John Chapter 14:12-17

So you drive a nice car. Some of you probably drop in NICU driving bond that lies going to go is not going. I like to have the car board give me that man's car in Jesus name. You laugh, there's teachers that swear about that you think God is going to on that person. If you change that name to nature or give me that man's car in the nature of Jesus working in the nature of the one who left heaven. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were blessed to have one of David McGee's associate pastors here with us yesterday a magic about 20 Jesus name Bob Jesus is the son of God and we can pray and ask for things in any other name. We want to. But Jesus is the only son of God is the only one got on the cross for our sins about yes very important.

Pray in the name of Jesus today. Pastor David explains what it means to pray in the name of Jesus as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 14. Now here's David McGee with his teaching. In Jesus name John chapter 14 we finished with verse 11 last week so will pick it up with verse 12, most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me works is not do he will do also and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my father. Verse 13. And whatever you ask in my name that I will do that.

The father may be glorified in the son some awesome versus not first thing was the start about. Here's his greater works. Now you hear that you hear the words of Jesus and greater works, greater works help. How can that be that the disciples and eyes will be able to do greater works both the me first tell you what Jesus is not talking about I don't believe she because we begin to sink in. In terms of healing their manifestations and and I'm not sure that's what he was speaking up because Jesus prayed for somebody that was dead and they got up.

I'm not sure how you would beat that accent to realize that every Sunday morning that happens here, not in a physical sense but Jesus is saying in a greater sense in a spiritual sense, the devil come to life that you will proclaim the gospel to somebody and those who were dead in their sins. And that's a good term is is a very descriptive term will become alive. See, we think in terms of healing in the supernatural, and we clarify God still does supernatural things God still heals people. It frustrates me when people say we got doesn't heal anymore doesn't do the supernatural anymore, especially when somebody says I'm there thinking you realize you're talking sunlight was born a deaf-mute and you're telling me that God doesn't heal anymore, God still heals people. Amen. It's either a manner only is it amen.

Okay, you know, because I don't understand here's here's the thing. If you're in a fellowship if you're in a dominant denomination of urine a movement that says God doesn't heal anymore honey. Pray for the sick what you pray for the sick God. We know you don't heal anymore. You just take a moment home Jesus name, amen. I mean, you cannot meet its option to pray that God would heal them. But now understand that a more supernatural work is wrong when somebody is healed of their soul. It's made some much more powerful. If that's not what we think we think in terms of the supernatural but isn't it very very supernatural once my is forgiven of their sins alive scene I seen people's faces of seen people come in here so burdened and they leave like this and that's a glorious, glorious thing. If you remember in Mark chapter 2 verse nine, Jesus says, which is easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven you are to say, arise, take up your bed and walk, but that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go to your house so here Jesus is saying, which is the greater work, the greater work is not actually getting a man to get up and walk when he's lying. Now that's what we would think in Jesus in the greater thing is that he would be forgiven of the sentence in verse 14. If you ask anything in my name I will do it. This is probably one of the most misunderstood versus in the Bible tell you why because we think and I've heard it talked that you can pray what ever you want as long as you ended with in Jesus name that he's gotta do it. Maybe a verdict for a lot of us were taught that but let me back up a little bit less talk about the Jewishness of the faith in the Jewishness of Jesus because it comes in the play. Here you see in Judaism, the name was synonymous with the nature. In fact, a lot of times what they would do is they would actually rename somebody after they had gotten older so that it went more with their nature, their name and their nature is important because see what we can do is we can start to believe in and some of us from bad teaching that we receive that you can just pray anything, even against the nature of Jesus as long as you close it was Jesus name that he is cope first into a bayonet prayer account work can't work in. Here's a reason why laissez well see you drive a nice car.

Some of you probably drive nicer and and I see you driving behind a nice car to go is nice car I like to have that car Lord give me that man's car in Jesus name. Now do you you laugh, there's teachers that swear about that you think God is going to honor that prayer away while bull first of all, it's his carts out my car to get that card be like stealing because then I can lead you to all kinds of sleeves followed them to the store and he actually liked accidentally left the keys in the car all praise the Lord is God doing work. This is God, let me have his car. Praise God is not by coincidence, he left them gazing there may well; I'm accused of. If you change that name to nature. Lord, give me that man's car in the nature of Jesus don't work anymore. This, in the nature of the one who left heaven to come here to die for our sins secant frankfurters like that and put in the name of Jesus and expect him to honor that prayer because it's not consistent with his nature. Now, that's kind of the bad news. The good news is, if you pray according to his will. Then he'll do it, so I can't figure out is what is God's will seek see some people think will. I'm praying to change God's will or you'll do that. You ask what the Lord wants to do and and there's also certain things that you know you can pray that are in God's will in one my prayers that are pretty often is.

Ask God for wisdom.

Forgive me list. Give me wisdom to lead the church, give me wisdom to teach the Bible give me wisdom in my family.

Give me wisdom and all the things that are going on in the church pray for it often. And when people asked me how can I pray for you that's usually what I say.

Pray the gotta give me wisdom.

I know and you can know from James chapter 1 verse five it says if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. It will be given to him.

Now notice in verse 13 it says that the father may be glorified in the sun.

See that's next part of this understand something that when you pray you want to pray that God is glorified to whatever you're asking them to do. And again there certain things that you can pray that you know according to God's will pray for lost people to get saved. Pray for lost people to come to the Lord, you know that that's in the will of God. Now I want to misunderstand we have been given an incredible amount of power in our prayer life and what we pray for, but I would encourage you to use that power for God's glory. Jesus himself was given all power in heaven and earth and look at how he used hanging on the cross, the most powerful man.

He was fully God and fully man hung on the cross didn't call legion of angels to attack his enemies but looked at him and said father forgive them. I don't know what they're doing.

That is power under control. The life lesson here is pray in the name or nature of Jesus to the glory of the father pray in the name or nature of Jesus to the glory of the father. One of the most beautiful prayers. I think in all the Scriptures occurs in a very interesting place. It occurs on Mount Carmel and the prophet Elijah, and you may remember the story he's got a got contest going on between him and the prophets of bail and so there is this contest going on as of when I can if you want to read it. It's in first Kings 18 but here's the prayer in first Kings 18 verse 36 and 37 says it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that I have done all these things that your word here me oh Lord, hear me, that this people may know that you are the Lord God, and that you have turned their hearts back to you again. What an awesome beautiful prayer incident in that you have turned their hearts back to you again because were kinda caught up in the contest. I imagine many of us have read that that passage and not seen the beauty of that prayer I prayed that prayer just open the book and asked the Lord to do that through me to let people know that the things that I have done I have done at his word and that he turn the hearts of the people back towards him. See here's the thing were told not to be anxious, but in everything to pray. It sounds to me like it's a or B like either your anxious or your friend see some of us look at it like why pray when we can worry. That's got a change to why worry when we can pray the me tell you what can happen now. You're going to have a chance sometime this week to apply this to your life at some point you're going to get freaked out about something you're going to get anxious about something, and probably somebody might be your spouse of your marriage is going to remind you of this moment right now and they're gonna look at you and say your anxious and your worry. Why don't you pray and it's good to be a beautiful moment for you to hear that for you to do that and that's something that they were one of with my wife and myself when one of us, gets excited about something. We want to take up room that's a great thing that has your spouse, your kids, your parents, they want to take a prayer without you notice the way I said that. Why don't you take very you know okay so you don't want you to compare all don't be doing that so will Pastor David told me to tell you don't trust me is going to be hard enough for the other person to receive it at that moment anyway even if you say it sweetly.

So say it don't go to send them in your tone. Okay will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown want to take just a minute. Pray for seven cities in our listening audience. South Portsmouth Westport, Kentucky, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs or Woodinville Heflin and Jennings, Louisiana, Lord, thank you for the cities.

Thank you for those mayors. The police chiefs the government officials. The town councils.

We pray that you give them wisdom and discernment.

We pray that they would look to your word for advice on how to lead Lord help us to be praying for them consistently and be a place of encouragement, not division and their lives. Father anyone in the city's who hasn't yet put their trust in you. We pray that you would convince them and encourage them to recognize how much you love them so much that you died on the cross for them will we pray for revival in the 20 cities in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 15 if you love me, keep my commandments.

Your attention please were in the upper room. Let me remind you that Jesus is in a closed session if you will with his disciples and is going over some things and you know what notice what he's doing in this moment is not doing any miracles is a what is Jesus doing with the disciples.

He's teaching them how often we we don't think of the ministry of Jesus as a teaching ministry.

We think of the miracles we think of him laying on the hands of the sick and them recovered.

We think of him: for somebody from the tomb that was that his primary ministry was teaching was teaching and when he has these few hours with his disciples at the last minute here. What's he doing he's teaching him.

He sent them down going. But this is the deal guys now notice he says keep my commandments will there's a clue of what he's referring to Jesus. Jesus said, my commences, the 10 Commandments. Know what I'm think he's talking about is John 1334 and 35. He says I have a new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another again. I think one of the reasons he's emphasizing this this moment. She understands what the disciples or get ready to go through this can be a tough time. They're going to watch one of the 12 betray Jesus in tournament. They're going to watch a man who was a spiritual leader of the 12 denying three times they're gonna watch Jesus there leader, the rabble and I suffer a horrible death and Jesus is in this moment is encouraging them to love him keep the commandments. Love one another while because love is a strong spiritual force, and it can help you get through some tough times. It can help others around you get through tough times. My love on them through and as Jesus is saying these things, Jesus is laying it out and in the midst of this, he says if you love me, keep my commandments, do what I'm telling you to do the life lesson here is straightforward. We should be doing the things that Jesus told us to do. Jesus told us to love one another. Now that's just not a warm fuzzy love is the kind of thing. It can be that I think it's much more specially in the concept of the fellowship.

The body of Christ to there's a lot of things going on here that speak of the love of the Lord.

We have clothes here. We got food. Here's my comes in. Neither think we give them those things now, let me clarify. We don't just give them those things and smile and say God bless you as they come in we go AE heard about Jesus what you think about is what you know about Jesus. Get her to talk about Jesus, since you're here were trying to love you. We want to just we want to love you more than just meeting and material need. We want to love you and see your spiritual need is we don't believe you just happen to be here and some churches have gotten so caught up in trying to feed the hungry and trying to clothe those who are poor, they forget the most important thing and that's Jesus we want to be sure to use those opportunities to communicate the love of the Lord and the truth of the good news. Whatever way we can ever 16 and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever that the word comforter here are helper comforter in the King James helper in the new King James is the Greek word Paraclete. These note comforters and interesting work to because comfort it it it comes from two words, meaning, alongside fortis or for mean strength.

Things with strength see when comfort we think warm fuzzy pat on the back. Yeah, it's that, but it's a whole lot more.

It's coming along somebody else with street in their moment of weakness and that's what were called to do and this is what it say in the Holy Spirit will do. Remember that next time you're called upon the comfort somebody and be careful that you're coming alongside him was strengthened.

It do not necessarily limit speak frankly don't just enter into the pity party really loves him and shown the strength of the Lord in that moment of need.

Verse 17 the spirit of truth in the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know I'm free dwells with you and will be in bell ring to take a few minutes with these verses, and I'll tell you why because the ministry of the Holy Spirit is probably one of the least understood ministries of the Godhead. What we want to do is for the moment. If you can.

I know that you've probably had different experiences and different teachings about the Holy Spirit. But this morning, please kind of put that all behind you and let's see what the word of God has to say about the Holy Spirit.

Can we do that a man reminisces the book you know you're going to be following after man your you're already your off-track so you need to get back on track and let's see what the word of God has to say about this now.

One of the reasons error comes in is that the whole counsel of Scripture is not taught concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In other words, you take one over sink, all you see this will supply list everything is the same. Let's see what the Bible has to say about these things and introduce you to three Greek phrases I don't I don't stress. A lot of original language stuff, but this is going to be important. These three words are para if your student evolving may want to jot these down Param which means alongside of an in EN, which means in you and epi which means to be upon you or to be filled to overflowing, filled to overflowing, so those are the three Greek words that describe our relationship with the Holy Spirit, para, which means alongside of in which means NU epi which means to be upon you are filled to overflowing before conversion. The Holy Spirit is along side of you okay when you're an unbeliever the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in you and I'll tell you why, because God cannot reside where there is sin, so if you're an unbeliever :-) it's never asked for the forgiveness of your sins. The Holy Spirit can't reside in you. Now I know that this flies some people go everybody got a little bit of spirit of God in a pot, don't see that in the Bible. It's like the saying will everybody's God's children. Again, I don't see that in the Bible Jesus told some people, he said your of your father the devil, so apparently there's two father is going on anyway.

But alongside this is the relationship that you also see the hole in the Hebrew Scriptures come alongside the para that again is the relationships might doesn't know Jesus is never asked for the forgiveness of their sins has with the Holy Spirit and here is one of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, perhaps you can remember when you set the service.

Perhaps it was here, perhaps it wasn't that long ago when you sent the service and you thought you know what I need what he's talking about. I'm sitting here and I'm I've got my sins and I don't know what to do and I don't know how to deal with this. That was the ministry of the Holy Spirit convicting you, or convincing you of your sentence and then when you ask for the forgiveness of your sins, the Holy Spirit, the relationship changes from that para to the end to the EN and then you have the Holy Spirit in you. John chapter 20 verse 21 so Jesus said to them, peace to you as the father has sent me, I also send you. Verse 22 and when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit before this point. This is after the resurrection. Before this point in time the men could not receive the forgiveness of their sentence so the Holy Spirit could not be in them once they receive the forgiveness of their sins, then the Holy Spirit could be in them. And certainly when Jesus said receive the Holy Spirit. What you think happened they receive the Holy Spirit.

They got the Holy Spirit bounced many of us stop there. Okay well okay so I got it when when I was forgiven when he met after this verse John chapter 20 right after the resurrection is before the book of acts is only before the book of acts in the sequence of events in the Bible. It's before timewise after Jesus told him to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus says to them in acts chapter 1 verse eight but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. There we have the epi word and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth were there. It means filled to overflowing again. This verse comes after the verse and there is a power that's needed for us to be witnesses. There is a power for us to live our everyday life as Christians that we so desperately need. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out also. Thank you so much DA before we go. What are some ways bless our listeners days you can wake up with her is Casa David with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God