March 14, 2023 – Tuesday
John 14:12-14 NIV
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. 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.
Comments
On Monday I closed with the above words of Jesus without any discussion or comments concerning them. Today, I would like to discuss these three verses somewhat to dispel some mischaracterizations.
Let us begin by looking at verse 12, 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. Jesus did leave and go to the Father after His resurrection. Nothing like what might have been expected happened. That is until Acts 2:1-4, 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Shortly afterwards Peter preached the Gospel for the first time followed by a call to repent and be baptized. And in verse 41 we read, 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. On that day, Pentecost, clearly a great many more were added to the faith than those who had become followers of Jesus during the three years of his earthly ministry. Later in Acts 4 after Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel, we find out in verse 4, 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. This was the men alone and did not include the women and children who came to the faith as well.
Looking at verses 13 and 14 together we read, 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. Many people read this and think they can literally ask for and receive anything, but that is not quite what it says. It says we have to ask in His name, Jesus’ name and it simply cannot be contrary to or outside what Jesus and His Father would want do see done through us. More simply put, we ask is the person asking, doing Jesus’ work, living in His spirit, seeking to do the will of the Father? In other words, asking for personal desires outside the will of God are not what Jesus was speaking about. Instead if what was asked for was asked for, was for the glory of God then it may be granted, with God as the judge who decides if it is for His glory or not.
Bottom Line: The promises Jesus makes for us are amazing in and of themselves, but they are not promises without reasonable limitations. However, live in the Spirit, seek God’s will in your life and be amazed by all that can and will be done.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me always to seek Your will in my prayers and not my own. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek
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