Welcome back to afaithtalk. I’m glad you’re here. Today we’re talking love, joy, faith, fruit and obedience. Join me on this walk through a section of John 15 and 1 Timothy 4 and a few other verses to confirm what else we find in them.
John 15:5-6 Jesus said…
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Word pictures, don’t you just love word pictures? Illustrations of truth in Jesus’ words.
This comes from 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Paul said…
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Back to John 15:7-8, Jesus said…
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
1 Timothy 4:4-6 Paul said…
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
John 15:9-11 Jesus said…
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Keeping the commands brings joy? No, remaining in His love brings joy, it’s spelled out here and in Psalms. In His Presence there is fullness of Joy. (Psalm 16:11) So keep His commands.
1 John 5:3 John the Apostle said…
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
1 Timothy 4:7-11, 15-16 Paul said…
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things.
. . .
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Labor and strive because of the hope that God has placed in you. Oh it’s in Romans, hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5) Watch your life and doctrine closely. Keep yourself from the lies in the world by studying with me, by reading Scripture consistently.
John 15:12-15, Jesus said..
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
He has made everything known.
Diligence: keep studying. Keep exercising your faith. Love each other. It’s been commanded.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
It also fulfills everything.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
I heard a song this morning for the first time. Love God, Love People. It’s Danny Gokey’s song. Part of it goes like this.
Gotta keep it real simple
Keep it real simple
Bring everything right back to ground zero
‘Cause it all comes down to this
Love God and love people
So, what can you do today for someone else’s benefit?
John 15:16-17, Jesus said..
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
“I chose you”…
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4a
Holy and blameless… Yes, the faithful are already being made holy and already counted blameless because we’re covered in Jesus’ righteousness.
So many benefits to Faith.
Love each other.
Let’s pray.
Thank You, Jesus for all of this. For the way you encourage us at all times to hold onto, to keep exercising our faith. Help us love, help us obey, help us learn, help us hold onto our faith. All for your glory. Amen.