An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan-the one you testified about-well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:25-30
What an incredible heart and tremendous understanding of the sovereignty of God! John is a heroic example of how to be a disciple. He was faithful to his calling, faithful to the LORD and faithful to his mission. Never complaining and always powerful as the one who came before Jesus to prepare the way! Three times in the New Testament the phrase “greater things” is used and is only found in the book of John. In the coming new year, 2013, let us all strive for even greater things with the heart, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:50-51 As Jesus speaks to Nathanael he is opening his mind to help him see that this miracle is just the beginning! You think that was awesome- just wait and you will see! Our Lord is able to see the impossible and even saw Nathanael before he was physically in sight. Jesus is not and never will be limited by sight and we are to follow Him. Jesus could see what Nathanael would become as well as where he would by faith before it was reality. He sees what you and I will become and where we will go and can go- to the ends of the earth. He can see this far before it is a reality and we are called to dream and have the faith and vision of Jesus.
Jesus refers here to Jacob’s dream from Genesis 28:12-15 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” We shall see greater things. Greater than last month, last year and greater than anything we can remember. All people on earth WILL be blessed through true sold-out disciples. Before Jesus, there had never been a mediator who could bring forgiveness and salvation like Him; literally the stairway between God and man to all nations.
The Lord has blessed our congregation tremendously with over 100% growth in our first four months since the arrival of the mission team! We have seen 25 come to proclaim “Jesus is Lord” at baptism, 7 place membership and 3 who have been restored. I believe Jesus would say to us, “You shall see greater things than that.” And John the Baptist would remind us, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Secondly, the scripture says, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these”. John 5:20 Jesus was healing on the Sabbath and this infuriated the Jews because they could not heal and the power in Jesus proclaimed that He truly was the Son of God- equal with God. Jesus very simply challenges them that he only does what the Father would do…raise the dead, give life and heal on every single day of the week! At stake here was the reputation and honor of God. The Jews of the day had proclaimed a god that was not the Lord God Almighty and Jesus had to redefine and restore a true picture of our God.
Often disciples live in the past and we have to be renewed and restored in our hearts and minds to see God as He is- Sovereign and overwhelmingly loving. In 2013, we will preach, teach and restore biblical principles of who the Lord truly is. David’s understanding of God is so clear when he “preaches” to the Israelites and the Philistines in 1 Samuel 17:45-47 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” Do not live in the past as David’s brothers were. They had forgotten just how awesome and amazing God is and had to be reminded! In 2013 fight to see and to live, “even greater things” and remember “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Lastly, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father…If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth”…John 14:12, 15-16 Anyone who has repented, made Jesus Lord of their entire lives, repented and has been baptized has received the promised Holy Spirit. They have therefore received the power to do greater things than even Jesus did! To so many this raises eyebrows and smacks of sacrilege…when in reality this is exactly what Jesus says and expects us to believe. WE are the ones who will do “even greater things” than Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us! What a gift and what a promise!
What did you “do” in 2012? This coming year you can do even greater things when your faith is fully in God and His word. Today with the rolling out of our 2013 Prayer Goals I urge you to join with us and give 100% of your heart to build a great church for God in 2013. Then put pen to paper and with much prayer and advice write out your personal prayer goals for 2013. You will be blown away at what our God can do. Just remember as you strive to do “even greater things” that “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Orlando International Christian Church
2013 Prayer Goals
Our Theme for 2013: “EVEN GREATER THINGS”
1. Appoint 3 deacon couples after a time of testing and an evangelist & women’s ministry leader.
2. Strive to see 100 additions in our first full year from August 2012 to August 2013.
3. Plant the Atlanta church with well-trained disciples and the money needed.
4. Four full-time interns added to our staff.
5. Long-term sustainable MERCYworldwide project operating weekly in Orlando.
6. Clearly define role of Orlando ICC in the movement: SE US Pillar church & our responsibility in the world.
7. Plan to host the South East U.S. Jubilee/Missions Conference in 2014.
8. Set new kingdom-wide standards for growth (over 100%), finances (surpass our 15x Special in April and our weekly budget needs) and raising up of leadership (3 new house church leaders and BT Leaders).
9. Effective & excellent use of the internet to aid in growth, communication, teaching and exposure for the congregation and for the SE US.
10. Begin building the AMS (Arts, Media & Sports) ministry with a BT at Full Sail University.
11. Revolutionary campus ministry- REALITY goes global with its radical concepts and dreams to have disciples in every university in the U.S. then the world. Plan our first annual Campus Conference starting March 15-17, 2013.
12. Radical restoration of biblical principles such as discipleship, teaching & preaching, helping the poor and true worship. We are currently developing 2nd and 3rd Principles.
13. See Orlando ICC become the premier example of a 1st year church planting and continue this example that can be imitated in 2013-2014, our 2nd year.
14. Life changing children’s, middle and high school ministries that works with parents to reach our children for Christ and prepare them for life.
15. Establish and grow 6 regions in Orlando: North, South, East, West, Central and Campus.
16. Start MTP (Ministry Training Program) to train those who dream for the full-time ministry.
17. Begin a Chemical Recovery ministry and Men of Integrity group.
18. We will have a Monthly Marriage Workshop to strengthen our marriages.
19. Begin a dynamic Latin Ministry with Spanish speaking Bible Talks in each Region.
20. Write and document the history of the Orlando ICC
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