What Does Jesus Want?

I was at lunch this past week with a couple of guys who do lead ministry to the nation of South Sudan. South Sudan is the youngest nation on earth, and these men have been called of God to help build this nation for Christ.

What’s fascinating is that they are getting to do that from right here in Houston.

In the course of the conversation, Andrew, their executive director asked me, “So, what all is your church doing in missions?”

And it was here that I was so excited to brag on our church. I said…
“WELL, WE JUST SENT A TEAM OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF ECUADOR TO SERVE AND SHARE THE GOSPEL OVER SPRING BREAK. WHILE THEY DID THAT, WE HAD A GROUP OF FAMILIES IN EL SALVADOR. WE HAVE A TEAM THAT LEFT YESTERDAY FOR CUBA, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO BEING DEPLOYING THIS SUMMER TO:
•IRELAND
•SOUTH AFRICA
•GUETAMALA
•HONDURAS
•ENGLAND
•BELIZE…”

AND I SAID, “AND I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE A FEW MORE THAN THOSE THAT I JUST CAN’T REMEMBER RIGHT NOW.”

I THEN SAID, “LOCALLY, WE HOST ESL 5 TIMES A WEEK, SERVING NEARLY 400 STUDENTS IN A YEAR FROM ABOUT 40 COUNTRIES. WE HAVE A FREE MEDICAL CLINIC CALLED CASA EL BUEN SAMARITANO, WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY FROM 115 ZIP CODES TO OFFER FREE MEDICAL CARE. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE 150% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. WE SAW A FEW THOUSAND PATIENTS LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE THREE MERCY HOUSE LOCATIONS NEAR THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND WE HAVE 16 BEDROOMS AVAILABLE TO US, 24/7, 365 TO ASSIST THOSE WHO COME FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AT OUR TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.”

Now, here is what is true…I could have kept going sharing what all you are doing to lift our city and world, and it made me very happy to be able to share with these men our heart for being the hands and feet of Jesus.

So, as I begin today, I want to say “Thank you!  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to so many, so often. You are simply living out the vision that God has given to us.”

And while I am talking about living out the vision that God has given to us, I want to remind you of both our vision statement and our vision strategy.

Our Vision Statement
…to lift our city and the world by generously giving the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is what God has called us to…and we do it through our people.

You see, our Vision Strategy is to accomplish our vision statement through our greatest asset and resource…it’s not buildings, it’s not location, it’s not the best music or even the finest preacher.  Our Vision Strategy is to accomplish our vision statement through our greatest asset…YOU.

Our Vision Strategy
…to lead people to discover, develop and deploy their God-given influence for His purpose and glory.

You see, you are the means by which the vision will be accomplished.

And when you respond, and when you position yourself to live a life set apart and serving Jesus and His purpose here on earth, MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL BE SAVED, Discovering Christ, Developing in their faith through Discipleship, and Deploying their talent. THE RESULT WILL BE THAT OUR CITY and the world IS LIFTED, as we Generously give the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friends, it’s humbling to see you being the hands and feet of Jesus. It’s humbling to partner with you in that endeavor. And over time, its amazing to see the fruit that is being produced.

Did you know that bearing fruit is part of God’s plan for our lives? It’s what He wants.

We have been looking at the I AM sayings of Jesus over the past six weeks. And as we have looked at them, we have been asking, “Who does Jesus say that He is?”

Today, as we conclude this series, I want us to ask a different question. That question is this: What is it that Jesus wants?

I want you to read with me in John 14 and John 15.  I’m going to read John 14:12-14 and then 15:1-11.

John 14:12-14
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

John 15:1-11
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

To answer the question, what does Jesus want, I want to start by giving you a list. Then we will spend a few minutes on each of these.

Jesus wants…
1.Our Mind
2.Our Awe
3.Our Heart
4.Our Hands and Feet
5.Our Fullness

Let’s look at each of these.

I.Jesus wants Our Mind

Look at John 14:12-14 again.

John 14:12-14
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

You have heard it said that one’s attitude determines one’s altitude.  What people are trying to convey is that one’s mindset is really important.

Jesus said, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

How do you think?

Most people think in terms of probability. New segments are filled with experts in percentages and probabilities.



This is a picture of Steve Kornacki from NBC News. He has made a real name for himself working in probabilities. He does it for NBC when it comes to polling for politics, but you will also see him doing the probability game for NFL games and, most recently, the Kentucky Derby.

Probability thinking doesn’t require faith. It’s simply an analysis of numbers.

Possibility thinking, on the other hand, doesn’t use a number. It, as my friend Mike Van Hoozer says, asks a simple question:



What if…Every Church in the city worked together to provide medical care to those in need?

What if…Every Faith-Filled Non-Profit and Church Collaborated to lift the city?

What if…Every Child who had no father, had a mentor who would show up, read, pray, and encourage them?

What if…Every Christian took the mandate of Jesus to love and serve and give of their time, talent, treasure and touch to their family, neighbors, and community? What could happen?

And many people say, “Pastor, that’s not probable. That will never happen.”

But those who think differently say, “Well, is it POSSIBLE? What if it began to happen?”

Is your mind a mind of faith?  Do you believe what Jesus says he wants of his disciples?

What is he asking for here?  

Notice verse 12…

John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

JESUS IS ASKING FOR BELIEF IN HIM THAT TRANSLATES INTO WORKS THAT RESEMBLE HIS WORK.

A lot of times we think that being a disciple entails simply being devoted as a follower.  You see, disciples of Jesus day would leave their lives and orient and organize their lives around following their Rabbi.  They would sit at the Rabbi’s feet and learn from him.

BUT HERE, THIS RABBI IS SAYING:
•I am going away
•And where I am going, you cannot go
•But you have an assignment…Keep the work going.

Can you imagine what these disciples are thinking?  
Wait…what?  You are going where?  And we are to do what?  Hang on a minute…

And then he says to them…
GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME…GREATER THAN THESE!

Do you believe that? Do you believe that Jesus wants to use you to carry on his work?  You see, if you don’t believe it, you won’t step into it.

And when it comes to our mindset…guess what?  He wants us to have childlike faith…a faith to ask.

Notice verse 13… “whatever you ask in my name, I will do it…”

When my daughter Carson was 11, she got these really cool LED lights for her room for Christmas. They go to the beat of the music if she is playing it and they change color.  But, she needed one more roll of these lights that attach to the wall for her entire room to be lined with these lights.  

So, Carson, being the retail expert that she already was at 11 years of age, got my ipad and opened the Amazon app.

She began to lament that the price she needed to pay for these lights was too much.  She complained and whined.  

I simply sat down with her and I said, “So, how much do you have to pay?”  She told me the amount. I then said, “So, how much more do you need?”  

She then said, “$12.”  

I said, okay…where do you think you are going to get that $12 dollars.  Shen then said, “I don’t know.”

And this happened a few times.  

Finally, I said, “Do you know anybody that has $12?”  

She said, “You?”

I said, “Maybe…how do you find out?”  

And she said, “Ask?”

And I said, “Yes…” and I just left it there.

She then said, “Daddy, can I have $12?”

And immediately I said, “You bet,” and then I got up and walked away!  

And then do you know what she said, “Why did you make me go through all of that to ask?”

It was there, I corrected her.  

I said, “Carson, you could have asked right away.  And that’s not a great attitude to have when your dad has just been generous to you.”  I said, “It’s my joy to provide for you…even the things you want, but you didn’t have it, because you didn’t ask for it.”

So often, we believe that we shouldn’t ask God for anything…but Jesus teaches us to think differently…to ask boldly.  



I have this sign in my office to serve as a reminder to Pray Big!

You see, what you believe about God’s goodness and his plan and his desires for you determine what you will ask him for.  

Hebrews 4:16 says…

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We have to believe that Jesus wants to meet our needs.  Jesus wants our minds.

Jesus also wants our Awe.

Jesus wants…
1.Our Mind
2.Our Awe

Look at verse 13 again.

John 14:13
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

The Father is glorified in the Son when the Son hears and answers the requests of the Saints.  And the reason that the Father is glorified in the Son is because the Saints give worth, weight and worship to the Father.  

It gives the Father glory…when we worship the Father and the Son because the Son answers our prayers!  

And what does it sound like?  

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE SEND US NOTES AND SAY OR TELL US IN PERSON…
“Last week…last month…last year, you all prayed for me…and Can I tell you something?  God heard you and healed me.  The cancer is gone…or the issue is resolved…or the lost son came home and was saved.”

And how do we respond?

We say, “Praise God!”    

We give worth and praise to God when he answers prayer! Jesus wants our AWE!

What else does Jesus want for our lives as we carry on his work?

Jesus wants…
1.Our Mind
2.Our Awe
3.Our Heart

John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Notice the words:
Love and Abide.

LOVE: THE WORD LOVE HERE MEANS – an affection for another that compels one to forfeit rights and privileges on another’s behalf.

Jesus wants our heart…he wants our willingness to lay aside our rights and privileges for him because of our affection for him.

ABIDE – TO REMAIN, STAY OR RESIDE.
He is saying, “Remain in me and I in you.” Jesus then illustrates that with a vine and it’s branches. He says, “I am the vine and you are the branches…Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

So, when I say that Jesus wants your heart, I’m saying, that Jesus wants a vibrant, life-giving relationships with you…where you are laying aside yourself to take in more of him and where you are remaining in intimacy with him, that you might bear fruit.

And this passage shows us how to abide.  And there are three facets to it:
a.The Word of God – v. 7b… “If you abide in me and my words abide in you.”  We have to study the word of God in order to be equipped.
b.Prayer – v. 7c – “ask whatever you wish…”
Once again, we are challenged to pray in this passage.
c.Obedience – v. 10 – “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…”
We have to walk in obedience to his commandments in order abide in him.  

And the reason we must abide in his love is because he wants to love through us…a generous, hospitable love.

What else does Jesus want?

Jesus wants…
1.Our Mind
2.Our Awe
3.Our Heart
4.Our Hands and Feet

Notice verse 8 of John 15.

John 15:8
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

His Mandate for us…His Marching Orders for us…His Purpose for our lives is that we would:
a.Bring Glory to the Father
b.Bear Fruit
c.Prove that we are His DISCIPLES.

So how do we do this?  How do we bear fruit, proving that we are his disciples?

It’s actually really simple.
We live in such a way as to help someone else follow Jesus.

Being a disciple isn’t just about our prayer life, our spiritual heights and our scripture memory, unless we tie it to the mission.

We grow in knowledge, we grow in Christ-likeness, we grow in our faith, in order to lead others to do the same.

MY FRIEND DAVID WHITING DEFINES A DISCIPLE THIS WAY…
A disciple of Jesus is someone helping someone else follow Jesus.

We do this in so many ways…as you have already heard me talk about. But our desire, in all that we do, is to bring our hands and feet in order to make an impact.  It’s our mandate and this brings glory to the Father and proves our love for Jesus in the world in which we live.

And do you know that this leads to?  It’s the last thing that Jesus wants for us…Our Fullness.

Jesus wants…
1.Our Mind
2.Our Awe
3.Our Heart
4.Our Hands and Feet
5.Our Fullness

Look at verse 11.
John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Have you ever been stuffed? I mean…eaten so much that it hurts—stuffed? Like Thanksgiving stuffed? There is a completeness to it.  

You know that there is no way you could be any fuller…you are stuffed to the gills!!!

Jesus wants you to bring your mind, your awe, your heart, your hands and feet to all that he is, to bring the Father glory, to show people what he is like…helping them come become his followers…and he promises to fill you with his joy!  

There is a joy in serving and following Jesus that leads to a fullness – where you can’t hold it any more.

As a matter of fact, I love how Paul describes this in Romans 15:13. He states…

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord wants to fill you with all joy and all peace as you trust in him…this leads to a fullness that you overflow.

Do you have this fullness?  

Have you set your life apart for the glory of God?  He wants your allegiance…your loyalty.
Through a mind that is filled with belief that Greater Things are yet to come.

Through an attitude of Awe – Giving the Father Praise for the prayers that are answered through the Son

Through a heart that seeks intimacy – abiding by spending time in the word, spending time in prayer, and obeying the commandments of Jesus

Through hands and feet that seek to do good works, proving to the world that we are his disciples

And he wants to fill you with a fullness that overflows.  

As a disciple of Christ, are you serving in such a way as to help others follow Christ?  

May we realize that all that Jesus puts in us, is that we might give it out to others.

 
This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, May 18, 2025 from our CityRise Church Bellaire campus. Check out the full message below!