Greater works than Jesus?
Introduction (adapted from a sermon by Morris Cerullo)
I want to challenge, encourage, and build-up our faith.
2000 years ago- greatest miracle in all the world-
Jesus Christ- born/lived/died/resurrected.
There is nothing that has had greater impact on history.
Another miracle was the birth of the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NAS)
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Body of Christ- not born through the wisdom of men.
There is supernatural element to the Body of Christ.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
When Jesus ascended- He sent the HS to live in us-
John 14:16–17, 26
The HS will teach us everything that we need for life-
natural education- important- but not enough.
1 John 2:27 (NAS)
27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
One mission of- HS- prepare us to be vessels that God can use- as He prepared/used Jesus 2000 years ago.
Disciples- uneducated men who experienced- power of the HS that raised them to a supernatural level-
the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, and the dead could be raised.
As a result, in 3 centuries-Gospel affected-entire world
What must God do today to bring His Church to that place where we are shaking our world?
7 billion people today- ½- not heard- name Jesus.
2000 years ago through the work of the HS in the church- entire known world- exposed to- Gospel.
God- give us a fresh revelation of your power so we can take the Gospel to the entire world.
We gather together in our churches and we look for- great worship, speaking in tongues,
laughing, dancing, falling before the Lord- and we go away blessed.
God must take us past the point of seeking blessing for ourselves and take us to that place where He can give to us what He gave the church on the day of Pentecost.
When talk about Pentecost-focus on tongues/languages
Act 2:1-4
People came from around the world- offer sacrifices.
Act 2:5-12
When the disciples came out of the upper room filled w/HS- the world heard the Gospel preached.
The HS sent those people to the ends of the earth with the message of- Kingdom of God/power of God.
God’s intent for the church is far greater than our Sunday morning worship experiences.
We can speak in tongues, sing, dance, jump around- but cannot lay hands on sick and see them healed.
The church must move beyond the place of blessing.
Look at Jesus prayer to the Father-
John 17:18 (NAS)
18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
Father’s heart for the church- that we go into the world and do the work that the Father sent Jesus to do.
Something must happen for us to do what Jesus did-
Luke 24:49 (NAS)
49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus knew- disciples would need- supernatural power of- HS in them-to accomplish the Father’s work.
We need the Spirit of God to invade our entire life-
spirit, mind, speech, hands- make us alive.
God never intended Pentecost-be-one time experience.
Pentecost was to be-launching platform for the church.
The Church Today
Can you imagine-Jesus looking down at-church today?
How can God trust- message of the Kingdom to people that deny Him and struggle to put their trust Him?
How did He trust- Kingdom to men like Thomas-
John 20:25 (NAS)
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
The disciples struggled to believe- as we do today.
When the women- went to tomb- looking for what?
Luke 24:5 (NAS)
5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
They went to the tomb looking for a dead body.
Luke 24:10–11 (NAS)
10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
Jesus appears to two disciples going to Emmaus-
Mark 16:13 (NAS)
13 They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.
How could God trust the Kingdom to these people?
Empowered for Service
After the resurrection- Jesus meets w/His disciples-
Act 1:6-8
Do we want to be used by God?
John 14:12 (NAS)
12 “Truly, truly, 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 the Father.
Jesus was saying to them- do not look at how I-
fed the multitudes, or healed the blind,
made the crippled to walk, or raised the dead-
because I am going to baptize you w/HS.
The only limit we have is not recognizing the power of the HS that is alive in each believer today.
Conclusion
When Jesus entered the upper room, I am sure He wondered- God why did you give me these people.
Yet Jesus instructed these unbelieving disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel.
God is not looking at what you are or your abilities, He is looking for a person that He can use.
To do what Jesus did, we must get what Jesus had.
God wants us to become possessors of the same power, spirit, anointing, that was inside Jesus.
We are all preachers, we have all been ordained by God to do the Great Commission.
Early disciples reached- entire world in 350 years and never had an automobile, TV, radio, or internet.
They shook the world because they had- power of- HS.
It does not matter who you are, how old you are, what your position in life is- it is God who equips us.
We have received the power of the HS.
Declaration-
Jesus I receive your mandate,
the great commission is mine,
I am your servant,
I receive your power,
I take the authority you have given to me,
demons will be bound at the sound of my voice,
sickness will go because of your stripes.
God is going to use us as never before because-
we are not depending on ourselves but on Him.
Church- lets commit to memorize these two verses-
Mark 16:17–18 (NAS)
17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Altar Call
