Introduction

Beloved family in Christ, I greet you with the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus. As we gather in this sacred space, we are bound together not by the physical walls that surround us, but by the spiritual ties that unite us. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, a family knit together by the divine thread of God's love.

Today, we are going to immerse ourselves in the depth of our Savior's words as recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verse 12. The verse reads, "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."

These words, spoken by Jesus Himself, are not just a promise, but a profound proclamation of our potential in Him. They speak of faith, discipleship, and the powerful witness we can bear to His transformative work in our lives.

Oswald Chambers, the great theologian, once said, "Our Lord's conception of discipleship is not that we work for God, but that God works through us." This quote resonates deeply with our topic today. As we believe in Jesus, become His disciples, and bear witness to His works, we are trusting in the Lord that He will work through us.

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled by the love You have shown us, and the work You continue to do in our lives. As we delve into Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to truly understand the depth of Your promise. Help us to believe, to become true disciples, and to bear witness to Your greater works in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

So, dear friends, are we ready to embrace the greater works that Jesus spoke of? Are we ready to become disciples through His works? Are we ready to bear witness to His greater works in our lives? Let us open our hearts and minds, and let the Word of God speak to us today.

Believing in the Greater Works

The words of Jesus in John 14:12 are a call to faith. It's a call to believe not just in the existence of Jesus, but in His works, His teachings, and His promises. This belief is an active faith that transforms our lives and empowers us to do greater works.

But what does Jesus mean by great works? Today, people aren’t being raised from the dead. The clothing and shadows of people are not falling on others to heal them like it did during Christ and the Apostle’s time. So again, how could Jesus say we will do greater works?

Consider the end of Christ’s earthly ministry compared to Peter’s first sermon. At the end of three and half years, Jesus leaves with only 120 disciples praying in an upper room. That’s not much fruit after three years of miracle after miracle! But, after Peter gets done preaching his first sermon, we see 3,000 men (nevermind women and children) coming to believe upon the Risen Savior! This is the greater work that Jesus refers to. The conversion of a soul from death to life is greater than walking on water. Conversion is the greatest miracle that we could ever be used by the hand of God to perform! Now, let’s think more about the concept of belief.

Belief in Jesus is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. It is the foundation upon which all other aspects of our spiritual life are built. Without this belief, we cannot hope to do the works that Jesus did, let alone greater works. This belief is not just intellectual assent to the fact of Jesus' existence, but a deep, personal trust in Him as our Lord and Savior. It is a belief that changes us from the inside out, shaping our thoughts, our actions, and our very lives.

The belief that Jesus speaks of is a faith based on evidence. The evidence of Jesus' life, His miracles, His death, and His resurrection. The evidence of the transformation that we see in the lives of those who follow Him. The evidence of the peace, joy, and love that we experience when we put our trust in Him. This evidence gives us the confidence to believe in Jesus, to trust in His promises, and to step out in faith to do greater works.

Belief in Jesus is also for the benefit of others. When we believe in Jesus, we become His witnesses. We bear witness to His love, His grace, and His power. We bear witness to the transformation that He brings about in our lives. And as we bear witness, we inspire others to believe in Jesus and to experience His transforming power in their lives.

Belief in Jesus is a lifelong process. It is a journey of growing in faith, of deepening our understanding of Jesus, and of becoming more like Him. But through it all, we have the assurance that Jesus is with us, guiding us, strengthening us, and empowering us to do greater works.

Belief in Jesus is not just about doing greater works, but about becoming greater people. It is about becoming people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is about becoming people who reflect the character of Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions. And as we become these people, we are able to do greater works, not by our own power, but by the power of Jesus working in and through us.

Belief in Jesus is also a communal matter. It is something that we do together as a community of believers. We encourage one another, support one another, and hold one another accountable in our belief. We share in each other's joys and struggles, victories and defeats. And together, we strive to do greater works, to bear witness to Jesus, and to bring glory to His name.

Transition. Belief in Jesus is a multifaceted, dynamic, and transformative faith. It is a faith that empowers us to do greater works, to bear witness to Jesus, and to experience the kingdom of God. It is a faith that is grounded in evidence, that benefits others, that is a lifelong journey, that makes us greater people, that is communal, and that is about the present as well as the future.

Becoming Disciples through His Works

As we immerse ourselves in the teachings of Jesus, we discover that He invites us to not only believe in His works but also to participate in them ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO