“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” – Colossians 1:15

One of the complaints most often made about God is this: How can a good and loving God allow such terrible atrocities to happen to people? In addition, many look back at the God displayed in the Old Testament with shock and dismay. How can this be the same God revealed by the life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ?

Whoa! Tell us how you realy feel!

So, how do we reconcile the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, to the seemingly God-orchestrated episodes of brutality captured in the Old Testament?

How do I deal with this Conundrum?
First, I look to the one I know and trust and who has confirmed He is the perfect image/character of God in the flesh – Jesus Christ. He is the perfect display of the Fruit of the Spirit, which includes Love and Patience. Within His love is His perfect justice and mercy. Second, the Bible has proven to me to be reliable and trustworthy as the word of God. The Bible clearly identifies Jesus as God in the flesh:

• John 14:7-9 – Says if you see me, you know God the Father.
• John 14:10 – Says that He and God the Father are the same.
• John 5:23 – Says all men should honor Him, even as they honor God the Father.
• Hebrews 1:3 – Says that The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and His exact representation.
• 1 Timothy 3:16 – Says there is no controversy that God was made known in the flesh.

So, I know the character of God – 1. By the life and teachings of Jesus recorded in His written word and 2. By my experience with the active and interactive relationship I have with God through Jesus Christ. And I know that God’s character has and will never change. Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Yeah, Dave, but what about the curious words and actions of Jesus that are hard to understand? Can we really know the character of Jesus?

Good point. I’m glad you asked. I’m writing a series on the character of Jesus that takes the odd episodes where Jesus does not appear to be acting very Christ-like (tearing up the temple, cursing the fig tree, mean treatment of the Pharisees, and other episodes). My humble opinion is that these episodes are often misinterpreted. My conviction is that all of Jesus’ words and actions must be consistent as a display of the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.) This requires that we dig deeper.

How Does This Angry God of the O/T Jive with Jesus?
So, we know God through Jesus, but how do we reconcile the character displayed by Jesus with the harsh God on display in the Old Testament? God commanded the killing of entire nations in the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, God wipes out all humanity, save for Noah and his family with the great flood. Later in Deuteronomy, God seemingly instructs the Israelites to “utterly destroy” the seven “ites” nations inhabiting the Promised Land including women and children. So, these and other instances leave us with the question of how can these actions be not only justifiable but somehow consistent with the character displayed by Jesus?

We can rationalize God’s actions by a number of approaches: 1. We can simply reject the depictions of God in the OT as inconsistent with the God revealed by Jesus. 2. Or, we can reinterpret the descriptions of violence to make them less ugly. 3. Or, we can simply assert God’s right, as God, to do whatever He wants. 4. Or, we can provide better context to the violence within the story of the Bible.

Each of these approaches can provide a closer look at God’s intentions and provide some legitimate insights into the full character of God. However, personally, I’m satisfied with God’s intentions being the force for good in the age-old battle between Good and Evil.

The Battle Between Good and Evil

Who on this planet does not see these forces at play in history, in the arts, in politics and in their own lives? Whether religious or irreligious, we all see what we deem to be good being attacked by what we deem to be evil.

Such is the case of God in the Old Testament, under what is known as the Old Covenant. Bible Scholar and Theologian Michael S Heiser sums it up this way in His book, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible:
“With Eden the divine had come to earth, and earth would be brought into conformity. Humans were created to enjoy everlasting access to God’s presence, working side by side with God’s loyal Elohim (Spiritual Beings). But this yearning of God’s came with risk, a risk that was fully known by him and accepted. Free will in the hearts and hands of imperfect beings, whether human or divine, means imagers (those made in God’s image) can opt for their own authority in place of God’s. Sadly, that will also become a pattern. Both of God’s households (humans & spiritual beings) will experience rebellion. The result will be the commencement of a long war against God’s original intention. The good news is that there will be an equally committed effort on God’s part to preserve what he began.”

For those of God’s creation who chose to turn their backs on God, they would become irredeemably corrupt and evil; the Canaanites were an example of a brutal, aggressive people who engaged in bestiality, incest, and even child sacrifice. They had become so corrupt and evil and so disgusting to God that He says in Leviticus 18:25, “The land vomited out its inhabitants.” These people were so evil that their desires would turn to destroy anything good.

Still, in all cases God would exert much patience and effort to have them turn from their ways. But, after becoming so morally bankrupt and intent on destroying all that was good, would they not have to pay the price for their crimes? Not only for justice’s sake but in order to protect his people who have chosen to follow Him?

I find it interesting that the same people who are horrified by the God of the Old Testament avenging evil are very often the same ones who cry out that there is no justice for evil in this world.

Imagine yourself and your family living good, decent lives, but you are surrounded by people who hate you and continually threaten you. You make every effort to make peace, but they are determined to destroy you. Finally, these neighbors put a genocidal plan in place and begin murdering those you love. What choice do you have?

Whether you agree or not, this is the position that modern-day Israel finds itself in and has concluded it must destroy Hamas and those who side with Hamas. The carnage is horrific as Hamas uses the general public as human shields. Many people who have no idea what living under this threat is like cannot understand what’s required.

God’s Patience and Effort to Save
In the book of Jonah, we find the story of God going to great lengths, through His servant Jonah, to warn the people of Nineveh of their pending destruction if they would not change from their wicked ways. Though Jonah resisted, he finally arrived in Nineveh and preached repentance. The result is found in Jonah 3:10, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

Is it fair to presume that the story of Jonah and the Ninevites is only one example of God’s patience and relentless efforts to turn people back to Him? Certainly, we see the patience of God as these enemies existed for centuries. But how many times did the God of the OT make the same efforts that were not recorded? In the Gospel of John, the Apostle supposes that all of what Jesus did could fill volumes that the whole world could not contain. The Bible is all we need, but not a comprehensive account of all God has done throughout history. (How much effort and patience does God continue to exert today?)

But Still, How Could God Seem So Callous?
Destroy women and children? Really? Justification for such actions could be that the entire people’s culture and religion had become so debase and evil that all would have to be destroyed. I wonder if it could be argued that some level of mercy was being exerted to put an entire people group out of their misery?
Throughout history, there are examples of cultures that can be argued became so debased, with widespread anguish and despair, that the tribe or nation self-destructed and no longer exists.

The Great Flood

Genesis 6:11-13 describes the world’s condition at the time of Noah. “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them.”

In another Heiser book, Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ he takes a deep dive into the ancient book 1 Enoch. While this book is not scriptural cannon, Heiser makes the case that it provides legitimate insights into both Old testament and New testament writings, including elaborating on the events surrounding the Great Flood (Genesis 6-8). It is disturbing imagery of what the fall of man and the influences of ungodly spiritual forces had led to.
1 Enoch 7 details the condition of man that preceded the flood. “These and all the others with them took for themselves wives from among them such as they chose. And they began to go in to them, and to defile themselves through them, and to teach them sorcery and charms, and to reveal to them the cutting of roots and plants. And they conceived from them and bore to them great giants. And the giants begat Nephilim, and to the Nephilim were born Elioud (Arrogant Ones). And they were growing in accordance with their greatness. They were devouring the labor of all the sons of men, and men were not able to supply them. And the giants began to kill men and to devour them. And they began to sin against the birds and beasts and creeping things and the fish, and to devour one another’s flesh. And they drank the blood. Then the earth brought accusation against the lawless ones.”

Imagine a world where menacing giants forced men to do their bidding, working for the sole purpose to feed their insatiable appetite. When men could no longer meet their desire, the Giant Nephilim would turn to eat them. All of God’s beautiful creation being destroyed to feed their desires. Perhaps we can concieve of God stepping in to rescue the few righteous and destroy the overwhlming evil that had consummed humanity?

Yet, in Genesis 8:21 God promises that he would never deal with humanity’s corruption in this way again, “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”

What was God’s future plan to deal with the evil in man’s heart? It was to send His Son, Jesus to rescue us from our sin. The flood was the reality of what we deserve, but God’s grace would pay the penalty for our sin, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus walked on water as a sign that He was greater than any flood waters that may drown us.

Do These Answers Satisfy You?
The truth of the matter is that any attempts to reconcile the behavior of God in the OT to Jesus Christ can easily be construed as rationalizing, justifying, or explaining away bad behavior. Which takes me back to my original conviction: Without a personal relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ and without an assurance that the Bible is wholly true, you may never be satisfied with any explanation.

I know the character of God because he lives in me and I have grown in knowledge of him. And, the Bible, which has proven trustworthy in my life says that the God/man Jesus Christ, is the perfect representation of God, who has a loving character that fully displays His goodness, righteousness and truth which always was and will never change. Because of the recorded life of Jesus and due to his wonderful sacrifice, we can know the true Character of Jesus. To know his character is to know him.

2 Peter 3:18 – “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:10 – “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Psalm 100:3 – “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

I mentioned before the Old Testament being under God’s Old Covenant. But God has provided a new Covenant for those who embrace the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ. Turn from your old ways, embrace the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for your sins, and follow Him. God promises eternal life. This is how you can know the gracious love of God.

One Final Thought
What about eternity for those that were destroyed by God in the OT? They never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How is that fair?
As I detailed in my previous Post, The God Who Desires/ Wishes/ Intends/ Designs/ Wills All Men to be Saved back in June, my conviction is that people will pay the price for their rebellion. However, it is also my conviction that the promise made in 2 Peter 3:9 is true, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Somehow, some way everyone will one day have the opportunity to be saved by embracing Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

Merry Christmas to all and glory be to the always good, righteous and true God!

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”” – Ephesians 4:7-8

“You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah” – Psalm 68:18-19

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In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul is repeating the Psalmist’s words referring to Christ’s great victory. The enemy is now captive and the to the victor belongs the spoil. These spiritual gifts are now given to those who are in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. What gifts could these be? Whatever they are, they are “According to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Not only referring to the “accceptible” spiritual gifts of men but also to the supernatural gifts Jesus as a man fully exercised.

Let Me Be Crystal Clear

The greatest gift God has given to mankind is Jesus Christ – THE very Son of God. This GIFT from God is described in the classic verse John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave (Edōken – to offer as a gift) His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Son of God humbled Himself to become a man and His death on the cross pays the penalty for our sin giving all those who rebel against God the chance to turn back to God and experience the eternal life that was intended for them.

Thank You God! Any other gift pales in comparison to this majestic gift of God’s love.

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Just an FYI – The corroborating evidence that Jesus Christ not only existed but, lived, died, resurrected, and ascended back to heaven continues to mount. The fact is that the person of Jesus satisfied every one of the 324 Old Testament prophecies as to who the Savior would be. The statistical probability of one man fulfilling even 10% is virtually impossible and to fulfill all of these is beyond comprehension. If anyone says that Jesus was a myth and did not exist as some still tout, no serious historian could agree.

If Jesus’ life proved to be true, and his own words about his death and resurrection were proven reliable then who can reasonably question His declaration to be the very Son of God? (Jesus’ deity confirmed by Jesus in, John 5:14–18, 6:35, 8:56–59, 10:25–33, 14:6–11 & Luke 22:66–71. Also, confirmed by the Apostle John in John 1:1–3 and by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:15–20 & 2:9–10, & Philippians 2:5–7)

With that, Jesus simply and lovingly calls out to “Follow me!” So, by the Spirit of God satisfying my intellect, my emotions, and my very soul, I’m compelled to follow.

Today is the day to choose eternal life! Put your faith and trust in the reality of the one, true living God.

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Beyond the Gift of Eternal Life, God Keeps Giving Gifts

In Paul’s first book to the Corinthians chapter 12 he writes in verses 7-11 – “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” He goes on is verse 28, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

The Gifts Are Awesome but, What For?

What are the spiritual gifts for? Hebrews 2:4 says, “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.”

In Ephesians 4:7 & 8 Paul writes, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” He goes on to say in verses 11-13, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

So, God gives these Spiritual Gifts to us:

1. To Increase our experiential knowledge of (grow in relationship with) God,
2. To Equip us for the ministry to bear witness to the reality of the power of God,
3. To Build us up as a church in the unity of our faith,
4. To stretch our faith in the reliance and expectancy of God in our lives, and
5. To Grow us into the fullness of the man Jesus modeled for us.

Ultimately, all of the above is for the purpose of us growing in our relationship with God and to have that spill out pointing souls to the greatest gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Really? All of These Spiritual Gifts For Us Today?

In my book EMPTIED, I detail in Exhibit 7 evidence that the Miraculous gifts were performed by Men of faith before Christ and were continued by His Disciples. Exhibit 7 is reprinted here:

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Exhibit 7 – Based Upon the Continued Miracles Performed by His Disciples

In the book of Acts, Jesus’ original Disciples carried out miraculous works with some being what could be described as “even greater things.” Also, we see other non-original Disciples (Paul and Stephen) who carried out miraculous works.

If Jesus did the miracles as God then it would seem that men or disciples would not have been able to continue doing them. Jesus, himself, taught that all the power was from God the Father and that men could and would do even greater things than what the Father did through Jesus.

In John 14:12-14 Jesus responds to Philip saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he 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.”

The Greek word for “works” is also often translated as “things,” which I believe, in context, is commonly understood to be the great and powerful signs and wonders that were performed through Jesus. The same word is used in Matthew 11:4-5: “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Italics added)

We see these works or things continued by the Apostles in Acts 5:12,16: “And through the hands of the apostle’s many signs and wonders were done among the people . . . Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

The writer of Hebrews testifies that these works or things continue through common men in Hebrews 2:4: “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.”

Even Greater Things

John 14:12 is an amazing declaration by Jesus. A very common and perhaps the most prevalent interpretation of this passage is that Jesus is speaking to the Disciples and He is saying that as the Body of Christ, they will one day do even greater things than He could as one person. When Jesus spoke these words, He had not yet died on the cross for mankind’s salvation, and His followers would be entrusted with the greater task of preaching the Gospel and leading mankind to salvation through belief in Jesus.

However, the Greek to me is open to some interpretation and can indicate something else. I believe Jesus is answering the disciple, Philip, with “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

The Greek word used in this passage is kakeinos, meaning “and he, he also.” A few major English translations translate kakeinos as “they” but the vast majority of English translations use “he.” The indication is that Jesus is not only referring to His church as a whole but to His individual disciples as well.

Speaking Directly to Disciple Philip?

As further indication that Jesus may have been referring to individual disciples in John 14:12, we find this account in Acts chapter 8. The focus is on Philip going to Samaria. What did he do there? If Jesus was responding directly to Philip in John 14:12, saying that he, as an individual follower, could do the same and even greater things, Luke records that Philip did indeed do many of the same works as Jesus. In Samaria, the multitude heeded Philip for what he spoke, and the miracles he did brought great joy to the entire city.

In Samaria, the multitude came to believe in Christ and were baptized due to Philip’s ministry. Later, Philip converted the Ethiopian and when he baptized him it says, “the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away” and he found himself in Azotus. In Luke 4 Jesus mysteriously passed unnoticed through an angry mob, but there is no record of Jesus ever being whisked away and teleported over 15 miles. Nice trick. Hmmm? A greater thing?

Greater Than Jesus?

The concern here is that we might be saying a Christ-follower could be greater than Jesus himself. Christ-followers are not greater than Jesus—He always was and always will be THE Son of God. We are saved by Jesus’ unique life, death, and resurrection. He is the Christ – the Messiah – our only Savior. And, Jesus was uniquely filled with the Spirit without measure as confirmed in John 3:34, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” (KJV)

As Christians, we are called to be followers and imitators of Christ. We follow Him. If we are doing a good imitation, then Jesus could be interpreted as saying in John 14:12 that we can do the things He did as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit. And, possibly do even greater things or works. What those greater things or works are, is a whole other debate.

A disciple, doing some works that appear greater than what Jesus did (Billy Graham or other evangelists reaching crowds greater in size than Jesus ever spoke to) would not make him/her God or greater than Jesus because it is only by the Spirit of God/Jesus working in them and through them that they can do any of these things.

Could it be that Jesus may be challenging the church (Body of Christ) and even his individual disciples to do things beyond what He had done? Even while writing books about spiritual matters, I’m realizing that Jesus never wrote a book. I am particularly ill-equipped to do it and it’s a daunting task, but if I am following God’s leading, then Jesus is saying, I didn’t do it, but you can!

When writing to the Ephesian church, Paul (doing a greater thing?) seemed to want to encourage the Ephesians to measure themselves to the man Jesus, writing in Ephesians 4:13: “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

(The original Greek uses the phrase, “full measure” or plērōmatos metron which implies being filled up to a limited portion of the fullness of Christ. Hagin refers to it as, “Believers having the Spirit by measure.”)

This interpretation of John 14:12 can be a scary proposition for many Christians for what it implies as to the potential power we may have in Christ Jesus and how much may be going unrealized.

Still, I believe it is God encouraging us and coaxing us to the fullness of the life and ministry He intended for us. If nothing else, I see the language leaving an opening for differing opinions and debate.

One opinion holds that certain gifts Jesus and the first Apostles performed are no longer available to us today. While this is not what I see, I humbly acknowledge that many scholarly and very credible Christ-followers believe this. (For more on Cessation of Sign Gifts see Appendix A)

A Study of Jesus’ Miracles

Is Jesus actually saying, You know all the miraculous things I have done? Yes, you can do those and even greater ones?

I have to say that John 14:12 is one scripture, in particular, when reading it I would roll my eyes and just move on. Right! Even greater things than the Son of God? Come on, man!

But, as the idea that Jesus may have carried on throughout his life fully as a man took hold, I decided to take a closer look at His miracles. I did a study of the 37 documented miracles of Jesus as described in the Gospels.

Considering the different miracles Jesus performed, I researched how the miracles performed by other Biblical figures might compare to Jesus’ miracles.

Peter declares in Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.” (Italics added)

With that in mind, I wondered if any other person in the Bible had done something equivalent to each of the miracles recorded of Jesus?

Based on my research, I have concluded that with every recorded miracle performed by Jesus, there was something similar initiated by another Biblical figure (human) – and in several cases in what could be described as an “even greater” way. Below is a sampling of what I found:

1. All of the same physical healings performed by Jesus were performed by the Disciples in the book of Acts – even on two occasions raising someone from the dead.
2. Jesus called Lazarus from the grave but in 2 Kings 13:20–21 Elisha’s bones caused a dead man to come back from the grave.
3. Jesus turned a few vats of water into fine wine – Moses turned an entire river of water to blood in Exodus 7:17
4. Jesus calmed storms – Moses parted the Red Sea – Exodus 14:13 and Elijah stopped the rain for seven years before bringing the rain again in 1Kings17-18 & James 5:17-18
5. Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes to feed 4000 and 3000 – Moses prayed for food (meat and manna) to feed the entire Hebrew people for years – Exodus 16:11-12
6. Jesus caused a fish to deliver tax money from its mouth – Jonah was delivered from a fish’s mouth onto the shores of Nineva.
7. How about walking on water? Certainly, Jesus was the only one to do that! – Oops, that’s right, Peter walked on water too. While Moses avoided getting wet by parting the Red Sea so a whole nation could pass through.

I have looked at every recorded miracle of Jesus and found Biblical figures whom God used to do something similar and in some cases done in arguably greater terms. (A more complete list is found in Appendix B)

Please do not take this as an attempt to diminish who Jesus was/is. No one has ever had the scope and breadth of the miraculous ministry that Jesus had. And, no one else was or will ever be THE Son of God and THE anointed Messiah who was uniquely filled with the Spirit without measure.

What excites me is to find that what I considered to be one of the most outlandish statements Jesus ever made is proven true right within the Biblical record.

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R.A. Torrey writes, “He (Jesus) lived, thought, worked, taught, conquered sin and won victories for God in the power of that same Spirit whom we may all Have. Whatever He realized through the Holy Spirit is there for us to realize also.”

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If you want to review the complete list of “Greater Things” done by Biblical figures compared to the 37 recorded miracles of Jesus, you can find them in Appendix B of my Book, EMPTIED

So, is Exercising Miraculous Gifts What God Requires of Me?

The Prophet Micah succinctly details what God requires of us in Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

For today, enjoy the greatest gift of all and walk with your Savior!