The Great and Humble King (2)

This is a little extra bit relating to The Great and Humble King.

As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

Acts 5:15

I thought this verse was really cool because it is what Jesus said in John 14 taking action.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:11-14

We can’t deny this fact. When Jesus says something you can be assured its true. Throughout all Jesus’ time on earth people drew near to Jesus. At the most people would have said something like, ‘if I could just touch his cloak I would be healed’. Then we look at Peter and people are saying, ‘if Peter’s shadow would just fall on me I would be healed.’ Now I’m not making up anything here. Read it for yourself. But I feel this next bit might sound very odd.. Peter had greater works that Jesus. This is something that people struggle to believe. ‘It can’t be! Jesus was God.’ Well it’s true and Jesus said it himself in John 14. Do you actually believe this scripture? Because I look about the place and we should have more than a few people that have greater works than Jesus but I look about and I don’t see it. I look at myself and I don’t see it. Our faith is so weak. Like if it only takes a mustard seed’s worth of faith to move a mountain then my faith must be smaller than a mustard seed.

Again I don’t want this to put Jesus down in your sight. We need to understand that we aren’t greater than God. If you’re reading this and still haven’t read the Great and Humble King post then read it now. Because you really need to understand that Peter isn’t greater than Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit that does these miracles and it is Jesus that is with the Father and it is Jesus’ name that we ask these things by. Peter’s miracles were only greater than Jesus’ because of Jesus.

Again this just fills me with awe of a creator so humble that he would let others do greater works than he did when he was on earth. His humility is humbling and inspiring. But at the same time it makes me question my own faith. I know people always use the excuse about the different gifts the Spirit gives and that not everyone can do miracles. But when I read the John 14 text I see the words ‘WHOEVER BELIEVES’. Not ‘whoever believes except the ones that aren’t gifting in that area.’ As usual, the problem is with us. I feel a need to go and spent time to pray. I feel the need to pray for faith and the Spirit to help me with this. And I think you should as well.

Lastly, our lack of these greater miracles might be because we seek his Spirit for our own needs. His Spirit wasn’t sent to us so that our names could be glorified and praised but it was sent so ‘that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ So maybe it’s because were so self-obsessed and we want things to satisfy our own ego and pride. Have you ever thought that just maybe, this could be you? That you could be praying, ‘Lord heal this person so your name may be praised,’ and God listens to you and hears, ‘Lord heal this person so I can be praised.’ I’m not saying this is you but it could be. Pray that his Spirit would show you if this is you or not. I don’t want you to go away and let this verse destroy your faith, but instead I pray that this would drive you to have a passion for your life to be all about Christ. After all that’s what it’s all about anyway.

Testing the Waters

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.

Genesis 3:1

I saw a picture of a snake the other day and for some reason the verse above happened to come into my head. And God showed me that it said the serpent was more crafty than another beast of the field. This suggests that the other beasts we’re also crafty. Now it was Satan that made the serpent crafty. It was Satan in the form of this serpent that tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the tree. So if Satan made the serpent crafty he also made the other beasts crafty.

Most people suggest that this was the first time Adam and Eve where tempted. But now when I read this verse it’s as if Satan tempted them many time before this. He came in the form of other animals and tempted them, being crafty in his ways. But each time Adam and Eve declined and didn’t fall for his tricks. I’d almost say it was as if Satan was testing the waters. Seeing how strong Adam and Eve were and what type of bate they would take.

Back in the days when cities had massive walls around them and when the men battled with swords, armies would have tested the strength of the other army. It still happens these days as spies are sent in to see how strong the enemy is. But back in them days sometimes the king would have sent a number of men to attack the city, knowing what the outcome would be. They were not trying to win the battle and most times the men would have been killed with only a few getting away. As this happened the king and some of the head men of the army would watch on and point out the strengths and weaknesses of the city and its army so they could come back with a plan that would work.

Is it possible that Satan tested Adam and Eve many times to see what their strengths and weakness were? Did he use other animals to tempt them until he found out what would get them?

What about us then? Is it possible that Satan comes back and tempts us so many times every day to see how strong we are? Sometimes we fall for something easy when we’re having a bad day or were tired. Other times he might try to get us with the same thing but that day we might be strong enough to resist it so he’ll just try to tempt us with something else to trip us up. And if that doesn’t work he’ll just keep coming back and back until he gets us. We can’t let our guard down and we can’t lose our focus on Christ. We need to be pray constantly as the Bible tells us we should (1 Thes 5:17), and this is pretty impossible for us so we should be praying that God would help us do this. Remember, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Finally whose power is Satan testing? Is it yours or is it God’s? Satan cannot win a battle against the Holy Spirit but he will triumph in a battle against us. Live today by God’s power, praying on your spiritual armour.