“Have you noticed that I care little about the reputation or acceptance of those whom I use mightily? Have you also noticed that people who look for fame of any kind, even in very small circles, are eventually set aside, their ministry nullified? They may seem as if they are prospering for a while, even a long while; but their effectiveness is minimal compared to what it could be if their hearts were fully surrendered to Me. I am building surrendered vessels with servant hearts to accomplish My plan. The visible leaders, those who have vied for position and recognition, will be surprised to see whom I choose to equip with My power and My presence. My work is being done in the secret places of your heart. It is being refined in the submitted heart, not the one that craves attention.
"My Holy Spirit is working in the deep parts of My true servants. You are being refined in the fire of adversity over and over. Some of you have almost given up and given in, because of the intensity of the trials that you have gone through. Sometimes, it has felt that I have forgotten about you, and even left you. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are My precious, refined representatives. You are the ones that are being purified. You are the ones that are becoming dead to this world and alive to Jesus. I will soon be able to trust you. Have you noticed recently how little it takes to move you? You hear Me whisper and respond naturally. Have you noticed that you are becoming less and less enchanted with fame, position, or worldly trappings? That is some of the completed work that I have done in you.
"I am now going to take you to a depth of relationship with Me that you never thought possible. I am going to seal your heart and weld it to Mine. This quiet work will be accomplished in secret places so that I will have your full attention, so that you will not be distracted by the worldly influences within My church. You will be separated and taught at My hand from My heart. Discard traditions and meet with Me in the secret place to find truth. Soon, the pain of training will be replaced by the wonder of My presence. People will notice you, but you will not be swayed by their adulation. Soon, you would rather die than take any part of My glory. I will be able to trust you with much.”
John 14:12-14 AMP
12) I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do: and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
13) And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as representing all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.
14) [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you ask in My Name [as representing all that I AM].
Gal.2:20 AMP
I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
A quiet power is being created within the true church of Jesus Christ. It is the fully released power of the Holy Spirit that is equipping the bride of Christ.
Before Jesus left, He said that we, (I believe that He was talking to all who truly love Him,) would do greater works than even He did. Looking historically, I don’t see that these greater works are the antics being done in certain “healing, prophetic, power, or miracle meetings,” where some well-known - or wannabe known - preacher, fully aware of the camera position, shares His anointing with Jesus. (Yes, I meant to say it that way.) That foolishness has little to do with what Jesus was talking about.
What is called power in today’s popular church circles is often choreographed showmanship or contrived manipulation, void of the character of Jesus. Please understand that I’m not talking about the honest moves of God that do follow the Word preached. I’m talking about the honor-grabbing, well-oiled salespeople who have Jesus and miracles as their product.
I am convinced that the greater works that Jesus was talking about happen mostly in no-name, unassuming places through honest hearts that most of us never hear about, such as the arenas all across the blood-soaked Roman Empire. As most of our New Testament was fostered by Paul’s isolation in a dank prison cell, the real work of the Lord is being done privately and without the fanfare that is normally associated with today’s ministries. Jesus escaped from the limelight as often as He could do so and still accomplish His Father’s will.
In the near future, I believe that the Lord will be using those who quietly and systematically represent Jesus every moment of their lives. Absolute obedience will be so natural that miracles, salvations, healings, and events only the Lord can develop will be everyday occurrences in the lives of those who are being trained at present.
Imagine the time when some of us raise someone from the dead in a shopping center and escape before anyone knows who was used by the Lord to do it. Consider the wonder when observers testify of the Name of Jesus being used by “this person who is no longer in the vicinity.” What about the time when we can once again gladly lay our lives down for the glory of God and have no desire that anyone even know about it?
I crave the day that our hearts are pure enough to flee from any form of flattery or the desire for any portion of God’s glory. That is the day that our Lord will be able to trust us with even “greater things” once again.
My Lord, stop the foolishness in my life,
Jim Corbett
