(Read John 14:13-16)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” After studying our way through passages in John chapters 5, 6, 8, and 12, we have seemingly parked for a little while in chapter 14. In this chapter we learned that Jesus, who only said and did what He received from the Father, said that we would be able to do what He did. I would venture to say that most Christians don’t ever see themselves doing what Jesus did – operating supernaturally in the earth, and making a supernatural impact within their sphere of influence. There are many reasons why, but I believe the main reason is because they put too much emphasis on their “self” and their personal flaws. That is the point of this series. God is looking to use you like He used Jesus, and He does not require you to be humanly perfect in order to be used. God is only looking for you to be humanly submitted to the divinity He placed in you, and if you submit, He will provide the words and He will do the work!
Jesus said, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God will do a work IN you. Most believers never get past this stage. God starts off with doing a work IN you. When you accept Jesus as your Lord, the Holy Spirit comes into you, He lives in you, and the Holy Spirit works to help change you into the image and likeness of Christ as you submit to His leading and as you get God’s Word down in your heart. The day you were Born-Again your spirit was recreated and made new, but your soul (the way you think, feel and make decisions) was not made new. So a new Christian is a new man, in an old body, desperately in need of a new mind. The first work God does IN you is to change the way you think, feel and make decisions. But even then, God will not wait until you are perfect before He uses you, because the only perfect human was Jesus.
2. God wants to do His work THROUGH you. What is the point of discipleship if not evangelism? What is the point of God working IN you, if He is not going to work THROUGH you? God does not think like we think. Making a change in you is good, but that type of thinking is way too small for God. God sends His love, peace and power TO you, but He also wants you to allow it to flow THROUGH you. Once again, He does not require you to be perfect. Jesus said, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” Did you notice the pattern? Jesus was saying, “You do the asking, and I will provide the doing.” Twice Jesu said, “I will do it.” So don’t be afraid to allow God to use you supernaturally. God will provide the words and God will perform the work. All you have to do is provide a willing vessel!
3. God took up residence in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” The word “another” in this verse is a specific Greek word that means, “another of the exact same kind.” Early in the chapter Jesus told His disciples that He was going to leave them. They were concerned about it, because Jesus had been their leader for over three years. Jesus told them where to go, how to get there and what to do when they arrived. Jesus had all the answers. Life for the disciples was easy. They did not always know where they were going, but they knew who they were following. The thought of Jesus leaving them was frightening. But Jesus promised to provide another advocate (of the exact same kind). Jesus went on to tell them that while He was WITH them, the Holy Spirit would be IN them. The Holy Spirit would do for disciples, internally, what Jesus was doing for them externally. Guess what? The Holy Spirit lives IN you to do the very same thing!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing and undeserved grace. You saved me by grace, even when I was clearly not worthy. You have stuck with me by grace, even though I have made more mistakes than I want to remember. And even now Father, You choose to use me by grace, even though I am not perfect. While perfection eludes me, I do acknowledge the fact that You have performed, and You continue to perform a mighty work in my life. I am not the same person I was when I came to You. You have helped change the way I think, feel and make decisions. Every day I am getting closer and closer to the very image of Your Son Jesus. You work IN me, because You want to work THROUGH me. By faith I declare that I give myself over to You, to be use of You for Your glory. I decrease, that You may increase in me. I die to ME, so that You can freely live through me. I am ready to make a Kingdom impact everywhere I go, because I know I do not have to do it in my power. You provide the words, and You perform the work. You also gave me Your precious Holy Spirit and He lives in me. The Holy Spirit speaks to me, leads me, and uses me supernaturally every day. Your power has come TO me and I am ready to allow it to flow THROUGH me. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
