the deeper submission and fiery intensity of our passion for His heart and purpose! It's NOT a greater demonstration of miracles, signs or wonders "only"; which in the wrong context will lead people to a greater dependence upon us! It's much more than that!  With the end goal of the "sincere disciple" being supernaturally “spent”, and our primary responsibility is complete submission to HIM in total dependence — AND, to be as greatly used as CHRIST HIMSELF!

Jesus said, "Greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father". But, the proper context of that passage, is actually sandwiched by Christ revealing that:

A) He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life;

B) Answered prayer comes from praying in His name, and representing all that "He is" and

C) His departure was required in order for the Helper or Holy Spirit to be present with us in a representation to the world, which includes demonstrations of power that lead others back to Him, through the redemptive plan that reconciles the lost back to God, not us!

If the ascendancy of Christendom in the earth, does not properly hold JESUS CHRIST as the "chief priority and focus", by placing Him in HIS RIGHTFUL POSITION in the hearts and minds of His Universal Body, we'll continue to package our rhetoric and our religion; and NOT "the vitally important and most eternally significant relationship" that any of us could EVER have — which should be our one and only desire..SELAH.

In reality, it's singularly our spiritual zeal and unquenchable thirst that will lead to a pervasive and potent faith, while radically replacing every other imagination that may surface — as a manifestation-consciousness that does not turn into a parade of flesh-driven exploits to covet the praise of people, to disguise our greed and ambition, or to make the ministry we do "for Him" about us!

Even in the ministry of Jesus, the miracles were a magnetic draw or lure for the message in His mouth concerning the Kingdom of God to be heard and received!

But, the subsequent unbelief and reviling that was launched against Him during the moments that proceeded His crucifixion, was proof that "the miracles did not change hearts". But, COMPLETE SUBMISSION to HIS WILL, absolutely does!

To the degree that we'll choose the will of God above our own will, is the extent in which God's supernatural power and undivided purpose will be revealed — to the confused and lost world that's in hot pursuit for almost everything contrary to His Heart and His Purpose.

SEAL OF OUR REDEMPTION

The more that we stay in the presence of Jesus Christ and renew our minds according to His Word, the greater affect and effect the "seal of our redemption" has in empowering, keeping and protecting us in life's winding roads and valley experiences!

"Abiding in Christ" (The Vine) isn't God's winey dispositional attitude or co-dependent need for humanity to "need Him"! God knows that we're incomplete apart from Him! And, until we're convinced of our desperate need for HIM — and are subsequently convinced that our inconsistency to represent Him as "salt and light" through our every day witness as Christians, all too often grossly limits our ability to reach the world because we're living a substandard and status-quo existence.

This is one of the reasons I get so tickled by all "the fads", "the labels:, and "the title-crazy fanatics" that believe their "function" is more important than their faith...SO, they waste years on building their own kingdoms, and never truly understand the fundamentals of a genuine and sincere walk of faith that sets our focus on what's most important — Almighty God!

Perhaps, my military upbringing, silly personality, and fearless confidence in Christ, makes me so very consumed with a satisfying hunger for "pleasing Him" and "seeing Him", that this has and will always "be" my only pursuit and priority!

"REAL CHURCH", PLEASE STAND UP

I know I'm not the only one that's sold-out for His Cause, His Kingdom and His People but, — Would the "real church" (The Remnant in Christ) please stand up!

And, if we're going to participate and SEE these "greater works", we'll need to get off of the side-lines and stop driving from the passenger's seat, in our church attendance and approach, to complete God's work in strategic partnership with Him!

"Living with a submitted heart" will guarantee that we all partner in "the harvest" that is too come. And, as long as our pursuit for greatness doesn't slow or cripple progress, our attempts "to outshine His glory for our own", will NOT cause us to follow any compromising or competing voices contrary to His ways and His Will.

IMPACTING OUR GENERATION

When God called a prophet to their generation in the past, He familiarized he or she with their assignment; He introduced them to their audience; and He prepared them for the associated atacks of the opponents and critics that would act as a foundational source of growth and development during their walk of faith with Christ!

According to Hebrews 1:1-2, "God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds"..

According to Revelation 19:10, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"..

Since Christ accomplished the "finished work", every functioning five-fold ministry gift and functionary in the Kingdom of God should be all about seeking His exaltation and His glorification, until the ultimate redemption of our bodies; or at His Second Coming.

The Consummation, Restitution and Restoration of All Things in Christ, will occur in these last days as Jesus Christ continues to fill all-in-all.

To the degree that we will empty ourselves and become "meet and fit for the Master's use", is the extent in which we'll SEE the advancement of the kingdom in and through our lives.

Today, the Body of Christ should be prophetically engaging the dominant culture with the Word of the Lord in our mouths. And, the testimony of Jesus that's in our hearts as a "violent company of committed disciples", with a singular vision on fulfilling His Greater Works consumes us all from the inside-out.

YOU ARE AN EXTENSION OF CHRIST's MINISTRY

As a extension of Christ's ministry in the earth, we are obligated to discover and fulfill our God-given purpose without compromise, or without being compromising or distracted. As a result of many of God's people being mission-drift, the ruinous theological positions and doctrines of demons of our day and time, still diverts and perverts the focus away from Jesus Christ, to being man-centered (humanism) to the extreme.

If their is going to be an undeniable and verifiable impact upon this generation, we're all going to have to "look unto Jesus"! (1 John 3)

Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto ME." And, since its all about Him anyways, let's make sure that yours and my focus is about His Fame and "completing His Sufferings" (Colossians 1:24); while our generations that genuinely encounter HIM, will never be the same again!

GOD IS FAITHFUL

"God's Faithfulness" is never altered nor decided by our "merited perfection" or by our "poor performance" because the inerrancy of HIS ways, the immutability of HIS character, and the infallibility of HIS word and will - have been eternally settled, and not contingent upon "human" ability, consistency or integrity.

But, we will not see HIM as HE really is - if we don't deliberately ask or pursue those promises from God's word, by confessing and claiming them "in faith" recognizing that through Christ's finished work at Calvary, HE has made all the promises "yes and amen"!  So, "Let us hold fast the confession of  our  hope without wavering, for He who promised  is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23 NKJV)

The Lord is "faithful" when we are "faithless", and even while we deeply question whether HE will fulfill or satisfy HIS promises in our lives or not!  But, especially when we misspeak or arrogantly assume things based upon fear or presumption, and not faith in "God's faithfulness alone"!

'For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to  lie, we might  have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6:16-18 NKJV)

GOD QUALIFIES US

Somehow, we seem to believe that "everyone else qualifies, but us"! And often, that is because we make the fulfillment of HIS word about "us", and not HIS unalterable and unchanging oath through the New Covenant; coupled with our complete acceptance and acknowledgment of it! 

"And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as  being from ourselves, but our sufficiency  is  from God, who also made us sufficient as  ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (II Corinthians 3:4-6 NKJV)

A major problem amongst God's people is the prevalence of a religious mindset without a true heart commitment, so we labor to "get God to bless us" without understanding the importance of entering into HIS rest for ourselves!

 "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,  let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,  not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:1-3 NKJV)

FORFEITING OUR INHERITANCE

If we don't decide to enter into HIS rest, by renouncing the lingering pride and "unbelief" that is vying for the affection of our hearts - we will forfeit our inheritance in Christ; which HE established from the foundation of the earth, and end up becoming suspicious and not properly discerning the Mind of the Spirit.

As an example of this, I've noticed throughout the years that when believers experience the reality of "being abased" and "being abound" - without our minds properly renewed to the Word of God, we tend to think God is nitpicking about the things we "like" to do, and is correcting us for our heart's desires; when HIS leadership in our lives is not petty-investigative work about "insignificant things". 

"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name,  in that  you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:10-12 NKJV)

As the Lord matures HIS people, HE begins to foster balance in our lives, so that where we have misplaced priorities and fleshly (carnal) thinking; HE can pinpoint it in the fire of the circumstances and difficulties that often brings us to a greater degree of clarity in our openness, to both hear and grow more reliant upon HIM! 

"JESUS" IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE

Jesus is our "Perfect Example" of what it means to be BALANCED, without ever succumbing to self-dependence apart from the Father's explicit directions and instructions to HIM.  And, because Jesus was also "moved with compassion", by being completely yielded to the Father's heart, HE NEVER: 

#1 - Allowed self-centered investments to move HIM to "manipulatively sow to reap", people's allegiance or support;

#2 - Became unconscious or misdirected in HIS assignment, by being distracted by human applause or fanfare; and 

#3 - Developed an arrogant attitude of entitlement about "being served". 

"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.  Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because  he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is  sin." (Romans 14:22, 23 NKJV)

WALKING FAITHFULLY IS "KEY"

We've all got a long way to go in learning to walk faithfully before The Lord. But, you should know that your heartfelt gratitude and intentional humility — while you live free from condemnation and fear, is all about "walking in the spirit"; which is God's Special Gift to us all through the power of Holy Spirit.

God answering our prayers for "stuff", should never replace the importance of the singular devotion through intentional submission and ongoing surrender that we must have: for our family; for our brothers and sisters in faith; and for our freedom to live without fear of God "ever" NOT being faithful!

"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV)

WE MUST LIVE TO DIE, DAILY

The Body of Christ is God's vehicle in this New Testament Reality; used to express the fullness of His presence and power in the earth.  But, without "dying to self" as a priority, we will hinder the work of the Holy Spirit through us!

"I have been  crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the  life  which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died  in vain." (Galatians 2:20, 21 NKJV)

To the degree we're fully surrendered and available to the Inexhaustible Headship of Jesus Christ, will mirror the extent or magnitude, in which HIS Glory will be revealed! 

So, HIS faithfulness is never gauged by our "vacillating faith", "inconsistent giving" or "wavering devotion", as HIS people to HIS Cause.  But, it does represent the degree in which "our usefulness to HIM", will be made known.

Saints, "comfort and convenience" is not synonymous with "faith and grace", so the pressure God permits in our lives - must become "revelation", as we learn "to unpack the truths" delivered in bundles of faith-building exercises that keeps us growing more dependent upon HIM, during every one of life's tests, transitions and trials!

"GOD IS FAITHFUL" - even when we DON'T deserve it; so, don't make it about "you" - at all! 

Let God get the glory for being who HE IS, and THEN, God will have no problem allowing us actively, "Doing The Greater Works of Christ"!

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  "For who has known the mind of The Lord?  Or who has become His counselor?"  "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36 NKJV) WS-3 

Walter L Smith III (WS-3)

Founder, Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. (PIHIM)/The Center For Kingdom Advancement (TCFKA)

1445 Valleyhigh Dr NW #7052

Rochester, MN 55901-9998

www.PIHIM.org

www.AskPastorWalter.com

Corporate Line: 424-333-4047

**Leadership Greater Rochester, Class of 2018!

**Gallup Strengths: Positivity, Learner, Connectedness, Responsibility, & Activator

**Member, Rochester Chamber of Commerce (2014)

This message is intended only for the use of the address and may contain information that is CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error please erase this email and all its attachments and notify us ASAP. Thank you.