A friend of ours who lives in Lagos, Nigeria, sent us a video of her teaching recently. She reminded us that ours is a gospel not of word only but power. And power must be exercised in love.

I saw it in Jesus’ life in the stories recorded in Luke 8.22 – 56.

• Satan tries to kill Jesus in a storm, but Jesus rebukes the storm. Who would think that “Let’s cross over to the other side” was a declaration of war? But it was. When they get to the other side, Jesus confronts a demonized man.
• Jesus frees the demonized man, and in the process, thousands of pigs are killed.
• A woman with internal bleeding is healed.
• Jesus raises a 12-year-old from the dead.

Jesus approached the body, took the girl by her hand, and called out with a loud voice, “My sleeping child, awake! Rise up!” Instantly her spirit returned to her body and she stood up. Jesus directed her stunned parents to give her something to eat and ordered them not to tell anyone what just happened. (Luke 8.54 – 56, Passion Translation)

It’s not just the word, it’s POWER. But a quiet power. Unlike today’s “healers,” Jesus ordered the parents not to tell anyone! 

According to Ephesians 3.20, power works in me, too.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. (Ephesians 3.20, ESV)

Here’s a shocking claim by Jesus himself:

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. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14.12 – 14, ESV)

Verse 12, “greater works” sounds unbelievable, but it is tied directly to prayer in verses 13 and 14. As a friend of mine likes to say, “What would you ask for if you knew the prayer gun was loaded?”

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15.7, ESV)