What Now? | Rodrigo Vargas

I was yeah I felt like you was in a yeah I'm about to make him a ha ha Lambo y'all were buying stuff you shouldn't be buying right and then you went out and you realized oh all this what now no nobody was going to explain it to me anymore no one's was going to demonstrate years this is exactly what happened to the disciples they watched Jesus do the erga the works they they watch them do the miracles they watch them heal the sick he watched them touch lepers he watched them do miracles and and raise people from the dead and cast out demons and and preach the kingdom of God the erga yet Jesus says something here shocking and it's the heart of our message today you will do the same works and even greater works in other words buddy the training is over you're being released to do the greater works of the kingdom of God now I want you to put yourself in those in those shoes because right now you're in those shoes Jesus is saying hey look they had seen Jesus raise the dead heal blind people calm storms cast out demons and now Jesus is saying I'm putting you in the game it's your turn and you will do even greater works but it wasn't because they were greater it wasn't because something special they had no no it was because they were faithful to the mission of expansion that Jesus had put on them a mission of multiplication the kingdom was about to multiply so when Jesus says greater there are three different graders he's talking about the first one is greater in scope more people and more geography pretty simply here he didn't mean just simply greater in quality he meant greater in quantity as well because now that believers have the Holy Spirit we can take the gospel that we can take the Holy Spirit all around the world as a matter of fact in Acts chapter 1 verse 8 it says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem in all of Judea and Samaria and the remotest part the ends of the earth that's us y'all to to these disciples we are the ends of the earth this land was filled with Navajo and Comanche before we came along right Jesus ministered to one nation in one region for three years the church has now reached billions of people in every nation in every continent for 2 000 years and I'd like to say and I'm going the scope alone makes this greater works number two greater in season greater in season because of the finished work of the cross we're on this side of the resurrection are you with me these works are greater not because they are bigger miracles because it's because they happen in a new era we're in the age of the Holy Spirit we're in the era of the church if you will

the ecclesia the sent out ones the called out ones Jesus's ambassadors and after Jesus's ascension the Holy Spirit was given under the new covenant before the cross every act that Jesus did every miracle he did pointed to a debt that would be paid but now salvation points backwards to a debt that's already been paid a victory that's already been had a grave that's already been emptied though the works are greater because they are done on the other side of the resurrection and some of us need a reminder today that you're on this side of the resurrection but you don't understand pastor you don't know what I go through you don't know what my parents were like are you on this side of the resurrection my boss is hell and I'm about to get fired and I'm nervous and I'm late on my payments are you on this side of the resurrection my parole has been sent off yet again are you on this side of the resurrection we just need to remember that the greater scope of this work in a greater season that we're in is that we're on this side of the resurrection lastly is it is greater in substance spiritual resurrection over physical healing in other words the The spiritual resurrection is greater than physical miracles. Jesus raised a few people from physical death. Of course, we know that during his ministry, but did you know that Jesus never went out and preached and 3000 people got saved? I gathered some followers, right? Some disciples, we know that. Peter cut off Malchus's ear, always cussing Sailor Man. You know, he's beefing with John. You know, he wants to take out the Roman empire. He wants to fire, you know, the Samaritans, you know, this guy, the guy that always blurts, you know, the wrong answers, you know, the one that's always getting yelled at. He goes out and he preaches. And on one instance, 3000 people were saved,

but you know what makes it greater? Is that they got saved from spiritual death back to life. See, miracles are signs, but salvation is the substance of God. Look, ergo shows us God. Soteria, which is the word for salvation, is what God does, is who God is. And when one soul comes to Christ and moves from death to life, that is greater work than someone just simply receiving a miracle, because I'm going to tell you something. I've sat at this altar right here where I've prayed for people and I've seen people receive miracles. And today their souls are in danger. What matters most to God is that your soul be saved. Here at Union Houston, we don't just believe in the gospel. We must embody the gospel. In verse nine of John chapter 14, he says, anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Jesus was the invisible expression of an invisible God, but now the church becomes the visible expression of Jesus Christ. Can I say it this way? The substance of Christ, the substance of the gospel. That's why the embodiment of the Holy Spirit in us is who we are called to be. You're called to be vessels of the Holy Spirit. The body of Christ moves in greater works

when it embodies the spirit of the living God. I love saying that that way. You know why? Muhammad is dead. Yeah, I'm with you. Got eaten up by worms. Buddha, dead. Got eaten up by worms. You know, witches, warlocks, they die. They get eaten up by worms. But my God, your God, he's a living God. He rose from the dead. He reigns in supremacy. He is inside of us. That's why I like saying it that way. Now in verse 16 and 17, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and he's gonna be a helper, apparently one like him, but he's a helper. And he's not a helper from a distance. You see, that's the problem with these pagan religions is you gotta bring an offering or a sacrifice or some prenda or some thing or put some pan. How many of y'all do the day of the dead and you bring the pan to the dead ones? I might offend you, but that's witchcraft. When your relatives are dead, they're dead. Yeah, basta, no existent, there's no more. Remember them in memory. But you make an altar. You know, that little altar is you're trying

to commune with someone. You see how ridiculous it sounds? It's ridiculous. But that's not what you have inside of you. You have a God that lives inside, not at a distance. And this was shifting. This was groundbreaking. This shift is happening in this passage should stop you in your tracks and say, wait, wait, wait. Now this is all before the cross. Jesus was God with them. But see, the spirit of the living God would be God in us. The church now has become Jesus's hands, Jesus's feet, and Jesus's voice on earth. And we, the body of Christ, are called to embody that spirit. So I come swinging hard right out of the gate. And I come to ask you a really hard question. Actually, a question you must ask yourself. Do I embody Christ? Because a lot of us, if we're honest, we go around life and we embody Christ. Oh, I know you. I've seen you in church. Y'all are some of the churchiest people I've ever seen in my life. Y'all get saved and get full of the Holy Ghost, and you come into this church house, and you ain't even know what blessed and highly favored means, but you heard someone in church say it, but so now you say, I'm blessed and highly favored, Pastor. Right? We learn churchy stuff right, I mean, like quick. But I've seen you act like churchy people on Sunday. I'm not worried about Sunday. I'm talking about Monday. When temptation is at the gate, it's snapping at your feet, and you're like, oh my God, this lust is getting at me. And you're looking at your co-worker the wrong way. Right?

Looking at your co-worker like she a piece of meat. Y'all know who I'm talking about. Right? You're carrying on on DMs and secret texts and communications and all this other stuff, and you're like, oh, I can't, oh, lying, cheating, manipulative. You can't stand that co-worker, and you can't wait to tell him off. I'm going to tell her what time it is. We've all been there, and the question is, that's when it matters if we embody Christ. When temptation is at the door. When we're thinking about lying, when we're thinking about saying something to that co-worker, who probably does get on your nerves. I'm not denying that they get on your nerves. Because the reality is, when people see, hear, and experience your compassion for them, they should see Jesus. And the question is, do they? Jesus walked the earth for 33 years. But today he walks the earth through his church, the bride of Christ. Look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Now you are the body of Christ. And each one of you are a part of it. Let me tell you something. I want you to forget about what you're, this verse did not say that I'm the body of Christ, that the leaders are the body of Christ, that volunteers. No, no, you. You are the body of Christ. And you're a part of it. I want you to think about what Paul is saying. Paul is not saying the church is an organization. It's not a club. Some of y'all treat it like a club. You come here because all your friends are here, you know what I mean? Ooh, what are we doing at the church? We're going to go eat. You know, the occasion, crawfish. Y'all can tell what I'm thinking about lunch, right?

Well, it's not a club. Some of y'all think it's a weekly gathering. I can't wait to go to church. Boy, you know, I got my outfit ready. Some of y'all got your outfit ready on Friday for Sunday. I know, y'all. The church is the body of Christ, y'all. Jesus continues his ministry on earth 2,000 years later through his people, through us, through me and you. And when Jesus walked the earth, he used his physical body to reveal the Father. His hands touched the sick. His voice spoke the truth of God. His feet walked towards broken people. And his compassion restored the lost. But after the resurrection, on this side of the resurrection, his people embodied the Holy Spirit, and something incredible has happened. Jesus' body became the church. Not the building. Not the brand. Not the logo, but the people. Every believer becomes the body of Christ. A part of that body. Some of us have hands that need to serve. Notice how I said need to? Some of us have hands that should be serving, and you're not. Some of us have voices that proclaim the truth of God, and we're not. And some of us have feet that need to go. Some of us have hearts that show compassion. A compassion that we all together carry out into the world. Paul further says this in 2 Corinthians 5.

verse 20 we therefore are Christ's ambassadors so as though God were making his appeal through us God is making his appeal through you God is making his appeal to lost people through our lives through your life he's making an appeal through your words he's making an appeal through your love for people he's making an appeal with with your witness the question is would he be proud of the appeal you're making and this is why our mission and discipleship is so important to us here at Union Houston because a church that does not embody Christ that will not show the world what he what they need to see and that's him listen I have a saying and this is this they might hear Jesus on your lips but see Satan in your actions I want to tell you something Satan doesn't need worshipers I know they exist okay he doesn't need worshipers he just needs church people I love to talk about Jesus and act like him Monday through Saturday and I'm not talking about just the you know when you get around your church no I'm talking about acting like Christ when it matters most when your wife pisses you off damn man no not a single amen we know where we stand on that one you know okay y'all gonna be in trouble tonight wives ask them why they didn't say amen to the pastor go ahead and ask I'll put y'all on the hot seat you ask how come you didn't amen pastor cuz you should have amen you you know the Holy Spirit is the key though here's the is the key this is how we keep Satan out of our lives right and not just Jesus on our lips is the Holy Spirit is the key because when the church lives filled and led by the Holy Spirit that's when you love like Jesus that's when you forgive like Jesus that's when you walk in power like Jesus I can always tell right when me and my spouse we have the closest relationship human relationship with each other and I could always tell when like maybe she ain't been in the world like she should be because she a little edgy right you know she got a little edge to her and and she's not normally like that and I can always tell it it's because sometimes our life gets busy you got a lot of things to do right this is normal I'm talking to you like every day normally even pastors our lives get busy and sometimes when we don't prioritize slowing down and being with the Lord we don't carry in and so then we don't love

like Jesus we don't forgive like you we don't have patience like you we don't have grace or mercy like Jesus but but here's the problem is that's that's what people see in us but if we walk with Jesus and body Jesus and love like Jesus and forgive like Jesus and have mercy like Jesus and a power like Jesus you know what they start to see they start to see that they start recognizing there is something different about that cat you know what they begin to think they begin to think what second Peter says that that's a peculiar guy that's a peculiar woman these are peculiar people here at Union Houston there is something different going on here they all look very different there's some blacks there's a some Latinos there's some old people there's some young people there's a lot of young adults right and they're like but they all love like Jesus that's Christ in us that's what the beauty of the body of Christ is Paul describes it this way Christ in you in us is the hope of glory not Christ near you not Christ visiting you occasionally not Christ on Sunday but Christ in you the greater works take place throughout the earth when his church embodies the Spirit of the Living God and God will never send you out God never sends his people out without empowerment so he gave us the Holy Spirit which is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is as we're like you know we want to use the wrong tools to accomplish the wrong things you feel me The Lord is telling you grab the drill and you grab a hammer. I didn't say grab a, I didn't say grab a hammer, right? This is what the whole, you gotta listen, you gotta give what, yield we say, but it means give in to what the Holy Spirit is saying. That's the greater works of the body of Christ is to engage in your discipleship. Point number two is edification. It's how we're equipped to do it. Edification is how we're equipped to enlarge the kingdom of God.

The body of Christ does greater works through the edifying work of the discipleship. Faith brings us into salvation, but that's just the doorway of the kingdom of God. The kingdom life is the beginning right there. Salvation happens in a moment, but sanctification takes a lifetime. And some of you are like, oh my God, the sanctification, I have to fast all the time. I can't wait till I don't have to fast. No, look, time out. Fasting is never gonna end for you. Warring in the spirit, I gotta fight all these spirits, I gotta fight temptation, I gotta fight lust. Newsflash, it's not gonna go away. Here's what I promise you though. The more time you spend with the Holy Spirit, the stronger you will be over that. That's what we're talking about here. Because Jesus didn't just perform miracles, he built people. I like to teach my leaders, you know what we do here at Union Houston? We build big people. I like building big people. Because I know that when we build big people, big things happen in the kingdom of God. We get to plant churches in parts of the city that we can't touch. We get to send missionaries out.

We get to build future leaders of the church in the young people. We get to promote people to rise up in leadership that no one saw coming. I love building big people. And for three years, Jesus, disciple of the 12, had to put up with their bickering and their arguing, constant complaining about the AC is too cold in the kids' room. He had to put up with that. Right? We can't get right here at Union Houston. Either the AC is too hot or too cold. We can't get it right. Make a public service area. You got babies, bundle them up. It's gonna be cold in there. He teaching them, you know? He's correcting them. He's equipping them. Jesus was doing all this. This is life. That's why people say, oh, you don't take things serious. No, I do. It's just like, I'm focused more on the big, I'm building big people. The kingdom doesn't advance through spectators. It advances through participators. I love to use that. That's what disciples do.

Notice what Jesus says in verse 26. The Holy Spirit will be sent to you to teach you all things and remind you everything I have said to you. And that's what we need to do sometimes is before we blow up, before we give in, before we quit, we gotta ask the Holy Spirit and he's gonna remind you that you're on this side of the resurrection, that you're on this side of your sin, that you're on this side of the miracle he gave you, that he's on this side, that you're on this side of the answered prayers that he's already given you. The Holy Spirit is the first disciple and he equips us from the inside before we can do the work on the outside. This is why the church exists, to equip believers, develop spiritual maturity and release people into ministry. Now, we release them by empowering them, okay? We don't release people to control them. We release them to empower. But before we empower, we must equip. And one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible that speaks to the structure of Jesus's church is when Paul says in Ephesians chapter four, verses 11 through 12,

he explains this clearly. Now, these are the gifts that given to the church, the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Our job, it is our responsibility. It doesn't say that I need a green room. It doesn't say I need a fancy office. It doesn't say I need a platform. I have a responsibility to build up people and equip them so that you might do the work. Can I say it this way? The greater works of Christ. The church equips us for the work of ministry. It's not so that pastor can do ministry, it's so that you can do ministry. The kingdom doesn't grow because of what happens on the stage, it grows because of what you do with what you receive in this place. And you go out and you do it in our church, in your home, in your workplace, in your neighborhood, at your park, in your city. The church isn't just a place where ministry happens. The church is where people are equipped to take ministry everywhere. Now, not everyone in this room is in the same place of their faith, and that's okay. That's why we exist.

Some of you are just starting your journey with Jesus. Some of you have been walking with Jesus for a little while. There's nothing wrong with being in different places in your faith with Jesus, with your walk with Jesus. At least you have a walk with Jesus. But there is something extremely wrong with staying there. Growth has to happen. Because sometimes we forget that in John 15, Jesus gave this analogy of branches that don't bear fruit. See, let me remind you, He says, I prune the ones that bear fruit so they can bear more fruit, but I cut the ones that don't bear fruit and I throw them in the fire. He doesn't like uselessness. Jesus doesn't play around with people that don't grow. If your faith doesn't grow, your impact won't grow. And the kingdom cannot expand through people who refuse to mature. How many of you are in the same place, evangelism, well, you're at the same place you were last year. You're dealing with the same old tired issue. And it's because you won't listen. Evangelism will never happen without discipleship. Because the bedrock of evangelism is discipleship. Now, Jesus' last command to His disciples was go and make disciples of all people, teaching them to obey. Oh, where's my verse?

No verse today. My goodness. They're probably talking in the switcher room back there and they completely, oh my goodness, they don't have the, I'm gonna wait till they have the verse. Let's put a little pressure on them. There, I saw the verse, no? It switched, no verse? My goodness. I guess they lost the verse, it's okay. Look, let me, it says, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Jesus has given the disciples a responsibility, not just to go and make disciples, followers of Jesus, but also to teach them everything I've commanded. Jesus didn't say make converts. Jesus didn't say make fans of me. Jesus didn't say become an influencer of me. He didn't say bring volunteers in my name. He said, make disciples. That's more than inviting people to come to you or inviting people to church. It's also equipping people to evangelize and expand the kingdom of God. Now, for years, I struggled with this. For years. I wanna ask you a question. Does your life look any different than when you first walked in here? Because if it doesn't, man, what are you doing?

Can I tell you what you're doing? You're wasting your Sunday morning. That's what you're doing. You're wasting it. you're wasting opening up your Bible on on whatever day you open it if you even open it and you're gonna continue to struggle with the same thing years from now for years that's why I was and I struggled with working with my hands you know like build this and I'd make a mess do that and I'd break another thing my brother used to always laugh at me oh there goes Rod and I get furniture you know and you put it together you open the box you know you get an Ikea you go to poor man's the poor man rich man store you know Ikea yeah you can make an Ikea furniture look whoo look at that go to Ikea you open the box right you put the furniture together and you put all the pieces hundreds of bolts and screws and washers and boards and when you put it all together you end up with some parts left over and you're like well what happened here and then you start using in your wife's like Frank what I'll tell you what happened you forgot a piece or two right last week I was putting some furniture together and the Holy Spirit reminded me of something remember when you used to struggle with this and I was like yeah and in that moment as I'm taking my time putting this furniture together that by the way it has to be screwed into the wall I have to measure out the level I'm a pro I'm not playing around here you asked me to do something watch out you know I don't got a tool belt yet but that's coming I had a clear revelation of what changed clear like clears day like a moment I stopped guessing I stopped guessing and I stopped acting like I knew what I was doing look look men I stopped acting like a man worldly man you know I I know the way there you know never asked for direction you know now we got GPS so we don't get that as you but I bet you one place yeah I got this I know how to do it I don't need no instruction manual right you know what I stopped guessing and I started reading then search I learned to follow the steps exactly as the manufacturer had designed it and the Holy Spirit spoke to

me and says you know what your faith works the same way because this is our instruction manual and if you want to grow if you want to grow if you want to mature if you want to grow fruit if you want to experience even greater things you can't guess you got to grow by learning and knowing his word because as you know his word you'll know his heart you'll know his character you got to listen to the Holy Spirit by the way the Holy Spirit ain't gonna tell you something wild like you need to buy a new car yeah I need to stop that nonsense okay I need a bigger house I need another child think that y'all need to knock that off the Holy Spirit is gonna tell you hey bro you see in verse 13 it says you need to shut up more and listen more that that's what it's gonna say be the first to forgive keep no records of wrongs don't celebrate about injustice but when truth wins out you hear what I'm saying love doesn't give up it doesn't quit it never loses hope it is always hopeful in every circumstance that's what's gonna remind you and some of you are in the same place when you first walked in because you have discounted the power of the instruction manual don't you want to experience the greater works of Jesus of the body it's time to grow it's time to mature because disciples grow the kingdom is fat the goal of discipleship is not mere information the goal is discipleship is greater transformation and the goal of transformation is Jesus's mission and that is for greater expansion of the kingdom of God Jesus never discipled people so they can become a better church attender a more perfect Saint he didn't he didn't Disciple them so that they can live a better life see some of y'all have that mentality from that religious church You grow a bit. We I want a better life. Can I tell you he said in this life you will have trouble He didn't say you wouldn't have a better life. He said you were gonna have more power in this life He said he some of you think that he disabled people so he could give you bless you financially Can I tell you what he's probably doing he's probably asking you he Disabled you so that you can give more and bless more to people that have less He disabled them so they can become kingdom expanders Evangelists of the greatest message known to mankind for three years. They follow Jesus

They watched him heal the sick listen to teach the crowds They they saw him cast out demons and they witnessed miracles with his own eyes But Jesus didn't spend three years with him just so that they can go. Wow Jesus that was amazing He was preparing them for something greater Verse 12 whoever believes in me will do the greater works. I've been doing and they will do even greater Things and in other words everything you've been learning was preparation Preparation for what for personal growth for deeper faith Kingdom expansion because expansion is what we are sent out to accomplish the body of Christ has been entrusted with Expanding the kingdom of God and now we arrive at the greater works Now that everything's come to you because discipleship was never the end goal. It was preparation Preparation for the mission Acts 1 8 tells us that we are going to go to the kingdom of God Acts 1 8 tells us that we are going to go to the ends of the earth Jesus ministry was regional was in Galilee was in Jerusalem was in Judea was in Samaria But then after Pentecost the gospel expanded to Asia to Africa to Europe and to us The greater works are not bigger miracles. It's the bigger mission and The promise ones not just for the samples that or in that room is for every believer Who said yes to Jesus it's for every one of you through the church billions hear the gospel Nations are reached lives are transformed The kingdom expense and that expansion includes Houston, Texas Because the last people in the city are not just that this statistic There are greater works In the next few weeks leading up to Easter some of those people will be balking in through those doors for the very first time I want to tell you that we are the local servants leading a global movement Next week we begin our new sermon series called the king of kings And as we prepare for what happens after today's passage Which is the crucifixion and the resurrection in the next few weeks people that don't know Jesus

Feel helpless Hopeless in despair Desperate for grace walk in through those doors The question I want to leave with today is Will we be a people that just simply gather on Sunday Or will we be the people that embody The living God And walks in to expand the kingdom of God I wonder if we could be those people Because I want you to look around there's some empty seats around you And every empty seat that you look at Represents someone Jesus died for Every empty seat Has a possibility for greater works I'm believing for that We didn't go through this greater journey Just to be inspired We went through it for preparation Preparation for the greater works From the very beginning that I started this sermon series I knew I wanted to end here Because we are called to embody Christ To edify his body To edify his body And to expand the kingdom Because the greatest miracle we will ever see Is seeing a life transformed by the gospel of Jesus What now? Greater works But I can't do it alone And you can't do it alone

So I'm asking you as we're entering the holy season To be awake of the greater works That Jesus has called us Equipped us and sent us out to do We got prayer partners up here at the front. Don't leave if you need prayer, if you're going through something, if you just need to touch and agree with someone, that's what they're here for. I want you to bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment, allowing the spirit of God just to move in this room. The spirit of the living God is here knocking at your heart. Can today be the day, whether you're in this room or watching me through your tablet, through your TV screen, through your phone, is this the moment that you finally take a step from being spiritually dead to spiritual life by believing that Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and died for our sins, buried but on the third day rose again so that if we believe in his name, we may be raised to new life, if that's you today and you're making that decision in your heart, would you do me a favor and just shoot up your hand, even if it's across the airwaves in your dorm room, in your pod. God thank you. We love you Jesus. Spirit of God, you're in charge of this room now. You with every prayer minister and every person that comes up here for prayer because we're believing.