TITLE: A Big God encourages a big faith TEXT: John 14:5-13 THEME: The church should trust God for something bigger than it can do on its own.

JB Phillips “Your God is Too Small.” “Many men and women today are living, often with inner dissatisfaction, without any faith in God at all. This is … because they have not found with their adult minds a God big enough to "account for" life, big enough to "fit in with" the new scientific age, big enough to command their highest admiration and respect, and consequently their willing co- operation”

Norman Geisler “What is this God you don’t believe in like?”

Why should we ask Jesus for great things?

I. Jesus makes the Father known. (5-9)

John 14:5-9 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”’?

John 14:5-9 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

I. Jesus makes the Father known. (5-9) A. He is the only way to the Father

I. Jesus makes the Father known. (5-9) A. He is the only way to the Father B. In Jesus we see and know the Father

2 Corinthians 4:4 says Jesus is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says Jesus is the image of God. Colossians 1:15 says Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says Jesus is the image of God. Colossians 1:15 says Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Hebrews 1:3 says, “[Jesus], being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…”

The Greek word for “express image” means an engraving, an exact copy, a precise reproduction of something. In other words, to see Jesus was to see God. If you want to know what God was like: how He feels, how He thinks, how He acts…just look at Jesus!

Matt Woodley "Uh, excuse me, I think I should know: I wrote the rulebook." After an awkward silence, my coach walked back to the bench, shaking his head and pointing to the ref as he told us, "Get ahold of that guy. He wrote the rulebook”

Why should we ask Jesus for great things?

II. Jesus did the work of the Father. (10-11)

John 14: 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.

II. Jesus did the work of the Father. (10-11) A. Through the authority of the Father.

II. Jesus did the work of the Father. (10-11) A. Through the authority of the Father. B. His works validate his mission.

Hebrews 2:3-4 “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

II. Jesus did the work of the Father. (10-11) A.Through the authority of the Father. B.His works validate his mission. C. So the Father might be glorified.

Bill White, from Paramount, California "We got our hearts from Jesus, and he would be glad to give you one like his, too." Before I had to head off, we had a great conversation about the unparalleled gospel of Jesus Christ and his power to change hearts, homes, neighborhoods, and cities.

Why should we ask Jesus for great things?

III. Whoever believes in Jesus will do even greater works. (12-14)

I John 14: 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. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

III. Whoever believes in Jesus will do even greater works. (12-14) A. Jesus has gone to the Father.

III. Whoever believes in Jesus will do even greater works. (12-14) A. Jesus has gone to the Father. B. We continue here to do the Fathers work.

III. Whoever believes in Jesus will do even greater works. (12-14) A. Jesus has gone to the Father. B. We continue here to do the Fathers work. C. Jesus will do whatever we ask so the Father may be glorified.

In the Hebrew names meant something. The name of something identifies the essence and character of the thing being named. Jesus is saying here that whatever you ask that is consistent with my essence and character you will receive.

Skye Jethani “This, I imagine, is how our God sees us—as miserable creatures in desperate need of his help. But rather than asking for what we truly need, rather than desiring what he is able and willing to give, we settle for lesser things.”

APPLICATION: 1. Ask we look to the upcoming year let us ask God for great things. I think He is honored when we do. Let us ask Him that He would use us to make in known in our community and beyond.

APPLICATION: 2. Let us pray that God will provide for us the things we need to expand his kingdom. Last year we expanded our budget to include a worship director and outreach ministry that involve money. I will speak to that next month.

APPLICATION: 3. Let us ask that God would help us to have bigger view of Him than we may have held in the past. Sometimes we limit Him. Like the church I pastored in Brownville in which we saw God work in incredible ways as we stepped out in faith.

I am deeply persuaded in the face of this gift, there are many Christians who are content to play with the box and miss out on all the benefits God desires for us to enjoy.