Power for Praying and Working
Through prayer and faith in Christ, believers can obtain the power to do greater works than Jesus did during His time on earth.
Andrew Murray emphasizes that prayer is the source of power for effective work in the Kingdom of God. He explains that while Jesus performed great works during His time on earth, He promised that His followers would do even greater works after His ascension, as they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This union between Christ in heaven and His disciples on earth is crucial for the continuation of His mission. Murray reassures believers that the works of the Church will not diminish but will be amplified through the Holy Spirit's presence. The sermon highlights the transformative power of prayer and the believer's role as the Body of Christ in executing His will on earth.
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In prayer the power for work is obtained. Wher Jesus was here on earth, He did the greatest works Himself. Devils that the disciples could not cast out d at His word. When He went to be with the Fether, He was no longer here in body to work directly. The disciples were now His Body. All His work from the throne in heaven must and could be done here on earth through them. Now that Christ was leaving the scene and could only work through commissioners, it might have been expected that the works would be fewer and weaker.
He assures us of the contrary: "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
His approaching death was to be a breaking down of the power of sin. With the resurrection, the powers of the eternal life were to bake possession of the human body and obtain supremacy over human life. With His ascension, Christ was to receive the power to communicate the Holy Spirit completely to His Body. The union-the oneness between Himself on the throne and those on earthwas to be so intensely and divinely perfect, that He meant it as the literal truth: "Greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father."
Sermon Outline
- The Power of Prayer for Work
- The Promise of Greater Works
- The Union of Christ and His Body
- Perfection in Union
- The Result of Greater Works
Key Quotes
“Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” — Andrew Murray
“Greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must believe in Christ and His power to do greater works through us.
- Prayer is essential to obtaining the power for work and doing greater works.
- The union of Christ and His Body is the key to experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit and doing greater works.