Me: Compose a sermon in the style of Smith Wigglesworth from a Charismatic and Pentecostal theological perspective on John 14:12-14.
ChatGPT:
Greater Works Through the Power of the Holy Ghost
A Pentecostal sermon on John 14:12–14, inspired by the fervent, faith-filled preaching tradition of Smith Wigglesworth
Theme: Believing Jesus, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, and doing the works of the risen Christ.
Primary Scripture: John 14:12–14 (KJV)
“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.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Introduction: God Has Not Changed!
Beloved, I want you to understand something this day: Jesus Christ is alive! He is not the Christ of yesterday only. He is the Christ of today! He is not merely the Christ who healed the sick two thousand years ago; He is the Christ who heals today. He is not merely the Christ who opened blind eyes in Galilee; He is the Christ who can open blind eyes in this generation. He is not merely the Christ who filled His disciples with the Holy Ghost; He is the Christ who still baptizes believers in the Holy Ghost and fire!
Hallelujah!
I have come to stir your faith. I have come to challenge your unbelief. I have come to declare that the Word of God is not dead, the promises of God are not empty, and the power of God has not diminished!
The trouble with many people is that they believe Jesus could do great things, but they are not persuaded that He wants to work through them.
They believe in the miracles of the Bible, but they have not yet believed the Bible for their own lives.
They read about Peter and John, but they do not expect God to move through His people today. They read about the upper room, but they have forgotten that the same Holy Spirit who filled those believers has been given to the Church.
Church, we must come back to the living Word of God!
Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.”
Did He say that only apostles could believe? Did He say that only a select few could receive His power? No! He spoke of the one who believes in Him.
The question is not whether Jesus has power. The question is whether we will trust Him, obey Him, and make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit.
Let us look at three great truths in this passage.
1. The Promise of Greater Works
Jesus declares in verse 12:
“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.”
What a tremendous promise!
Think of the works of Jesus. He healed the sick. He cleansed lepers. He opened blind eyes. He made the lame walk. He cast out demons. He preached the kingdom of God. He raised the dead. Everywhere He went, the power of God confronted the works of darkness.
And now Jesus looks at His disciples and says, in effect, “You will continue the works I have begun.”
Oh, what a responsibility! What a privilege! What a calling!
The Church was never meant to be a monument to what God did in the past. The Church is called to bear witness to what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ and continues to do by His Spirit.
We are not called merely to talk about the power of God. We are called to walk in obedience to God.
We are not called merely to sing about deliverance. We are called to proclaim the Deliverer.
We are not called merely to discuss healing. We are called to pray for the sick in faith, trusting the Lord Jesus to work according to His will.
The Church must not substitute a reputation for power for a living relationship with the risen Christ.
Now, what did Jesus mean by “greater works”?
We must understand this promise in its biblical setting. Jesus said these words because He was going to the Father. Through His death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, His disciples would proclaim the finished work of salvation to the nations.
The works would extend beyond the geographical boundaries of Jesus' earthly ministry. The gospel would go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Multitudes would hear the good news. People from every nation would come to faith in Christ.
Consider what happened at Pentecost. The Spirit was poured out, Peter preached Jesus crucified and risen, and about three thousand people received the Word and were baptized (Acts 2:41).
What a mighty work of God!
The greater works are not a declaration that believers possess greater power than Jesus or can surpass Him in glory. They point us to the continuing ministry of the exalted Christ through His Spirit-filled people.
And this is where our faith must rise!
You may not stand before multitudes. You may not travel to distant lands. You may not have a pulpit or a title. But you can carry the gospel into your home, your workplace, your neighborhood, and your community.
You can pray for a sick neighbor. You can speak the truth to someone bound by sin. You can lead a broken soul to the Savior. You can stand with someone who has lost hope and declare that Jesus Christ is mighty to save.
Do not despise the day of small beginnings!
The Holy Spirit can use one obedient believer to change the direction of a family. He can use one prayer meeting to awaken a congregation. He can use one testimony to bring hope to a multitude.
Do you believe that God can work through you?
Then stop measuring your usefulness by your natural ability. Start surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ!
The power is His. The glory is His. The work belongs to Him. And He calls us to believe and obey.
2. The Power Is in the Holy Spirit, Not in Human Strength
Jesus did not give this promise to encourage human pride. He gave it to prepare His disciples for a life of dependence upon Him.
The disciples had walked with Jesus. They had heard His teaching and seen His miracles. Yet they still needed the power that would come when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.”
Notice the purpose of that power: to make them witnesses unto Jesus.
The Holy Spirit does not come to make us famous. He comes to glorify Christ. He does not come to exalt our names. He comes to magnify the name above every name.
Pentecostal power is not a performance. It is the empowering presence of God for holy living, bold witness, spiritual gifts, and effective ministry.
We need the Holy Ghost!
We need His power in our preaching. We need His wisdom in our decisions. We need His boldness when we testify. We need His gifts as we minister to others. We need His conviction when sin tries to enter our lives. We need His comfort when our hearts are broken.
And we must never forget that the gifts of the Spirit are given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). They are not trophies for spiritual pride. They are instruments of service and expressions of God's grace.
Some people want the power without the surrender. They want the gifts without the fruit. They want the public demonstration but neglect the private prayer closet.
But God calls us to more!
We need the power of the Spirit and the character of Christ. We need faith that works through love. We need boldness joined with humility. We need spiritual gifts exercised in accordance with Scripture and in a way that builds up the body of Christ.
Beloved, let us not seek an experience merely to say we have had an experience. Let us seek the Lord Himself!
Let us hunger for His presence. Let us yield our tongues to His praise. Let us open our hearts to His leading. Let us ask Him to fill us afresh so that we might serve Him faithfully.
And when we pray for the sick, let us pray with expectation.
When we encounter those oppressed by darkness, let us stand in the authority of Jesus Christ.
When we preach the gospel, let us preach it with conviction, believing that the Holy Spirit can bring the deadness of sin into the light of repentance and new life.
When we face impossible circumstances, let us remember that our God is not limited by our weakness.
But hear me carefully: our faith is not a force that we control, and the Holy Spirit is not a power we manipulate. We are servants of the living God. We trust His Word, obey His leading, and leave the results in His hands.
We do not measure God's faithfulness solely by whether every prayer receives the answer we desire. We measure it by His unchanging character and the truth of His promises.
Our confidence is not in ourselves.
Our confidence is in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
3. Ask in the Name of Jesus
Verse 13 says:
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
What a promise!
Jesus invites His disciples to pray in His name. He directs their faith toward the Father and assures them that He will act so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
But we must understand what it means to ask in Jesus' name.
It is not a magical phrase we attach to the end of a prayer. It is not a formula by which we compel God to do whatever we desire.
To pray in Jesus' name is to approach the Father through Christ, trusting His authority, submitting to His will, and seeking what honors Him.
It means that our prayers must be brought under the lordship of Jesus.
If I ask for healing, I ask in the name of Jesus.
If I ask for a soul to be saved, I ask in the name of Jesus.
If I ask for boldness to preach the gospel, wisdom to lead my family, or grace to forgive my enemy, I ask in the name of Jesus.
And I ask believing that God hears His children!
We must not allow unanswered questions to drive us away from prayer. We must allow them to drive us deeper into the presence of God.
Sometimes the answer comes suddenly. Sometimes we must persevere. Sometimes God answers in a way we did not expect. And sometimes we stand beside a suffering person without understanding why the healing we prayed for has not come.
Yet we continue to pray. We continue to love. We continue to believe that God is good.
Faith does not mean pretending that suffering does not exist. Faith means bringing our suffering into the presence of the One who conquered death.
Faith does not mean that we understand every mystery. Faith means that we know the One in whom we have believed.
And when we pray, we pray with expectation!
Church, let us pray for our communities. Let us pray for the lost. Let us pray for those who are sick. Let us pray for those who are addicted, oppressed, discouraged, and brokenhearted.
Let us pray that the power of the gospel will be demonstrated in changed lives.
Let us pray for spiritual awakening in our churches and for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
And above everything else, let us pray that the Father will be glorified in the Son.
That is the great purpose of our prayers.
Not our reputation. Not our platform. Not our personal glory.
His glory!
The Authority of the Name Above Every Name
There is authority in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is.
He is the crucified Savior. He is the risen Lord. He is the exalted King.
At the name of Jesus, we proclaim salvation to sinners, freedom to those held captive by sin, and hope to those who are weary.
We do not place our confidence in the volume of our voices. We place our confidence in the authority of Christ.
A quiet prayer offered in genuine faith is not powerless because it lacks outward excitement. And a loud prayer is not powerful merely because it is loud.
What matters is the Lord to whom we pray.
Let our prayers be fervent. Let our hearts be full of faith. Let our lives be surrendered to Christ. Let us stand upon the promises of God's Word.
And let us never be ashamed of the name of Jesus!
4. Faith Must Become Obedience
There is another truth in this passage that we must not overlook.
Jesus did not say, “He that merely admires Me will do the works I do.”
He said, “He that believeth on me.”
Biblical faith is more than agreeing that a promise is true. Faith entrusts itself to Christ and responds to His Word.
When Jesus calls us to pray for the sick, we pray.
When Jesus calls us to preach the gospel, we speak.
When Jesus calls us to forgive, we release bitterness.
When Jesus calls us to holiness, we turn away from sin.
When Jesus calls us to love our enemies, we ask for grace to do what our natural hearts cannot accomplish.
Faith moves us toward obedience.
Imagine a believer who has prayed for boldness to witness but refuses to speak to anyone about Christ. Imagine a congregation that asks for revival but refuses to repent of bitterness, division, and pride.
We must understand that prayer and obedience belong together.
We cannot demand that God bless the path of disobedience while refusing to walk in His ways.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses, but we must be willing to open our mouths. He equips us to serve, but we must be willing to serve. He gives gifts, but we must exercise them with love, wisdom, and biblical order.
The question is not simply, “Do you believe in miracles?”
The question is, “Do you believe Jesus enough to obey Him?”
Perhaps the Lord is calling you to pray for someone today.
Perhaps He is calling you to reconcile with a family member.
Perhaps He is calling you to speak to a coworker about the hope you have in Christ.
Perhaps He is calling you to return to a life of prayer, to surrender a hidden sin, or to step into a ministry you have avoided because you feel inadequate.
Do not wait until you feel sufficient in yourself.
The disciples were not sufficient in themselves. They needed the Holy Spirit.
And we need Him too!
Our weakness is not an obstacle to God's grace when we surrender ourselves to Him. He can work through ordinary people who are willing to trust and obey.
So rise up in faith—not in pride, but in humble confidence.
Say, “Lord Jesus, I am Yours. Fill me with Your Spirit. Purify my heart. Teach me Your Word. Give me courage to obey. Use my life to glorify Your name.”
That is the prayer of a yielded believer.
5. The Works of Jesus Must Point People to Jesus
Let us return to the purpose of this promise.
Jesus says that He will act so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
This must govern every manifestation of spiritual power.
If a person is healed, let the glory go to Jesus.
If someone is delivered from bondage, let the glory go to Jesus.
If a sinner repents and receives salvation, let the glory go to Jesus.
If a congregation experiences a mighty move of the Holy Spirit, let the glory go to Jesus.
The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is not to build a personality cult. It is to build up the Church and bear witness to Christ.
The purpose of miracles is not to entertain the curious. It is to reveal God's mercy and direct people toward His kingdom.
And the greatest testimony we can give is not merely that we witnessed a remarkable event. It is that Jesus Christ has transformed our lives.
Let the proud become humble. Let the bitter learn to forgive. Let the dishonest become truthful. Let the unclean pursue holiness. Let the fearful become bold witnesses. Let the selfish become servants.
Let the love of Christ become visible in us!
We believe in the supernatural work of God. We believe the Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will. We believe God still answers prayer and can heal, deliver, and transform lives.
But we must test everything by Scripture, exercise spiritual gifts in love, and refuse to exaggerate testimonies or manipulate vulnerable people.
We must never blame the sick for lacking faith when healing does not occur. We must never promise what God has not promised to a particular individual. We must never make a person's suffering an opportunity for shame or exploitation.
Instead, we must surround the hurting with prayer, compassion, practical care, and unwavering hope in Christ.
That is the ministry of Jesus expressed through His people.
Power without love becomes harshness. Gifts without humility become pride. Faith without obedience becomes empty talk. But when the Spirit of God works through surrendered believers, Jesus Christ is magnified!
And that is what we desire above everything else.
6. A Church That Believes Again
Now I want to bring this message to the Church.
We must not settle for a Christianity that remembers the works of God but never expects Him to act today.
We must not be satisfied with sermons that never call people to repentance, prayers that expect nothing, or worship that leaves no room for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We need the Word of God preached faithfully.
We need prayer meetings filled with holy expectation.
We need believers who hunger for the presence of God.
We need spiritual gifts exercised with love and discernment.
We need evangelism that reaches the lost.
We need compassion that touches the suffering.
We need holiness that honors the Lord.
And we need the courage to believe that the risen Christ can work through His people in this generation.
But let revival begin with us!
Let it begin in our hearts before we demand it in our communities.
Let it begin with repentance before we demand public manifestations.
Let it begin with love for Christ before we demand spiritual gifts.
Let it begin with the Word of God before we follow every new voice claiming to speak in His name.
And let it continue with prayer, faith, obedience, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Church, we do not need another gospel. We need to return to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We do not need a substitute for the Holy Spirit. We need to yield to the Holy Spirit.
We do not need to manufacture miracles. We need to trust the miracle-working God.
We do not need to exalt human personalities. We need to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ!
Let us believe His Word. Let us seek His face. Let us obey His commands. Let us go into the world and proclaim that Jesus saves, Jesus delivers, Jesus heals, and Jesus is Lord.
And whatever the outcome of our prayers, let us remain faithful.
The same Christ who called His disciples still calls His people to witness to His kingdom.
The same gospel that brought salvation to the first believers still brings salvation today.
The same Holy Spirit who empowered the early Church still equips believers for service.
And the same Jesus who promised to work through His disciples is worthy of our faith, our obedience, and our whole lives.
Hallelujah!
Altar Call: Will You Believe Him?
I want to speak now to three groups of people.
First, to those who need Jesus Christ as Savior.
You may have attended church for years. You may know the language of Christianity. But today you recognize that you need forgiveness and new life.
Jesus died for our sins and rose again. He calls you to repent, believe the gospel, and follow Him.
Do not put your confidence in your own goodness. Put your confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Come to Him in faith. He is mighty to save!
Second, to those who need a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps your prayer life has grown cold. Perhaps fear has silenced your witness. Perhaps you have become weary in serving the Lord.
Come before Him again.
Ask the Father to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit. Ask for boldness to witness, grace to live in holiness, and spiritual gifts that will build up the Church and glorify Christ.
Do not seek power to exalt yourself. Seek the Spirit's empowering so that you may serve Jesus faithfully.
Third, to those who need healing, deliverance, or a breakthrough.
Bring your need before the Lord.
If you are sick, we will pray for you. If you are burdened, we will stand with you. If you are fighting temptation, we will encourage you to seek God's grace and the support of faithful believers.
We will pray with faith, not because we control the outcome, but because Jesus Christ is Lord.
Do not be ashamed to ask for prayer.
Do not be ashamed of your weakness.
Come to the One who invites the weary to find rest in Him.
And if the answer does not come in the way or at the time you expect, you are not abandoned. You remain loved by God, and His people should continue to walk beside you.
Now, Church, let us lift our hearts to the Lord.
Closing Prayer
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we come before You with reverence, faith, and expectation.
We thank You for Your Son, our Savior and risen Lord. We thank You that His promises are true and that His kingdom is not built by human strength, but by Your Spirit.
Forgive us for every place where unbelief has hindered our obedience. Forgive us for seeking recognition instead of Your glory, for trusting our own strength instead of depending upon You, and for speaking of Your power while neglecting Your presence.
Lord Jesus, teach us to believe Your Word.
Holy Spirit, fill us afresh. Give us boldness to preach the gospel, compassion for the suffering, wisdom to minister to others, and discernment to exercise spiritual gifts according to Scripture.
We ask You to save the lost, restore the backslider, strengthen the weary, comfort the grieving, and bring freedom to those bound by sin.
We pray for the sick. In the name of Jesus, let Your healing mercy be known. Grant wisdom to caregivers, strength to those who suffer, and comfort to families who are waiting and watching. May Your people minister with faith and compassion.
We pray for our churches. Awaken us to holiness, prayer, evangelism, and love. Remove pride and division. Teach us to walk together in the unity of the Spirit and the truth of Your Word.
Father, raise up believers who will carry the gospel into their homes, workplaces, cities, and nations. Let the works of Jesus be seen through the faithful witness of Your people. Let sinners find salvation, the broken find hope, and the Church become a faithful witness to the risen Christ.
And Lord, let everything You do through us bring glory to Your name.
We surrender our gifts, our plans, our ambitions, and our futures to You.
We will trust You when the answer comes quickly. We will trust You when the road is difficult. We will trust You when we understand, and we will trust You when we do not.
For our hope is not in human ability. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, exalted, and coming again.
Let us go forth in faith, walk in the Spirit, proclaim the gospel, love one another, and serve the Lord with all our hearts.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and coming King.
Amen and amen!
Final declaration:
Jesus Christ is alive! His Word is true! His Spirit empowers His people! His gospel still saves! And our lives will be given to the glory of His name. AMEN!
