Walking in Truth and Love
Notes
Transcript
How many of you lose focus easily? We live in a day where people cannot focus on things, and get distracted. Even times when you need to be focused like driving a car, people can get easily distracted. People text and drive, not look at the road, and much damage comes from it. Many people are like that spiritually.
You can get really distracted from what you need to do spiritually. But John is reminding us we need to walk in the commandments that God has given us. You need to make sure you are walking after the instructions God has given. John is writing to this particular church. As we will see in the next week message, there are many false teachers who were trying to keep them from walking in God. John is writing to this church and encouraging them to keep on walking in the commandments of God. He commends them, and then begs them to keep walking because any Christian could fall very easily. You might think you are good, but any second you can fall. Some of you are not hearing the warning signs, about obeying God. You must focus on walking after the commandments of God.
What does it look like when you walk after the commandments of God?
Walk in truth
John writes that He rejoiced greatly when he found the people of this church walking in truth.
One of my greatest joys is to see God work in your life. See you grow in your walk with the Lord, to see you have victory, to see you make decisions. That is the heart of a pastor.
It is from the commandments of God, that you walk in truth. If you are not following the commandments of God (not saying being perfect but rather wanting to please God) you are not walking in truth. But when you do follow the commandments of God you are.
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
In a culture that hates truth, it might seem easier to walk after what they say to be true, and follow what you see on TikTok or some social media influencer. However following path will always be harder than following the truth of God’s Word. The way of a transgressor is hard the Bible says in Proverbs because of Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Imagine hiking in a park with many dangerous creatures, and you are too cheap for a trail guide. You come to a fork in the road, where both look like they can be trails for the path, and the sign is down. And you are not sure which way to go. One could lead to death, the other will be safety. Which one would you pick? Safety. Then why do you spiritually choose the one that leads to death.
Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Are you walking in truth? Are you seeing things going on around you and saying I need to follow God?
Walk in love
Walking in truth means you will walk in love
God commands us to love each other
Matthew 22:40 “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
A reference to John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
One can try to walk in truth, but if there is no love for the people, than we are just a cult
Love is not what society says love is. Because John will say that if someone tries to stay at your house who says that God is not real, then do not welcome them into your house. Does not really sound like love does it? Society says that love is affirming every choice someone wants to make or the warm fuzzy feelings. Biblical love is seeking the wellbeing of others Leviticus 19:17 “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”
1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
How loving are you?
In a day filled with lies, it is important to walk after God’s commands.
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