Day 24 of the “What Child is This?” Advent Devotional
“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. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:12-13)
Christmas Eve. I sense so much prophetic anticipation surrounding this time of year. In the same way that we stand on the brink of remembering our Lord’s first Advent, I sense that there has been a continuous, ever-increasing advent taking place since Mary delivered glory incarnate in a stable all those years ago. The Advent began at the first Christmas, but an advent has been continuing ever since.
I recognize a clear and defined day will indeed come that marks Jesus’ Second Advent. He will return to the Earth with great glory and fully consummate His Kingdom. At the same time, Jesus commissioned you and I to do the same works He did. I know we are still grappling with that mandate, but if that were not enough, He invited us into even greater. Because this verse scares us, we either move passed it quickly or reduce it to something our human minds can easily wrap around. The context is clear. It’s black and white, and summons Christianity up higher.
Jesus’ works are very obvious. We see them displayed throughout the four Gospels, as He healed the sick, delivered the demon-possessed, raised the death, performed creative miracles, restored the unclean, touched the untouchable, loved the unlovely, and so on. This is not a spiritual smorgasbord we get to pick and choose from. Jesus did not offer qualifiers giving us an easy out of the more “difficult” works, such as the supernatural healing or miraculous stuff. He simply said that the works He did, we will also do, and even greater works.
We are on the edge of a greater supernatural advent than the world has ever experienced—yes, perhaps even exceeding what was demonstrated in the Book of Acts. How is this even possible? For one, Jesus made it legal when He invited us into the reality of greater works (see Jn. 14:12). Second, God’s plan has always involved an ever-increasing, expanding Kingdom (see Is. 9:7) Third, and most practically, there are more believers on the planet now then ever before.
What happens when a mere fraction of these sons and daughters of God recognize their inheritance as those filled with the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and begin taking this mandate at face value? The landscape of the planet will change. I believe we are watching this shift take place already.
The Advent and Incarnation of Jesus Christ—God coming to Earth as a lowly babe—is unsurpassed. I am not at all presenting some rival experience. The Incarnation that we commemorate at Christmas is Advent with a capital “A.”
When I speak of a continuous advent, I am talking about a lifestyle where the sons and daughters of God continue to model Jesus to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is revealed through such a people because that is the primary mission of Holy Spirit—to bring the world into a transformative encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, further unveiling Who He is.
The word advent is defined as “a coming into being or use.” My prayer for you this season is that you would experience a greater measure of God’s presence and power coming into being through you. Remember, Advent is nothing less than your invitation into the supernatural lifestyle.
Jesus was the Slain Lamb so you could receive forgiveness from sin and become filled with the Holy Spirit. Once those two qualifiers were met, humanity was granted permission to follow the example of Jesus, the Anointed One. He modeled a lifestyle that would become available and accessible to everyone who had received His redemptive work.
Remember, when Jesus was getting ready to leave the Earth and return to the Father, He gave us marching orders: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (see Jn. 20:21).
Right after this charge, Jesus breathed upon the disciples and they received the Holy Spirit. Thus, the lifestyle that began for Jesus at His baptism in the Holy Spirit was now being transferred to His disciples. It’s time to run with this charge and see as much of His glory cover the Earth, this side of eternity, as possible.
I encourage you, catch a fresh glimpse of the Christ child this year. His Advent made it possible for you and I to participate in the greatest restoration project in all of history: Filling the Earth with God’s glory! And to think, it all began with a Baby, wrapped up in swaddling clothes and laying in a manager.
Advent Prayer
Holy Spirit, continue to usher Your Kingdom into the Earth through Your anointed people. Here I am, Lord. Use me. Fall on me afresh this season.
Show me what it truly means to model Jesus and follow His example in my everyday life. Help me to step out and take risks. Show me how to fully depend upon Your power. And may Your glorious Presence become my great quest and top priority.
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