Why do people not believe Jesus when he said "Greater works shall he [that believes] do?"

I’m don’t understand the question. Please rephrase.

Do you, personally, know what it takes to cause miracles to occur? (In practice, not in theory)

Or another way of wording it... Have you ever caused or initiated a miracle?

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

I believe God causes miracles. When people were healed in Acts in the name of Jesus, God brought glory to Jesus( see Acts 3:13).

I do not believe people can cause or initiate miracles. I do not have that power to cause or initiate miracles. That is God’s doing. However people can pray and God can answer prayers. I remember one instance that I wonder if God had specifically answered my prayer. I was going to a group at the time. I knew of a mission work overseas going on where they would preach the gospel. I was praying and had a random thought to pray for the lame and I did. Later on when at the group and the mission work was discussed, there was also mentioned how a lame man was healed.

Thank-you for answering correctly. At first you answered negatively BUT then you looked on what you have instead of what you think you don't have... and you shared the basic components of any miracle... Prayer, compassion, and simple obedience. Notice how pride and self-interest were not a part of the equation. When you operated SOLELY in believing prayer, compassion, and simple obedience you saw results... even if you aren't sure they came as a result of your prayer.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

@CherieR
Once I know you've read Post #44, I'll point out something negative, but I do not want to distract you from focusing on the positive of exactly HOW how you were involved in a miracle even if you think your part was minor.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

I don’t see my post as having answered in the negative at first but rather being honest about what I believe. I believe in praying just that the power for the healing does not come from people but God.

My apologies. I'd basically forgotten your first 2 short sentences once I started reading your 2nd paragraph. My reply was only regarding the second paragraph. It started with "I don't believe" ..and.. "I don't have"... which are negatives and aren't particularly helpful in trying to get something accomplished. Soon you switched to what you did hear, did do and did see as results. But that may be a smaller point.

I've been struggling to word the bigger point. And I want to get it right for everyone's benefit. (sorry for the delay)

It started to show up in post #35 and your post #38 when you said "Depending on how you view it I suppose." Oh, how true that is!
(Please review those two postings) They were both talking about the FACT that "Jesus/God/the Holy Spirit is the one doing the work". We both believe that to be true... BUT... You looked at it one way. I looked at it another way. Your view seems to be highlighting a limiting factor as to what is proper and possible. My view pointed toward the limitless power of Jesus. Our two views are basically two sides of the same coin. Neither should be ignored or disregarded. Yet how many even KNOW about the view I proposed?

The idea of there being another way to look at something is especially important when reading what I called "your 'negative' comments". But I feel I'm running out of energy. So I'll just post this much for now. Thanks for being patient with me.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

I certainly don’t wish to imply limits on God in any way. I also believe in the limitless power of Jesus.

When I was first trying to line up with the word of God in such a way that my prayers would produce results, I found that some of my thinking was incorrect. Basically, I would find some promise of God then try to use it in an appropriate time. If it didn't work, I would ask God why. He would bring to my attention some small phrase or wording that I'd overlooked or in some way hadn't lined up with. As I would correct my understanding or position, I saw increasingly productive results.

I basically said that last paragraph as an example that even though we are trying to walk in the will and ways of God according to his word, we often act based on assumptions that we don't even realize we've made. And sometimes what we THINK is a good way of looking at something is actually dangerously wrong when we consider the same statement from another viewpoint. That's how one of your 'negative' statements stood out to me. (I'll explain)

If we consider (and take it seriously) that GOD/Jesus/The Holy Spirit is he that initiates miracles and is the power that performs those miracles....Then (if looking from that perspective) what does it mean when someone claims " I do not have that power to cause or initiate miracles."? It means they are accidentally claiming that they don't have God. (even if they don't think so)

And again there is more to be said on that, but I don't want to put too much into one post.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

@CherieR Our FLESH doesn't have the ability to perform miracles in Jesus name, but miracles are performed when we are NOT focused on our flesh but rather on God and his power (which is supposed to dwell in us). And if you review your own example, you see that pattern. You weren't focused on yourself, or your own ambitions, or on the limitations. You were focused on what God wanted, what God (through you) might do, and what you should ask to bring that into existence. Then you asked, and you received. (As it is promised in the word. And you give glory to God.)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

I don’t mean to suggest or imply absence of God or his power in believers. Yes, we have God and his power inside. This is because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in those who trust in Christ.

I spoke of human limitation in that God is the one who performs miracles and this power doesn’t come from human ability but the power is from God.

Hi Sophie. In some ways THAT is the correct question. And based on our past conversations I'm going to guess you might not appreciate the wisdom of my answer as much as I appreciate the wisdom of your question.

My answer (at this point, to you) is that I'm not going to rob you of getting that answer straight from God. And here's why...

1. At this point I don't know whether you'd just disbelieve, disregard, mock and scorn if I answered you directly. And...
2. Anyone who wishes to do the greater works and know certainly that they ARE greater works will need to learn to hear from God anyway. You, having the Holy Ghost, are capable of accomplishing both... without me.

But on another note, I'm glad to see you're still around. I'd begun to wonder.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

John 14:12 KJV says:

Why, seeing we have this statement from Jesus (and both the old and new testaments), and all the teachings that have come after, do the people who claim to follow Jesus seem to disregard this verse as if it is untrue?

Is it not true that we have more promises and teachings than any before us?

To me, it seems so many are not only NOT trying to do anything greater than what Jesus did, they also make it a point NOT TO DO anything greater than what Paul did, or Peter did, or Stephen did, or Isaiah did, or David did, or Jonah did, or... [Just keep lowering the bar until you reach someone in the bible you think that you MIGHT have a hope of outperforming]. And some go so far as to hinder those who might be trying. Which I guess kind of answers my question... sigh... I'll post the verse:

Matthew 23:13 KJV

So I still ask the question, Who do you believe we can do things greater than? Where do you set YOUR bar? (No, you don't have to post your answer, but I would like you to deeply consider your answer, because Jesus kinda suggested the answer should be "Jesus")

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

I'm not hating, but in the interest of equal time, I have video that gives some insight into a Smith Wigglesworth "healing" meeting. The whole thing is good, but at 12:20 is where it's especially revealing.

Again, I don't post this with a bitter spirit toward anyone; however, I believe people deserve to hear all sides. If this is Wiggelsworth, why would we want to emulate him? This is the same old story of every faith healer: people don't get healed or are healed temporarily. They're told the only way they can be healed is if they have faith. If they have faith to heal themself, why do they need a faith healer?