“Push Beyond Your Limit”
Introduction:
Whenever we struggle in our walk with God there’s always a tendency for an immature believer to entertain the option of quitting. The easiest thing to do is to quit but of course all of us know that this is not the best solution. The bible encourages us to run our own race with perseverance because God desires for all of us to finish the race.
God did not promised us a problem and struggle free life instead what he told us that there will be struggles, good thing! He assured us of His presence and His generous help especially when we are in trouble.
Join me in reading the scripture this morning; John 14:12-14 (NIV) “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”.
Here the disciples, as they were full of grief to think of parting with their Master, they were full of care what would become of them when he was gone. Now, to silence these fears, Christ here assures them that they should be clothed with powers sufficient to bear them out. As Christ has all power, they, in his name, should have great power, both in heaven and in earth.
As humans we have our own limitations but God can stretch it out so that you and I can do things unimaginable. As followers of Christ we need to push beyond our human limitation in order to experience more of His power and glory.
How do we do this?
We can push beyond our limit because we have…
I. Great power on earth
v. 12 anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
A. Emulate: We can do the work he had done
He will enable us to do such works as he had done, and that we should have more ample power for the doing of them than they had had when he first sent them forth, Matt 10:8.
Did Christ heal the sick, cleanse the leper, and raise the dead? So should we. Did he convince and convert sinners, and draw multitudes to him? So should we. Though he departed, the work should not cease, nor fall to the ground, but should be carried on as vigorously and successfully as ever; and it is still in the doing.
B. Exceed: We can do even greater things
What does it mean?
1. In the kingdom of nature
We should work greater miracles. No miracle is little, but some to our apprehension seem greater than others.
Christ had healed with the hem of his garment, but Peter with his shadow (Acts 5:15), Paul by the handkerchief that had touched him, Acts 19:12. Christ wrought miracles for two or three years in one country, but his followers wrought miracles in his name for many ages in divers countries. You shall do greater works, if there be occasion, for the glory of God. The prayer of faith, if at any time it had been necessary, would have removed mountains.
2. In the kingdom of grace.
We should obtain greater victories by the gospel than had been obtained while Christ was upon earth.
The truth is the captivating of so great a part of the world to Christ, under such outward disadvantages, was the miracle of all. I think this refers especially to the gift of tongues; this was the immediate effect of the pouring out of the Spirit, which was a constant miracle upon the mind, in which words are framed, and which was made to serve so glorious an intention as that of spreading the gospel to all nations in their own language.
Today, we have greater opportunities of sharing the gospel worldwide through the use of technology. You can share the gospel through sms, email, chat rooms, audio streaming, or Internet video call, etc. All of them who are ahead of us in the faith had never had a great opportunity like what we have now.
We can push beyond our limit because we have…
II. Great power in heaven
v. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”.
A. Solicit: Ask in prayer
In what way we were to keep up communion with him, and derive power from him, when he was gone to the Father—by prayer. In what name we should ask? We ask in the name of Jesus.
This was the old way of contact with Heaven, ever since men began to call upon the name of the Lord; but Christ by his death has laid it more open, and it is still open to us.
Here is,
1. Humility prescribed: “You shall ask…”
Though they had quitted all for Christ, they could demand nothing of him as a debt, but must be humble supplicants, beg or starve, beg or perish.
2. Liberty allowed: "Ask anything…”
Anything that is good and proper for you; anything, provided you know what you ask, you may ask; you may ask for assistance in your work, for a mouth and wisdom, for preservation out of the hands of your enemies, for power to work miracles when there is occasion, for the success of the ministry in the conversion of souls; ask to be informed, directed, vindicated.
B. Secure: Assured of the answer
v. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name… v.14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”..
You may be sure He will: not only it shall be done, He will see it done, or give orders for the doing of it, but He will do it;" for he has not only the interest of an intercessor, but the power of a sovereign prince, who sits at the right hand of God, the hand of action, and has the doing of all in the kingdom of God. By faith in his name we may have what we will for the asking.
Conclusion:
The secret of pushing beyond our human limitations is as easy as ABC…
Ask: God to enable you to walk seriously and faithfully in your Christian walk.
Believe: That you can do greater things as he promised.
Commit: To follow Him and finish the race for His glory.
