We read in John 5:19 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His followers "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, The Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way (in His turn)."
I wonder...do we still see the Father doing these things that Jesus did as He walked on earth as a man? We hear about the things that "have passed away," and how they were only for the "early church" and about many other great things that "used to be." Do we still see our Father in the same way that Jesus did?
I hear scriptures about how "many are called, but few are chosen" quoted as a reason for the works of God being limited to just a few. For the most part, each may feel they happen to be ones of the not chosen to do these works. Let me set your heart at rest with a verse from 1Peter 2:9 (Amplified) "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, (God's) own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
You see, we are all a part of this chosen people of the Father. II Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) bears this our for all of us as ambassadors to this marvelous God we serve.
We read throughout the Bible and are always saying, "Yes, but that was Paul," or "Yes, but that was Peter" and so on. In Acts 3:16 (Amplified) after Peter and John had healed the man at the gates of the temple Beautiful, Peter made a statement that should encourage all who believe when he said, "His name (the name of Jesus) through and by faith in His name has made this man whole." Do we still have this name? Peter made voice to the people in verse 12 and in essence said "don't look to us as though we are special; Jesus did this."
Ephesians 3:20-21 (Amplified) says "Now to Him who, by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose) and do super abundantly far over and above all that we (dare) to ask or think (infinitely, beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams) to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever, Amen."
Peter made it quite clear when he preached his first Spirit filled sermon in Acts 2:16-18 (Amplified) "But (instead) this is (the beginning of) what was spoken by the prophet Joel." verse 17 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy (telling forth the divine counsel) and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances) and your old men shall dream dreams (divinely suggested) dreams." verse 18"Yes, and on my men servants also and on my maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit. And they shall prophesy (telling forth the divine counsels) and predicting future events pertaining especially to God's Kingdom."
Are we (the Church) not still a part of this prophecy? And if we are, then has God changed His mind?
As we read through the book of Acts (the acts of the Holy Spirit), we read not only about the acts of the Apostles, but about the wonderful things they did. It wasn't just Peter and John, but such men as Philip, Stephen and Ananias who heard God speak to him about praying for Paul. Acts 9:10-18 (Amplified) tells us that Ananias prior to hearing God speak to him about praying for Paul wasn't an Apostle or deacon. I never read about him before this time nor after that time. He was just a man who God knew He could trust. He was a man who knew the Master's voice and someone who God knew intimately. Ananias was just a spirit filled man who was an ambassador for Christ and a representative of the Kingdom of God.
Don't count out what God has told us to do because you think we don;t need to do these things anymore. Press on!
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