Kingdom Blog

What is the main work of God?

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28,29)

Knowing that we are made from dust[1], in His grace, love, and mercy God ministered to us in keyways that we would simply ‘Believe’. In the end, the mission for us all is believing, and transforming lives in His name, Jesus Christ, demonstrating God’s love in action. That is the Great Commission…which is about making believing disciples…well it is really Him through us doing this work. And Jesus did say, go and minster as He ministered[2], and even do greater[3] works.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and by His Spirit, as He dwells in us, Jesus continues to bring people into a relationship with Him through the seven powers given to help us believe in Him, and to truly know Him.

The ways of God to bring people to a belief in Him, God and Saviour, look like:

• The Power of Testimony
• The Power of His word/voice
• The Power of Signs and Wonders
• The Power of the Witness
• The Power of Scripture
• The Power of Met Need
• The Power of Seeing

God calls us to go and make disciples, trust in these same seven powers work in and through us by the Holy Spirit. In just a few chapters from the Gospel of John these abilities are illustrated so well, so let us quickly reflect on God’s how of believing.

The 7[4] Powers of Believing: –

John 4 – The Samaritan woman at the well, and Jesus reveals Himself to be the Christ

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (vs. 21-26)

(1) The Power of Testimony – simply through the power of your story about your encounter with Christ, many will believe.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. (vs. 39,40)

(2) The Power of His word/voice – As people hear His word, either spoken directly to them by the Spirit of God, or through words of knowledge or prophecy through the saints, many will come to Christ.

And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (vs. 41-42)

John 4 – A (Jewish) Nobleman’s Son Healed

(3) The Power of Signs and Wonders – God continues to perform signs and wonders to bring people in to relationship with Jesus, and by Him dwelling in us, know He will minister through us in this way.

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” (vs. 48)

John 5 – The Jews and the healing at Bethesda

(4) The Power of the Witness – God will witness to us, and through us, that Jesus is the Christ, bringing signs and messages as a witness to Him. It can also be our collective testimonies of who He is..the Saviour of the world..that brings a witness to someone that they may believe in Him.

(The witness to others of His life in us, and the witness of God[5])

“There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (vs. 32-36)

(5) The Power of Scripture – Simply ready the Bible, as enabled by the the Holy Spirit, will bring people to believe in Christ. So, the preaching and reading of the written word of God is not in vain, but let it be done as inspired by the Spirit of God.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (vs. 39)

John 6 – Feeding the Five Thousand plus (the Galileans and surrounding Jews)

(Having fed over 5000, and walked on water, many still did not believe, and yet…)

(6) The Power of Met Need – By meeting the needs of others as motivated by our love for God, and His love for them, many will come to believe in Christ, especially as He is revealed to be the source.

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (vs. 26,27)

John 6 – Capernaum and the day after (feeding the thousands)

(7) The Power of Seeing – God will open the eyes of many to see Christ at hand, reaching out to them, even in dreams and visions, and in our actions and presence (for we are made in His image).

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (vs. 40)

The Commission is fulfilled as we move in this fullness

SO, we must believe in God moving in all this power, including through us, if we are to truly see His commissioned fulfilled, and for many to come in to the family of God by believing in Christ Jesus. It may be easier to settle on just one or two of these way, preaching, meeting the needs of others, and yet He calls us to believe, and be open to Him, moving in al the seven ways, for He knows our frames, and that many more will only believe in Him if He is revealed to them in all these seven powers of believing.

All the above needed the power of God, by His Spirit, to bring belief….and so we to must trust and believe He will work in power as we step out in faith. Scripture can be dead to those who read it without the Spirit or with no faith or from a religious point of view; good works can be death without faith; healing, deliverance, and signs and wonders only come from the finger of God…

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[1] Ps. 103:14

[2] Matthew 28:16-20

[3] John 14:12

[4] It seems to be part of His design, remembering also the 7 styles of learning: Visual (Spatial), Aural (Auditory-Musical), Verbal (Linguistic), Physical (Kinesthetic), Logical (Mathematical), Social (Interpersonal), Solitary (Intrapersonal)

[5] Even faced with death, some reveal such pease and joy due to the hope of the blessed assurance of eternal life with our Father in heaven, they bring others to believe in the One who provides such hope.