Big Little Ones Preach Notes

Many of us live with this thought “If I were just stronger, I could do so much more for God.” The Big Little Ones series is about dismantling this LIE. And replacing it with the TRUTH. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When Rachel and I got married John Biville prophesied about signs and wonders, miracles and nations. I loved the encouragement but didn’t believe he meant me. Then 9 years later Julian Adams said the same things accompanied by an extraordinary sign.  Then I got back on the treadmill. If I were just stronger, I could do so much more for God.” I thought that the key to power is to be ‘good’

This quote changed my mind.

Pages 42-43 of John Wimber's book, Power Evangelism began a process of liberating me from the lie If I were just stronger, I could do so much more for God.” The impactful section started with the words. 

We think that the key to maturity and power is to be 'good'. We then focus on our behaviour. But our behaviour never meets the high standards of Christ's righteousness.... to read more follow the Google Book link https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LzR7ffocR28C&lpg=PT3&pg=PT3#v=onepage&q&f=false

Maybe this quote captures the heart of your struggle too. BUT If we wait until we feel good enough or worthy enough, we will never enter the adventure of extending His Kingdom. We are called to enter into the joy of co-labouring with Holy Spirit despite the fact we are weak. God only uses weak people because that's all he has. If we are waiting to feel strong, and sorted, we’ll be waiting a long time. 

Jesus doesn’t want us navel-gazing and waiting until we feel ready. He says we are ready NOW.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Out of minds that say “If I were just stronger…” Our response to this calling of Jesus is often to doubt it, dismiss it, dilute it. 

Knowing that we may doubt it, Jesus states “Very truly I tell you”
Knowing that we may dismiss it as a promise for the Twelve and the Seventy-Two, but not for ordinary believers like us, Jesus emphasises that this is a promise for “whoever believes in me”
Knowing that we might seek to dilute it, Jesus insists that all his followers “will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater than these.”

How can Jesus make such a statement? How can he say you’ll do the works I have been doing? Why is he so assured and confident? “Because I am going to the Father.” 

This means that Jesus has done all that is required to entrust us with the same Holy Spirit who empowered him. 

The only way we can understand what Paul, Peter and the early believers did is that Jesus made it possible for them to receive the gift of the Father, The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus’ own ministry. 

All Kingdom advancement sits on the foundation of dependence upon Holy Spirit. That’s TRUE even of Jesus’ ministry. 

I thought Jesus did what He did because he was fully God and fully man. I thought he knew the back story of the woman at the Well because God is all-knowing. I thought he set people free because God is all-powerful. I can’t do what Jesus did because I am not God. “Hey, they lock people up who claim to be God”. 

Yes, the Bible NEVER says that Jesus ceased to be God. He was God in the flesh. 

Philippians 2:6-11 makes it very clear that Jesus never stopped being God. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.  His deity was veiled/hidden. He gave up his right to express his DIVINE glory. being found in appearance as a man

So how did Jesus do the works he did?  

Peter makes it clear. 

You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

Peter summarises all of Jesus’ ministry as doing good, and healing all. 

How did Jesus fulfil his ministry by being anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus was utterly dependent upon the person of the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus said it himself - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me (Luke 4:18). it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons (Matthew 12:28) 

The revelation of His identity. His marching orders. Intimacy with the Father. The signs and the wonders, Words of wisdom, the prophetic gifts, healing gifts, and experiencing surges of mountain-moving faith happened because Jesus was anointed with Holy Spirit. 

Jesus operated in the same gifts of the Spirit that Paul says are available to us. There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you - (Acts 1:8)

So if we are not doing the works and the greater works, why is that??

Are you focussed on your behaviour?   Are you waiting to feel good enough? Strong enough? Worthy enough? Are you in constant turmoil because your behaviour is never good enough?

Are you trying to do the work in your strength?

Or are you ready to say help? And hear him say ‘Since you can do nothing without me, how much help do you want?’ Are you ready to go on the journey of becoming the little one, the dependent one, the child?


Questions to help you dig deeper:

1. What does this talk tell you about God?
2. What does this talk tell you about yourself?
3. What do feel led to change after reading these talk notes?