Praying for God's Glory: Greater Works Through Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Miracle of Salvation and Regeneration

The promise of "greater works" in John 14:12-14 is deeply rooted in the work of salvation and regeneration, which is considered the greatest miracle of all. This work is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit, transforming lives and bringing people into a relationship with God. The early church understood this, focusing their prayers on the expansion of God's kingdom and the manifestation of His glory. As believers, we are called to participate in this miraculous work by sharing the gospel and praying for the salvation of others. This is the ultimate expression of God's power and glory, and it should be the focus of our prayers and efforts. [01:47]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the miracle of salvation? How can you pray specifically for their regeneration and take steps to share the gospel with them today?

Day 2: Aligning Our Prayers with God's Will

Praying in Jesus' name means aligning our requests with His character and purposes, seeking God's glory above our own desires. This is not a formula for getting what we want but a submission to His will. When we pray in this way, we acknowledge that God's ways are higher than ours and that His plans are perfect. The early church exemplified this by praying for boldness to speak God's word and for His purposes to be fulfilled, even in the face of persecution. As we pray, we should seek to align our hearts with God's will, trusting that He knows what is best for us and for His kingdom. [04:50]

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to align your desires with God's will? How can you begin to submit this area to Him in prayer today?

Day 3: Bold Prayers for God's Kingdom

The early church's prayers were centered on God's glory and the expansion of His kingdom, even in the face of persecution. Their example challenges us to pray boldly for God's purposes to be fulfilled. In Acts, we see the apostles praying for boldness to speak God's word and for His kingdom to advance, regardless of the opposition they faced. This kind of prayer requires faith and courage, trusting that God is able to work through any situation for His glory. As we pray, we should ask God to give us the boldness to proclaim His truth and to seek His kingdom above all else. [08:29]

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV): "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Reflection: What bold prayer can you pray today for the expansion of God's kingdom in your community or workplace? How can you take a step of faith to be part of the answer to that prayer?

Day 4: Trusting God's Sovereignty in Prayer

Faith in God enables us to overcome difficulties and face seemingly insurmountable challenges. Our prayers should reflect a trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to work through any situation. The story of Paul and Silas in prison demonstrates this kind of faith, as their prayers and praises led to the salvation of the jailer and his family. When we pray with faith, we acknowledge that God is in control and that He can use even the most difficult circumstances for His glory. This trust allows us to pray with confidence, knowing that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. [16:06]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is a current challenge you are facing where you need to trust God's sovereignty? How can you express your faith in His control through your prayers today?

Day 5: Expecting Great Things from God

We are encouraged to pray big prayers, expecting great things from God, while recognizing that His answers may not always align with our immediate desires. Our focus should be on the work of redemption and regeneration, which is the ultimate expression of God's power and glory. As we pray, we should have faith that God is able to do great things, even if His answers come in unexpected ways. This requires a willingness to trust in His timing and to seek His glory above our own desires. By praying with expectation, we open ourselves to the possibility of seeing God work in powerful ways in our lives and in the world around us. [25:01]

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV): "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Reflection: What is one "big prayer" you can pray today, trusting that God is able to do great things? How can you prepare your heart to accept His answer, even if it is different from what you expect?

Sermon Summary

In John 14:12-14, Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will do greater works than He did because He is going to the Father. This passage emphasizes the power of prayer when aligned with God's will and for His glory. The greatest work is the work of salvation and regeneration, which is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus assures us that whatever we ask in His name, He will do, but this is not a blanket promise for any request. Instead, it is a call to pray in alignment with His character and purposes, seeking the glory of God above all else.

The early church, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles, exemplifies this understanding of prayer. They prayed for boldness to speak God's word and for His purposes to be fulfilled, even in the face of persecution. Their prayers were not self-centered but focused on the expansion of God's kingdom and the manifestation of His glory. This is evident in the story of Paul and Silas in prison, where their prayers and praises led to the salvation of the jailer and his family.

Prayer in Jesus' name is not a magical formula but a submission to His will and a desire for His glory. It requires faith and an understanding that God's ways are higher than ours. We are encouraged to pray big prayers, expecting great things from God, while recognizing that His answers may not always align with our immediate desires. The focus should be on the work of redemption and regeneration, which is the ultimate expression of God's power and glory.

Key Takeaways

1. The promise of "greater works" is rooted in the work of salvation and regeneration, which is the greatest miracle of all. This work is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit and is the focus of our prayers. [01:47]
2. Praying in Jesus' name means aligning our requests with His character and purposes, seeking God's glory above our own desires. It is not a formula for getting what we want but a submission to His will. [04:50]
3. The early church's prayers were centered on God's glory and the expansion of His kingdom, even in the face of persecution. Their example challenges us to pray boldly for God's purposes to be fulfilled. [08:29]
4. Faith in God enables us to overcome difficulties and face seemingly insurmountable challenges. Our prayers should reflect a trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to work through any situation. [16:06]
5. We are encouraged to pray big prayers, expecting great things from God, while recognizing that His answers may not always align with our immediate desires. Our focus should be on the work of redemption and regeneration. [25:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to John 14
[01:07] - Prayer for Insight
[01:28] - The Greatest Work: Salvation
[02:04] - Understanding Greater Works
[02:58] - The Purpose of Prayer
[05:09] - Apostles' Response to Jesus' Words
[06:06] - Acts 4: Boldness in Prayer
[09:03] - Acts 16: Paul and Silas in Prison
[11:09] - Praying for God's Glory
[12:31] - Asking in Jesus' Name
[15:21] - Figurative Language in Scripture
[17:18] - God's Sovereignty in Healing
[20:21] - The Role of Faith in Prayer
[22:19] - Jesus' Example in Prayer
[24:32] - Expecting Great Things from God
[26:52] - The Lord's Prayer and God's Kingdom
[28:22] - The Work of Redemption
[29:38] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 14:12-14
- Acts 4:23-31
- Acts 16:25-34

Observation Questions:

In John 14:12-14, what does Jesus promise to those who believe in Him, and what is the condition for this promise? [00:28]
How did the early church exemplify the understanding of prayer in Acts 4, especially in the face of persecution? [06:06]
What was the outcome of Paul and Silas's prayers and praises while they were in prison, as described in Acts 16? [09:50]
According to the sermon, what is the greatest work that believers are called to focus on in their prayers? [01:28]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the promise of "greater works" relate to the work of salvation and regeneration, and why is this considered the greatest miracle? [01:47]
What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name, and how does this align with seeking God's glory above our own desires? [04:50]
How did the early church's prayers reflect their trust in God's sovereignty, and what can we learn from their example? [08:29]
How does faith play a role in overcoming difficulties and facing challenges, according to the sermon? [16:06]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own prayer life. Are your prayers more focused on personal desires or on the expansion of God's kingdom? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's purposes? [05:09]
Think of a situation where you faced a significant challenge. How did your faith influence your response, and how might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [16:06]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to submit to God's will. What steps can you take to align your prayers with His character and purposes? [04:50]
Consider the example of Paul and Silas in prison. How can you incorporate praise and trust in God during difficult times in your life? [09:50]
What are some "big prayers" you can start praying for, expecting great things from God? How can you maintain trust even if His answers don't align with your immediate desires? [25:01]
How can you encourage others in your small group or community to pray boldly for God's purposes to be fulfilled, even in the face of adversity? [08:29]
Reflect on a time when you experienced God's power and glory through answered prayer. How can this testimony encourage others to trust in God's sovereignty? [16:06]

Sermon Clips

The greatest work that is ever done is the work of Salvation. It's the work of regeneration, and that when we understand that to be the case, then when we move from the 12th verse into the 13th and into the 14th verse, we have another control that is provided by the context. [00:01:38]

The promise of answered prayer is prayer that is expressed to God in order that God might be glorified as a result of answering that prayer. And God is glorified as Jesus has been explaining in the Cross of Christ that the glory of God is established in that way. [00:03:11]

If we're going to ask in accord with the will of God, if we're going to ask in accord with the character of Jesus, if you like, if we're going to ask in Jesus' name, then we're going to ask in relationship to all that his name stands for. [00:04:32]

The apostles were declaring Jesus, and Peter is answering them, "If we are being examined today concerning a good deed that was done to a crippled man, remember the man at the gate beautiful, silver and gold I don't have, but what I have I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." [00:06:14]

They prayed, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the Heaven and the earth and the Sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of Our Father David your servant said by the Holy Spirit, why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot in vain?" [00:07:12]

Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. And then, of course, as you know, there is this amazing earthquake. It's all it Shaker Heights on steroids shakes the whole place to bits, and eventually, we have this amazing encounter involving the Jailer. [00:09:46]

They weren't praying, "Oh God, get us out of here." They and even when the church was praying, "Get them out of there," they weren't really on track themselves. No, they weren't praying, "Get me out." They were praying, "Glorify your name," and they rejoiced. [00:11:15]

The prayer proceeds from faith in Christ, the prayer unfolds in Union with Christ, and the prayer is expressed for the glory of Christ. So Jesus is not here promising to answer any prayer that happens to rattle around in your head. [00:12:10]

By faith, we may be enabled to overcome difficulties and to deal with circumstances that are apparently insurmountable to us. We have every right to come before God and address him in that way, provided we ask correctly. [00:15:59]

We have every right to come to God and lay our lives before him and seek his Blessing. My friend Bruce Mill has left us so much of a wonderful Legacy in his writings and addressing this matter. [00:20:38]

Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. That's what he did. You know how long he was there before he saw a single convert? It wasn't weeks, it wasn't months, it was years. He was there expecting great things from God. [00:25:02]

We want to be those who understand this because as a church, as we pray together, we want to do it well. We want to get it right. We want to be like William Cary. We want to say that we want to expect great things from you in order that we might attempt great things for you. [00:30:25]

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