Why Do We Struggle With The Works Of GOD?

Why Does The Church Not Have The Power To Do The Works Of The Great Commission?

Which are to:

Preach the gospel to every tribe, tongue, nation and people.

Lay hands on the sick and see them recover.

Cast out demons.

Raise the dead.

Make Christ’s enemies His footstool.

Disciple the nations of this world into His Kingdom.

So we know that it is GOD’s will to save people, to heal people, to deliver people from oppression, bondage, lies and deceptions and demonic activity, to make disciples of individuals and nations and to see His enemies defeated by His Church. So why do we not see this happening in the world on the scale that we see it in Acts?

One reason was discussed in our home group the other night; we were discussing healing specifically; we try to coerce or manipulate GOD, even shaming Him into doing something so that He will be glorified, or other people will see and become saved or the person is so deserving for some reason or the other, etc. Sometimes even the correct perspective is used in a manipulative way, we pray for the person or situation because of GOD’s Love or His will, but in such a way or heart attitude that we are trying to force GOD to do it now.

Another reason is that we the believer are not in the close personal relationship with GOD that we should be. We may know some Bible verses that we have heard preached or taught on but not really understand what GOD is implying for our life and calling. Sometimes we might just be having a bad day personally and just going through the motions, hoping GOD has mercy so we can get on with dealing with our own stuff.

Another reason is that it is not GOD’s timing and purpose at that moment but because we are not in a deep personal relationship with Him we do not hear Holy Spirit telling us how to pray or council. Sometimes we are trying to get GOD to do something that we know is His will; like healing because Jesus was scourged for our healing and He commanded us to lay hands on the sick and see them recover; but we are trying to convince Him now is the time, or we don’t want to be embarrassed if He doesn’t do it, etc.

So what is the answer? There is no one answer! Every situation is different.

Sometimes it may be that we do not know the person or anything about them and we are trying to get GOD to do something for that person that He will or cannot do. We may never know why GOD is not doing as we ask or demand, there may be something in the person’s life that prevents them from receiving the grace of GOD. This is where having a deep personal relationship with GOD is important, if our focus is only on getting Him to do what we ask we probably will not hear Him speak to us information we need to proceed. When the disciples could not cast the epileptic spirit from the young man and they asked Jesus why they were not able to do so; He told them because of their unbelief and that that kind only came out with prayer and fasting. This is a key that our life should be one of dedication to GOD, one of prayer, fasting and knowing His Word (not just memorization but discernment of its truths and applications).

What about timing? After Pentecost when Holy Spirit filled the believers and empowered them to do the works of the Kingdom, Peter and John were going to the temple to pray one afternoon and they saw a lame beggar by the gate Beautiful, this man was lame from birth and was over 40 years old. How many times had Jesus come to the temple and never healed him was it possible that every time that Jesus came to the temple that the man was not there begging? Yes, but not probable, but that the works of GOD should be revealed in the Church He left that man until Peter and John could lay hands on him and heal him in the name of Jesus.

Remember, Jesus introduced us to the works of GOD, not just by what He did but also by teaching. When He healed the man born blind on a Sabbath day, just before He healed him the disciples asked Jesus was the man born blind because of his sin in the womb or some sin of his parents. Jesus answered them that neither the man nor his parents had sinned but His blindness was to reveal the works of GOD. What? GOD caused this man to be born blind and live as a beggar so that He could reveal the works of His Kingdom? NO! The man was born blind because there is sin in the world because of man’s rebellion and lawlessness, GOD does not need to put any disease on any person, it comes naturally in a fallen sinful world where the devil has domain.

Here is what I mentioned about understanding the Bible, to discern its truths and their application to life. John chapter 9 is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind, it is quite a story, read the statements of the man to the religious leaders in verses 24-34, he was not some poor ignorant blind beggar. He understood the Law and the Prophets and he schooled the religious leaders for their ignorance and sin of pride. But that is not my main point, chapter 10 is the chapter about the Good Shepherd. Jesus reveals Himself as the True shepherd sent from GOD, when the Jews took up stones He asked told them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” So follow this chain of scriptures, “Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of GOD should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ‘”…”And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say ,”We see’” Therefore your sin remains.’”… “The Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.’”…“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”…“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. ‘My sheep hear My voice and follow Me.’ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them our of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”…”Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You being a Man, make Yourself GOD.’”…”If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me, but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him. Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.” (John 9:3-4, 39-41, 10:7, 9, 17-18, 26-34, 37-39)

This is what I am referring to when I say we must know what the scripture says and how it applies to our life and the world we live in. There is so much rich truth in these two chapters, yet I am trying to keep my focus to the point. These two chapters are about revealing the works of GOD to the Hebrews first by healing a man born blind, second by revealing that Jesus was the Great Shepherd who was spoken of often in the Psalms and Prophets, that those who believe in Him will have eternal life and that no one or nothing can take those who believe in Him from Him or The Father. But you have probably never heard them taught as one continuous event and conversation with the people. But they are! Read the Bible with the understanding that the chapter and verse separations were added centuries later! When we understand the context of continuous thought and what the meaning was to those involved then we will have a better understanding of how it applies to our life and society. Then we will better be able to discern when someone is misquoting or teaching what the Word says and means.

So have I answered my original question? Somewhat, there is much that we do not understand because GOD is GOD and we are His creation and in our limited human capacity we will never fully understand many things of GOD and His Kingdom. When we are in our eternal body living in His eternal Kingdom then we will know all there is to know. In the mean time there is much study, meditation, prayer, fasting and doing that we have to be about.