Good, Great and Greater Works
(week 29/09)
Olubi Johnson
Last week, we saw that the choices of our hearts determine where we live spiritually and so the order of our resurrection.
This week, we will see how the choices of our hearts determine the quality of our works.
The choices of our hearts determine the measure of the grace and mercy of God that we experience which in turn determines the measure of the life of God that is released to us by God, which in turn determines the quality of our Christian works:
Those who only have the life of God in their spirits and not in their souls and bodies can only do good physical works: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and such like. These are good works and will be rewarded by the Lord, but even unbelievers with godly intent like Cornelius can do these good works as they require very little, if any, supernatural power to do them:
Acts 10:1-4 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, (2) a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. (3) About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (4) And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
Observe that the alms and prayers could not save Cornelius and did not require supernatural power, but they were the evidence of good choices of the heart; so God sent Peter to Cornelius’ house to get him and his household born-again:
Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Truly I see that God is no respecter of persons; (35) but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the Word. (45) And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the nations also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, (47) Can anyone forbid water that these, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, should not be baptized? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay certain days.
We cannot be saved by good works (Eph. 2.9):
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing;
This love of God only comes into our hearts by the Holy Spirit only after we have been born-again NOT BEFORE:
Romans 5:5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.
However, we are saved unto good works (Eph. 2.10) which God will reward us for:
Matthew 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (36) I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ (37) Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? (38) And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? (39) And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ (40) And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Now, those who have the life of God consistently in their souls: will, mind and emotions as well as in their bodies can do not only good works, but also the great works of healing the sick, casting out devils, raising the dead, cleansing lepers. These great works can only be done by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit through supernatural revelation or light by the life of God in the soul.
Mark 6:5 And He could do no work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick ones, He healed them.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (18) they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Lastly, those who have the life of God consistently in their bodies can do the greater works of enforcing God’s will and kingdom on entire cities and nations: politically, economically, environmentally and socially; like Joseph, Moses, Elisha, Daniel and Esther and Mordecai did in their different nations.
John 14:12 “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.
Observe that as we do the great and greater works of God we must NOT omit doing the good works of God and so show forth the fruit of God’s love:
Matthew 7:20-23 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (23) And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.‘
It is possible to do some great works without the fruit of love (Ps. 68.18) like God did through Samson (Jdg.16.1-3) and the donkey (Num. 22.27-34) but there will be no reward for this in this 3rd day that God will be judging the secrets of the choices of the hearts of men:
1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Romans 2:16 And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.
So, we should do the good, greater and the greater works of God by the making the right choices in our hearts!
