We live in an age where assent and knowledge trump effort. And, where effort trumps accomplishment and experience.

It should never be so in matters of faith.Knowledge and assent should motivate effective practice. The result of such persistence must result in the apprehension of the prize we pursued - possession with experience.

Take for example Jesus's statement to His followers:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

This is both a promise and a proclamation; both of which declare that WHOEVER believes in Jesus, WILL DO THIS.

It’s impossible that Jesus intended such emphatic words to be understood, but not necessarily experienced.

No hight of admiration for Jesus’ words supplants actually doing them. That would be denying Him in the most duplicitous manner - worse, even, than directly saying, ‘I don’t believe what You said.’

There really is only one way to express our belief in and love for Jesus. That is, doing what He said.

Many Christians know this word and some even assent to it. There is a great chasm, however, between the knowing and the doing. Many believers think like this:
'Since Jesus said I would do these works, and I can see that I do not do them, it’s probably because that word was not intended for me.'
Or, ‘Jesus meant this promise specifically for the 12 disciples who were physically with Him.’
Or, ‘Since Jesus said I would do His works, then He will enable me to do them when He sees fit.’

This thinking and believing is troublesome. But two gigantic problems just stand there glaring at me:
1. The people for which these works are to be done are still afflicted with misery and bondage, by the devil.
2. Jesus assigned somebody to do His works.

Who? When? How?

Those may be honest questions. They appear earnest, but keep us from action. As long as we can say we’re ‘wrestling’ with an issue, we don’t have to do anything about it. How long is long enough? When does indecision become avoidance? When do you and I become responsible believers, on which Jesus can depend?

It’s all in the Book. Anyone can read it. Anyone willing to believe and obey, can do it.

That’s Jesus’s promise, not mine.