Love and Obedience

LOVE AND OBEDIENCE

Text: John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

I Abiding in His love:

A. Is not speaking of enticing God to continue to love us, for He CANNOT cease to do that.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. Rather, it is to continue to dwell in the right relationship to God so that He can express that love to us and through us. Illustration: The mother doesn’t stop loving the condemned man, but he has placed himself beyond the reach of her comforting arms.

This is why such statements as we find in
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
are not only censures of the sinful but are cries of anguish from the heart of a loving God.

C. A divine truth: To love Him is to obey Him.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
If we are to abide in His love we must obey Him in ALL things.
A. The spirit of rebellious ‘love’ says ‘do your own thing,’ and is robbing:

1. Children of opportunities to learn, because they are encouraged to ignore commands of God and the wisdom of 6,000 years of human experience.
When doctors complain of mothers bringing in 10 year-olds for contraceptives, something is wrong!
2. Husbands and wives of real marriages. One cannot break apart a marriage without leaving a part of himself behind. For a happy home, obey God in it! You can’t know His love without it!
3. Churches of the unity of the Spirit;
When ‘I want, ‘I demand’, etc. replaces preferring one another in honor, disobedience has entered and the love of God is gone.
4. Individuals of the joy of fellowship.

II A Divine Principle
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Man is either in God’s will or he is in the world. There is no way to either express or to experience the real love of God outside of His will! A rebel against the express commands of God who claims to be on speaking terms with God is a liar and if you listen a while you will hear him prove it by expressing dislike or contempt for the things God loves; the church, the saved, the lost, the pastor , Bible Truths, etc.etc.

III A Divine Warning.Abide (continue) or be cut off by the Father.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Many professed Christians are living embittered lives in the world because they refused to continue in His love by submitting their lives to Him. GOD CUT THEM OFF {not from salvation but from accepted service} AND THERE IS NO FRUIT!

IV Divine Promises to those abiding in His love
A. A Comforter
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit is God’s representative with us while Christ is our representative with the Father.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
A ‘spiritual’ life is one that follows His advice.

B. Answered Prayer
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you

C. Much Fruit
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE

V. The expression of Divine Love toward us - the cross of Christ
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
He became obedient unto death because He loved you; do you love Him enough to become obedient unto life? Love toward a HIGHER power is expressed in obedience - Love toward a LESSER power is expressed in providing for it.

DO YOU LOVE ME?

Hear the words so softly spoken;
Let them fall on trembling heart'
"Do you love me?" says the Master,
Then from our eyes, the tears must start.

As we think of hands so wounded,
And flesh so bruised and torn,
Of lips so parched and thirsty,
And brow, so pierced with thorns

Then, we see our hands so busy
With things so often vain,
And from our lips, instead of love,
Fall words that bring such pain.

Let the words then sink in yielded heart
And search out fault and sin,
"Do you love me?" is the question,
"More than praise of mortal men?"

"Do you love me?" says the Master,
It doesn't matter what you say,
If you return just half His love,
You will follow All the way!

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Complete Biblical Sanctification

COMPLETE BIBLICAL SANCTIFICATION

Text: 1 Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Intro: The word "sanctify" used here is the verb form of the noun which means holy, or sacred. As it is used in the text, it means to make holy or to set apart for a sacred use. There are two aspects of sanctification: One is accomplished in the will and purpose of God at the time of salvation; the other is man's continual need after salvation as he struggles to be all that God desires him to be.

I God's part in Sanctification
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

A. Jude addresses his letter to the ones God has sanctified
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
He then identifies these as those who are exhorted to contend for the faith.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

B. God accepts Sanctification only in and through the blood of Christ.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

C. The special work of the Holy Spirit;
A. first in salvation
2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:)
and then in His Church.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

B. Identifies the sanctified.
1 Pet 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

When the Holy Spirit descended on the Day of Pentecost, God marked forever, those He had set aside. In the Book of Acts, the work of the Holy Spirit was the mark of sanctification for which Paul and others looked. We would do well to emulate them and number among the sanctified, those who manifest the Spirit in Faith, Hope and Charity and not just the outward show of service.
1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

C. God's will is that all should be saved, but they are NOT! It is His will that all the saved should be sanctified, but they are NOT.
1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

II Our part in Sanctification (see text)
A. Spirit -- This is taken care of in salvation and is in God's care. 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

B. Soul, -- mind, intellect, personality.
The cognizant part of man. At salvation, the Holy Spirit begins to urge one toward knowing more of the Will of God. This is in answer to the specific prayer of Jesus;
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

1. There is a threefold sanctification in TRUTH
a. It marks us as a peculiar people before the world.
1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
b. It sets us apart in our own eyes. We can see the difference!
c. It pleases the Father, who sees the difference.

C. The Body -
1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

1. It belongs to Him!
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Belshazzar took that which had been sanctified to God and used it for his own pleasure. Beware lest we also be weighed and found wanting.

The Cure For Disillusioned Christians

THE CURE FOR DISILLUSIONED CHRISTIANS

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs
Luke 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Luke 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luke 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luke 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
On the very day of the resurrection when all the disciples should have been rejoicing, these were sad, depressed and disillusioned.

I. What they KNEW by their own admission.
A. They knew the past power of Jesus in word and deed.
Luke 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

B They knew the testimony of the women from the empty tomb.
Luke 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luke 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles

C. They had the testimony of Peter and John.
Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

II. They were sad because they had the wrong idea of what Jesus had promised them. That wrong illusion had been shattered. They had the idea that Jesus would solve all their problems and it hadn’t turned out that way.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
III. We too often become disillusioned when our expectations are not met.
A. We discover that we are not the perfect Christians we expected to be.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

B. We are disillusioned when others, in whom we placed our trust, fall away.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

C. When we have tried our very best in service and are greeted with failure.
1 Cor 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

D. When we are troubled and heaven seems shut up against us.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

V. What is the answer? Have no illusions! Learn what God has really promised us and accept the reality of those promises then claim the victory He has won for us!
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

ICor 10: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil 4:9 Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Note: whatsoever - look for these things; All is not this way.
If - again, look for it, dwell on the positive, though there is plenty of negative. And once you have learned a thing, established it as true by the word of God, then do ; don't go back and question it over and over again.