DOERS OF HIS WORKS (John 14:12-14)

DOERS OF HIS WORKS
Joe Alain, Pastor
Date Preached: April 20, 2008 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Scripture Passage: John 14:1-14 (Focal verses 12-14)

It was James, the half brother of Jesus who said that followers of Jesus are to be doers of the word. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (Jas. 1:22, NIV). A person’s faith is to be evident in practical good works. A faith that does not do so is no faith at all – for faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:17). Jesus Himself said that His followers would be “Doers of the Works” that He did. “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” (Jn. 14:12).

The larger Scripture passage (Jn. 14:1-14) resonates with us who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. We readily affirm God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. We affirm that Jesus is God incarnate (God in the flesh) and that He is the only way to a personal relationship with the Father. We also rejoice in the fact that Jesus is now preparing for us a place in the Father’s house. Our sins have been forgiven and our future is secure. But in the interim between salvation and consummation, what are we to do? How are we to live? John 14:12-14 answers the question, “What are Jesus’ followers to do in the interim between salvation and consummation?”

Jesus’ Followers Will . . .
1. Do the Works that Jesus Did while He Was on the Earth.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also” (14:12a)
What works did Jesus do? He healed people. He touched people. He included people who were on the outside. He loved all people, even those who were despised – Samaritans and tax collectors. He demonstrated compassion and mercy. He taught people the truth about God. He fed people. He prayed for people. He encouraged people. He challenged people to live as God’s citizens.

Sometimes He even rebuked hypocrisy. He spoke out against the exploitation of the poor, the fatherless, the widows and the distressed. He did all of these works and more and He did so as one of us. He became like us. He fully incarnated Himself, He fully took upon Himself the clothing of humanity.

An Important Question: As His followers (Jesus people), are we doing the works that Jesus did? Are we living out the life of Christ in our daily lives? Are we being the church? Are we as Rev. Barbara K. Lundblad writes (elaborating on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Costly Discipleship), “taking up space on the earth”?

What keeps us from being Christ’s body on earth? The problem is, we want to go to heaven! Maybe not literally quite yet, but as Lundbland comments, we want “to be somewhere other than where we are now.” We want to “enter the pure life of the spirit to be with Jesus.” We want to be caught up from the earth, far out of sight, far from pain, far from the hum of the ordinary and the drudgery of today. And yet Jesus has us here, right now, earthbound to take up space on the earth, to do the works that He did.

What changes could occur if we took Jesus’ words seriously?
How many sick and bedraggled people could find comfort?
. . . stomachs could be filled?
. . . troubled minds could find peace?
. . . poor could be clothed?
. . . prisoners of all kinds (emotional, those in sin’s bondage) could be set free?
. . . hopeless could find hope?
. . . cast aways could know that somebody cares for them?
If we, the church, seriously set ourselves to the task? It’s non-negotiable – Jesus’ followers will do the works that He did while He was on the earth.

But followers of Jesus will also . . .
2. Do Even Greater Works than Jesus Did.“Greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (14:12b). Greater works? How could this be? First, Jesus did not mean that His followers would do “greater works” in the sense of quality. Only God can do what God can do. Nevertheless, Jesus while on earth was self-limited and His works were confined to a very small geographical area of the world. Jesus was looking forward to the day when He would be with the Father, “because I go to my Father.” At that time the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, would indwell the disciples. Then, they would go out across the world doing the works of Jesus. In that sense, Jesus’ followers do “greater works” in quantity than He did.

Think about it. Right now, the Holy Spirit is empowering believers to carry out His works around the world! Today, across the world believers, Jesus people, are doing the works of Jesus, they are living out the presence of Christ in our world.
. . . From Denham Springs to Denmark
. . . From Walker to Western Sahara
. . . From Livingston to Lithuania
. . . From Albany to Azerbaijan
. . . From Colyell to Cuba
. . . From Springfield to Spain
. . . From Live Oak to Lebanon
. . . From Killian to Kosovo
. . . From Baton Rouge to the Bahamas believers are doing the works of Jesus!
Followers of Jesus will do the works that He did while on the earth and they will do even “greater works” than Jesus. So where do we start? Where does the motivation come from? What works is God leading us to do? And where do we do them?

Jesus’ followers will . . .
3. Pray and Receive Direction and power for doing the works
of Jesus.
Why does Jesus mention prayer in this setting (Jn. 14:13-14)? Through prayer we gain the mind of Christ. Through prayer God opens up our hearts to the possibilities before us. Through prayer God awakens us to the seriousness of our task. Through prayer we find the motivation to do what He has called us to do.

Notice Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do.” It seems as if this is an unqualified promise that we can ask God for anything and we will receive it from God. Name it and claim it. Is that what God is saying?

(1) First, our asking is to be done in His name“And whatever you ask in My name” (14:13). “If you ask anything in My name” (14:14). The test of whether our prayers are right is this, “Am I asking this prayer in Jesus’ name?” Obviously there are conditions to our asking. We simply cannot ask for anything selfishly and expect God to give it to us as if God existed to serve us from heaven’s divine goodie machine. Instead of selfish praying, prayers prayed in the name of Jesus are prayers for God’s kingdom purposes to be fulfilled in us and in His world.

(2) Second, God is pleased to answer our prayers that glorify Him“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (14:13). We can have confidence in our praying when we are asking God to empower us to do the works of Jesus. God is always pleased to answer prayers that involve us doing the works of Jesus because “the father is glorified in the Son.”

Prayer unlocks the potential of doing greater works for God Do you need to be awakened to the possibilities for doing the works of Jesus? Ask God! Do you need direction as to what to do? Ask Him! Are you loving outside the lines, going beyond the comfort zone of your life? If not, ask God and He will empower you to do so.

Life Application
Let me make a few practical suggestions that you can do in response to this message.
1. Pray for an openness and a sensitivity to doing God’s works.
God is often at work in the ordinary events of life. God is not just interested in you doing “church work.” There is a great need for people to lead worship, teach the Bible, and a hundred other things that happen at church. These are vital; however, don’t limit God’s working to the life of the church. God is at work in your neighbor’s life, the person you carpool with, the families you sit with at the ballfield, your co-workers, etc. (even though they may not sense this). God’s Holy Spirit operates without limits. He’s speaking to people. Our job as Christians is to be there and help guide them in their search. Spirituality is hard-wired into human beings by God Himself (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). Ask God to show you what He is doing in our world. You may be surprised at what He’s up to.

2. Explore avenues of ministry where you can express God’s works in practical ways.
Having emphasized the fact that God’s work is not limited to the church, let me also say that your local church does need your involvement. What builds fellowship in a church is not food and (although that’s not all that bad). Biblical fellowship (koinonia) occurs when believers partner together in the cause of Christ. Your local church is a great place to serve because they have a vision to reach your community and world with the good news of Christ. Aside from that, God wants you to be an active participant in a local church body where you can fulfill His purpose for your life. Check out what your church offers in the way of ministries and activities. Explore avenues of service. God has a place of service for you. How do I know where I fit in? Use the following questions to get you started. “What do I enjoy doing?” “Has God gifted me in a particular area?” “What am I passionate about” “What needs does my church have?” “What has God placed on my heart that I could do through my church?”

Let’s ask God to show us what He wants us to do. He will not only show us but He will empower us with the resources to fulfill His mission. Then, let’s be “Doers of His Works” for His glory!

Pastor Joe