Blessing Our Community (4)

Turn to John 14. As you’re turning there,

Proverbs 11:11 ESV

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

Our Tuesday morning coffee group had an opportunity to bless one of the owners of Brevada - where we meet. The group blessed, they served with no agenda – and brought life to him and his community. I’ll tell the whole story later, but his countenance was heavy on Tuesday, but beaming with life on Wednesday after they helped him.

Blessing is about breathing life into a lifeless or hopeless situation.

It took someone from our group to have their eyes, and ears, and heart open to the needs of another. And that’s what we need to be asking God - to have our eyes opened. Our prayers should first be centered on asking God to transform us and help us to see our community through His eyes – to love our community as Jesus would and to prioritize His mission and His Kingdom and His call on our lives. We should ask God what is needed most, what is needed here, and what is needed now in Klamath – and help me to see.

Blessing Our Community is about seeking first the heart of Jesus and allowing Jesus to capture our hearts.

A heart that is captured by Jesus is a powerful thing.

Question: Is your/my heart truly captured by Jesus? Not asking if you’re saved, or if you’re a Christian …. I’m asking if your heart is captured, captivated by Christ. Are we really in love with our Savior? The only way to answer that question with honesty is to take a good long hard look in the mirror and allow Jesus to answer for you.

Consider this. My wife has captured my heart – meaning she has all of me. I want no other. She is my best friend, partner, wife, and my boss. We talk constantly with each other – sharing our days, navigating life, encouraging, correcting …. Every day I eagerly anticipate that first moment when I get to hear her voice. We want to be together. We do not like being apart. There’s no other person I’d rather be with. I think about her constantly. Over the years, I’ve invited her into every area of my life. We have zero secrets, and nothing comes between me and her.

I think that’s analogous of the kind of relationship Jesus wants with each of us. Perhaps that is a good way to know if Jesus has captured your heart. Nothing between you and Him. You’ve invited Him into every area of your life – good and bad – you enjoy, anticipate, desire to be with Jesus. It’s not about God do this and God do that, but you hunger and thirst for Him – that’s when Jesus has captured your heart.

Listen, the greatest way to Bless Our Community is to allow Jesus to capture your heart. Allow Jesus to capture your marriage, your home. If you’re not married, allow him to capture whatever context you’re in – single or dating … whatever. Invite Him into every area of your life and allow Jesus to be Lord over everything and see what happens. If you’re not there yet – just ask Him to help.

Let’s look at John 14 for a moment. The context here is after Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet and after what we call the Last Supper – a little dialogue taking place between Jesus and His disciples.

John 14:6–11 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Twice Jesus alluded to works. Who did these works? Really both.

The Father did His work through Jesus.

The Father and the Son worked in tandem, in partnership. Of course, the work that Jesus referred to is the totality of His ministry. Jesus taught, healed, performed miracles, fed people, empowered people, confronted injustice and hypocrisy, loved and touched the outcast, treated all people with respect and dignity, He spoke truth without compromise, etc., etc. Whatever Jesus did, it was God the Father doing His work through Jesus.

Peter affirmed this. On the day of Pentecost he said,

Acts 2:22 ESV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

As we read Scripture, from beginning to end it’s clear that God wants to do His work through His people. Whatever God did through Jesus, He wants to do through you and me.

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Sidenote here. Doing greater works than Jesus doesn’t mean that what we do will be greater than we Jesus did. It’s not like Jesus did only level 5 miracles, and we get to do level 10. Understand that the word greater does not necessarily mean greater in value or more spectacular. He raised the dead – how much more spectacular can you get? There are a variety of meanings to this word greater.

The Greek word is megas (μέγας) (make America megas again). It can mean greater as in volume, size, louder, or numerical as in more works than Jesus – which is probably what He means. Collectively, we can do more works than Jesus.

The Father did His works through Jesus. You name it, whatever Jesus did, the Father did it – empowered Jesus. Remember the mystery in Philippians 2 that Jesus emptied Himself or set aside His “God-ness” and became a human and lived fully as a man fully dependent on the power and guidance of God the Father. So Jesus conducted His ministry, and all the things we said He did as a man filled with the power of the Spirit.

So, what is the essential component to the Father doing His work through Jesus and through us? In verse

John 14:10 (ESV)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

The indwelling presence and power of the Father in Jesus. That is the key for us as well.

If Jesus needed the presence and power of the Father, how much more do we need the indwelling presence and power of not only the Father, but also of the Son, and Spirit!

Later in chapters 14-17 Jesus talks about the promise of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. In Luke 11 Jesus said the Heavenly Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. In Acts 8 there were believers who had not yet received the Spirit. The Triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit want to dwell within us, but He’s not going to force His way in. He must be invited. In

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To whom is Jesus speaking? The Church – Christians – people who have already trusted in Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sins. For whatever reason Jesus is on the outside and He’s asking individuals and the community for permission to enter.

I don’t want to create confusion, but I believe there is a difference between being saved and being indwelt or filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit. Difference between being saved and surrendered. Difference between being saved and being captured by Christ.

Jesus said, “It’s the Father who dwells in me.”

Dwell means to abide, remain, or to stay or to take up residence with.

The one “staying” is the recipient of hospitality.

Hospitality is about creating a clean, comfortable, cordial, friendly environment where someone feels welcome to stay or dwell.

How clean, cordial, how welcoming is your heart? Is it a place where the Spirit is welcome to dwell?

The Father does His best work in and through a heart where He is welcome.

In the Nazarene church we call this entire sanctification. It’s a work of God by grace through faith – through our invitation. We allow Christ to capture our heart and whole life. Jesus cleanses from the power of sin. Empowers us to love God and serve Him and love others.

What is the Spirit saying to you?

Admit. Believe. Commit.

Maybe it’s time to receive His Spirit.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me.