Sunday 01:02:11

Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these. John 14:10-12 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Who? Those who believe in Jesus. Greater things? Really? Perhaps not in extravagance, but in outreach. What? The works Jesus was doing. The work that Jesus did in John: He healed the sick John 5: He healed an invalid. John 9: He healed a blind man. He fed the hungry John 6: He fed 5,000 All the while, He taught people about Himself John 4: He taught a lost, sinful Samaritan woman that He is what she has been looking for. John 6: He taught, “the work of God is to believe in the one he sent.” One of the reasons for all the work that Jesus did was to reveal Himself, God’s method of salvation, to anyone who was paying attention. God’s work is significant. His plan is eternal. It is life and light, mercy and salvation to everyone who would believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. We are to take up his example and do God’s work as well. When we do God’s work, we become part of something significant, eternal, and bigger than ourselves. • Loving and teaching children about God in ways they can understand – that matters. • Loving and teaching youth how their faith can mature as they grow – that matters. • Leading God’s people in worship – that matters. • Serving the church body in a dozen different ways that many of you do – that matters. • Growing a garden to feed other people in the community – that matters. • Men praying together for their families, their church, and each other – that matters. • Ladies talking and laughing together, serving, and praying together – that matters. • Teaching others the scriptures and how to live by them – that matters. • Caring for people in nursing homes and people who have no one else – that matters. • Giving your money to help feed and educate kids overseas – that matters. • Giving your money to support the local church, outreach and missionaries around the world – that matters. • Talking to a coworker or classmate about what you found in Jesus Christ – that matters. The good works that you do here, at work or school or privately at home, they matter. They are eternally significant. God has created you to be a part of something significant, something bigger than yourself. God’s works are certain. These good works are a divine decree, and therefore, are certain. If Jesus said those who believe in him would do the works he was doing, then those who believe in him will do the works he was doing. If I am ordained to good works, then I do walk in them, and the decree of God is manifestly carried out in me. Since it is God's decree, that I should do good works, I will despite my old nature, and despite my spiritual weakness. The decree will be carried out despite my surroundings, despite the temptations of my circumstances, despite the opposition of the devil. God has ordained that we should walk in good works; and walk in them we shall, sustained by his Holy Spirit. God’s works are all for Him. All of your giving of your time and money. All of your frustration at times. All of your suffering to do good works, it will all be worth it. Matthew 25:31-40 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ I thank God for the dozens of ways that He accomplishes His work in you. I look forward to a year that we might do even more as a group of believers in striving together to discover all the good works that God has prepared for us to do together. I know it will be worth it.