Doing Greater Works in Jesus Name
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning what it means to pray and work "in Jesus' name".
Text: John 14:12-14
Date: 05/05/2019, the Contemporary service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 133
Description:
As Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for His imminent departure, He changes focus from His relationship with His Father to the work His disciples will continue after He is gone. In this passage, He makes several stunning promises: that His disciples will do greater works than He, and anything they ask "in His name" He will do. Unfortunately, these promises have been sorely misinterpreted and misused over the years, so we will spend time carefully analyzing what Jesus means. When the misconceptions and errors are dispelled, we will find a glorious truth that literally defines discipleship in the Gospel Age, and indeed insures prayers offered "in His name" will be answered. These powerful lessons will not only be for the Apostles, but for all disciples-- across the world, and throughout the Church Age, who will do greater works in Jesus name!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 14:12-14.
A. Context
B. Doing the work of the Father in the name of the Son.
1. The essential framework.
a. The sovereignty of God, Psa. 24:1, Job 41:11.
b. The immutability of God, Num. 23:19, James 1:17.
c. The eternal decree of God, Eccl. 3:14, Job 42:2, Rev. 5:1.
2. Doing the works of Jesus, vs. 12.
a. A solemn truth.
b. Qualifying "whoever".
i. The context of discipleship.
ii. Limited to believers.
iii. More than casual believers, James 1:5-7.
c. The promise to continue His works.
i. His mighty miracles, John 14:11.
ii. His work of redemption, John 14:10, 6:29.
d. The promise of greater works.
i. What Jesus does not mean.
• "Restricted"
• "More"
• "Spectacular"
ii. The crucial element.
• The Crucifixion.
• The Resurrection.
• The Ascension, John 17:5.
• The Coronation, Dan. 7:13.
• The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.
iii. What Jesus does mean.
• Greater because of a greater age.
• Greater because the Spiritual is greater than the physical.
• Greater because Jesus is with the Father.
3. The power of prayer, vs. 13-14.
a. A statement of inclusivity.
b. A major qualification.
i. The error.
• No qualifications, Matt. 21:22.
• Undermines the sovereignty of God.
• What about my free will?
ii. The glorious truth, John 5:19.
c. Jesus' participation in our prayers.
i. The Grantor of our prayers.
ii. The Conduit for our prayers.
d. The outcome of our prayers, John 12:28.
C. Interpretation
1. The supreme will of the Father.
2. The mind and heart and will of Christ.
3. The work of the disciples.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
