Bearing “Jesus” Fruit John 15: 1-10

We are the benefactors of a beautiful lemon tree that the former owners of our home nurtured.  The lemons are large and juicy.  The tree bears great fruit.  I would be shocked if I walked out back to the tree and instead of lemons, it was bearing apples.  That would not be natural. 

Jesus said that His disciples will bear fruit.  In fact we prove that we are His disciples by bearing fruit.  We bring the Father glory by bearing fruit.  What kind of fruit do followers of Jesus bear?  We bear “Jesus” fruit.  “Jesus” fruit in our lives is borne when we lead other people to Christ (Matt. 28: 18-20).  It is borne in our lives as we display the likeness of Christ in our attitudes and actions (Gal. 5: 22-23).  “Jesus” fruit is borne in our lives as we bear the unique fruit of our unique relationship with Him (1 Pet. 4: 10).  “Jesus” fruit will be clearly evident in the lives of those who belong to Jesus. 

Father, fill our lives with the fruit of a vital relationship with Jesus so that others will benefit from us.

 News Along the Journey

     What an amazing day in worship yesterday!  Thank you Father for your presence with us.  Thank you for changing our lives. 

     One House of Prayer:  March 2, 2011 at 6: 45 p.m.  Join us as we start a kingdom prayer ministry.  Everyone is welcome.  Come let us seek our Lord together.

Calming a fearful heart John 14: 25-31

We have all been victims of anxiety, worry, and fear.  The disciples of Jesus were no different.  They knew that something was about to happen that would turn their world upside down.  They were not quite sure what it was but Jesus was preparing them for a difficult journey ahead.  He did not promise them nor does He promise us that we will never face harsh difficulties.  The Christian life is not an easy life.  We are not exempt from worry, stress, and tragedy.  Yet we, like the disciples, have a sure promise from our Savior.  No matter what we go through His Holy Spirit will never leave us.  He will never abandon us.  Regardless of our circumstances we have the promise of peace through the eternal presence of God the Holy Spirit. 

Father, calm our fearful hearts through the peace of your Holy Spirit.  Grant us the assurance that nothing can ever separate us from you.

Close to Christ John 14: 15-24

     Who do you allow to know you best?  Most likely it is not a complete stranger, nor even casual friends.  Those that you allow to know you best are the ones who are your closest friends:  your husband or wife, maybe a son or daughter, mom or dad, or best friend.  We do not open up ourselves to just anyone, do we? 

     Who does Christ allow to know Him best?  According to the passage in John 14, those that Christ allows to know Him best are those who keep His commandments.  He opens Himself up to those who love Him so much that they seek to be obedient to Him throughout their lives.  The Holy Spirit is given to those who love and obey Jesus.  Those who love Jesus will be loved by the Father and the Father and the Son will show themselves to that one.  Do you want to be close to Christ?  Do you want to be one that Christ allows to know Him best?  Love Him by keeping His commandments.

Father, give us the grace to love Jesus, obey Jesus, and want Jesus more than we want anything else and then Father show yourself to us!

News Along the Journey

     I had the privilege of spending the past week with 10 of God’s best preachers.  We gathered together to participate in an Advanced Expository Preaching class.  Over the course of this past week, we have preached and prayed together.  Hopefully, we have become better proclaimers of God’s Word.  I did not know these men before this week, but they have inspired me and convicted me.  You may not ever know any of these men, but give praise to our God, church.  His Word is being faithfully preached!

John 14: 7-14 The Promise of Answered Prayer

     This is one of the most misinterpreted passages in all of Scripture.  Many read these verses and conclude that the way to assure answered prayer is simply to ask in Jesus’ name.  After all isn’t that what verses 13-14 say?  Again, context is critical to understanding what Jesus is promising.  Jesus is having a discusssion with Philip.  In the discussion Jesus talks about His mission and the continuing mission of the disciples.  Jesus declares that the disciples will do even greater works than He did.  They will continue the mission and see amazing results.  It is in the context of continuing the mission of Christ that Jesus promises to answer whatever prayer His followers pray in His name.  The promise is that we will receive whatever we need to fulfill the mission of Christ. 

Father, teach us to pray for what we need so that your will may be accomplished in our lives and in the world.

Letting Go…”forgetting those things which are behind.”  I want to close today on a note of challenge.  2010 is hours from being in the past.  Maybe it has been a great year for you, maybe not so great.  Most likely it was a little of each.  You probably have spiritual regrets from this past year.  Perhaps your attitude and actions were not at all times pleasing to Christ.  Take the time to confess to Christ today any unconfessed and unrepented of sins.  Make amends with people that you have offended.  Accept forgiveness in and through Jesus and then let the past go.  Enter the new year with a fresh walk with God.  Greater works have yet to be done!

 

John 13: 36 – 14: 6 Preparing a Place

Over the past week, my wife has been working very hard to prepare a place for our family.  She has unpacked boxes and decorated living spaces to prepare a place for our family and friends.  When Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving, they were naturally confused.  He explained to them that His departure was for a purpose.  He was going to prepare a place for His followers.  He was going to open up heaven for all believers.  It was a preparation that only He could make.  The way could only be prepared through the sacrifice of His body and blood.  No one could enter into the Father’s house until the blood of the perfect sacrifice opened the way (Hebrews 10: 19-22).  We know the way to the Father’s house because the way has been prepared for us.  Jesus has prepared a place for all who trust Him.  The way has been prepared through His sacrificial love.

Settling In

What a Christmas week!  Last Tuesday, we moved to our new home in the Humble area.  We spent several days unpacking, celebrated Christmas Eve with our new church family, opened gifts with our children on Christmas morning, and put two of our children on a plane to visit grandparents in Kentucky later that Christmas day.  Exhausting but exhilirating.  We are so thankful to finally be settling in our new home.  We are blessed to be a part of Humble Area First.  We are excited about what God is doing.  Sorry that I haven’t written in a few days.  We will get back to John this week.

John 13: 31-35 “…as I have loved you.”

     God was most glorified in Christ when Christ gave Himself in love for our sins.  The new commandment that Christ gives to us is the commandment to love one another as He loves us.  What kind of love does Christ have for us?  It is sacrificial.  It is so very patient.  It is forgiving.  It is redemptive.  It is positive.  It is optimistic.  It is permanent.  It is unwavering.  His is a love that puts our needs above His own.  His is a love that dies to self so that others may live.  Christ demonstrated the love that He commands His followers to emulate.

     Who do you need to love in Christ today?

John 13: 21-38 “One of You Will Betray Me”

     As Jesus looked out at those that He had spent most of the last three years with, His spirit became deeply troubled.  One of the twelve was going to betray Him.  One of those who had witnessed His power.  One who had seen His glory.  One who had experienced His miracles.  One of them would hand Him over to those who hated Him. 

     It is rather astonishing to us that the disciples did not know who Jesus was talking about.  We have the rest of the Gospels to inform us clearly that the primary betrayer was Judas.  Yet, was he the only betrayer?   In a few short hours all but one of the disciples would betray Jesus.  In fact at the end of this passage Jesus informs Peter that before the rooster crows, Peter would betray Jesus three times. 

     There lurks within all of us the potential to betray Jesus.  Is it that hard for us to imagine that we could betray Him?  Given enough pressure or temptation might we betray Him as well?  We must be careful not to have so much faith in ourselves.  Oh Father grant us the grace never to betray the One who loves us so much.

Daily Dose: John 13: 12-17 Follow the Leader

     Christ is our Teacher and our Lord.  He teaches us how to live in a way that is pleasing to the Father.  He teaches us how to show the Father’s love to others.  He is our Lord.  We must obey what He tells us to do.  He washes feet.  He gives Himself in service to others.  We must wash feet.  We must give ourselves in service to others. Because He lowers Himself to serve, we must lower ourselves to serve.

     The way of blessing from God is the way of following the example of our Teacher and our Lord.  Who is Jesus calling you to serve today?

Daily Dose: John 13: 5-11 Christ, the Foot-Washer

     In washing the feet of the disciples, Christ gives to us an example of the service He provides.  A part of the service that Christ provides for us is the service of continual cleansing (1 John 1: 7).  He gives Himself in service to us.  The Christian does not need to be re-saved.  Our eternal salvation is secure in the perfect sacrifice of Christ and our relationship with Him (John 10: 27-30; Rom. 8: 31-39).  But as we go through this world we can become spotted and stained by this world.  If we are to keep ourselves unstained (James 1: 27) we must be continually cleansed.  Every day Christ kneels before us ready to wash us clean so that we can be continually used by Him.  Most likely you need Jesus to wash your feet today.  Will you let Him do it?

Celebration!!!  What a great weekend at HAFBC.  The KidsHope mentoring dinner was Friday night and the Angel Tree Ministry Christmas festival was Saturday.  So many lives are being changed through these ministries.  I thank God for His grace in using our church to reach people.  I thank God for all the people in our church who are giving their lives away to His use and His glory.

God is at work, ask Him where He can use you today!