Limitless

Some years ago a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic!

In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, "The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I'm always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third."

Today we are going to talk about what your life can become if you would choose to live the way Tom Landry lived his life.

Limitless…the possibilities are limitless. God intends that our life be of such purpose and greatness that Jesus even describes what we will do as greater than anything He Himself did prior to His Cross.

First things first...

Thomas — “We don’t know the way you are going. How can we know the way?”

Thomas is one of my favorite apostles. It is said that he ended up a martyr for sharing the Gospel in India. He was a champion of the faith, strong in his love for Jesus, passionate in his desire to share the Gospel and see others come to faith in Christ.

Thomas is one of my favorite apostles. He was a champion of the faith, strong in his love for Jesus, passionate in his desire to share the Gospel and see others come to faith in Christ. It is said that he ended up a martyr for sharing the Gospel in India. But perhaps the thing which most endears him to me is that he was always the one guy in the room who would always say what everyone else was thinking.

But perhaps the thing which most endears him to me is that he was always the one guy in the room who would always say what everyone else was thinking.

Thomas — where is the way? How can we go where you are going if we don’t know where it is you are going???

Jesus responds with the often memorized and quoted verse 6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Verse 7 expands upon verse 6. The “way” is not a process of spiritual disciplines which might earn our introduction and warrant a relationship with the Father…The way to the Father is simply to know Him…and we can know Him because He has chosen to reveal Himself to us…and this revelation , as Carl F.H. Henry taught, is perfectly and completely made in Jesus.

Know Jesus know God…no Jesus, no God

But they did not completely understand who Jesus was or the reason He had come to earth. They did not completely understand His mission. They did not understand the full significance of who He was…thus the question.

Jesus is the way to know the Father…to eternal life…to the place where Jesus was going...To know Jesus is to know the Father’s heart, personality, purposes and plans.

From now on — Things were changing. Soon Jesus would die on the cross and rise from the dead...From that point on they would completely understand Jesus, His mission and the purpose of His sacrifice.

They would finally fully understand who Jesus is and why He had come to earth…

John sees this whole situation as changed in Christ. As a result of what he has done (“From now on”) his followers really know God. It is a revolution both in religious experience and in theological understanding. Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 571). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

To save us through His death on the Cross! To give us hope through His resurrection from the dead.

The “you” of verse 7 is in the plural…Jesus was not simply addressing Thomas but all of the disciples as well as all disciples who would ever come to faith. To know Jesus is to know the Father.

John sees this whole situation as changed in Christ. As a result of what he has done (“From now on”) his followers really know God. It is a revolution both in religious experience and in theological understanding.

Phillip — He is another one of the disciples I love. Forever the pragmatist he is trying to make sense out of what Jesus just said. Enough of the ethereal talk…He wants Jesus to simply allow them to see the Father with their eyes!

Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 571). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

“Jesus, allow us to actually lay our eyes on God the Father and that will be enough for us!” How many people have said similar words in the form of a prayer to God, “Just let me see with my eyes and I will believe.”

Phillip thinks he can help Jesus out…just let us actually see God and we will believe…that will do the trick. Sometimes we think we can help God out don’t we?

Illustration: A man once looked out on a field of watermelons while sitting under a large oak tree. Looking at the watermelons on the vines before him and up at the acorns growing on that great tree, he thought to himself…”If I were God I would have put those watermelons on this huge oak tree and the acorns on the spreading vines in the field.” About that time an acorn fell on his head.

But they did not completely understand who Jesus was or the reason He had come to earth. They did not completely understand His mission. They did not understand the full significance of who He was…thus the question.

God knows what He is doing…and He was saddened that Phillip and the rest of the disciples were doing such a poor job of understanding the process.

Jesus response to Phillip is tinged with sadness that Phillip doesn’t know better. It is a gentle rebuke of the disciple.

John 14:9 CSB

Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus emphatically states seeing Him is the equivalent of seeing the Father. “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

The words of Jesus are from the Father…the works or miracles of Jesus are signposts pointing to God in action. Both the words and actions reveal the Father in the person of Jesus the Son.

“Believe me” — Jesus says for us to not only believe in Him but to believe Him. He is saying that He and the Father are one!

“We might well ask where faith in Christ would be without the idea that Jesus is worthy of faith. Faith that there is a mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son is part of the faith whereby one commits oneself to Christ. If there is no such indwelling there can scarcely be full commitment.” Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 573). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Christianity all boils down to a simple question…do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe Him to be who He said that He was?

We might well ask where faith in Christ would be without the idea that Jesus is worthy of faith. Faith that there is a mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son is part of the faith whereby one commits oneself to Christ. If there is no such indwelling there can scarcely be full commitment.

The passage is clear — Jesus and the Father are One but they are not the same. The Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father. No one can ever deny that Jesus claimed to be God or that we know the one true God in the revelation of Jesus the Christ.

The way to a life of limitless value is to believe in who Jesus said He was and place faith in Him for relationship with God.

The rest of your life will be about the thing which matters most…God and what matters to Him!

Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 573). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

The next few verses are some of the most incredible in all of the Bible. Jesus begins the section with the words, “verily, verily” or “truly, truly” or “truly I tell you.” When you see these statements in the Gospels it means something very important is to follow. Jesus is placing emphasis upon His next statements.

“Anyone who has faith” — These words are for me and you and anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. What He is about to say is applicable to all believers both then, now and for all time.

So we have an incredible, seemingly unbelievable statement upon which Jesus places utmost importance.

John 14:12 NASB95

“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 by this point had fed 5000, raised Lazarus from the dead, and walked on water among other things. How in the world could these words be true of His present disciples or any other follower of Christ since???

Jesus lived, died on the cross and rose from the dead. This made salvation possible through faith in Him. But Jesus did not stop working when He rose from the dead. He continues to work through His church…through the activities and words of His followers.

“Anyone who has faith” — These words are for me and you and anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. What He is about to say is applicable to all believers both then, now and for all time.

That “greater works” to which Jesus is referring in our passage is the conversion of unbelievers. The greatest miracle of all happens when someone gives their life to Jesus and moves from death to life. And more people came to faith in Christ and were converted after His resurrection than before.

Jesus lived, died on the cross and rose from the dead. This made salvation possible through faith in Him. But Jesus did not stop working when He rose from the dead. He continues to work through His church…through the activities and words of His followers.

On the day of Pentecost alone thousands placed faith in Christ. The work of Jesus through His followers would dwarf the work of Jesus while He walked in a physical body on earth.

But this isn’t about numbers, it is about the work itself and our faithfulness to it...

Followers of Jesus would be the agents of Christ…the means of grace and ministers of reconciliation…a part of what Christ was doing to redeem the world.

n doing the “greater things” the followers of Jesus would be the agents of Christ…the means of grace and ministers of reconciliation.

In doing the “greater things” the followers of Jesus would be the agents of Christ…the means of grace and ministers of reconciliation.

The disciples fruitful ministry would be the result of their prayers in Jesus’ name!

“I will do whatever you ask” —

When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he once remarked to his mother, "Momma, you can't be good without praying." "How do you know, Robert?" she asked. "Because I've tried!" he answered. This brings to mind a story about another little fellow -- one who had been sent to his room because he had been bad. A short time later he came out and said to his mother, "I've been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer." "That's fine," she said, "if you ask God to make you good, He will help you." "Oh, I didn't ask Him to help me be good," replied the boy. "I asked Him to help you put up with me."

You can never be a part of great things with God unless you are spending time with God.

When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he once remarked to his mother, "Momma, you can't be good without praying." "How do you know, Robert?" she asked. "Because I've tried!" he answered. This brings to mind a story about another little fellow -- one who had been sent to his room because he had been bad. A short time later he came out and said to his mother, "I've been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer." "That's fine," she said, "if you ask God to make you good, He will help you." "Oh, I didn't ask Him to help me be good," replied the boy. "I asked Him to help you put up with me."

“I will do whatever you ask” —Here is another incredible statement! Does this mean that we can pray whatever we want and use “In Jesus name” to receive whatever it is we ask??? NO!

“I will do whatever you ask” means that when we pray in accordance with what the name of Jesus stands for we can be confident of an answer.

“It is prayer proceeding from faith in Christ, prayer that gives expression to oneness with Christ, prayer that seeks to glorify Christ. And the purpose of it all is the glory of God.” Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 574). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

It is prayer proceeding from faith in Christ, prayer that gives expression to oneness with Christ, prayer that seeks to glorify Christ. And the purpose of it all is the glory of God

“Prayers in his name are prayers that are offered in thorough accord with all that his name stands for (i.e. his name is not used as a magical incantation: cf. ), and in recognition that the only approach to God those who pray enjoy, their only way to God (cf. vv. 4–6), is Jesus himself (cf. H. Bietenhard, TDNT 5. 258–261, 276). Such prayer is never abstracted from the Father; for the Son’s purpose, even as he answers the prayers of his followers, is to bring glory to the Father.” Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 497). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 574). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 497). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

“You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it” — There is no limit to the scope of our prayers. We may ask Jesus for anything.

But when we ask for something which brings Him glory, which leads others to recognize who He is and what He came to do…We can be assured of an answer to our prayer.

1 John 5:14–15 NASB95

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

1 John 5:14–15 NASB95

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

We know it is God’s will to make us part of His redemption of the world…to use us as His mouthpiece and method for sharing the Gospel.

ff

How do you see your life? How do you see the potential of it?

Have you ever considered that your life can be about the business of things greater than those which Christ did before going to the cross?

Do you realize that your life can be more spectacular than walking on water, raising the dead or feeding 5000 with a handful of loaves and fish?

Someday the life of all Christians will be judged. It will be a judgement of how we spent the opportunity that was our life. How you spent your time, what you spent your day thinking about and doing...what were your priorities.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB95

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

How will this judgement take place? What is the criteria?

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 NASB95

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:14–15 NASB95

If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We have only a short while to make use of the gifts and privileges God has given each one of us. And we will be held accountable for each and every one of those day…all of those opportunities…each of our gifts.

God will take into account the revelation given us, the opportunities we had and what we did accordingly. Rewards will be received or lost on the basis of this judgement.

Some of you may say, “Well, I will be heaven anyway and that will be enough!” But you have no idea the loss suffered. What a terrible loss to lack these rewards, each of which will be far greater and more precious than anything this world could ever offer. It will be an immeasurable loss!

And the one thing we know above all else…the greatest and most wonderful work done on this earth…isn’t raising the dead, walking on water or feeding the hungry in a miraculous fashion.

Benevolence work is wonderful and good, miracles where the laws of nature are momentarily suspended are fantastic! But there is one work which far exceeds all of these...to glorify God! And the greatest of ways to do so is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But there is one work which far exceeds all of these and that is to glorify God! And the greatest of ways to do so is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The potential is limitless and the rewards are too. What we do now has bearing on the rewards received and responsibility enjoyed when we get to heaven. Remember the parable of the talents

Matthew 25:20–25 NASB95

“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

Matthew 25:18–20 NASB95

“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’

Matthew 25:23–30 NASB95

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:19–21 NASB95

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 25:22–23 CSB

“The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

Those who are faithful will receive reward and new opportunities which will pale in comparison to what we are a part of now! Even greater opportunities to be a part of what Christ is doing await us in Heaven…new and exciting ways in which we might glorify God.

Share your faith! Live it, speak it, and intentionally share it! Be intentional, pay attention to where God is at work…join in what He is doing and live it!

We have been entrusted with the greatest gift the world has ever known. We have been entrusted with the way, truth and life. We have been entrusted with Jesus and we dare not keep such treasure to ourselves!

Some years ago a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic!

In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic!

In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, "The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I'm always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third."

We will be judged for how we shared Him…the greatest gift! But sharing isn’t always easy…it will come with a price…time, energy, money, reputation…maybe even your life. Many have sown the Gospel in tears...

The following article is based on a sermon by missionary Del Tarr who served fourteen years in West Africa with another mission agency. His story points out the price some people pay to sow the seed of the gospel in hard soil. I was always perplexed by until I went to the Sahel, that vast stretch of savanna more than four thousand miles wide just under the Sahara Desert. In the Sahel, all the moisture comes in a four month period: May, June, July, and August. After that, not a drop of rain falls for eight months. The ground cracks from dryness, and so do your hands and feet. The winds of the Sahara pick up the dust and throw it thousands of feet into the air. It then comes slowly drifting across West Africa as a fine grit. It gets inside your mouth. It gets inside your watch and stops it. The year's food, of course, must all be grown in those four months. People grow sorghum or milo in small fields.

I was always perplexed by until I went to the Sahel, that vast stretch of savanna more than four thousand miles wide just under the Sahara Desert. In the Sahel, all the moisture comes in a four month period: May, June, July, and August. After that, not a drop of rain falls for eight months. The ground cracks from dryness, and so do your hands and feet. The winds of the Sahara pick up the dust and throw it thousands of feet into the air. It then comes slowly drifting across West Africa as a fine grit. It gets inside your mouth. It gets inside your watch and stops it. The year's food, of course, must all be grown in those four months. People grow sorghum or milo in small fields.

October and November...these are beautiful months. The granaries are full -- the harvest has come. People sing and dance. They eat two meals a day. The sorghum is ground between two stones to make flour and then a mush with the consistency of yesterday's Cream of Wheat. The sticky mush is eaten hot; they roll it into little balls between their fingers, drop it into a bit of sauce and then pop it into their mouths. The meal lies heavy on their stomachs so they can sleep. December comes, and the granaries start to recede. Many families omit the morning meal. Certainly by January not one family in fifty is still eating two meals a day. By February, the evening meal diminishes. The meal shrinks even more during March and children succumb to sickness. You don't stay well on half a meal a day.

October and November...these are beautiful months. The granaries are full -- the harvest has come. People sing and dance. They eat two meals a day. The sorghum is ground between two stones to make flour and then a mush with the consistency of yesterday's Cream of Wheat. The sticky mush is eaten hot; they roll it into little balls between their fingers, drop it into a bit of sauce and then pop it into their mouths. The meal lies heavy on their stomachs so they can sleep.

December comes, and the granaries start to recede. Many families omit the morning meal.

Certainly by January not one family in fifty is still eating two meals a day.

April is the month that haunts my memory. In it you hear the babies crying in the twilight. Most of the days are passed with only an evening cup of gruel. Then, inevitably, it happens. A six-or seven-year-old boy comes running to his father one day with sudden excitement. "Daddy! Daddy! We've got grain!" he shouts. "Son, you know we haven't had grain for weeks." "Yes, we have!" the boy insists. "Out in the hut where we keep the goats -- there's a leather sack hanging up on the wall -- I reached up and put my hand down in there -- Daddy, there's grain in there! Give it to Mommy so she can make flour, and tonight our tummies can sleep!"

By February, the evening meal diminishes.

The meal shrinks even more during March and children succumb to sickness. You don't stay well on half a meal a day.

April is the month that haunts my memory. In it you hear the babies crying in the twilight. Most of the days are passed with only an evening cup of gruel.

The father stands motionless. "Son, we can't do that," he softly explains. "That's next year's seed grain. It's the only thing between us and starvation. We're waiting for the rains, and then we must use it." The rains finally arrive in May, and when they do the young boy watches as his father takes the sack from the wall and does the most unreasonable thing imaginable. Instead of feeding his desperately weakened family, he goes to the field and with tears streaming down his face, he takes the precious seed and throws it away. He scatters it in the dirt! Why? Because he believes in the harvest (Italics added).

Then, inevitably, it happens. A six-or seven-year-old boy comes running to his father one day with sudden excitement. "Daddy! Daddy! We've got grain!" he shouts. "Son, you know we haven't had grain for weeks." "Yes, we have!" the boy insists. "Out in the hut where we keep the goats -- there's a leather sack hanging up on the wall -- I reached up and put my hand down in there -- Daddy, there's grain in there! Give it to Mommy so she can make flour, and tonight our tummies can sleep!"

The father stands motionless. "Son, we can't do that," he softly explains. "That's next year's seed grain. It's the only thing between us and starvation. We're waiting for the rains, and then we must use it." The rains finally arrive in May, and when they do the young boy watches as his father takes the sack from the wall and does the most unreasonable thing imaginable. Instead of feeding his desperately weakened family, he goes to the field and with tears streaming down his face, he takes the precious seed and throws it away. He scatters it in the dirt! Why? Because he believes in the harvest (Italics added).

The seed is his; he owns it. He can do anything with it he wants. The act of sowing it hurts so much that he cries. But as the African pastors say when they preach on , "Brother and sisters, this is God's law of the harvest. Don't expect to rejoice later on unless you have been willing to sow in tears." And I want to ask you: How much would it cost you to sow in tears? I don't mean just giving God something from your abundance, but finding a way to say, "I believe in the harvest, and therefore I will give what makes no sense. The world would call me unreasonable to do this -- but I must sow regardless, in order that I may someday celebrate with songs of joy."

Psalm 126:5–6 NASB95

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

We are about to embark upon a new day at HTBC. We will be doing more than addressing a potential name change or issues with our building. We are embarking upon an entirely new identity as we recommit ourselves to God and His mission for His church.

That is what revival is all about and that is what we are praying for in 2019. Our hope is to see God revive us, change us, shake us up and remake us. To bring us to a new experience with Him that so shakes things up that He and the things He is concerned about become the priority of our life…So we might be a part of the greater things Jesus spoke of in our passage today.

We pray these things for ourselves as well as our church.

But revival always cost you something…it always requires repentance…change…death to self...many of our desires, hopes and wants have to be placed at the foot of the cross in order for our life to line up with Christ and His will for our life.

Begin to pray for God to revive us…Pray that He will bring us to a place where He and what He is doing would become the number one priority of our life.

Could we all pray this morning that each of us might lead at least one person to faith in Christ in 2019? That we would all be a part of one miracle in 2019…a miracle which eclipses even all that we saw Christ do while walking on the earth prior to His cross???

Limitless

Introduction

The Way To A Life of Limitless Value

The Life of Those Who Do Believe

Conclusion