Why No Greater Works
John 14:13-14
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Four types of works are done in the Christian life. There are no works, works, great works, and greater works. Everyone has to choose as to whether they want God to do something through their life or not. The first choice you must make in your life is to determine whether or not you are going to see God work in your life. Many churches are filled with people who have no works because they are more interested in having accomplishments in the world instead of having a work of God in their life.
If a person chooses to have God work in their life, that means they must get busy doing something for God. God has never worked in anyone’s life who has sat and waited for God to work through them. God works through the working believer. However, you should never be satisfied just with God working in your life; you should desire to take the next step and see God do great works in your life. God is definitely capable of doing great works, but you mustn’t suffice yourself with great works, because God wants to do greater works through the life of the believer.
Verse 12 says, “…and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” How is it, though, that a believer is to get to these greater works? The verses above show us when it says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do…” God continues in verse 14 by saying, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” The words “whatsoever” and “any thing” are the greater works that the believer is to ask God to do. In other words, one of the reasons you don’t see God doing greater works is because you don’t ask Him for those greater works. Let me give you a couple of thoughts about this wonderful truth.
First, desire greater works. Don’t have a small vision for God. Your vision for what God can do will ultimately determine how hard you work to see it happen, and how earnest you become in asking God to do the greater works.
Second, there is nothing wrong with asking God to do greater works through you. God would not command you to ask Him for greater works if He didn’t want you to ask Him. Two times in the verses above God alludes to the fact that He wants you to ask Him for the greater works. God says in Psalm 81:10, “…open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” The biggest reason we don’t see the greater works of God in our generation is because we don’t work towards the greater works, and we don’t ask Him for them. You should never feel guilty about wanting God to do greater works through you because He commands you to ask Him to do them through you. Jabez was not afraid to ask God to do greater works through him when he asked God to “enlarge” his coasts. God granted his request because he asked and worked towards it. Never feel guilty about asking God to do greater works through you.
Third, keep doing the great works of God while you ask God to do the greater works. Whatever you do, never stop doing the great works. God’s answer for greater works can only be done if you are doing the great works of God. The best thing you can do is to stay busy doing the great works but continue in earnest prayer, asking God to do greater works through you.