A sermon preached by Pastor Joe Alain at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, LA on May 24, 2009.
Scripture Reading: John 17:6-26
Introduction
* This section rounds-out the Upper Room Discourse that formally began in chapter 14.
* Here we have the real Lord’s Prayer!
* Jesus first prays first for Himself, then He prays for
His disciples.
Before we look at the specifics of Jesus’ prayer, we are told some things about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
1. The disciple is given to Jesus by God (v.6). What does that mean? It means that the Spirit of God moves our hearts to respond to the appeal of Jesus. Jesus spoke of the fact that God “draws” us to Christ (6:44). Notice that Christ reveals the Father (v.6), the disciples are those who obey God’s word (v.6), and the disciples arrive at a certainty about Jesus (v.8). All of this is initiated by God and that is why salvation is by God and for His glory!
2. Through the disciple, glory has come to Jesus (v.10). The people that Jesus has saved bring honor to Him. Honoring Christ by obeying His word and Spirit brings glory to Him.
3. The disciple is a person who is commissioned to a task (v.18). We are a “sent” people. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (Jn. 20:21). We bear not only God’s image, we bear His burden – to bring the message of salvation to our world. Jesus prays for his people in order that they may be such as to win the world for Him.
Jesus’ Prayer for His Disciples (“I pray,” vv.9, 20)
It is a remarkable thing to realize that Jesus is praying for us! After the resurrection came the ascension of Christ – His return to the right hand of the Father. There He lives forever to make intercession or to pray for us (See Heb. 7:23-26). What forms the content of Jesus’ prayers for us? What is He specifically praying for?
1. Jesus Is Praying for Our Protection (vv.11, 15)
Notice that Jesus did not pray that the disciples should be taken out of the world (v.15) but that they would be protected in the world as they carry out their mission. Jesus never prayed that they might find escape; he prayed that they might find victory. But even though it is true that the Christian is not of the world, it remains true that it is within the world that Christianity must be lived out. The Christian must never desire to abandon the world, but always desire to win it. We are in the world but not of the world so that we might win the world.
Jesus was specific in that He prayed that God would protect His disciples from the attacks of the Evil One (v.15). The Bible is not a speculative book; it does not discuss the origin of evil; but it is quite certain that in this world there is a power of evil which is in opposition to God. It is a great knowing that many times God is protecting us, shielding us from our enemy Satan.
2. Jesus Is Praying for Our Sanctification (v.17)
The basic meaning of the word “sanctify” is “different” or “separate” or “set apart.” Believers have been “set apart” by God for a special and holy task – that of honoring Him by living our lives for the kingdom of God. Even as we observe the Lord’s Supper today, we are reminded of the missionary aspect of our calling to follow Jesus. To take of the bread and the juice is to be reminded of who we are and who we belong to and even why we’re here. Just as Jesus came into this world to seek and to save that which is lost, so that is our mission as the hands and feet of Christ. Jesus is praying that we understand that about our relationship with Him. We are here for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in and through us. We are not our own, we’ve been purchased with a price! “Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Jesus is praying that we would understand that holy task and that we would be equipped with the qualities of mind and hear and character which are necessary for the task.
And just how are we equipped for this task that Jesus has for us? We are sanctified “by the truth; your word is truth” (v.17). All of life is discipleship training, allowing the Spirit of God to shape us by the living word of God. Bible study is not an end in itself – there is a purpose in studying God’s word – God’s word of truth is sanctifying us, preparing us for our mission.
Part of our mission as a church is to help equip you for the work of ministry. “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:12). We are praying and working towards developing a plan for allowing this to be more of our focus.
3. Jesus Is Praying for Our Unity (vv.21, 23)
This is a major aspect of Christ’s prayer. Why? Because where there are divisions, where there is exclusiveness, where there is competition between the churches, the cause of Christianity is harmed and the prayer of Jesus is frustrated. The Gospel cannot be preached in any congregation which is not one united fellowship of believers. Jesus said that unity was essential to our mission of sharing Him. Christian unity accurately portrays the character of God. Unity expressed communicates the reality of our God. If unbelievers see disunity, how then can they believe in the reconciling power of God?
What we observe today in the Lord’s Supper is a powerful testimony of the unity of the fellowship of believers. In the Upper Room as they observed that first supper, the disciples were to remember what Jesus did for them in redemption. The disciples were also to recognize that they too had a redemptive purpose to accomplish in the world. For this to occur the disciples would have to be unified around the person of Jesus Christ and His purposes.
This is still true today. We remember the price that was paid for our sins but we also unite around God’s kingdom purposes. We remember that we are part of God’s community – His people on mission. Unity is not uniformity as in the idea that we must all look alike and act alike. Scripture says that there is “one” body but “many” members in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12). Unity is realized in a person – Christ! He makes us one body (v.21). Unity begins when we all come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is the heart and center of true Christian unity.
Is this unity necessary? According to Jesus, it’s pretty important! Jesus even once said that a kingdom divided can not stand (Matt. 12:25). The same goes for a church. A church divided is an oxymoron! It is a contradiction of the character of Christ! “Is Christ divided?” Paul asked the Corinthians. Of course not! Paul also appealed to the Corinthians and all of God’s churches “that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1:10).
Unity in the body of Christ is so important that it is a prerequisite for worship (See Matt. 5:23-24). Paul says that you should not even participate in the supper if you’re not willing to make things right with your fellow brothers and sisters. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself” (1 Cor. 11:29).
The context of this passage is clear as to what the problem is. There were known divisions in the church (v.18). The division seemed to be that there were some in the church that had total disregard for their fellow believers in the church (v.21). When they came together, the divisions were all the more apparent. This is why Paul said “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (v.28). So this examination is not just internally, “is there some sin in my life that is harming my fellowship with God?” We should also ask, “is there some sin in my life that is causing a rift in the fellowship of the church?” Unity in the church is very important to God.
Examination
As we prepare for the Lord’s Supper we should examine ourselves. And what do we ask of ourselves?
1. Am I a disciple? A believer? A follower of Jesus?
2. Am I in fellowship with my Christian family?
3. Am I in harmony with the purposes of God’s church?
Let’s Pray about this and ask God to search our hearts today.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Bearing Fruit, Honoring God, John 15:1-8
Sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church on May 10, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.
John 15:1-8
Here are some things that their mothers might have said:
“David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons.”
“Cain! Get off your brother! You’re going to kill him
some day!”
“Noah! No, you can’t keep them! How many times do I have to tell you, don’t bring home any more strays.”
“Gideon! Have you been hiding in that winepress again? Look at your clothes.”
“James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder.”
“Judas! Have you been in my purse again?”
“Jesus! Be careful with that hammer; you don’t want to put a nail through your finger.”
Here are some things that God says about mothers: Read Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-31.
And here are some things that God says about our relationship with Him: Read John 15:1-8.
John 15:1-8 deals with the intimate relationship that believers share with Christ. We as God’s branches are vitally connected to Christ. As a result, we draw our life from Christ – without Him we can do nothing. But in an abiding relationship with Jesus, we bear much fruit. This life-connection that allows us to bear much fruit brings glory to God our Father.
All of us are not mothers, but all of us share a deep connection with our mothers who birthed us into this world and who nurtured us as only a mother can do. That nurturing process began in our mother’s womb. The wonder of God’s doing is expressed by the Psalmist “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place . . .” (Ps. 139:13-15a).
This intimate and deep connection with our mothers is the kind of intimate and deep connection that we have with Christ, who is our creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Through the Holy Spirit we are birthed into the kingdom of God and we are nurtured continually by Christ who is the vine. We draw our life from Him as Paul said, “‘For in him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:28).
As we consider this passage, of first importance is verse 8. Here we discover what brings honor to Him. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (v.8). If bearing fruit pleases God, I need to know (1) what this fruit is and (2) how it is produced in my life. First, what kind of fruit is Jesus referring to? Spiritual fruit is what is produced in the life of the Christian who is abiding or remaining in Christ. This spiritual fruit is most clearly described in Galatians 5:22-23. Here you have the character of spiritual fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This list of nine qualities is merely representative of the kind of fruit that is produced through the believer’s life. The question then is “how is this spiritual fruit produced in my life?” In this discipleship text, Jesus reveals how spiritual fruit is produced in our lives, fruit that will honor God our Father.
Spiritual fruit is produced through . . .
1. Connection to Christ the True Vine (v.1)
Common sense tells us that oranges do not grow on apple trees and strawberries are not produced from pear trees. It’s terribly frustrating trying to live the Christian life if you’re not one. We do need to make sure that this relationship with God that he initiates has begun in our lives. It is imperative that I am connected to Christ, “the true vine” (v.1).
The fact that Jesus calls Himself the “the true vine” implies that there are other ways that a person might try but that they are false rather than true. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is death. If you were to ask the average person on the street, “What is required to get to heaven?” you probably will here a variety of “ways.” For example, be a good person, keep the 10 commandments, be baptized, join a church, etc. All these are good things, but they are not the life-producing vine – Jesus. Any other way but God’s way in Christ will not lead to spiritual fruit and growth. So be sure that you are in Christ, who is the true vine and source of life.
Spiritual fruit is produced through . . .
2. Commitment to the Fruit-Bearing Process
This process of discipleship, bearing fruit might be described in both negative and positive terms. Negative only because bearing fruit can sometimes be a painful process. Just as a mother giving birth and nurturing her child can be a painful process, so discipleship, the process of becoming like Christ is sometimes a painful process. Bearing much spiritual fruit means that certain things will need to happen in my life.
According to Jesus, what does the fruit-bearing process look like?
(1) Bearing Fruit Requires Spiritual Pruning (v.2)
Spiritual fruit is produced and maximized in your life over time through the process of spiritual pruning (v.2). Here is something that from a logical standpoint does not make sense. “Every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful” (v.2). You would think if a branch is bearing any fruit, leave it alone, that’s great. And how often do we become satisfied with our low-yielding fruit trees? We bear a small amount of fruit and we become satisfied with less than God’s best. But God is not content for us to bear a little fruit, he wants you to reach your full potential.
If a branch bears no fruit there is nothing else you can do except remove the branch. There’s no hope for a dead branch. The only branches that can be improved are the branches that are producing fruit. So if you are being spiritually pruned, that’s good news. That means God is at work in your life removing all that does not look like Jesus. In pruning, God removes the diseased and dead wood from our lives. We often think (wrongly so) that the primary goal in life is for us to be happy and for everything to be going great in our lives. No pain, no stress, no burdens. Yet, this is a false picture of the Christian life.
If you’re not going through some occasional spiritual pruning, your spiritual growth and the resulting joy will be stunted. Happiness is temporary, joy is eternal. No pruning means no life – it means that there is no fruit being produced in your life. So rejoice in the spiritual pruning that God is working in your life. It will lead to more fruitfulness.
Spiritual pruning is for your benefit. It will bring more fruitfulness in your life. The word here translated “clean” or “prune” (v.2) is related to the verb “katharizo,” – to cleanse as in the cleansing of a disease or making one pure. This word is used in the following ways: Matthew 8:3; Luke 17:14, 17 – lepers who are declared cleansed (Aorist, passive, indicative). Hebrews 9:14, 22 – of the blood of Christ that cleanses us (Future & Present act. ind.). 2 Corinthians 7:1 – Out of reverence for God, we are to purify ourselves from all contamination (Aorist, active, subjunctive).
Consider this: If cleaning (spiritual pruning) means removing that which is diseased and harmful to your spiritual growth, is that not a good thing? When the surgeon cuts out the cancerous tissue from your body, is that not a good thing? Of course it’s good! So it is with spiritual pruning. In pruning, God is removing the diseased and dead wood from your life. It’s all for His glory so that you will be able to produce more fruit.
Being committed to the fruit-bearing process means we understand what God is doing in our lives. It’s for our benefit and for His glory! Bearing fruit requires spiritual pruning.
(2) Bearing Fruit Requires Remaining in Christ (v.4)
The pruning is God’s part. He’s the gardener and He alone knows what branches need pruning in our lives (vv.1-2). Our part is to “Remain” in Christ (v.4). Here’s the key: Discipleship is not a passive process. God does the pruning but your part in the process is to remain or abide in Christ.
An important distinction: The language used in this word “Remain in me , and I will remain in you” means to continue in a relationship that has already been established. Jesus is talking to people who are in Christ. In fact He reminds them in verse 3, “You are already clean” signifying that they are already in a vital relationship to God the Father through Christ. Jesus is not saying, I want you to keep on establishing a relationship with Me as if our relationship with Christ was “on again” and “off again.”
God is saying continue in the relationship that has already begun (It’s an aorist, active, imperative). For example, if you are married and I say remain in that marriage, I’m not saying get married, you’re already married. I’m saying continue in that state, develop that relationship. That’s what Jesus is saying to us. Remain in me, continue, develop this relationship that has begun. Jesus says to us. If we will do that, we will bear “much fruit”.
There’s another aspect to this remaining in Christ. To remain in Christ involve practical action on our part. To remain in Christ is to participate in the body of Christ – His Church. To be connected and remain in Christ is to be connected to other believers. You cannot remain in Christ and be disconnected with other believers any more than you can be married and not ever speak or relate to one another. You probably wouldn’t be married long.
This is why the whole argument of “I’m a Christian, but I don’t need the church” argument is really bad theology. The truth is, as a believer you are connected to Christ which means His followers and it is impossible to live a fruitful life in isolation. Show me a Christian who is living a fruitful life, and I will show you a Christian who is connected in meaningful ways with other believers. How else are we able to learn how to love others, how to have patience, how to serve, etc. unless we do so in the context of living in connection with others? This is why John will say in his first letter, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 Jn. 4:21).
If this is true, why are we failing in large part to follow God’s plan for bearing fruit? I think there are a couple of reasons. First, relationships are hard work. They take time to develop, they require give and take, you have to get our of your comfort zone and it’s just not easy to develop relationships with people, especially if you have no particular desire to do so. The church is made up of imperfect people, but relationship building in the body of Christ is our training ground for heaven. After all, we’re going to spend eternity together! Second, Christianity today unfortunately is largely portrayed in the media and from the pulpit as a self-driven, self-help psychobabble cult. Christianity has become “what can God do for me. How can God help me. How can I do what I want and still be blessed by God.” That kind of inward focus thinking destroys fellowship instead of creating fellowship. Everything in our society points toward contraction rather than connection.
For you to mature, to grow spiritually, you need a commitment to the fruit-bearing process and bearing fruit requires remaining in Christ. We need a commitment because bearing fruit is conditional. “If you remain in me” (v.7). Here the word for “remain” is an aorist, active, subjunctive which opens the door to the idea that even though we are in Christ, we have a choice as to whether we are going to remain in Him by allowing Him do His pruning work and remaining connected in the body of Christ.
Will you recognize God’s spiritual pruning work in your life? Will you chose to remain in Christ by connecting with others in meaningful relationships? How will you connect with other believers this week. You can begin to do that by becoming involved in one of the small group studies that we host each Sunday morning. As you interact with other believers, you are going to see fruit produced in your life. You can remain in Christ by participating in ministry with other believers.
Finally, let me ask you, “are you connected to the vine – Jesus?” He is the source of life and with Him you can experience life as God meant for it to be, but without him you can do nothing. You become connected to Christ, the true vine when you believe (trust) in Him and repent (turn away) from your sins.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
John 15:1-8
Here are some things that their mothers might have said:
“David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons.”
“Cain! Get off your brother! You’re going to kill him
some day!”
“Noah! No, you can’t keep them! How many times do I have to tell you, don’t bring home any more strays.”
“Gideon! Have you been hiding in that winepress again? Look at your clothes.”
“James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder.”
“Judas! Have you been in my purse again?”
“Jesus! Be careful with that hammer; you don’t want to put a nail through your finger.”
Here are some things that God says about mothers: Read Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-31.
And here are some things that God says about our relationship with Him: Read John 15:1-8.
John 15:1-8 deals with the intimate relationship that believers share with Christ. We as God’s branches are vitally connected to Christ. As a result, we draw our life from Christ – without Him we can do nothing. But in an abiding relationship with Jesus, we bear much fruit. This life-connection that allows us to bear much fruit brings glory to God our Father.
All of us are not mothers, but all of us share a deep connection with our mothers who birthed us into this world and who nurtured us as only a mother can do. That nurturing process began in our mother’s womb. The wonder of God’s doing is expressed by the Psalmist “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place . . .” (Ps. 139:13-15a).
This intimate and deep connection with our mothers is the kind of intimate and deep connection that we have with Christ, who is our creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Through the Holy Spirit we are birthed into the kingdom of God and we are nurtured continually by Christ who is the vine. We draw our life from Him as Paul said, “‘For in him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:28).
As we consider this passage, of first importance is verse 8. Here we discover what brings honor to Him. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (v.8). If bearing fruit pleases God, I need to know (1) what this fruit is and (2) how it is produced in my life. First, what kind of fruit is Jesus referring to? Spiritual fruit is what is produced in the life of the Christian who is abiding or remaining in Christ. This spiritual fruit is most clearly described in Galatians 5:22-23. Here you have the character of spiritual fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This list of nine qualities is merely representative of the kind of fruit that is produced through the believer’s life. The question then is “how is this spiritual fruit produced in my life?” In this discipleship text, Jesus reveals how spiritual fruit is produced in our lives, fruit that will honor God our Father.
Spiritual fruit is produced through . . .
1. Connection to Christ the True Vine (v.1)
Common sense tells us that oranges do not grow on apple trees and strawberries are not produced from pear trees. It’s terribly frustrating trying to live the Christian life if you’re not one. We do need to make sure that this relationship with God that he initiates has begun in our lives. It is imperative that I am connected to Christ, “the true vine” (v.1).
The fact that Jesus calls Himself the “the true vine” implies that there are other ways that a person might try but that they are false rather than true. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is death. If you were to ask the average person on the street, “What is required to get to heaven?” you probably will here a variety of “ways.” For example, be a good person, keep the 10 commandments, be baptized, join a church, etc. All these are good things, but they are not the life-producing vine – Jesus. Any other way but God’s way in Christ will not lead to spiritual fruit and growth. So be sure that you are in Christ, who is the true vine and source of life.
Spiritual fruit is produced through . . .
2. Commitment to the Fruit-Bearing Process
This process of discipleship, bearing fruit might be described in both negative and positive terms. Negative only because bearing fruit can sometimes be a painful process. Just as a mother giving birth and nurturing her child can be a painful process, so discipleship, the process of becoming like Christ is sometimes a painful process. Bearing much spiritual fruit means that certain things will need to happen in my life.
According to Jesus, what does the fruit-bearing process look like?
(1) Bearing Fruit Requires Spiritual Pruning (v.2)
Spiritual fruit is produced and maximized in your life over time through the process of spiritual pruning (v.2). Here is something that from a logical standpoint does not make sense. “Every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful” (v.2). You would think if a branch is bearing any fruit, leave it alone, that’s great. And how often do we become satisfied with our low-yielding fruit trees? We bear a small amount of fruit and we become satisfied with less than God’s best. But God is not content for us to bear a little fruit, he wants you to reach your full potential.
If a branch bears no fruit there is nothing else you can do except remove the branch. There’s no hope for a dead branch. The only branches that can be improved are the branches that are producing fruit. So if you are being spiritually pruned, that’s good news. That means God is at work in your life removing all that does not look like Jesus. In pruning, God removes the diseased and dead wood from our lives. We often think (wrongly so) that the primary goal in life is for us to be happy and for everything to be going great in our lives. No pain, no stress, no burdens. Yet, this is a false picture of the Christian life.
If you’re not going through some occasional spiritual pruning, your spiritual growth and the resulting joy will be stunted. Happiness is temporary, joy is eternal. No pruning means no life – it means that there is no fruit being produced in your life. So rejoice in the spiritual pruning that God is working in your life. It will lead to more fruitfulness.
Spiritual pruning is for your benefit. It will bring more fruitfulness in your life. The word here translated “clean” or “prune” (v.2) is related to the verb “katharizo,” – to cleanse as in the cleansing of a disease or making one pure. This word is used in the following ways: Matthew 8:3; Luke 17:14, 17 – lepers who are declared cleansed (Aorist, passive, indicative). Hebrews 9:14, 22 – of the blood of Christ that cleanses us (Future & Present act. ind.). 2 Corinthians 7:1 – Out of reverence for God, we are to purify ourselves from all contamination (Aorist, active, subjunctive).
Consider this: If cleaning (spiritual pruning) means removing that which is diseased and harmful to your spiritual growth, is that not a good thing? When the surgeon cuts out the cancerous tissue from your body, is that not a good thing? Of course it’s good! So it is with spiritual pruning. In pruning, God is removing the diseased and dead wood from your life. It’s all for His glory so that you will be able to produce more fruit.
Being committed to the fruit-bearing process means we understand what God is doing in our lives. It’s for our benefit and for His glory! Bearing fruit requires spiritual pruning.
(2) Bearing Fruit Requires Remaining in Christ (v.4)
The pruning is God’s part. He’s the gardener and He alone knows what branches need pruning in our lives (vv.1-2). Our part is to “Remain” in Christ (v.4). Here’s the key: Discipleship is not a passive process. God does the pruning but your part in the process is to remain or abide in Christ.
An important distinction: The language used in this word “Remain in me , and I will remain in you” means to continue in a relationship that has already been established. Jesus is talking to people who are in Christ. In fact He reminds them in verse 3, “You are already clean” signifying that they are already in a vital relationship to God the Father through Christ. Jesus is not saying, I want you to keep on establishing a relationship with Me as if our relationship with Christ was “on again” and “off again.”
God is saying continue in the relationship that has already begun (It’s an aorist, active, imperative). For example, if you are married and I say remain in that marriage, I’m not saying get married, you’re already married. I’m saying continue in that state, develop that relationship. That’s what Jesus is saying to us. Remain in me, continue, develop this relationship that has begun. Jesus says to us. If we will do that, we will bear “much fruit”.
There’s another aspect to this remaining in Christ. To remain in Christ involve practical action on our part. To remain in Christ is to participate in the body of Christ – His Church. To be connected and remain in Christ is to be connected to other believers. You cannot remain in Christ and be disconnected with other believers any more than you can be married and not ever speak or relate to one another. You probably wouldn’t be married long.
This is why the whole argument of “I’m a Christian, but I don’t need the church” argument is really bad theology. The truth is, as a believer you are connected to Christ which means His followers and it is impossible to live a fruitful life in isolation. Show me a Christian who is living a fruitful life, and I will show you a Christian who is connected in meaningful ways with other believers. How else are we able to learn how to love others, how to have patience, how to serve, etc. unless we do so in the context of living in connection with others? This is why John will say in his first letter, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 Jn. 4:21).
If this is true, why are we failing in large part to follow God’s plan for bearing fruit? I think there are a couple of reasons. First, relationships are hard work. They take time to develop, they require give and take, you have to get our of your comfort zone and it’s just not easy to develop relationships with people, especially if you have no particular desire to do so. The church is made up of imperfect people, but relationship building in the body of Christ is our training ground for heaven. After all, we’re going to spend eternity together! Second, Christianity today unfortunately is largely portrayed in the media and from the pulpit as a self-driven, self-help psychobabble cult. Christianity has become “what can God do for me. How can God help me. How can I do what I want and still be blessed by God.” That kind of inward focus thinking destroys fellowship instead of creating fellowship. Everything in our society points toward contraction rather than connection.
For you to mature, to grow spiritually, you need a commitment to the fruit-bearing process and bearing fruit requires remaining in Christ. We need a commitment because bearing fruit is conditional. “If you remain in me” (v.7). Here the word for “remain” is an aorist, active, subjunctive which opens the door to the idea that even though we are in Christ, we have a choice as to whether we are going to remain in Him by allowing Him do His pruning work and remaining connected in the body of Christ.
Will you recognize God’s spiritual pruning work in your life? Will you chose to remain in Christ by connecting with others in meaningful relationships? How will you connect with other believers this week. You can begin to do that by becoming involved in one of the small group studies that we host each Sunday morning. As you interact with other believers, you are going to see fruit produced in your life. You can remain in Christ by participating in ministry with other believers.
Finally, let me ask you, “are you connected to the vine – Jesus?” He is the source of life and with Him you can experience life as God meant for it to be, but without him you can do nothing. You become connected to Christ, the true vine when you believe (trust) in Him and repent (turn away) from your sins.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Shepherds Needed! (Psalm 23; John 10:11-16)
A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church on Sunday, May 3, 2009 by Joe Alain, Pastor.
Scripture Readings: Psalm 23; John 10:11-16 (Pew Bible, pp. 376, 723)
I’m dealing with two primary texts today that have as their theme, God as our shepherd, Psalm 23 and John 10:11-16. Psalm 23 expresses confidence in God’s goodness – in this life and in the life to come. The universal appeal of this psalm lies in the comfort it gives to those who have confronted the most difficult periods of life. It is a psalm of God’s strength and grace for all ages.
In John 10:11-16 Jesus identifies Himself as the “good shepherd.” Israel had long understood that the good shepherd or the shepherd king spoken of in Scripture was a reference to the coming Messiah (see Is. 40:11; Ez. 37:24). As the good shepherd, Jesus is committed to the well being of the sheep, even unto death.
I want to develop this picture of God as a Shepherd using these two primary texts as well as others. Big Idea: God is a good and faithful shepherd to us. As His followers, we too are called to shepherd His flock. What does that look like? There are three key areas that help us define what it means to be a good shepherd.
I. The Compassion of the Shepherd
Shepherds need compassion. The compassion of the shepherd is especially evident in the text in John. In John 10:16, Jesus said that He had “other sheep” and that He “must bring them also.” Speaking mainly to the Jewish disciples, presumably Jesus was making a reference to the larger community of Gentiles who would also respond to His voice (His Message) and follow Him. The point here is that God is not content to only show compassion on a few, He will not rest until His “one flock” is completed.
God’s compassion for the lost sheep drives Him to seek out the lost sheep. God will not rest until His flock is complete. The heart of a shepherd is illustrated in the familiar story Jesus told as recorded in Luke 15: 3-7. You probably remember it. Jesus told of a shepherd who had a 100 sheep. So great was his love and care for the sheep that he left the 99 in search of the one lost sheep. Read Luke 15:3-7.
The shepherd does not rest until he finds his one lost sheep. Nothing deters the shepherd from his mission. This story powerfully illustrates how far God will go to reach the lost. There is nothing more important to Him than seeing the lost found. Theologically, we do not pursue God, He pursues us! And when He finds us (salvation) there is rejoicing in heaven. This too is to be our heart – to see the lost sheep found, to see the lost introduced to the great and good shepherd – Jesus. Shepherds are needed in the church, shepherds who have the same compassion for the lost that God has. Shepherds who will not be content with the 99. Shepherds who will not rest until the lost are found.
II. The Character of the Shepherd
Compassion is God’s character. Further though, we see the character of the shepherd and how he relates to his sheep in Psalm 23. If we were to seek to find one word that would describe the character of God as our shepherd, it would have to faithful or trustworthy. In every aspect of life, we can have complete confidence and trust in the Lord. This confidence is available to all who are able to call the Lord “my shepherd” (v.1). This language highlights the truth that knowing God, the Great Shepherd is a personal relationship.
There are three things specifically that the shepherd does that makes him a good and faithful shepherd. Notice how our great shepherd takes care of us – His sheep! What inspires our confidence in God as our shepherd?
1. He Guides
The good shepherd leads the sheep to the “green pastures” and “beside quiet waters” (v.2). The good shepherd guides the sheep in the right paths, the “paths of righteousness” (v.3). If we will follow His word, listen to His voice, His presence within us, we will stay on the paths that lead to righteousness.
2. He Provides
God our shepherd guides and He provides. As His sheep we “lack nothing” (v.1). How did the shepherd provide for his sheep? By leading into the “green pastures” and “besides the quiet waters.” The context when this Psalm was penned is not know with certainty, although it has traditionally been ascribed to David when he was fleeing Absalom in the wilderness. What do you need in a barren wilderness most of all? You need food and water. In the barren places of life, God provides for us and “He restores [refreshes] my soul” (v.3).
The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, it’s greener or more abundant when you follow the Lord our shepherd! Together these two blessings point to an oasis in the desert. All of this is the equivalent of experiencing God’s abundant life (See Jn. 10:9-10).
3. He Protects
God our shepherd guides, provides, and protects His sheep. His presence comforts and encourages us even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (v.4). This valley would be a dark place in the uninhabited desert. There is even an area in Israel near the Dead Sea that is termed the area the David might have been referring to.
There is an important truth in this Psalm about difficulties in the Christian life and that is, we all will go through some. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” All of us will face some dark valleys. David knew what valleys were like.
* King Saul was out to kill him and he lived for years as a fugitive (1 Sam. 18; 19). * David’s sin of adultery and the trouble it brought his family was a valley (1 Sam. 11). * David’s marriage crumbled (1 Sam. 12:11). * Several of his children died (1 Sam. 12:14), one of them Absalom was murdered (2 Sam. 18:14). And yet David could say, “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (v. 4).
We too face valleys in life – low points, griefs, disappointments.
* We face family troubles. * Prolonged illness. * Difficult and stressful circumstances – caring for a sick child, an aging parent or relative. * The search for significance in life and dealing with disappointments. * Worries over financial needs – home, job. * Life sequence changes and growing older, facing death.
We will face many valleys in life but through them all, God’s presence will be with us. Walter Brueggeman in his book “The Message of the Psalms” begins his commentary of Psalm 23 with these words: “It is God’s companionship that transforms every situation. It does not mean that there are no deathly valleys, no enemies, but they are not capable of hurt! Psalm 23 knows that evil is present in the world, but it is not feared. Confidence in God is the source of a life of peace and joy.”
In the wilderness the shepherd protects the sheep with his “rod” and “staff.”The rod would be used to ward off intruders – the wolves and other beasts that would seek to destroy the sheep. The staff would be used to guide the sheep and it was a sign of comfort. When afraid, the shepherd would gather his sheep and stand in the midst of the sheep with his staff held high. The sheep would know that the shepherd was near – they were safe!
Even in your darkest valley you need not fear because God is there and is capable of meeting any challenge from your enemies. God not only protects and defends us, but also shows us favor in the presence of our enemies (vv.5-6). You would not expect to find or receive hospitality in a barren and hostile environment such as a valley, but that’s exactly what God does for us. In the valleys, surrounded by enemies God anoints our heads and prepares a great feast for us. Even in tribulation our cup runs over! God is more than sufficient – He exceeds our needs!
God’s blessings are not just for this life, His blessings are also future tense: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). His goodness will never end! If we could only grasp that truth in the midst of trials! What a declaration of trust to say that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
We have seen the compassion of the shepherd – His heart is for the lost sheep, and his character – He guides, provides, and protects, now I want us to see . . .
III. The Commitment of the Shepherd
This is especially brought out in John 10:11-16. In this passage, there is a contrast made between the false shepherd and the good shepherd. The “good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v.11). The hired hand “when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away” (v.12). As a result of his abandonment of the flock, the flock is destroyed by the wolves. Why does the hired hand act this way? Because “he cares nothing for the sheep” (v.13). It’s just a job. But shepherding is more than a job – it’s a calling, it’s a commitment.
How this all relates to Home Coming
Home Coming is a time to praise God for our past – God has been and is the faithful Good Shepherd to us. For the past 172 years, He has been faithful to guide us, to provide for us, and to protect us. He has shown compassion on us. The other side of Home Coming is that it is also a time for us to renew our commitment to being good and faithful shepherds of God’s flock. The best way to honor our past is to insure that the godly seed continues to prosper. To honor your past, honor God in the present and you do that by living to glorify Him.
Symbolically, spiritually, you are a shepherd, you have a mission. God calls you to show compassion to reach the lost. He calls you to help guide, to help provide and meet needs, to protect the flock. This is the responsibility of every member of the body. God is looking for some faithful shepherds and the question for us today is, “Am I like the hired hand, just in it for what I can get from it? Like the hired hand who abandons the sheep in time of trouble?” Or “Am I like the good shepherd who cares for his sheep, who guides, provides, and protects them?”
Because the hired hand abandons his post, the sheep are decimated – they suffer greatly. Think about this: You as a shepherd have a responsibility, a commitment and if you abandon your post as a shepherd, what’s going to happen to the sheep? When believers abandon their post, by ceasing to seek after the lost, by not guiding, providing, and protecting the flock, the flock suffers greatly. It’s time to be a shepherd, a shepherd who is willing to lay one’s life down for the sheep. That means sacrifice, service. Are you willing to do that? That’s what good shepherds do. Like our country, Hebron is in a spiritual recession, but there are many needs and “Shepherds Are Needed!” Take God’s word to heart this day, this Home Coming and apply it to your life.
This is how you become a part of the solution. This is how you insure Hebron’s greatness will prosper and many people will be reached with the Gospel. You make a commitment to be what God wants you to be. God is faithful, He is trustworthy. The question is, “Can God trust us?” “Will we shepherd God’s flock?” “Will we sacrifice for the flock’s well-being?” If we will be good shepherds, God’s flock will remain healthy and God will expand our flock.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe Alain
Scripture Readings: Psalm 23; John 10:11-16 (Pew Bible, pp. 376, 723)
I’m dealing with two primary texts today that have as their theme, God as our shepherd, Psalm 23 and John 10:11-16. Psalm 23 expresses confidence in God’s goodness – in this life and in the life to come. The universal appeal of this psalm lies in the comfort it gives to those who have confronted the most difficult periods of life. It is a psalm of God’s strength and grace for all ages.
In John 10:11-16 Jesus identifies Himself as the “good shepherd.” Israel had long understood that the good shepherd or the shepherd king spoken of in Scripture was a reference to the coming Messiah (see Is. 40:11; Ez. 37:24). As the good shepherd, Jesus is committed to the well being of the sheep, even unto death.
I want to develop this picture of God as a Shepherd using these two primary texts as well as others. Big Idea: God is a good and faithful shepherd to us. As His followers, we too are called to shepherd His flock. What does that look like? There are three key areas that help us define what it means to be a good shepherd.
I. The Compassion of the Shepherd
Shepherds need compassion. The compassion of the shepherd is especially evident in the text in John. In John 10:16, Jesus said that He had “other sheep” and that He “must bring them also.” Speaking mainly to the Jewish disciples, presumably Jesus was making a reference to the larger community of Gentiles who would also respond to His voice (His Message) and follow Him. The point here is that God is not content to only show compassion on a few, He will not rest until His “one flock” is completed.
God’s compassion for the lost sheep drives Him to seek out the lost sheep. God will not rest until His flock is complete. The heart of a shepherd is illustrated in the familiar story Jesus told as recorded in Luke 15: 3-7. You probably remember it. Jesus told of a shepherd who had a 100 sheep. So great was his love and care for the sheep that he left the 99 in search of the one lost sheep. Read Luke 15:3-7.
The shepherd does not rest until he finds his one lost sheep. Nothing deters the shepherd from his mission. This story powerfully illustrates how far God will go to reach the lost. There is nothing more important to Him than seeing the lost found. Theologically, we do not pursue God, He pursues us! And when He finds us (salvation) there is rejoicing in heaven. This too is to be our heart – to see the lost sheep found, to see the lost introduced to the great and good shepherd – Jesus. Shepherds are needed in the church, shepherds who have the same compassion for the lost that God has. Shepherds who will not be content with the 99. Shepherds who will not rest until the lost are found.
II. The Character of the Shepherd
Compassion is God’s character. Further though, we see the character of the shepherd and how he relates to his sheep in Psalm 23. If we were to seek to find one word that would describe the character of God as our shepherd, it would have to faithful or trustworthy. In every aspect of life, we can have complete confidence and trust in the Lord. This confidence is available to all who are able to call the Lord “my shepherd” (v.1). This language highlights the truth that knowing God, the Great Shepherd is a personal relationship.
There are three things specifically that the shepherd does that makes him a good and faithful shepherd. Notice how our great shepherd takes care of us – His sheep! What inspires our confidence in God as our shepherd?
1. He Guides
The good shepherd leads the sheep to the “green pastures” and “beside quiet waters” (v.2). The good shepherd guides the sheep in the right paths, the “paths of righteousness” (v.3). If we will follow His word, listen to His voice, His presence within us, we will stay on the paths that lead to righteousness.
2. He Provides
God our shepherd guides and He provides. As His sheep we “lack nothing” (v.1). How did the shepherd provide for his sheep? By leading into the “green pastures” and “besides the quiet waters.” The context when this Psalm was penned is not know with certainty, although it has traditionally been ascribed to David when he was fleeing Absalom in the wilderness. What do you need in a barren wilderness most of all? You need food and water. In the barren places of life, God provides for us and “He restores [refreshes] my soul” (v.3).
The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, it’s greener or more abundant when you follow the Lord our shepherd! Together these two blessings point to an oasis in the desert. All of this is the equivalent of experiencing God’s abundant life (See Jn. 10:9-10).
3. He Protects
God our shepherd guides, provides, and protects His sheep. His presence comforts and encourages us even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (v.4). This valley would be a dark place in the uninhabited desert. There is even an area in Israel near the Dead Sea that is termed the area the David might have been referring to.
There is an important truth in this Psalm about difficulties in the Christian life and that is, we all will go through some. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” All of us will face some dark valleys. David knew what valleys were like.
* King Saul was out to kill him and he lived for years as a fugitive (1 Sam. 18; 19). * David’s sin of adultery and the trouble it brought his family was a valley (1 Sam. 11). * David’s marriage crumbled (1 Sam. 12:11). * Several of his children died (1 Sam. 12:14), one of them Absalom was murdered (2 Sam. 18:14). And yet David could say, “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (v. 4).
We too face valleys in life – low points, griefs, disappointments.
* We face family troubles. * Prolonged illness. * Difficult and stressful circumstances – caring for a sick child, an aging parent or relative. * The search for significance in life and dealing with disappointments. * Worries over financial needs – home, job. * Life sequence changes and growing older, facing death.
We will face many valleys in life but through them all, God’s presence will be with us. Walter Brueggeman in his book “The Message of the Psalms” begins his commentary of Psalm 23 with these words: “It is God’s companionship that transforms every situation. It does not mean that there are no deathly valleys, no enemies, but they are not capable of hurt! Psalm 23 knows that evil is present in the world, but it is not feared. Confidence in God is the source of a life of peace and joy.”
In the wilderness the shepherd protects the sheep with his “rod” and “staff.”The rod would be used to ward off intruders – the wolves and other beasts that would seek to destroy the sheep. The staff would be used to guide the sheep and it was a sign of comfort. When afraid, the shepherd would gather his sheep and stand in the midst of the sheep with his staff held high. The sheep would know that the shepherd was near – they were safe!
Even in your darkest valley you need not fear because God is there and is capable of meeting any challenge from your enemies. God not only protects and defends us, but also shows us favor in the presence of our enemies (vv.5-6). You would not expect to find or receive hospitality in a barren and hostile environment such as a valley, but that’s exactly what God does for us. In the valleys, surrounded by enemies God anoints our heads and prepares a great feast for us. Even in tribulation our cup runs over! God is more than sufficient – He exceeds our needs!
God’s blessings are not just for this life, His blessings are also future tense: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). His goodness will never end! If we could only grasp that truth in the midst of trials! What a declaration of trust to say that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
We have seen the compassion of the shepherd – His heart is for the lost sheep, and his character – He guides, provides, and protects, now I want us to see . . .
III. The Commitment of the Shepherd
This is especially brought out in John 10:11-16. In this passage, there is a contrast made between the false shepherd and the good shepherd. The “good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v.11). The hired hand “when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away” (v.12). As a result of his abandonment of the flock, the flock is destroyed by the wolves. Why does the hired hand act this way? Because “he cares nothing for the sheep” (v.13). It’s just a job. But shepherding is more than a job – it’s a calling, it’s a commitment.
How this all relates to Home Coming
Home Coming is a time to praise God for our past – God has been and is the faithful Good Shepherd to us. For the past 172 years, He has been faithful to guide us, to provide for us, and to protect us. He has shown compassion on us. The other side of Home Coming is that it is also a time for us to renew our commitment to being good and faithful shepherds of God’s flock. The best way to honor our past is to insure that the godly seed continues to prosper. To honor your past, honor God in the present and you do that by living to glorify Him.
Symbolically, spiritually, you are a shepherd, you have a mission. God calls you to show compassion to reach the lost. He calls you to help guide, to help provide and meet needs, to protect the flock. This is the responsibility of every member of the body. God is looking for some faithful shepherds and the question for us today is, “Am I like the hired hand, just in it for what I can get from it? Like the hired hand who abandons the sheep in time of trouble?” Or “Am I like the good shepherd who cares for his sheep, who guides, provides, and protects them?”
Because the hired hand abandons his post, the sheep are decimated – they suffer greatly. Think about this: You as a shepherd have a responsibility, a commitment and if you abandon your post as a shepherd, what’s going to happen to the sheep? When believers abandon their post, by ceasing to seek after the lost, by not guiding, providing, and protecting the flock, the flock suffers greatly. It’s time to be a shepherd, a shepherd who is willing to lay one’s life down for the sheep. That means sacrifice, service. Are you willing to do that? That’s what good shepherds do. Like our country, Hebron is in a spiritual recession, but there are many needs and “Shepherds Are Needed!” Take God’s word to heart this day, this Home Coming and apply it to your life.
This is how you become a part of the solution. This is how you insure Hebron’s greatness will prosper and many people will be reached with the Gospel. You make a commitment to be what God wants you to be. God is faithful, He is trustworthy. The question is, “Can God trust us?” “Will we shepherd God’s flock?” “Will we sacrifice for the flock’s well-being?” If we will be good shepherds, God’s flock will remain healthy and God will expand our flock.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe Alain
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