No Love No Excuse

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Recap of 1/27/13 (John 15:12-17):

1. Jesus’ command to “love each other” bookends this passage.  Out of this command come all the others.  As Oswald Chambers said: “Love is the beginning and the middle and the end—the first sign, stamp, and seal—of the saint.”  We are commanded to love not just those who love us but those who are seen as unlovable, ornery, the “porcupines” (Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48).

2.  James calls the command to “love our neighbor as ourselves” the “royal law.”  It was the law articulated by Jesus in Mark 12:28-31 and Matthew 22:34-40 thus it is the law decreed by the King…Jesus.

3.  Jesus was the standard and measure of that love, “as I have loved you.”  This love, based on the pattern of Jesus must be humble and sacrificial, as demonstrated by the cross (1 John 3:16).

4.  Jesus’ disciples (us included) are chosen by Him, not to retreat from the world, but “to go” (vs. 16) and reveal to those around us His character, His life, and His grace.

5.  William  Barclay cautions Christians: “We are sent out into the world to love one another.  Sometimes we live as if we were sent into the world to compete with one-another, or to dispute with one another, or even to quarrel with one another.  But the Christian is to live in such a way that h shows what is meant by loving his fellow men.”

The Christian Benchmark

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Recap of 1/20/13 (John 15:7-17):

1.  Concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ (also called the Bema Seat), Dr. Charles Ryrie writes: “The nature of the believer’s works will be examined in this judgment to distinguish worthy works from worthless ones.  These works are deeds done by the believer during his Christian life.  All will be reviewed and examined.  Some will pass the test because they were good; others will fail because they were worthless.  Both good and bad motives will be exposed; then every believer will receive his due praise from God.  What grace!  The outcome will be either reward or deprivation of reward.  Salvation is not in question…”

2.  To the one who abides in Jesus, He promises answered prayer but as Dr. Merrill C. Tenney warns:  “He was not promising to gratify every chance whim.  But as long as the believer was seeking the Lord’s will in his life, Jesus would grant every request that would help accomplish this end.”

3.  Another result of abiding is joy.  “The joy of the Lord is not the natural exuberance of youth.  It is not ordinary human enthusiasm.  It is not the exhilaration caused by favorable happenings and circumstances.  It is not the emotion whipped up by high-pressure hilarity.  All these may have their place, but the joy Jesus gives is different.  It outlasts youth.  It is more than human, it is Divine.  It is present, no matter what happens.  It is not worked up, it comes down.  It last, it remains.  And it is full, not partial.” (Vance Havner)

The Effective Christian

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Recap of 1/13/13 (John 15:5-6):

1.  In John 15 Jesus urges His disciples to be fruitful, productive by abiding in Him.  The words fruit (or fruitful) and abiding (or remaining) are key words in this passage.  Fruitfulness is the normal Christian life. To abide in Jesus is to have a close intimate relationship with Him.  As Oswald Chambers has said: “The dominant trait of a true saint is a personal, passionate, and overwhelming devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Devotions for a Deeper Life)

2.  Several scholars point out that three vital relationships can be discerned in this passage:  a relationship with Jesus (vv. 1-11); a relationship with others in Christ (vv. 12-17); and a relationship with the world (15:17-16:4).

3.  Fruitfulness or fruit-bearing will be seen in the Christian life in practical holiness (the “beauty and character of God displayed on our daily lives”) and Christian character (Galatians 5:22.23; 2 Peter 1:5-8).  The outworking of that fruit will be seen in sharing our material blessings with other, in doing good works as a response to salvation (not to earn salvation), praising and thankfulness to God, and witnessing to others.

4.  “The closer you walk with Him and stay near Him, the more evident will be the luscious fruits.  …You won’t be looking at yourself and saying, ‘I wonder if I have any fruit?’ You won’t even be thinking about the fruit.  You won’t be thinking about anything else but Him.  If your life is controlled by Him, you will automatically bear fruit on the job, in the factory, in the office, in the shop, washing your dishes at home, taking care of the children.” (Dr. John Mitchell)

The Abundant Life

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Recap of 1/6/13 (John 15:1-4):

1.  The secret to the productive (ie.fruitful) Christian life is a close, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (abiding or remaining in Him).  Productivity is seen in terms of character and relationship.  Galatians 5:22-24 see fruitfulness in terms of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  In 2 Peter 1:5-8 Peter see productivity in terms of increasing goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love built upon the foundation of faith.

2.  Jesus calls Himself the “true vine,” the seventh of the “I am” statements in the Book of John.  The vine was a familiar symbol for the nation of Israel, but they became a corrupt vine which produced only rotten fruit (Psalm 80:8,9 & Isaiah 5:1-7).  God the Father is the gardener who cares for the vine, those who are in Jesus. 

3.  The branches of the vine are lifted-up off the ground and cleaned (pruned) to make them productive.  It is the Word of God which cleanses the believer.

4.  “7 Ways the Bible Can Make Your Life Better” from Psalm 119 (from the Daily Walk Bible).  The Bible will:

-keep us from sin, vs. 11

-lift our burdens, vs. 28

-guide our steps, vs. 105

-bring us joy, vs. 111

-lead us to wisdom, vs. 130

-give us peace, vs. 165

-bring us back to God, vs. 176

 

An Offer Of Peace

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Recap of 12/30/12 (John 14:18-31):

1.  Jesus offers peace to His disciples.  Something which the world cannot give.  The world can give fame, status, wealth, and pleasure.  It can offer the diversions of great cause or great sin but it cannot offer peace. 

2.  “the peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape, the peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble and from refusing to face things.  The peace which Jesus offers us is the peace of conquest.  No experience of life can ever take it from us and no sorrow, no danger, no suffering, can ever make it less.  It is independent of outward circumstances.”  (William Barclay)  This peace is not based upon “exemption from conflict and trial,” but on confidence in God’s love and care.

3.  “This peace was the quietness that would come to their hearts from trusting God and from knowing that He was in control of all events that touched their lives.” (J. Dwight Pentecost)

4.  Satan’s hold on men is established through sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15).  Since Jesus was sinless, Satan had no hold over Him.

5.  We will have peace if we are…

-yielded to the Holy Spirit’s control

-being obedient to Christ’s Word

-living by faith and not by our wits

-resisting sin, confessing sin

You Mean This is True

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Recap of 12/23/12 (Matthew 1:1-17):

1.  Beginning with Genesis 3:14,15 God promised that One would come who would crush Satan and in so doing reverse the effects of the Fall.

2.  Matthew links Jesus with both the Abrahamic covenant(Genesis 12,15,22) and the  Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-16).  This is important because in the Abrahamic covenant God promised that all the world would be blessed through Abraham’s seed (Paul relates this promise of a “seed” to Jesus in Galatians 3:16,22,24).  Secondly, in the Davidic covenant God promises that one of the line of David would reign forever on David’s throne.

3.  Matthew’s genealogy carefully demonstrates that Jesus is of the royal line and has a legal right to the throne of David.

4.  Matthew’s genealogy also clearly demonstrates that Jesus is virgin-born in verse 16.  Matthew does not say “Joseph, the father of” but rather he changes the expression used in the rest of the genealogy to “Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom (in Greek, a feminine relative pronoun) was born Jesus. . .”  This is essential to God’s saving purpose.

5.  As with the human ancestors of God’s Son, though we are weak, sinful and often unfaithful, God deals with us in grace.

The Promised Holy Spirit

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Recap of 12/16/12 (John 14:17):

1.  “Christ recognized the weakness of these men [His disciples] and their inability to fulfill the ministry of revealing the Father that was entrusted to them.  Hence He said, ‘I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor’ (vs. 16).”  (Source unknown)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit in salvation includes (each of the following happen instantaneously at the moment of salvation and are true whatever a Christian’s spiritual condition:

-Regeneration (Titus 3:5; John 3), the giving of or imparting of eternal life to the one who believes. 92 Corinthians 5:17)

-Indwelling (1 Corinthians 6:19,20), the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer which is the evidence of salvation (Romans 8:9)

-Baptizing (1 Corinthians 12:13), the act of the Holy Spirit placing the believer into the Body of Christ, the Church.  All believers are baptized by the Spirit at the moment of salvation.

-Sealing (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22), The Holy Spirit is placed as a seal upon the believer’s life, giving them security.  This seal can never be broken.

3.  The work of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the believer:

-The Holy Spirit gives gifts (1 Peter 4:10,11), a spiritual gift is an ability for service given by the Holy Spirit to every believer for the purpose of serving the church.  It is not given for personal edification (I Corinthians 12:7-11).

-The Holy Spirit fills the believer (Ephesians 5:18), as believers deal with sin and yield to the Spirit they are controlled by the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit is produced in their lives (Galatians 5).  The filling relates to control.

-The Holy Spirit teaches (John 16:12-15); guides (Romans 8:14); gives assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16); and the Holy Spirit prays (Romans 8:26)

Thr Promise Of Peace

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Recap of 12/9/12 (John 14:17):

“During Jesus’ life on earth, He was His disciples’ ally, advocate, counselor, strengthener, and supporter.  When Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Spirit to fill those roles (John 14:16).  The Spirit:

-reveals to us who Jesus is and what He wants us to know;

-convicts believers and unbelievers of guilt;

-unites us to Jesus in rebirth so that we are lims of His Body and sharers in His Kingdom;

-assures believers that we are God’s children and heirs;

-mediates our intimate sharing with the Father and the son, our first installment and guarantee of Heaven’s life;

-transforms us progressively through prayer and conflict with sin into Christ’s moral and spiritual likeness’—He gives us the power to love, to have joy and peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23);

-gives gifts (abilities to witness and serve) to build up Christ’s Body;

-prays in and for us when we feel unable;

-enables us to know what to say when others ask about Christ;

-enables missionary action, pastoral decisions, and leadership.”

(see John 14:15-27; 15:26-16:16; 20:19-23; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40)

(from A Compact Guide to the Christian Life by K.C. Hinckley)

Promises for the Troubled(part 4)

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December 9, 2012

Recap of 12/2/12 (John 14:16-17):

Five truths about the Holy Spirit from John 14:16,17:

1.  The Holy Spirit’s spiritual presence would replace Jesus’ physical presence with His disciples. He would be “another” Counselor for them.  Jesus would be taken from them in His crucifixion and subsequent ascension but they would not be left alone.

2.  The Holy Spirit presence with a believer is forever.  He is not an occasional helper but a permanent present.  He cannot be withdrawn from the believer in the church age as He was in the Old Testament.

3.  The Holy Spirit is characterized by truth.  He is literally the “Spirit of the Truth.” This is crucial since He will testify about Jesus (John 15:26), and guide the disciples into truth (John 16:13).

4.  The Holy Spirit is invisible, though real and active.  The Holy Spirit “cannot be seen by sight or comprehended by reason.”  The unbeliever has no spiritual life so they cannot know or see Him.  The are not “tuned in.”

5.  The Holy Spirit would indwell them in the future.  He would not only be “with” them but He would be “in” them. He would individually indwell believers.  This teaching about the Holy Spirit anticipates the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts. 2). They were concerned that Jesus was leaving them, but the Holy Spirit would not only be with them but would live in them to reproduce the life of Jesus in their lives. 

6.  “How are you listening to God’s Spirit?  How are you making yourself available to His guidance and direction in your choices and relationships?  Reading Scripture is an important way to tune your heart to His voice.”  (NLT One-Year Study Bible)

Technical Problems

To everyone who reads our recaps and attempts to watch the sermons each week, we apologize that the links have not been working! We are trying to fix it ASAP! If you would like a CD copy of the sermon from any of the weeks please e-mail us at Office@delriobiblechurch.com or Call Lauren at 830-768-1438. They are free!

Thank you for your patience!

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Promises for the Troubled Part 3

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Recap of 11/25/12 (John 14:15-16):

1. Jesus links love for Him with obedience to His commands. 

2.  “What is the measure of your love for Christ?  It is measured by your obedience to His Word.  Obedience is the true test of love.  If I say I love the Savior and you see in my life nothing but disobedience, then I’m only mouthing words…The foundation of spiritual power and spiritual experience is obedience. (John G. Mitchell)

3.  In the context of the Upper Room Discourse the specific command which Jesus has in mind is the command to love one another (13:34; 15:12,17).  If I love others as Jesus commands, I will: serve them, give myself for them, be forbearing, be forgiving, and will not return a wrong for a wrong.

4.  The result of obedience to Jesus’ commands is intimate fellowship with Him (John 14:21,23).  If I sense the lack of intimacy with Jesus there may be an issue of obedience in my life.

5. In the first of several mentions of the Holy Spirit in this discourse, Jesus promises His disciples another counselor to be with them in His absence to Heaven. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Paraclete (a transliteration of the Greek word), Comforter (KJV),  Counselor (NIV), Helper (NASB).  He would be their advocate.  The term means “one who is called to the side of another to give help.”  The Holy Spirit would counsel them, direct them, comfort them, strengthen them.  “The Holy Spirit takes away our inadequacies and enables us to cope with life.  [He] substitutes victorious for defeated living” (William Barclay).

 

Promises for the Troubled Part 2

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Recap of 11/18/12 (John 14:7-14):

1. John 14:5-11 is one of greatest biblical statements of the person of Jesus Christ.  He alone is the way to God the Father (vs. 5,6); to know Jesus is to know the Father (vs. 7); to see Jesus is to see the Gather (vs. 9); Jesus’ words are the Father’s words (vs. 10); Jesus’ miracles are the Father’s works (vs. 11).

2.  Jesus tells the disciples that they would do even greater things than He had done, not meaning greater miracles (for though they did similar miracles, they didn’t do greater ones) but rather meaning greater in scope.  Through their ministry the gospel would reach the known world of the day while Jesus never traveled outside of Palestine.  They would reach greater territory and greater numbers of people.

3.  “It is marvelous that God speaks to us [John 14:10]- life-giving, world-creating words.  This marvel is matched by another—that He listens to us.  His listening gives all our words significance and makes all our prayer personal.”  (Eugene Peterson)

4.  Five observations about prayer.  Prayer must be:

-“in Jesus name” (praying in union with Him on the basis of His authority)

-in accordance with His will (1 John 5:14,15; 3:21,22) (is it something Jesus would ask?)

-bold (Hebrew 4:14-16)

-following Jesus example of consistent submission to the Father’s will.

-have as its goal bringing glory to God the Father.  “In prayer we call on Him to work out His purpose, not simply to gratify our whims.” (Dr. Merrill C. Tenney)

 

Promises For The Troubled

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Recap of 11/11/12 (John 14:6):

1. Christianity is not a religion or philosophy but a relationship. The answer to life and death issues is not a formula or a philosophy but a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.”

2.  The way to Heaven, the way to a relationship with God the Father is to follow Jesus.  He takes us there.  Jesus does not just know the way, He is the way.

3.  Jesus is the truth.  He didn’t just know truth-He embodied it.

4.  “No teacher has ever embodied the truth he taught—except Jesus.  Many a man could say: ‘I have taught you the truth.’  Only Jesus could say: ‘I am the Truth.’” (William Barclay)

5.  Jesus is also the “life.”  Jesus brings life worth living.  All other things we live for must ultimately disappoint and leave us dissatisfied or grasping for more and more, things such as pleasure, power, money, material, etc.

6.  Jesus claimed to be the only way to God, not one of many ways but the only way.  This truth is taught through-out the Scripture (see Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).

What To Do For Heart Trouble

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Recap of 11/4/12 (John 14:1-5):

1. The disciples were troubled, perplexed by the events that Jesus had announced to them including His death, and their defection from Him.  It challenged their faith.

2. -“Every fresh test as well as every new revelation is a summons to faith.” (Harrison)

- “Life is full of tests and trials, afflictions and sorrows, as well as blessings.  The Lord permits these things to come into our lives because He wants the wean us away from transient things and to fix our hearts of eternal [truths].” (Mitchell)

3.  They were troubled in “heart.”  All action begins in the heart (the immaterial part of humans, otherwise called soul, spirit, etc.).  the heart refers to mental, emotional, and spiritual capacity.  It is the seat of intellect, will, emotion, understanding, and discernment.  We are to guard our hearts (Proverbs 3:1,3,5; 4:23)

4.  The answer to the distressed hearts of the disciples was to renew their trust in God the Father and the Son. Jesus encouraged them by promises/provision for them both eternally and temporally.  Eternally He promised them an eternal home (vs. 2) and His return for His own (vs. 3).  Temporally He promised them the prospect of greater works (vs. 12), answer to prayer (vv. 13-14), the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with them (vs. 15), and peace as only He could give (vs. 27).

Do's and Dont's for Troubled Hearts

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John 13:36-14:6

Recap of 10/28/12 (John 13:36-38):

1.  The disciples in John 13ff were bewildered, fearful, facing an uncertain future.  Jesus’ announcements to them about His going away, His impending death, that one of the 12 was a traitor sent them into a tailspin.  Further, He told them that Peter would disown Him, that Satan wanted to “sift” them, and that they would all fall away.  In the words of Bruce Wilkinson and Ken Boa: “In this clear and vivid recollection of Jesus’ last discourse to His intimate disciples, John captures the Lord’s words of comfort and assurance to a group of fearful and confused followers.”

2.  Jesus’ instructions to the disciples provide us with a roadmap for dealing with life’s uncertainties. 

3.  First, we must not trust in our own strength. That was Peter’s failure.  

-we must know ourselves, our weaknesses, our breaking point, we must not ignore them.

-we must set boundaries for protection

-we are all one bad decision from failing as Peter did

-“Impetuous and well-meaning, Peter had to learn the hard way to gauge his weaknesses.  His example is very human and therefore very helpful.” (Merrill Unger)

4.  Second, we must not underestimate Satan and his designs on us:

-we must be alert, 1 Peter 5:8 (to sin, to anger, to doubting God and His Word)

-we must be clothed in God’s armor, Ephesians 6:13-18

-we must train vigorously, Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Philippians 4:8

-we must not neglect the spiritual disciplines (the Word, meditating, praying, etc.).  To neglect the spiritual disciplines is to show confidence in the flesh, handling life’s uncertainties without God.