Winter 1997
The Greater Work
Wade E Taylor

John Wright Follette once said, "I marvel at those who project what will happen next year, or ten years from now. I am only able to ascertain the mind of the Lord for today, and then walk with Him in the outworking of what He shows me."

A visionary looks ahead, but does not accomplish much. A practical person becomes so involved in the details of the need at hand that he does not see its completion. If each of these were to be brought together in the right relationship, much would be accomplished as both are necessary.

In our present walk with the Lord, we should ask, "Lord, TODAY, what can I do that You desire, or will fulfill your purpose?

"I assure you most solemnly I tell you, if any
one steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself
be able to do the things that I do; and he will
do even greater things than these, because I go
to the Father."

"And I will do - I Myself will grant - whatever
you may ask in My name (presenting all I AM) so
that the Father may be glorified and extolled
in the Son" John 14:12-13 Amplified.

There has been much speculation as to what these "greater things" might be. Jesus said,

"My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me,
and to finish His work" John 4:34.

Because Jesus perfectly did the will of his Father, the greater work could not be our doing deeds or miracles that surpassed what He did, but rather, to complete what Jesus was doing.

When Jesus commended those who had wisely used their talents, He said, "Well done," not "much done." The measure of the Divine economy is quality, rather than quantity.

Jesus could only be in one place, and do one thing at a time. He said,

"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and
die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth
forth much fruit" John 12:24.

Thus, through His death and resurrection, He now lives, greatly multiplied, in each of our lives.

Before Jesus died upon the cross, man was but dust that had been formed by God and into which He breathed life, and man became a living soul. In redemption, through regeneration by the Holy Spirit, we are brought higher and made partakers of the Divine nature, indwelt by Jesus. Adam never had this.

Now, it is not just the will of the Father being done through One person (Jesus) in one place at one time, it is the will of the Father being done in multiplied lives throughout the earth. When this is viewed as a corporate body, of which Jesus is the head, the greater work is being done as a corporate expression of His will.

When Jesus talked to the women at the well, He was nowhere else. When He visited the household of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He could visit no other household at that time. Now He can sit and fellowship with each of us at the same time, each one having His total attention; or He can visit each of our households at the same time, for He lives in our lives.

One candle gives a very limited amount of light, but many candles together create a bright light. Though each candle is insignificant in itself, through many, there becomes a multiplication of light and the greater work results.

The miracle is that through these very people whom Satan thought he had defeated, there is coming forth the greater works that Jesus did.