Faith Worketh by Love

John 14 is a chapter that clearly outlines the mystery of salvation and our fellowship in it. Let us take a look at what God is saying to the church.

John 14:1

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

We will begin this chapter by examining a very important discipleship session the Lord is having with his apostles. Ye already believe in the Father, now I need you to believe in me. Believe in what I am. Don’t allow uncertainty or doubt. Believe in me for my very works sake. I am the Son of God. I am what you will become. I am the first of many brethren.

John 14:2-3

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

In my Father are places for many to abide. Jesus goes on to declare that where he abides, we will also. Let us explore this further.

Ephesians 1:17-18

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Paul prays that the Ephesians might know the hope or expectation of the calling wherewith we were called. The promise was that of a righteous seed. A seed produces after its own kind. In order for Jesus to be the first of many brethren, each brother had to be produced, or come forth from the same seed. Therefore, as he is, so are we.

Ephesians 1:19-23

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Church is the fulness of Christ, (the anointing of God). We are his body, full of the anointing which God has poured out into the earth. The church is the completeness of Christ in the Earth and in Heaven.

You must decide if you are going to receive this truth with the same severity as it is given. You must decide if you are going to believe in what a son of God is. It is not necessarily true that because you believe in Christ and his attributes as a son of God, that you also believe in yourself having the same attributes. If this is so, then you must examine what being a son of God really means to you.

John 14:4-6

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus proclaims himself to be the way to God, the manifested word of God and the life of God. Stop and think about the fact that he places emphasis on being thelife. Of course, the church consents that He is alluding to eternal life; but it does not consider that he is also referencing the new life that is given to a born-again believer that is to be lived out in this world.

John 14:7

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

If you experience me, you will experience the Father. Jesus is prophesying about an upcoming event wherein the Father and the Son will come to sup with the believer. This would happen on the Day of Pentecost.

Revelations 3:20-22

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Notice also that the defining attribute of the believer is that he has overcome the world. This passage is not referring to some futuristic state of being; it is referencing the fact that the church has already overcome the enemies of God. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. (1 John 2:13)

1 John 2:13

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Be also aware that Jesus makes it clear that we have overcome in the same manner as he overcame. He came into this world armed with the Spirit of God. That was all He needed to overcome all the power of the devil. It is all we need as well.

1 John 4:4

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

John 14:8-11

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Sooner or later you are going to have to believe that as he is, so are we; for this is the challenge the church must overcome. It must begin to believe in itself. It must come to terms with the operation of the faith of God.

Now let us look at what it truly means to be a son of God.

John 14:12-14

12 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.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

We have heard these verses ministered for many years. They are used extensively in the preaching of faith and prosperity regarding the acquisition of things. However, we have come to learn that these verses have nothing to do with material gain; but they have everything to do with ministry, as it pertains to the furtherance of the gospel. The first question we need to ask here is whether these statements are to be viewed as an isolated conversation Jesus was having with the disciples. The facts are that the apostles did do many miracles and great exploits as indicated in the scriptures. But the great commission included all believers and the distribution of all the gifts of the Spirit.

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

If we go back to the prayer Peter prayed regarding the working of ministry, we will gain some insight as to the criteria for the Holy Spirit working through the Believer.

Acts 4:29-33

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

The first thing we must take note of is that it was the apostles’ heart to speak the word of God to all who would hear. They had a passion for souls; and that passion drove them continuously in spite of imprisonment, beatings or threatening. Thus, it was manifest that they not only loved God, but they also loved people. They wanted to save as many as possible; and they were willing to risk their lives to do so. Their faith worked by love.

But there is something else that we must also take note of and that is they were very cognizant of the Christ that lived in them. They knew that in actuality their hand was His hand. They understood being the bone of his bone and the flesh of his flesh. Eph.5:30

Eph.5:30

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul said, and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:17

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

This we have understood for years. Thus, we prerequisite every ministerial event with, “In the name of Jesus.” But the truth is, we have seen “in the name of Jesus” to be more of a ‘method’ than ‘a life’ in our flesh.

Jesus said, if you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. He said he would do it so that the Father could be glorified in the Son; but the Son is dwelling in our bodies. Jesus testifies that he will perform the works of God, but he will perform those works in the bodies of believers. Therefore, when we say, “In the name of Jesus,” we are simply acknowledging his presence and his power. “In the name of Jesus” is our testimony of the indwelling Christ and our witness to the fact that he is alive.

Now I really need you to follow me here. First of all, Jesus declares that the works he did, we would do also. But then, he declares that whatsoever we ask in his name, he would do it. So, which is it? Is Christ doing the works or is the believer doing the works. The answer is simple, we are one; one with Jesus, and one with the Father. The only way the father can be glorified in Christ Jesus, on this earth, is that he be glorified in us. Again, we are the bone of his bone in the flesh of his flesh. Therefore, the conclusion of the matter is that we do not believe in who we are. We have ignored the operation of the faith of God.

Acts 4:31-33

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

We know that the disciples were filled with the holy ghost on the day of Pentecost. However, this continuous filling that we see in the scripture above simply means that they allowed themselves to be controlled by the Holy Ghost. The manifestation of that control is that they all had one heart, one mind, and one love for one another. This state of being allowed them to show forth the great power of God and confirm the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is time for the church to stop ignoring the word of God.

John 14:12

12 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.

Because I am able to go to my Father with the testimony that I kept his commandments and finished the work he gave me to do, He will now give you the ability to do even as I have done.

John 14:15-19

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Because Jesus will be resurrected from the dead, they too will be baptized into his death so that they might be resurrected into a new life. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

The Comforter is the Holy Ghost. He will come to live in the believer. But the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father and the Son. The Spirit will not only live inside of us; but we are made one with the Spirit of God.