Greater Works

Pastor David Jones

Sunday Morning’s message 30th March 2025

citywestchurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQnp29ymMkA

Leader: Please choose what best suits your group and fits the time well. You do not need to discuss every question. Choose two or three areas to discuss. Have fun Jesus People!

Christian Group Discussion: "Greater Works – Prayer and Fasting"

Opening Prayer:

Let's begin by inviting God’s presence into our time together. Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of gathering together. We ask that You speak to our hearts as we dive into Your Word. Open our minds and guide our discussions today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Opening Scripture

John 14:12-14“Most assuredly, 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 My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Jesus' Assurance – The work will carry on through Us

Question: Jesus promises that the work will continue through His disciples. How does this change the way we view our role as believers today?

The best way to interpret this text is to take it literally and exactly as Jesus said it “because I go to My Father”. Jesus’ earthly ministry was limited in time and space. He served the Father for three and half years and never stepped outside the boundaries of Palestine. The disciples, as Acts clearly attests, carried out ministry that was greater geographically, in terms of numbers of people reached and long-lasting effect. We are part of the greater work and the spread of the gospel. The disciples in the upper room may have felt they were going to be made redundant or surplus to requirement. But they got promoted to greater things.

The Importance of trusting in Jesus

Questions: Jesus emphasises believing in Him as the key to doing the works He did. How does your faith in Jesus influence your prayer and actions in the world today?

Trusting Jesus is the foundation for everything we do. In what areas of your life do you feel called to rely more fully on Him?

Jesus encouraged His disciples to Trust in, rely on, and cling to Him in faith. The disciples   heard His words and saw the miracles He performed. Blessings and benefits come to the ones who believe.

The purpose of prayer – Bringing glory to the Father

Question: What is the purpose of prayer?

This text found in John is one of the greatest promises recorded in the Bible. But we             must start with the purpose first. That purpose is to glorify the Father, first and foremost.   “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son”  (John 14:13). The end goal of our prayers is to bring glory to the Father. Let’s lift Jesus up.

Question: What do you think it means to pray "in Jesus’ name"? How does this shape the way we approach prayer in our daily lives?

No theology should be built from a single verse or even a handful of verses. The Bible contains huge blocks of information on prayer. But this promise of prayer we cannot       ignore. Jesus gave us a New Testament patten of asking in His name, and this was new to the disciples. However, they would hear it again before Jesus finished his teachings.

John 16:23–24 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Jesus promises that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. But the ultimate purpose is that the Father may be glorified.

Question: How can our prayers reflect this purpose in our lives?     

(Leader: Help people to understand what aligning our will with God looks like. We have not just been given a blank cheque to willy nilly ask for whatever we want)

Aligning our will with God's will

Question: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” How does aligning our will with God’s will change our approach to prayer and life in general?

Jesus was deferring to the will of the Father and aligning His will with the Fathers will and purposes. “Not my will be done, put your will be done”. One time a disciple asked Jesus to teach us to pray. Jesus’s reply became the model for us, and this is known as the Lord’s prayer. Firstly, Jesus teaches us hold the Father in awe and exalt him. This soon pulls our will into alignment.  Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”. Gods will is always best for us in the long run. Gods' way is always better!

1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

Quote and discuss: E. Stanley Jones - Prayer is surrender - surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.

Greater Works – Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Questions: Jesus promises that we will do greater works. How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit help us fulfil this promise today?

The disciples went on to do incredible things after receiving the Holy Spirit. How are you empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue Jesus' work in the world?

Jesus left leave behind victorious believers who as a family of followers working together   would spread His kingdom. Spread to more people and to more places than Jesus ever did in His life and ministry. “and greater works than these he will do” Jesus expected you and I to continue His work, to extend His kingdom. This may seem impossible for us to grasp but John goes on to say in the following verse of John chapter fourteen Jesus would leave us the advocate, the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Closing Thoughts

Encouragement: No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, remember that God has called you to be a part of His kingdom work. Through prayer, faith, and surrender, we participate in His mission.

Closing Prayer: Father, thank You for the powerful promises in Your Word. We are grateful that You have chosen us to carry on Your work. Help us to pray with purpose, trust in Your will, and be empowered by Your Holy Spirit to do greater works. We surrender our plans to You today and ask that You be glorified in all we do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Action Step: This week, take time to pray in Jesus' name and ask God to show you where He is calling you to do "greater works." Trust that He will guide you in every step and use your life to bring glory to His name