The Key of the Greater Work

October 16th, 2012 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

. . . I say to you, he who believes in Me, . . . greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father —John 14:12


Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (see Matthew 11:25).

 

Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . .” (John 14:13). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

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Journal For Today-JDV

October 17, 2012

Lord, I do not know about greater works or simple works I just know what is and is not working for me right now.  When things do not work out for the best, I wonder and worry…am I being and living the right way? Are you trying to teach me something…and do have to endure another “lesson” that is really just one more way of saying…I must learn one more thing? Can we avoid all these lessons?

And God says…”Your lessons are your lessons, and you need all of them. And even as you are going through another set of lessons that may in fact be difficult, you should remember what I said in Jeremiah…

I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Acknowledge Me In all your ways and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will take care of itself.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When you seek Me first everything else falls in place.”

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