Greater Sermon
Introduction: Note
from Francis Chan at back of Big Red Tractor Book
Quotes from Greater by Steven
Furtick
“That’s the beauty of
the greater way. It’s all about what Jesus has already done and what He desires
to do through us. Period. Nobody does
greater things for God because they’ve got it all together. And nobody is disqualified
because they don’t. Including you and
me. God doesn’t do greater things exclusively through great people. He does
them through anyone who is willing to trust Him in greater ways.”
Greater than John
the Baptist-Luke 7:27-28
·
Jesus speaking about John the Baptist says
o
Quote Malachi 3:1-OT prophecy about John the
Baptist
·
No one greater than John yet least in the
kingdom of God is greater than he
o
No One-speaking of OT prophets
§
because he saw what they prophesied, he
proclaimed the coming of the Messiah
o
One who is least-Believers
§
after the cross get to experience actual atoning
work of Christ, enjoy the blessings and promises of Jesus
·
John the Baptist knew his purpose. His greater purpose was to get people ready
for Jesus. Once Jesus was central, John
began to step back. He says in John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become
less.”
o
We too should make much of Jesus and avoid
taking the glory for ourselves
By leaving and then sending His
Spirit to dwell inside His followers-ordinary people like you and me-Jesus
released a greater power for us to do extraordinary things on an extraordinary
scale. The kind of things the early church saw and did. The kinds of things He
still wants to do today through us.
Greater Things
than Jesus-John 14:11-12
·
Vs. 11-Jesus says “I am in the Father and Father
is in me”-They are one. Equal. Part of Trinity. But if you cannot believe this,
believe “on the evidence of the miracles themselves
o
More than 30 miracles listed in the Gospels. (See
Chart) However, John writes in John 21:25, “Jesus did many other things as
well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole
world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
o
What was point of miracles? To prove Jesus was
God & bring wholeness/healing to people
·
Vs. 12-Anyone who has faith will do what I have
been doing
o
What has Jesus been doing? Preaching, teaching, caring, or more
specifically miracles because of context
o
Did Christ heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead? So should they. Did he convince and convert sinners, and draw
multitudes to him? So should they. Though he should depart, the work should not
cease. . . “ Matthew Henry Commentary 397
·
Vs. 12-He will do even greater things than these
. . .
o
You might be thinking: How can I do greater
things than Jesus?
o
It’s like telling a basketball player he will be
greater than Michael Jordan, musician greater than Beethoven
§
Sending of the Holy Spirit-our power, available
to all believers, to multiply
o
“The
works are quantitatively greater because Christ’s work is multiplied through
all his followers.” IVP Bible Background 299
o
It was through the Spirit’s power that the
apostles performed these greater miracles we see in Acts.” Believers Bible
Commentary
Greater than
Satan-1 John 4:4
·
In context, this passage is dealing with testing
the spirits. We test the spirits by acknowledging Jesus. Our passage informs us
that we have Someone to guide our minds
to truth and avoid false teaching
·
One who is in you-Holy Spirit-Romans 8:11-“And
if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit, who lives in you.
o
Same power-Eph. 3: 19-20 “and his incomparably
great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty
strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. . .”
o
Greater things can be done in Jesus’ name
because of the Holy Spirit’s power in us.
Are we seeing this? Are we trying
to push the tractor when we need the power to flow out of us?
·
one who is in the world-Satan-John 12:31
or 16:11-“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this
world will be driven out.” Or “and in regard to judgment, because the prince of
this world now stands condemned.”
o
We are involved in a spiritual battle. However, we know the outcome. Satan was defeated at the cross. He will continue to mess with us, but we have
victory through Christ.
§
15 And having disarmed the
powers and authorities he
made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
o
Are we living out this truth? I think many people live defeated because of
fear of Satan. He is real. He is out to get us. But the Holy Spirit (and God) are greater.
Closing
Are you
ready to open your imagination to the possibility that God has a vision for
your life that is greater?
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