Faithfulness | Week 4 | What Makes Us Tick?
Results of the Primary Election last Tuesday
“Unofficial/Non-Certified” Results: Candidates recommended by United Christians of Florida – PAC as seen at www.PrayVOTEshare.com and on www.ThinkVOTEshare.com via News Times Journal
Faithfulness
The Vision of the Church-John 14:12 “We can do greater things!”
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.
John 14:12 NIV
A Biblical Theory
Unburdened - How big is the burden you’re carrying?
Fruitful - How much fruit are you allowing the life of Christ to produce in you?
Faithful - How open are you, to God, doing greater things in your life through the empowerment of the Spirit?
Andrew Murray, once said, "God has no more precious gift to a church or an age than a man/woman who lives as an embodiment of His will, and inspires those around him/her by demonstrating what grace can make of the humble” (Andrew Murray, Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 4)
Greater Things
Jesus’ claim reverberates “We can do greater things”, through the power of the Spirit!
ABPE Aramaic Bible in Plain English (John 14:12)
“Timeless truth, I tell you: 'whoever believes in me, those works which I have done he will also do, and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to the presence of my Father.' “
YLT Youngs Literal Translation (John 14:12)
'Verily, verily, I say to you, he who is believing in me, the works that I do -- that one also shall do, and greater than these he shall do, because I go on to my Father;
What might that mean for you personally?
What could that mean for your spouse or your potential spouse, your marriage?
What possibilities could appear, regarding your career and your future?
What impact, could the presence of God in your life, have on your children and your children’s children?
The “Works”, that Jesus said we would do
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NIV)
The “Greater” Works, that Jesus said we would do
Location – Share your faith – Lead someone in healing
Duration –
Summation – Today more people are hearing about Christ then in any other time in all of history!
Spirit – The Spirit of God is being poured out in more places around the world than in any other time in History!
The “Greatest” Work, Jesus said we would do
Jesus illustrates/demonstrates what it means to “save” people
Matthew Chapter 8
He heals a man with Leprosy
He heals the Centurion’s Servant
He heals Peter’s Mother-in-law
He speaks to the Storm on the Sea of Galilee
He delivers a man who was demonized (demons in a herd of pigs)
Matthew Chapter 9
He heals a paralyzed man
He raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead
He heals a woman with an issue of blood
He heals two blind men
He casts out a demon and a mute man spoke
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NIV)
The GREATEST miracle of all is getting to be an agent of salvation!
Jesus always had eternal life, for in Him is life!
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11 (NIV)
No, Jesus wasn’t Saved, he was Sacrificed, so that we could be Saved!
Hebrew Phrase: “Hineni” (hee-neh-nee) is a Hebrew phrase comprised of two short words: ‘hineh’ and ‘ani’. More literally, “hineh” is translated as “behold” and “ani” is me.
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Hineni! (Here I am)”. Genesis 22:1
‘Here I am! (Hineni)’ Moses replied. Exodus 3:4
God called Samuel as a young boy through the prophet Eli…3 times his response is “Heneni” 1 Samuel 3:1
And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I (hineni)! Send me.’ Isaiah 6:8
“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say:
Here am I.” (heneni)! Isaiah 58:9
Words of Knowledge
We believe the Lord wants to heal shortness of breath.
We believe the Lord is healing people with chronic fatigue.
We believe the Lord is healing right kneecap pain.
We believe the Lord wants to set people free from fear: specifically fear of man and fear of failure.
Words of Encouragement
We believe the Lord is saying, “Surrender whatever you are holding on to and trying to accomplish by yourself. The battle is mine and I will fight for you, not by strength nor by might but by My Spirit.”
God is present in your current circumstance. It may feel like He isn’t there or that He doesn’t see you, but He is there right next to you. He hasn’t left you.
We believe the Lord is asking, “Who is your first love? Who and what is taking My rightful place?”