They are like us but we are not like them.
Rev. Peter Tuchyna
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of
myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The Holy Ghost is directing our attention to the portion of Scripture, in which the content is puzzling many readers,
churchgoers and sincere people.
The reason for uncomfortable feelings and many unanswered questions is a vast contrast between the personal
involvement and experience of many and the words of Jesus in John 14:12 ; He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Jesus did not say, you shall be greater than me, He said, You shall do greater works!
Before we will pay attention to the life of the apostles we must remember that they were called to be disciples first.
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Disciple: is a follower of the doctrines of a teacher
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One of the personal followers of Christ
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Adherent, believer, convert, devotee, follower, supporter
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From the word disciple, the word discipline is derived.
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Discipline: is training or condition imposed for the improvement of self-control or physical powers.
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is systematic training in obedience
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the state of improved behavior
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drill, exercise, method, conduct, orderliness, regulation, restrain, strictness, chastisement, correction,
instruct, train.
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Apostle Paul, who was once a great persecutor of oneness believers of Jesus, the murderer of Stephen, after just one
personal experience with Jesus, changed his mindset.
And he certainly experienced the fulfillment of these words of Jesus in his personal life and his ministry as signs,
wonders and miracles took place to such a degree that even the dead were resurrected under his ministry.
Paul explained the principle behind such a ministry:
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
There is a tremendous difference between religious people and godly people with deep, personal relationship with Jesus.
Religious people crucified Jesus. They had their own religion and they rejected God. There is no demonstration of the
Holy Ghost in their religion. Their mouth is full of religious words, but no place for Jesus and the manifestation of the
Holy Ghost.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
In the life of every disciple, follower of Jesus must be visible demonstration of the presence of the Holy Ghost in the
form of the fruit of the Holy Ghost; Galatians 5:22 and also in the form of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
1Corinthians 12:7 but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
As we are following the lives and ministry of the Apostles in the book of Acts, we can see with certainty the
demonstration of the Holy Ghost in their ministry.
The Bible declares that God confirmed His presence with signs and wonders Acts 2:43 ; Acts 4:33 ; Acts 5:12 ;
Acts 6:8 .
James 5:17-18 declares that Elias was a man subject to the passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it may not
rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Elias did not have the Holy Ghost as the New Testament believers have.
What makes the difference?
Elias was a man subject to like passion as we are. Old Testament prophets, apostles were like us, but we are not like
them. How could that be?
They were humans like we are. They had feelings, like we have. They had spiritual, emotional, physical, financial needs like
we have.
They had responsibilities in their own families, society including paying tax. They were breadwinners like we are. They
were like us in that fashion. But the comparison stops right there.
We are not like them – for when the Lord Jesus said just once, follow me, they left their employment, their families
and they took upon themselves the risk and stigma being branded as irresponsible and careless fathers and husbands.
They were sleeping under the trees and in haystacks (the Son of man had nowhere to lay down his head).
The Pharisees, Sadducees and religious people despised them, mocked them and persecuted them. Often they were hungry
and were eating raw grain from the fields.
From a human perspective, they did not have any future.
All they wanted was the presence of Jesus. They did not have any other ambitions and interest.
Their families were preserved, their marriages did not suffer and their lives were preserved. They did not die from
starvation.
They left everything behind Mark 10:28-31 . Peter said, lo we have left all, and followed thee.
The disciples understood, that they couldn’t have both, the things this world offers and the presence of Jesus as well.
They defied the expectation and law of society referring to their personal needs and ambitions. They listened to every
word, Jesus uttered. They chose to suffer afflictions, persecutions, vilification and financial poverty.
The center of their lives, interest and conversation was Jesus. Jesus filled their entire lives.
They were like us, but we are not like them. For we tend to spend time with Jesus when there is nothing else to do. We
tend to read the Bible when the shopping is done, house is vacuumed, washing is done, ironing finished, front and back
yard mowed, weeds pulled out, meal is cooked, dishes are washed, car is serviced, friends visited, phone calls made
making sure we don’t miss on any news, bargains purchased, T.V. news watched and so on – and finally when we have
a little bit of time for Jesus, we are so tired of all the days work and early mornings that we need a good nights rest.
And because we are sociable creatures and we need to catch up with family and friends – Sunday is the best day
for it for we cannot afford not to go to work. But Sunday? Jesus understands.
And doing so we are on the highway to have a form of godliness, but without power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost.
We can fool ourselves, but we cannot fool God. His presence is likened to a precious pearl of a great price. To obtain it
we must sell all we have.
God does not expect us to quit our jobs now. He wants you to set the priorities right. How regular do you study the
Word of God, how regular and how much time do you spend on prayer daily, how much time do you have for active
witnessing? When did you fast the last time and how long did you survive? One day, two, three, one week, two weeks,
three weeks like Daniel who prayed and confessed sins of his nation?
Or like Moses, forty days. What for?
How desperate are you for the presence of God and His anointing in your life?
How much do you really want to be in your “Father’s business” and to perform the deeds Jesus did and greater than
these?
Without denial of some things and present involvements, without drastic change of your priorities and lifestyle –
impossible!
Where your treasure is, there your heart is also Matthew 6:21 .
Earnestly desire Spiritual gifts the Bible declares. Are you really making yourself sensitive and available for the service of
God and being used in Spiritual gifts and the demonstration of the Holy Ghost?
Or, you are happy just to watch videos from the services where people are sensitive to God and He confirms His presence
with them?
Without the manifestation and demonstration of the Holy Ghost in the lives of “believers” we are denying the power
of the Holy Ghost and thus grieving Him with our self-will and stubbornness.
Self will and stubbornness is as a sin of witchcraft. Are you willing for Jesus to have His way and His will in your life?
No man can serve two masters! How hot, cold or lukewarm is the heart towards Jesus?
What I will do with Jesus now will determent what Jesus will do with me when he will come to execute His will once and
for all.
