Everyone was filled with awe
at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
(Acts 2:43, NIV)

On the evening before his trial and crucifixion, Jesus had what surely was one of his deepest and most intimate conversations with his disciples. What was on his mind as he shared these critical moments with his most dedicated followers?

Who may stand in His Holy place? — photo by David Kitz

Jesus spoke at length about the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the vital role the Spirit would play in the lives of the apostles and the early church. John devotes chapters fourteen to sixteen of his Gospel to this pivotal conversation. Early in that discussion Jesus makes this astonishing statement:

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, NIV).

How is this possible? Undoubtedly, the disciples were left speechless by that statement. They were eyewitnesses to the countless miracles Jesus performed. How could they possibly do even greater works than their Lord? Furthermore, this offer of miracle working power was and is not limited to the apostles. It is available widely—to whoever believes.

There are no space or time limitations placed on Jesus’ statement in John 14:12. The only limitation is our faith since we know “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Have we taken up the challenge our Lord lays out in John 14:12?

Jesus then goes on to say:

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14, NIV).

We confess when we read this statement, we may feel like objecting: “Lord, don’t you want to put some limitations on this amazing offer?”

Actually, there are some limitations built in. This amazing power and this ability is available “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” In other words, ask for anything in my name but know this: All the glory, all the credit, all the fame belongs to Jesus.

Nothing limits the miracle-working power of God like the pride of the miracle-working agent. This is so because in truth the Holy Spirit is the miracle-working agent, not the human vessel. The glory must continually go to Jesus the Son.

Why could Jesus make this bold assertion that his followers would do greater things than he did?

First, Jesus new the full power of the Holy Spirit. His entire ministry had been powered by the Holy Spirit. And the Father had revealed to him that in the coming days the same Holy Spirit would be poured out on his followers.

Secondly, Jesus knew the established biblical pattern. Holy Spirit power grows exponentially. Elijah came in the power of the Spirit. But his successor, Elisha, received a double portion of God’s anointing. John the Baptist came in the power of the Spirit. But as John’s successor, Jesus, moved in a far greater power of the Spirit.

Unfortunately, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, due to his selfishness and greed, broke the chain of God’s blessing. Had he not succumbed to sin, Gehazi may well have walked in a fourfold anointing. Humble obedient faith is essential if we are going to walk in the full power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus knew the ever-increasing-exponential power of the Holy Spirit would fall on his disciples. That is why Jesus could tell his followers that they would do greater things.

Did Jesus’ word come true? It most certainly did. The phrase “signs and wonders” appears nine times in the book of Acts. We read that many people came to faith in Jesus Christ because of the signs and wonders that accompanied the preaching of the gospel. This is in addition to multiple miracles that are described in detail. The New Testament church was a miracle working church where signs and wonders were common. This is why the first-century church experienced explosive growth across the Mediterranean world.

We need a return to Holy Spirit powered church growth. How will that happen?

It begins with hunger—a hunger for the Holy Spirit—a hunger for Jesus to walk among us again. It begins with a hunger for God’s word to be lived out among us.

In our earlier chapter on the Jesus movement, we pointed out that Acts 2:38 was the foundational verse for that revival. Acts 2:38 contains a threefold directive as spoken by the apostle Peter. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Simple obedience to that threefold directive brought spiritual life, healing, and restoration to millions. Underpinning the Jesus people revival was an Old Testament scripture drawn from Jeremiah 29. But it was not the Jeremiah 29 scripture that is so frequently quoted today. Over the past twenty years, believers have zeroed in on Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The Old Testament focal point of the Jesus movement was the verses immediately after Jeremiah 29:11.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:12-14, NIV).

The emphasis in that earlier revival was placed on seeking God. We will have hope and a future if we seek God. But without seeking, there is no finding. Without seeking God, we will remain lost and distant from him. The wonderful promise of Jeremiah 29:12-14 is: “I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

Seeing God’s grace in the setting sun, near Durham, ON — photo by David Kitz

The LORD will bring us back from our spiritual exile. This should be the cry of our hearts personally and corporately as the body of Christ. Many Jewish young people encountered their Messiah for the first time during the Jesus revolution of the early 1970s. For them, these verses from Jeremiah had a profound resonance.

This Old Testament passage has a New Testament counterpart drawn from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

God meets with those who seek him. God is looking for hungry seeking hearts. The Holy Spirit may find those hungry seeking hearts out in the world or in your local church. Will we welcome the hungry hearts or turn them away because they do not meet our expectations or our standards?

Every revival has its own unique flavor and character. As a nineteen-year-old college student David Kitz bore witness to a spontaneous outbreak of revival on campus. It was totally unexpected, uncontainable, and sustained for years. That experience set him on a quest to seek the Lord.

Let’s prepare our hearts for what God is about to do. In this time of great spiritual darkness, God’s promise remains.

But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings… (Malachi 4:2, NKJV).

This is the nineteenth weekly excerpt from the award-winning book 
The Elisha Code & the Coming Revival

Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
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