Sermon Tone Analysis

I believe many Christians are living defeated lives, we have received our free gift of salvation but that abundant life seems to elude us.

Romans 10: 9-10

If you confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

10 for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

If you have done this, then I believe that you are saved and will have eternal life with God in heaven.

Jesus came to teach us how to live a life of joy, happiness, love a happy life what is that song Joy unspeakable and full of Glory.

That is the life that Jesus wants us to live now.

Suppose I could offer you a life that is guaranteed to give you….

a) JOY that is greater than any other

b) BLESSINGS like you have never thought about

c) HAPPINESS in its fullest measure

d) PEACE that surpasses all understanding

e) ASSURANCE of entering the everlasting kingdom of God

Would you be interested?

I cannot but Jesus does…!

a) He came to provide the way to an abundant life—JN;10-10

b) He shares with us the secrets to this life in His teachings—Jn;15:11

Through His teachings then we can find the secrets to the abundant life now !

JOHN 15; 1-8

I. THE SECRET OF LIVING IS BEARING FRUIT

Many want to ask what kind of fruit can we bear?

1) Winning souls to Christ and helping them to grow.

2) Sharing with those in need/ helping others.

3) Developing a Christ-like character/ becoming more like Jesus.

4) Praising God and giving thanks/ we must recognize the great things God has and continues to do for us.

He touched everyone of us with life this morning.

These are the types of fruit that we can bear as branches of the true vine!

The Benefits of Bearing Such Fruit

1) Joy for those who win souls—There is no greater joy than knowing that you led someone to a relationship with Jesus and knowing that you helped snatch someone out of the torments of Hell and the grip of satan!

2) Happiness for those that share with others – Act 20:35 Jesus says that it is more blessed to give than receive.

3) Assurance for those who develop a Christ-like character --- II Peter 1; 10 b: if you do these things you shall never fail.

4) Peace for those given to praise and thanksgiving --- Phi 4; 6-7 Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus

And what is the Secret?

Being a branch of the True vine (JESUS)and bearing fruit!

But Jesus also shares the secret of bearing fruit

 

II.

THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT IS ABIDING

Note the use of the word “ABIDE”

1) Jesus uses the word ABIDE 10 times -- Jn 15 ; 4—10

2) We must abide in Him and He in us, to bear fruit

3) Without Him, we can do nothing.

4) The Secret of bearing fruit is abiding in Christ -- Jn 15; 5

But does Jesus also reveal the Secret to abiding in Him?

You bet He does!

III.

THE SECRET TO ABIDING IS OBEYING!

a. Obeying the commandments of Jesus…..

i.

By keeping His commands we abide in His love – Jn 15 ; 10

ii.

By keeping His commands we will be his friends – Jn 15 ; 14

The creator of the universe wants to be our friend.

The closer you

Come to being Gods friend the more you will care about the things He cares about.

Draw close to God and God will draw close to you.

iii.

By keeping His commands we abide in Him – 1 Jn 3 ; 24,

Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them.

And this is how we know that He lives in us; we know it by the spirit He gave us.

To be successful in obeying His commands requires the right motivation! 

IV.

THE SECRET OF OBEYING IS LOVING

There are three different reasons people obey.

1) We obey because we have to!

(The Fear Factor)

a.

In order to avoid punishment.

The mafia approach

b.

Like a child who obeys his parents to keep from getting a whooping.

2) We can obey because we need to, because we will get something out of it (the selfishness approach)

a.

In order to get what we want.

b.

Like children who obey their parents to get to spend the night off of get a toy.

3) We can obey because we want to (out of Love)

a.

Because we love the person we obey them

b.

Like mature children who obey their parents out of love.

People often obey Jesus because they feel like they need to or have to.

Jesus wants us to obedient out of love….

1) He appeals to our sense of love -=- Jn 14 : 15, 23

15 If you love me you will obey my command

23 if anyone love me he will obey my teachings

2) He knows that without love our obedience will falter.

3) The secret of true obedience is loving.

Those who obey because they want to out of love for Jesus and their brethren, will assemble at every opportunity.

Why do we obey Jesus?

Have we matured to obeying Jesus out of love?

When true love moves us to obey, we will abide in Jesus and bear fruit through our relationship with Him, resulting in the abundant life He offers.

But what is the Secret to having a true love for Jesus…?

V.

THE SECRET OF LOVING IS KNOWING

This should be Self – Evident..

1) Love between husband and wife is based on knowledge and understanding.

2) Longtime friendships are based on knowing each other pretty good.

3) Brother and sisters in Christ our love for one another grows as we make an effort to get to know each other better.

Should we expect it to be any different with Jesus absolutely not!

Folks we have more in common with Jesus than we think we are made in their image the bible tells us this.