It was common in Jesus ministry to heal all whom he touched.
Then a woman reached out and touched the hem of his garment and was healed (Matt 9:20). This was something greater!
After that everyone tried to touch his garment (Matt 14:36), even those that did not believe divided his garments even as they crucified him (Matt 27:35). Everyone wanted a piece of what healed.
At the end of his earthly ministry Jesus said that greater works than that would be done (John 14:12).
The twelve apostles were given power to do greater works insomuch that the sick sought to be healed by Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15)! These were clearly greater works.
This did not prevent them from putting Peter in jail, not because of his greater works, but because he preached Jesus as the Christ.
Greater works than Peter were done during Paul’s ministry when the sick were healed by his handkerchiefs delivered to them (Acts 19:11-12).
Paul’s special miracles did not save him from persecution and oft tribulations for his message.
No one was ever rejected for healing power; everyone wants to be healed. They were killed for their doctrinal message.
Greater works were signs pointing to a more excellent ministry. The message was always greater than the miracles. Paul’s message was more excellent than any of those great works (Phil 1:10; 1 Cor 13:13; Eph 2:4-7).
When Christians think that special miracles, healing, and powers are greater than understanding doctrine they are making the same mistake as those who crucified Jesus, jailed Peter, and persecuted Paul.
Today, there is no greater message than what the Lord revealed to the apostle Paul last of all. What was Paul’s message?
The gospel of the grace of God testifies to Christ having done everything necessary for you already including blessing you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
We walk by faith (message) not by sight (miracles)-(2 Cor 5:7).
There is a greater hope than healing. It is found in what Christ has already done for you.
Trusting the greater message of grace will relieve you from the disappointment of not receiving lesser miracles.
Preach this message and you will face resistance by those who think God’s greatest work was to heal. Heal everyone in town and you will receive big crowds that might crucify you if you talk too much about sound doctrine.
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