If Jesus had been the wisest philosopher and the most righteous individual who ever walked the face of the earth, He still could not have claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God. It is when we see the miracles that we know beyond all doubt that He came from God. No other individual in history has ever demonstrated such supernatural power.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12—NIV)

I think the above verse is a prophecy and it will be fulfilled in our day. This is the fullness of the power of the seven thunders, mentioned in the tenth chapter of the Book of Revelation.

The reason such awesome power, the power to do greater works than those performed by the Lord Jesus Christ, has been withheld is that the ministry is still operating independently of the Lord. Of course we pray and ask God's help. But the Lord Jesus, our eternal example, did much more than ask God's help. Rather He set Himself apart that God might have a chariot in which to ride, so to speak.

So it is true that we will not experience the power of the seven thunders until we are willing to die to our self-will, our religious desire to "do great things for God" (which really is a desire to do great things for our own aggrandizement), and enter the eternal Sabbath rest in which Jesus dwells.

When it can be said of us that it no longer is we who are living but Christ who is living in us, then we will, I believe, be candidates for the fullness of the power of the seven thunders.

The reason why we will do greater works than Christ did on the earth is that He is at the right hand of God. It will not be we who are doing the works but Christ who is dwelling in us, just as it was true that it was not Christ who was doing the works on the earth but God who was dwelling in Him.

I think some ministers of our day are seeking power in order attract people to the Gospel. I don't believe we should be seeking power. I think we should be seeking Jesus Christ Himself—to be in union with Him. When we get a taste of what it is like to be in union with Jesus Christ we no longer will have a desire to "do great things for God." We will be content to do the will of Christ just as I believe Christ was content to do the will of God.

Christ did not do great things for God. God in Christ did great things for His own purposes. We should take a lesson from this.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13,14—NIV)

To be continued.