Jesus answered a question from a lawyer. The question was.’What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and all your mind.’ Matt 22:37

I know many Christians who love the Lord wonderfully with all their mind. I know few who love Him with all their heart and soul.

What’s the difference between intellectual love and love from/with the heart?

Which do you think is better?

Jesus was beginning to talk to the disciples that He was only going to be with them for a little longer. As He began to tell them this, Thomas said, “Show us the way and we’ll go with you..’ Jesus answered him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” And then Philip pipes up, “Show us the Father…” John 14:5-7 https://www.bible.com/bible/100/JHN.14.5-7

There’s a lot to complain about everyday.  Bad drivers, bad bosses, bad football teams. And a lot of other stuff...

There’s a lot to be thankful for.  The sun rose again. You are still able to get out of bed. You have people to love who love you back.  You have a dog, or a cat.

It’s You! You’re the Jesus was talking to the He said in John 14 that “you would do even greater works than these!

How do you know it’s you? Are you one who believes in Him? If so, then You’re the ‘he’ Jesus is speaking to! 

Try to define the word “faith.” It is difficult, indeed, to define this word using only intellectual concepts. Faith, because it requires believing in something you can’t see, because it has such a deep root in you and me, cannot be understood with only your mind. You need your heart involved to have any chance at comprehending what faith means.  

We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

You have the potential to be one of Christ’s fulfillers of prophecy! …Looking back at the prophecy spoken by Jesus over 2000 years ago, you might see what He said as an invitation. You are invited into relationship with Jesus such that you can see that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. You are invited into a relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in which He will do whatever we ask in His name.    

We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

Jesus rebuked Philip (John. 14:11) For not knowing Him. Philip reacted to one of Jesus' statements by saying, "Show us the Father ..." Jesus replied, saying :"Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me."

 We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

Philip lived with Jesus every day for over three years. He was there when Peter said Jesus was the Christ. He saw the miracles and heard the teachings we read about in the New Testament. But it’s more than that. Philip sat with Christ in the quiet of many meals, around the table where He would have shared so much more than He spoke to the crowds. Philip should have known Christ intimately. And yet he was unable to understand that Jesus was God.

 We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

The idea that we would do greater works  begins with an exchange between Thomas, Philip and Jesus. This exchange starts in verse 1 of John 14:1-15, with Jesus saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”  His Words that were meant to comfort His disciples as He saw the near future coming closer, namely His death on the cross and the resurrection. It continues with Jesus explaining, if not defending, His statement.  

 We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

Who are “they”? Who is Christ saying this to? He is speaking first to Thomas and Philip. Is He talking to anyone else? I believe so.  Look at His phrasing as He moves from a direct response to those two disciples. In John 14:10 you can see He is talking directly to Thomas and Philip. By verse 12, He changes who He is speaking to when He says, “whoever believes in me …”

 We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

In John 14:12, Jesus is concluding a conversation He’s been having with Thomas and Philip. You can see what Christ is saying in His conclusion: “…they will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”  

 We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

Because I believe in Him, I have relationship with Him. I belong.   

Because I have relationship with Him, I belong in Him and to Him. I can ask questions of Him.  

In the heat of the moment, I said, “Everything in Your creation can be defined by math, by some kind of formula. Except faith. Faith doesn’t appear to work in any kind of formula. But Your Word says many things that indicate all I need is faith to overcome my circumstances.”  

In the heat of the moment, I said, “Everything in Your creation can be defined by math, by some kind of formula. Except faith. Faith doesn’t appear to work in any kind of formula. But Your Word says many things that indicate all I need is faith to overcome my circumstances.”  

When I wrote my first book, We Can Get There From Here, published in 2013, I had a sense that I would write two more books. This book was written after a lot of procrastination and resistance, Followed by submission and then obedience. As I was completing the first book, “We Can Get There From Here (2013) I thought the Lord wanted me to write a book about faith. I was not excited, to say the least.