“Most assuredly, I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do that one will do also; and greater works than these that one will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

When you see a passage like this, how does it make you feel? What are the thoughts that tend to go through your mind? Some will say: “That was for the time of the disciples and not relevant for today.” “I know what it says but Jesus really didn’t mean that we would do His stuff. After all He was God; we are not.” “Maybe it’s for someone with that gifting but certainly not for me.” And the list can go ad nauseum.

If I can’t take the Scriptures at face value, then where do I start and where do I stop? If I can’t accept it as the whole word of God, then am I not choosing to believe what I want and reject the passages that I don’t like, don’t feel appropriate to today’s setting or just does not apply to me? When do I become an arbitrator of the Word of God?

Do you remember the words of the old hymn, “Standing on the Promises of Christ my King?” The 2nd verse is especially pertinent. “Standing on the promises that cannot fail; when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail; By the living Word of God I shall prevail; Standing on the promises of God.” Or “overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword;” or “listening every moment to Spirit’s call, Resting in my Saviour as my all in all.” Did you catch the certainty of the words of the hymn writer? Promises centered in the living Word of God; overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword (Eph.6:17); listening every moment to the Spirit’s call; resting in my Saviour as my all in all.

Is there a certainty to answered prayer, especially when howling storms of doubt and fear come against you (assail)? This is where we learn from those who knew, not just intellectually but experientially that God answered their prayers. They learned to rest in Jesus (John 15: 4-8); to live, listen and walk in the Spirit (Gal;5:16, 25; Rom.8); to wield the sword of the Spirit (Heb.4:12-13). These saints never got there overnight but they learned that God is faithful to His word, that they could stand literally upon its truths and apply His word to their given situations.

The devil would like nothing more than strike doubt and fear; to question the word of God; to keep you from standing in the authority that is yours in Christ and praying for results according to His will and for His glory. The power in the believer’s life (or in the church) is in prayer that stands unashamedly and unapologetically on the authority of the Word of God.

If you desire to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”, (Eph.6:10), train yourself to stand in the authority of the Scriptures; pray in the authority of the Scriptures and place your trust fully in the authority of the Lord of the Scriptures.

Blessings!

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