THE THREE-FOLD WORK OF CHRIST
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4
From eternity past, the works of Christ are infinite but three very special works have great meaning to the child of God.
I. THE WORK OF CHRIST FOR US!
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6
II. THE WORK OF CHRIST IN US!
The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:26-27
Christ is in us in the Person of His Holy Spirit. Consider: “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6
His presence in us produces the fruit of the Spirit, concerning which Paul wrote: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
III. THE WORK OF CHRIST THROUGH US!
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Jesus told His disciples: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12.
The “greater works than these” obviously refers to the quantitative magnitude of works done in His name and for His glory and not to the qualitative magnitude of the works. The Church, consisting of all true believers and numbering in the millions over the world, can multiply the works of Christ by sharing the gospel of God’s amazing grace.
Jesus said: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:5-8 (NASB)
It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the church can bear such an effective witness. At the moment of His ascension into heaven, our Lord Jesus told His disciples: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 NKJV
This power comes through prayer. Jesus told His disciples: “If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!” (Amplified Bible).
The Greek verb translated “ask” is not aorist but present imperative. Ask and continue asking. Ask for what? Ask and keep on asking for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your life until you receive the anointing for service He wants you to receive. Ask for the fullness of the Holy Spirit to equip you for effective witnessing.
And remember this; God will fill with His Spirit a large vessel, a small vessel, even a misshapen vessel…but only a clean vessel...never a dirty vessel. Empty yourself of yourself, confess your sins to Him and seek His forgiveness. Then ask, and keep on asking, for the power of the Holy Spirit upon your life until “you are endued with power from on high”!
