The message was brought by Stuart Orr.
It’s easy to say “I love the Lord.” Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter got upset because Jesus kept asking. We love the Lord because he first loved us. We can’t brag about our love at all.
Telling someone you love them needs actions to back it up. Jesus didn’t come to do his will. He came in obedience to the Father to be our High Priest and give his life for us. He died for all, the person in Saudi Arabia and Siberia as well as those of us in the U.S. Jesus told us if we hear him we have heard the Father. If we say we love him others we should be able to say “when you see me, you see Jesus.” If our lives are contrary to the Word, it’s not of the Father. If people question our life, it in turn makes them question God. I don’t want that to happen because of me. I want others to know I’m different. I want my kids to make decisions based on their relationship with God and not because of being my kids. The Bible doesn’t give us permission to keep sinning but does tell us that if we do sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive.
I am who I am because of what God has done for me. Before I was saved I read books and listened to music that I don’t listen to and read anymore. As I got into the Word I knew it wasn’t right for me to continue in that way. We can be as close to God as we want or we can stand off to the side if we want. Bottom line—trash is trash. We’ll stand before God for how we live. We need to be seeking the Lord while he may be found.
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.
Notice he said if I love the Lord I’ll keep the Word. I have a responsibility to read it. I have a responsibility to show up at church to go hear the Word. When doors are open at my home church I ought to be there. I don’t think it goes very far with God when we say we’re too tired to go to church. He could have told Pilate he was tired after being up all night and needed a nap and left it at that. People find the littlest things to stay out. If I do my part God will be a regular part of my life.
Verse 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.
I’m repeating what I’ve read in the Word. Don’t get mad at the preacher when he preaches the Word. When you shake your fist at the preacher, you are shaking it at God. If you know something in the Word to do and you don’t do it, there is a problem. Do you really love God? Are you giving just what you can because you can’t afford to do more? You’d better be tithing. Malachi says people have robbed God because they didn’t pay. You can’t afford not to tithe. Remember that you cannot out give God. If we love God, we will keep his Word.
Verses 25-25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 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.
There are a lot of good stories in the Bible and sometimes we forget them. It’s good to remember. I have loved ones in heaven. I don’t grieve too much for them. I long to be there with them one day. God gives us enough bait to get us on the hook. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. When he and Lot split up, Lot chose the watered plains and Abraham got the lesser valued land. He didn’t mind. He knew what God had in store. He loved the Lord and trusted him. We need to do the same.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 