You can do the works that Jesus did, and even greater things!

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

How about you?

Have you ever been in a public place such as a grocery store, airport, shopping mall, or just walking down the street, and then you saw someone obviously in pain with some sickness, injury, or other physical disability, and felt like you should pray for them? But didn't!

I have! Many times, and it bothers me that I have not been bold enough to pray for them with faith! Yes, over the years there have been a handful of times that I actually did pray for someone in need publicly, but it's been rare!

Ordinary?

Recently, I watched a YouTube video showing some “ordinary street Christians,” as they called themselves, praying for folks on a city street. They would just walk along and then see someone who was in obvious pain, and would stop and offer to pray that God would heal them on the spot. What was especially interesting, was how people reacted to their offer. Most agreed to be prayed for, although they looked a little surprised. The person about to pray would first ask them to tell him the details of what was wrong and where the pain was. And then he prayed specifically according to the person's need, a very simple, straight forward kind of prayer. One person, obviously walking with a painful limp, told of the severe pain he was having in his swollen foot. The street Christian then prayed for him, “In the Name of Jesus, I demand that all injury, swelling, and pain, leave this foot right now! Be completely healed!” The person being prayed for then looked startled, then amazed. Then moved his foot around, walked on it, then started jumping around, and was obviously healed. He then burst into tears, threw his arms around the person who had just prayed for him, and said, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The praying person quickly said, “Don't thank me! You were healed today by Jesus! Thank Him!”

Does this story sound familiar?

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:1-10)

Should we be noticing and praying for people in pain around us? The answer is yes!

We are as He is in the world!

“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

We are to imitate Him!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1-2)

We can do far more than we ask or think through the power within us!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph 3:20)