FF Chong—London, UK

Editor's note: This article is adapted from lessons given during the UK National Evangelism Group online fellowship on 24 November 2024.

         "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." (Jn 14:12)

These words, which Jesus spoke to the disciples, prompt a question. During Jesus' ministry, He healed the sick, cast out demons, preached with authority, and performed many wonders. Though He was flesh and blood, He was also filled with the power of God. How, then, can we possibly do "greater works" than Jesus?

To understand these words, we must know the context. The Lord Jesus' primary task on earth was to preach the gospel, showing the way to salvation. Therefore, those who believe in Him would inherit the same task, and they would go on to fulfill this task to a greater extent.

After the Holy Spirit was poured out, the church was established, and the gospel advanced far and wide, especially in the early stages when it spread rapidly and many people believed. Eventually, it reached beyond Israel. Geographically, the dissemination of the gospel during the time of the apostles was greater than in Jesus' time.

Today, the True Jesus Church continues the mission to preach until the church has been established in every part of the world. This is a great responsibility, foretold in the prophetic books.

Isaiah 11 prophesies of the coming of Jesus. The first part of the prophecy describes Jesus' ministry and the establishment of the apostolic church (Isa 11:1–10).

         "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people." (Isa 11:10a)

Jesus is the Root of Jesse; He is the banner displaying the truth of God, given to those who fear God (Ps 60:4). When Jesus came to the world, He became the standard of truth. He taught the truth first to the disciples so they could preach the same standard of truth to others.

         "For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious." (Isa 11:10b)

Jesus' resting place will be glorious because the Gentiles will come to seek Him there. His resting place is Mount Zion (Ps 132:13–14), which refers to the true church. When the standard of truth is raised, Gentiles will seek Jesus, and the church will become glorious.

The second part of the prophecy refers to a later time period (Isa11:11–16):

         "It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time
To recover the remnant of His people who are left. ...
He will set up a banner for the nations,
And will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
And gather together the dispersed of Judah
From the four corners of the earth." (Isa 11:11–12)

The Lord will reach out to a remnant, setting up a banner for the nations a second time. A study of Isaiah suggests that after the banner is first lifted, the standard of truth will decline, making it necessary to raise the standard again.

The True Jesus Church is the revived apostolic church that will raise the banner a second time. The geographical spread of the gospel will be even wider than the first lifting of the banner. Therefore, the work of evangelism is crucial. Indeed, by the Holy Spirit's work, the True Jesus Church has now been established in at least eighty countries.

However, even as there is progress, do we feel a decline in our determination to accomplish our mission? How do we regain the strength and reignite our zeal to preach with resilience and power? How can the church complete her commission to do "greater works" than Jesus?

"I GO TO MY FATHER": PRAYING FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus explains how His believers can do greater works: "because I go to My Father" (Jn 14:12). When He went to the Father, the Holy Spirit descended, testifying that Jesus had overcome death. Why is the Holy Spirit's descent relevant to evangelism?

The Holy Spirit Leads the Church

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He commanded them to make disciples of all nations. He also reassured them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Mt 28:18). And yet, in His final words before ascending to heaven, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before going out to preach (Acts 1:4–8). The presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable in the work of evangelism.

In 1917, the early workers of the True Jesus Church received the Holy Spirit and were baptized into Jesus Christ. The early church was filled with power and authority, much like the early apostolic church, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 11.

We must consider Jesus' words and realize that the early development of the church is inextricably linked to the Holy Spirit. Today, we have been baptized into the same body of Christ. To revive our zeal, the church must pray for the guidance and infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Every Believer Must Pray

The apostolic church sets an example in its unrelenting emphasis on praying for the Holy Spirit in its preaching work. Acts 8 recounts how Philip preached to Samaria and performed many miracles. Countless people believed and were baptized, and there was great joy. But no one received the Holy Spirit. When the church in Jerusalem heard that people had believed, they sent Peter and John there to pray for them so they could receive the Holy Spirit. This was the main purpose of their journey from Jerusalem to Samaria. Likewise, when Paul arrived in Ephesus, he asked if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed (Acts 19:1–7). On learning that they had only received the baptism of John, he baptized them in the name of Jesus and laid hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit.

Today, we must similarly recognize that evangelism and the Holy Spirit go hand in hand. It is crucial to encourage all new believers and members to pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit if they have yet to receive Him. While the Lord Jesus bestows His Spirit in His time, we must do our part to provide consistent encouragement. Some congregations do this by scheduling weekly or monthly sessions to pray for the Holy Spirit. If we do not emphasize the importance of regularly praying for and earnestly pursuing the Spirit, then the motivation to do so may be lost. When the majority of members are filled by the Holy Spirit, the gospel will prosper as everyone is united in willingness and purpose. The Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and ignites our zeal to preach.

"WHATEVER YOU ASK": PRAYING FOR THE GOSPEL

         "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (Jn 14:13)

What does our daily prayer agenda comprise? Do we primarily thank God for His material blessings and make more requests? When Jesus says that He will do "whatever you ask" in His name, it refers not to whatever our heart desires, but to the "greater works" mentioned in the previous verse (Jn 14:12). Jesus will heed our prayers when they pertain to the spreading of the gospel. When the gospel is spread, God is glorified. Therefore, every believer must pray for the work of preaching.

Conversations in church are often indicative of our priorities. It is commendable that we share with brethren the grace God has showered upon us. However, when our conversations revolve solely around material blessings, it is a worrying sign that evangelism is not a priority in our lives. When a church prays for and focuses on evangelism, it will be a constant topic of discussion among her members. Many of our churches set a time to pray for evangelism; this prayer is not only for the evangelism team, but for the whole church to intercede for the work.

         Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains. (Col 4:2–3)

Paul asked the Colossian members to pray for the gospel, so that God would open doors for evangelism and make the mystery of the gospel known. This request reveals Paul's unwavering focus on the gospel and His reliance on God. Although he was a gifted and experienced evangelist, Paul deeply valued the supporting intercession of the members. We cannot accomplish God's work if we neglect to entrust it to God. God is the One who touches the heart and guides a soul to salvation. Do not take it lightly when a truth-seeker who was initially enthusiastic decides to depart. There may be myriad reasons why they do so, but we must examine ourselves to see if our lack of prayers has played a part.

Ministry workers and volunteers who serve in pioneering areas have experienced that only God can open the way. No matter how many evangelistic meetings we organize, people may not be interested. We need God's participation and guidance in our preaching work. Therefore, we must humbly and with one heart rely on God in prayer, asking Him to lead the church.

"KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS": UNITED IN LOVE AND PEACE

Love God

         "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever." (Jn 14:15–16)

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He interceded for us so that we might receive the Holy Spirit. However, a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Spirit is that we must love God; we demonstrate our love for God by keeping the commandments, especially the Ten Commandments.

When we preach to Christians from other denominations, one common topic of discussion is the Sabbath, since most Christians observe Sunday as their day of worship. In these cases, we should encourage them to keep the Fourth Commandment. Sabbath-keeping is only one part of the commandments, but when individuals take steps to follow the commandments more closely, they manifest their love for God. Jesus will observe this and intercede on their behalf, and will bless them with the Holy Spirit in His time. The Holy Spirit will be crucial as they continue this journey of understanding the mystery of the gospel.

In Acts 5, the apostles attest that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). The receiving of the Holy Spirit is directly linked to believers keeping God's commandments.

Those who preach must also keep God's commandments. If we meet His requirements in this way, God will help those to whom we preach to understand. We can see this from two angles, using the example of Sabbath-keeping:

1.     The entire church should observe the Sabbath properly, and church leaders should guide the congregation in fulfilling this commandment of God. The members will then experience the blessings and benefits of God's promises concerning the Sabbath (Isa 58:13–14), and God will abide in the church. He will guide people to come in and believe.

2.     When we preach, we often explain the basic doctrines, including the Sabbath. How can we discuss the Sabbath if we do not keep it properly ourselves? Truth-seekers will see a contradiction if they observe our members neglecting the Sabbath. In the past, believers who were trying to eke out their living often compromised on Sabbath observance. Today, with a clearer understanding of the truth, we should be able to keep God's commandments more effectively, both as our duty to Him and as an example to truth-seekers.

 

 

The Bible is clear in this: when we manifest our love to God through keeping His commandments, He will pour out His Holy Spirit. The Spirit will work mightily through us and in those who hear our message, so that more will come to believe in the gospel.

Love Man

The commandments are not only about loving God, but also about loving man. The gospel centers on God's love and our transformation through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should cultivate a sincere love for one another and pray for God's help to resolve interpersonal issues between coworkers, so that the work is not hindered. If not, the burden will sap our spiritual strength and eventually become demoralizing.

To truly keep the commandments, we must proactively love others without expecting to receive love in return. This is how we can become like the early apostolic church, filled with the power of God.

         Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil 1:27)

Paul encourages the church to strive for unity in the gospel, but it is not easy to achieve; in the process, we must let our conduct be worthy of the gospel. We have our shortcomings, but if we wish to preach, we must allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. We face challenges from living in the world and, at times, from within the church, which can hinder us from walking in accordance with Christ's teachings. However, we must live out the gospel of peace both within and outside the church. Any interpersonal issue we have in church can be an obstacle to preaching, so we must rely on God to foster peace.

First, leaders must rely on the Holy Spirit to become individuals of peace. One who is unable to interact harmoniously with others will struggle to preach effectively. Second, we must urge our brothers and sisters to love one another and cultivate a peaceful atmosphere in the church, so that God can work. If there is a pattern of truth-seekers coming to church, receiving the Holy Spirit, and then departing after a time, we must examine ourselves. Is it related to our attitude? Have we promoted unity, or have we created divisions through our speech and behavior?

Our whole life and the way we treat others must be in harmony with the work of evangelism, so that God will dwell with us.

"GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH": TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE

Foundation of Truth

Another reason that the Holy Spirit is integral to preaching is found in John 16:

         "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (Jn 16:13)

Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth, who helps us understand the truth. The truth, which comes from God, forms the foundation of the church (1 Tim 3:15). If the church has a weak grasp of the truth, then God will not work as powerfully with the church. If a believer starts to doubt, the Holy Spirit will gradually depart from him, and he will no longer be able to discern the truth. In such a state, how can we preach or lead others?

For example, if the Holy Spirit had not revealed to the early workers of the True Jesus Church that they should bow their heads in baptism, they would not have understood what it means to be united with Christ in the likeness of His death (Rom 6:2–11). Now, we are fully convinced that this is the correct mode of baptism.

The greatest difficulties the True Jesus Church has faced throughout history are related to the truth. Therefore, all workers need to have complete conviction in the truth. The church must remain vigilant and correct those who diverge from the truth. We should follow the example of the apostolic church, which did not allow another gospel to coexist or be preached:

         As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine. (1 Tim 1:3)

Having different opinions on the truth will cause divisions and affect our preaching. We need to resolve to be rooted in God's truth.

When preaching, we may encounter questions that we cannot answer. This does not mean that there is an issue with the truth we preach. The problem is most likely that we do not yet fully understand the truth—each of us has room for improvement in terms of learning God's word. Therefore, we must continue to pursue a deeper understanding, building on the foundation of the truth that the church has received.

CONCLUSION

As members of the True Jesus Church, the revived apostolic church in the latter days, we must be united in the gospel. Collectively, we must "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil 1:27). Individually, if we feel that we lack inner power, despite having the Holy Spirit and learning the truth, then perhaps we have not been determined enough in deepening our understanding of the gospel. Do not stagnate at merely knowing the truth, but expend effort to study the details (Acts 17:11). We will surely be strengthened in the process. The Holy Spirit will inspire us and revive our zeal to preach, since we know what we preach is true.

May the whole church stand fast and believe in the pattern of sound words given to the church, dwelling in peace, love, and unity in truth. Let us be filled by the Holy Spirit, relying on prayer and God's power to open the door of salvation, to fulfill the Lord's command to achieve greater works for Him. Amen!