Greater Works for The Greater Church

Big Idea of the Message

The church has been provided a platform to do greater work and though our partnership with Jesus, we can ask for anything in His name and receive it.

Introduction

Jeremiah 3:15 describes God’s election process when it comes to placing pastors within a local body of believers. God’s leader is charged to lead his flock with knowledge and understanding. Through preaching and administration, meaning he guides both the actual business and the spiritual business of the ministry. Pastoring is vastly different not than it was then in both preaching and administrating (overseeing). Pastors were respected, now their treated as hirelings…Pastors were cared for, now their treated carelessly…Pastors were covered by members, now members revel in their nakedness…Pastors were community pillars, now they’re the community punching bags…Pastors were appreciated, now they’re assassinated…Pastors were adhered to, now they are dismissed, disregarded and disrespected. But, when a family is in need, a loved passes, a light bill due and water bill too these same people will call the pastor. When that son or daughter is locked up and a loved is on life support, these same people will call the pastor. When the church is going well, its the members doing, but when chaos and dysfunction ensure, its the pastor’s doing. When the coffers are full, its the members giving, but when the “purse” seems light, its the pastor spending it all. The members change a ministry activity, its innovative, but let the pastor change something and he’s accused of taking the church too fast.

Yet, God gives the pastor (heart) to the church because he loves the church, and wants to see the church do “greater works.” Believe it or not, pastor are faced with tremendous pressure post COVID to resurrect a church that may have very well been in decline. Yet, in the midst of the decline God still speaks greater….Pastors carry this glorious cargo of the gospel with burdened shoulders and heavy hearts. Pastors cry silently while still standing bold in declaring the Scripture to people that may or may receive it. Pastors are met with a myriad of struggles and trials, but must compartmentalize those to serve God’s people. Pastors have taken their own lives due to the mounting pressure of ministry because they have no one to genuinely talk to. Pastors leave churches because of unfair comments, constraints and restraints on a job they will never do. Greater, you have a pastor who does the biblical task of pastoring (1) lead God’s flock with knowledge and understanding, and (2) operates as oversee and watchers of your souls. The Greater Church should thank God for Pastor D. J. Harris and his leadership….and I declare this hash tag over The Greater Church #GreaterChurchDoesGreaterWorks.

Context of the Passage

Jesus has raised Lazarus after being dead four days, which leads to the religious leaders plotting for Jesus’ death. While Jesus remained at Lazarus’ home, the other Mary came with expensive ointment and anointed Jesus, leading a discussion between Jesus and Judas “the financial office” about why she “wasted” the oil when there are so many poor. Jesus responds that the poor would always be here, but he wouldn’t, as she prepared him for his burial. Note, the sisters would come to anoint Jesus’ body on the first day of the week, and he was gone. The chief priest thought it best to assassinate Lazarus in the hopes that people would stay with the “church” and not follow Jesus. He enters Jerusalem on what was perhaps his greatest day as the crowds shout Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, causing the world go after him to the chagrin of the Pharisees. The Greeks seek a sign, Jesus’ soul is troubled and he declares that he came to save the world, washes the feet of his disciples, calls out his betrayer, shares a new commandment to love one another, and informs Peter of his impending denials. The celebratory mood certainly shifted to news of Jesus’ departure, while Jesus marvels at the fact his own disciples still don’t know him. Thomas asks where Jesus was going, to which Jesus responds with an “if you know had known me” quote after providing his “I AM” statement. Philip then makes the request to see the Father, to which Jesus responds with the same type of statement he provided Thomas. He Tenderly tucked away in the text is futuristic, post resurrection, prophecy concerning “greater works” for the disciples because He would partner with them through a platform, partnership and prayer. He concludes with the promise of the Helper to come and be with them forever.

“Greater Platform”

T. A. Kantonen said, “Evangelism is … the whole life of the church surging forth into the world to accomplish the mission given to the church by her Lord.… Particularly important is the witness of laymen, for they, still more than the clergy, are Christ’s representatives in everyday life, in the frontier region where the church and the world collide.”

The disciples are faced with hopelessness and loneliness in the face of Jesus’ earthly departure, yet, John strategically places double “amen” sayings that must always be taken as important statements of Jesus. No doubt, sorrows filled their hearts as they are helpless in this case, yet, they are called to focus on the future rather than the present because the verbiage of John is future tense, not just for the disciples, but for the church that would arise at Pentecost. For the disciples, the future did not matter if Jesus is not here to experience the future with them. Jesus’ ministry changed the lives of countless people, and here is stuns an already stunned which a prophetic peek towards the type of ministry these future apostles would carry on. He assures His hearts that the Christian believer shall be ended with power to do the like or even greater things, and in particular that he shall have the secret of efficacious prayer.

Understand that in Mark 6:7, 13; 16:17 Jesus had given his disciples authority and power to heal the sick and cast out demons in his name. Greater things, not necessarily more extraordinary miracles, to the eye of the unspiritual observer. The work in Greek is that which one normally does; giving the responsibility to his servants, to each one of his own particular work. These works of wonder, healing the blind and the sick, etc., were not reckoned by Jesus among His own “greater” works. It can hardly mean that believers will do more dramatic works than the raising of Lazarus, the changing of water to wine, the walking on the Sea of Galilee, the multiplying of loaves and fish, or any of the other amazing acts of Jesus. The word greater is (μέγας) — the upper range of a scale of extent, with the possible implication of importance in relevant contexts; loud, significant.

“Greater platforms does not mean more preaching engagements, it means doing more with the platform currently occupy.”

The “greater things” which the apostles were to achieve, were the far-reaching spiritual effects which their preaching was to bring about. The teaching of the Incarnate Son was confined to one country, and while He was in the flesh His adherents were few. But the church would conquer the world. Works in the Greek is (Ἔργον) — that which one normally does; giving the responsibility to his servants, to each one his own particular work. Christ had helmed with the hem of his garment, but Peter with his shadow (Acts 5:15), Paul by the handkerchief that had touched him in 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. Their works are greater either because the many followers of Jesus will effectively multiply the number of his works or will extend the range of his work. Jesus’ resurrection means that he now carries out his work as the risen one; therefore, his own ministry is not confined to first-century Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, any more than worship of the one true God is confined to worship in a temple or on a mountain.

Greater Partnership

The key to their “greater potential” was physical separation of Jesus, yet Jesus still being with them forever within. “Separation reveals your “greater potential,” so never fear the separation for there lies the potential for greater works.” If Jesus would have stayed with them, then, the requisite power and promise would go unfulfilled, thus, Jesus’ ministry would still be limited. The reason why greater is possible because now Jesus would be reunited with the Father. The word Father is (pater, ἀββά) — one who combines aspects of supernatural authority and care for his people. Their works are placed under his protection, and are therefore conceived as a prayer in his name, which he himself will fulfill. The reason Christ gives for this is, Because I go unto my Father, (1.) “Because I go, it will be requisite that you should have such a power, lest the work suffer damage by my absence.” (2.) “Because I go to the Father, I shall be in a capacity to furnish you with such a power, for I go to the Father, to send the Comforter, from whom you shall receive power,” Acts 1:8. The wonderful works which they did in Christ’s name were part of the glories of his exalted state, when he ascended on high, Eph. 4:8.

“It does not take greater faith to do greater works. It takes the Greater in You to Do Greater Works.”

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

In what name they were to present their petitions: Ask in my name. To ask in Christ’s name is, (1.) To plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea. The Old-Testament saints had an eye to this when they prayed for the Lord’s sake (Dan. 9:17), and for the sake of the anointed (Ps. 84:9), but Christ’s mediation is brought to a clearer light by the gospel, and so we are enabled more expressly to ask in his name. When Christ dictated the Lord’s prayer, this was not inserted, because they did not then so fully understand this matter as they did afterwards, when the Spirit was poured out. If we ask in our own name, we cannot expect to speed, for, being strangers, we have no name in heaven; being sinners, we have an ill name there; but Christ’s is a good name, well known in heaven, and very precious. (2.) It is to aim at his glory and to seek this as our highest end in all our prayers.

Greater Prayer — Pray with Receipts

What success they should have in their prayers: “What you ask, that will I do,” v. 13. And again (v. 14), “I will do it. You may be sure I will: not only it shall be done, I will see it done, or give orders for the doing of it, but I 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. The word ask in Greek means to ask for with a claim on receipt of an answer (without real distinction). Jesus instructs his disciples to pray with receipts, meaning that when they ask, it is according to my will….

“Greater prayers takes the receipts to the Son to make good.”

For what reason their prayers should speed so well: That the Father may be glorified in the Son. The word glorified is to influence one’s opinion about another so as to enhance the latter’s reputation. That is, (1.) This they ought to aim at, and have their eye upon, in asking. In this all our desires and prayers should meet as in their centre; to this they must all be directed, that God in Christ may be honoured by our services, and in our salvation. Hallowed be thy name is an answered prayer, and is put first, because, if the heart be sincere in this, it does in a manner consecrate all the other petitions. (2.) This Christ will aim at in granting, and for the sake of this will do what they ask, that hereby the glory of the Father in the Son may be manifested. The wisdom, power, and goodness of God were magnified in the Redeemer when by a power derived from him, and exerted in his name and for his service, his apostles and ministers were enabled to do such great things, both in the proofs of their doctrine and in the successes of it.

When you prayer greater prayers, we pray like:

Abraham on Mount Moriah when he offered Isaac

Hannah’s prayer when she prayed for a Son

Daniel’s prayer in the Lion’s den

The Roman Centurion’s prayer for his servant

Jesus’ prayer at the tomb of Lazarus

Jesus’ prayer at the Garden.....