The Word Made Plain

Guest (Male): Welcome to the word made playing with senior pastor Tony Clark of Calvary Chapel Newport News in Virginia. Currently, pastor Tony is teaching in the book of John. Please open your Bible to John chapter 15 verses 9 through 17.

Tony Clark: Turn with me in your Bible to John chapter 15 as we continue to go verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book through the New Testament. Uh on Sunday mornings, we find ourselves in the Gospel of John chapter 15 looking at verses 9 through 17. And as you know, on Wednesday evenings, we're going through the Old Testament. Great great verses before us. And Father, thank you so much for this time in your word. We pray that you will give us ears to hear this timely word for us today. You have personally invited us to be here to hear this word to be in our hearts and minds today in Jesus' name.

Help us, Lord, to have ears to hear. And it's in your name we pray. Amen. John 15 looking at verses 9 through 17. The title of this message is joy or happiness. Joy or happiness. Now, whether you believe it or not, there is a world of difference between these two words. Happiness is dependent upon outward circumstances. And this is what the world is seeking after. They're seeking happiness, happiness in a relationship, happiness in their financial situation, happiness in a career. But Jesus promises us joy and a life full of joy that we will see in these verses.

And what Jesus offers is not connected to anything external, but to everything that is internal as we're about to see. And Jesus is going to teach us that everything um you know, everything around us can be falling apart, but we can still experience joy on the inside. And so this is what he's going to be teaching us. Look at verses 9 and 10. Says as the Father loved me, I also have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

Now, I I want you to allow what Jesus has just said to his disciples to sink deep down into your ears. He says in verse 9 that he loves us. And then he just didn't say the words, but then he tells us how much. And the first part of verse 9 tells us how much he loves us. As much as the Father loved him, this is how much he loves us. So because of this great love for us, he says at the end of verse 9, abide in my love. And we already have said earlier that this verb abide is mentioned 10 times in the first 11 verses of this chapter.

The Greek word is meno, and it means to remain or to stay. And so Jesus is saying because of his great love for us, remain or stay in this love. Oh Jude 21 says the same thing. It says keep keep yourselves in the love of God. But the question is how is this accomplished? I believe verse 10 tells us how by keeping his commandments. Jesus said you will abide in my love. Oh 1 John 5:3 says a similar thing. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

Oh I'm so glad that this verse says this because Satan has convinced a lot of people to believe that the commandments of God are a burden to keep, that they are a drag, a hassle. It's something that's very burdensome. And obedience is not a burden. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, he said for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. And Satan tells people that obedience is restrictive and so and a burden and burdensome. And this is what he convinced Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3 in verses 1 through 5 that the reason why God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is because God was trying to withhold something from you that was good.

Also, God doesn't want and doesn't like the the competition because he knows the day you eat of it, you shall be like God knowing good and evil. So God is restricting you, Satan told Eve, restricting you from this tree because he doesn't like the competition. See what Satan doesn't tell people is how obedience really frees us to be everything God wants us to be or wants us to have. Satan never told Eve about the perhaps thousands of trees that they could eat from, but he only focuses on the one tree that they couldn't eat from.

Oh Satan does the same thing to us today. He will always have you focus on the spouse that you can't have instead of worrying about the one that you do have. And so we see this here that that we are to abide in God's love. And and as we keep his commandments, Jesus goes on to say just as I kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. In other words, Jesus is saying I am never going to ask you to do something that I have not done myself. And this is how Jesus does things.

He will do it first, then teach it like Acts 1:1 says. It's now on the screen for you note takers. This is this is the key to parenting. This is the key to leadership. This is the key of being a boss. Anything anything that has to do with leadership, you do it first, then you teach it. This is how Jesus did things, and this is how we were taught in the Marine Corps, leadership by example. You do it first, then you're able to teach it. Look what it says there in verse 11. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.

Now, in this verse, Jesus is saying that I am telling you these things for two reasons. Number one, that my joy may remain in you, and number two, that your joy may be full. So the way that the joy of Jesus will remain in us is when we are obedient to his commandments. And you already know, we have already said this before that his commandments are not only referring to the Ten Commandments, but it it refers to all of God's word. And I have I have found out in my own life personally when I am disobedient to God's word, my life lacks joy.

My life is a drag. There is a depression that's in my life when I'm disobedient to the word of God. But when I am walking in obedience to God's word, my life is full of joy. And this is where God wants us to be. Having lives full of the joy of the Lord. Why? Because God knows that it is this joy that we're called to be full of that will give us the strength to endure through the tough times that all of us are going to go through. Oh, isn't this what Nehemiah taught us in Nehemiah 8:10?

It says for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So this is how the joy of the Lord will remain in us when we are obedient to the word of God. But he also said at the end of verse 11 that he wanted our joy to be number two, to be full to be full. Yes, we drain our joy through disobedience, but I believe that we also drain our joy through Watch this. Partial obedience. Oh no, you're not totally disobeying the Lord, but you are partially obeying him. See God said that he wants our joy to be full, not partially full.

And so often we feel that if we are partially obeying, we're okay. And we have not totally drained all the joy out of our cups, but our cups are kind of It's just It's not all the way empty. It's just maybe halfway full. And we're okay to be in that condition. Even though God said he wants our cups to overflow, he wants our our lives to be full of joy. We're okay if it's drained down a little bit. As long as we got a little bit there and we And we okay with that. But we fail to realize that partial obedience is total disobedience.

Oh let me show you what happens when we partially obey because some of you are in this condition today where you guys told you to do something, but you you you you you did it, but not all the way. You still have their number saved in in your favorites, but you haven't called or anything. You You just You You just still have their number there. You just partially You partially obey the Lord. Oh, let me show you the fruit of what happens when you just partially obey the Lord and you are okay in that condition.

Let me show you what happens. In Genesis 12:1, God tells Abraham, get out of your country, from your family, from your father's house to a land that I will show you. Oh now in chapter 11 and verses 31 and 32 summarizes what took place here. It says these these verses said that Abraham did leave his country, but Terah, his father, was leading the way with Lot who was Abraham's nephew. Oh now let me ask you something, Abraham. Didn't God tell you to leave and leave your family behind? Now he would say, well I did do that.

I did go. I I left my country, but he brought his family with him. So he partially obeyed the Lord. Oh what's the result? Oh they were delayed in the city of Haran for 15 years until Abraham's father Terah died. It is no wonder that they were delayed because Terah's name means delayed. And Haran happens to be a city that was halfway in between Ur where Abraham lived and the promised land. Haran was right in the middle. So when we decide to partially obey the Lord, it will cause us not only to lose our joy, but it will cause us to be delayed as well.

And there is the promised land that God has for our lives, an abundant life. You understand if you hear on Wednesday nights, you understand the promised land is not heaven. It's that abundant Christian life that God has for us. And there's a promised land that God has for our lives, but so often we're delayed in receiving it because we're trying to be cute and clever and partially obey the Lord. Well, I have to ask us what is Terah in your life that's keeping you from your promised land? Or is this some relationship you keep playing around with?

Abraham was delayed in Haran for 15 years until Terah, his father, died. Then he was able to move on to the promised land. And so Jesus says in verse 11 that he wanted his joy to remain in us and that he wanted uh his joy and our joy to be full. Our joy will never be full as long as we trying to be cute and partially obeying the Lord like Abraham did. We would end up delayed. And I believe that there are some of you here today who are delayed in receiving all the God has for you, that abundant life that he has for your life because you trying to be cute and say I obeyed, Lord.

But all the time you know that you partially obeyed him. Look what he says there in verses 12 and 13. This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than he would lay down one's life for his friends. What I find interesting is how Jesus said in verse 12, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Now this is the second time the Lord tells them this. The first time was in John chapter 13 in verse 34 when he said a new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you love one another.

Oh this tells me a couple of things. Number one, that love is not an emotion, but love is a choice. Ladies, I know you think love is an emotion. I don't feel like you love me. Love is a choice. It's not an emotion. Jesus never tells us to feel something, but he does command us to do something. And that is that we love one another. Now the second thing this tells me is that Jesus sets the standard of love with the phrase as I have loved you. Oh this is key. This is so important because we have our own man-made standards of what love is.

I would love you as long as you love me. Or I would love you until you make me angry. Then I ain't going to love you anymore. No no no. Jesus doesn't give us room to come up with our own definition or standard of love. He says you love one another. Watch this as I have loved you. Oh what kind of love is this? A love that is willing to lay down your life for another. Oh isn't this how Jesus demonstrated his love for us by going to the cross? He laid down his life for us.

This is the love we should have for one another. Now how do I know this for sure? Because verse 13 says greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends. What a powerful verse. Jesus is saying that the ultimate proof of love is seen in our willingness to sacrifice our lives for someone else. Oh in just a few hours, Jesus was about to put this love into action by dying on the cross for the sins of the world. See it is one thing to say with our mouths, I love you, but it is another thing to show it.

And Jesus said greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends. And I was thinking about this weekend. Can we have to ask ourselves this question here? Do the people around us know that we love them this much that we are willing to lay down our lives for them? So often those around us don't even know we like them, let alone love them to the point where we're willing to lay down our lives for them. And see Jesus is calling us to live according to a greater love than the world is demonstrating.

This is why he said in verse 13, greater love has no man than this. Jesus is calling us to a greater standard, a greater love than what the world demonstrates. Look what he said there in verse 14. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. And this verse blows me away because Jesus considers me his friend. And when I can be so flaky and foolish at times. And Jesus said that we are his friend if Notice if we do whatever he commands us. We are friends of God and and and as friends, he wants to share with us things he is about to do in this world.

You say well what do you mean? Well, in James chapter 2 verse 23 it said that Abraham was called a friend of God. Then in Genesis 18 verse 17 God says, shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? No. And the Lord told him that he was about to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Oh the same thing is true for us. The Lord will give us insights into what he is doing presently in this world that the world is clueless clueless about just because we are his friend just like Abraham was.

This is why for me this is What What's going on in the world today is pretty clear. Jesus makes a statement and it's a a powerful statement. He says when the Son of Man comes or when I return, will I find faith on the earth? Oh see that this tells me something. This lets me know that before Jesus Christ comes back, there will be a scarcity of the Christian faith on the earth. He said when I come back, will will the Son of Man find faith on the earth? So this means that there will be a push by or energized by Satan, there will be a push in this world to rid this world of anything that is Christian.

This is why I'm not shocked when I see the things that I see. Oh it's been going on for a long time, but I'm not shocked by I'm shocked in the sense that I I'm alive to see it happen. That that part of it I'm shocked by. But I'm not shocked because Jesus said when he returns, will he find faith on the earth? So there must be a push to remove the Christian faith. I was talking to an atheist friend of mine so uh some time ago and I said, you know, the Christian faith is being persecuted.

He said, oh get out of here. And Christian faith not being persecuted. Y'all just making it up in your own mind. I said, really? I said, you know, it started in '62 '63 when it it it there was a removal of prayer out of schools. I said now if you notice, we going to take the Ten Commandments off the walls in the courts. And then next, you know, we going to take all nativity scenes from government property. I said then we stop putting the hand on the Bible and said I promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me, God.

We don't do that anymore. And I said they really really would love to get in God we trust off of that money. I said but it's starting to take place. It's going to take place when we go to a cashless society that the Bible tells us in the book of Revelation that's going to take place that we already seeing it happen today. I don't know about you, but I don't carry cash with me. I just don't. Some of you are still holding up the lines writing a check and and pulling out, you know, and pulling out some dollar bills and and you got you still got a little coin purse, you know, you I who who does that?

Who does that anymore? Some of y'all still do. I know you old school. You know, you you my age and older and you still got a little coin purse. You know that little little rubber thing with the slit. And and everybody behind you is like this. So I'm not shocked. I am not shocked by what's going on in the world today because as a friend, the Lord tells us in his word things to come. This is why I know and I'm going to preface this by saying that I know God will judge the United States.

He's already starting to do it unless we repent. If we repent that I God already said if we just turn to him oh he he would turn things around. And if he doesn't if God if God doesn't judge America harshly I agree with what Billy Graham said that he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. So so how do I know these things? Because I am a friend of God, therefore he tells us in his word things to come. This is why he says these things. Look what he says there in verse 15. Says no longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends.

For all things that I've heard from my father, I have made known to you. Now in this verse, Jesus tells his disciples, no longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends. Oh Jesus is speaking in general terms here. He is saying that a servant or slave, doulos in the Greek language, doesn't know what the master is up to. But because Jesus is telling his disciples intimate personal things about the father, he now calls them friends. Or he goes on to say for all things that I have heard from my father, I have made known to you.

Before they were not able to receive this type of information, and thus they were like servants or slaves. But now that they have matured enough to receive what Jesus is saying, now he calls them friends. Look what it says there in verses 16 and 17. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give you. These things I command you that you love one another. Now these are some powerful yet misunderstood verses.

Now this is not This is not referring to choosing us in salvation, but choosing us to fruit bearing. Remember I mentioned last week, proper Bible interpretation is dependent upon context, context, context. The context of this chapter up until this point is about bearing fruit. We see that in verse two, or bearing more fruit. We see that at the end of verse two, or bearing much fruit. We see that in verse five. Now Jesus is saying, I chose you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain. I'm sure that the disciples were thinking, uh-uh no Jesus, no we chose you.

I I bet you Peter would protest because Peter said in in Matthew 19 verse 27, see we have left all and followed you. No, Peter. It was really Jesus choosing you to follow him and you just responded. We're only responding to the Lord's calling us, calling or appointing us to go forth and bear fruit for his kingdom. Oh you have to search your heart with this question. Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Oh you might bear fruit for your job and bear fruit for your family, and amen, God bless that. But are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God?

What are you doing for the kingdom that you are bearing fruit that God chose you, called you to bear fruit for him? Oh it's great that you come and sit in the seat and listen. That's great. Amen, God bless you. We appreciate you being here. But what fruit are you bearing for the kingdom? That's the question you have because Jesus chose us to bear much fruit and that our fruit should remain. This this this whole concept of Jesus mean because I thought I chose the Lord back in 1985. And the Lord said, no, you you didn't choose me, but I chose you to go forth and ultimately go to Newport News, Virginia and bear much fruit for me that your fruit should remain.

And because of this, I can ask the father for whatever I need to bear fruit here for him. And like the end of verse 16 says, and he will give it to me. Oh I'm very confident that no matter what up until this point, and I have you know, couple of decades, 20 plus years of being here, whatever I've asked the father to bear for us to bear fruit here as a church, he's provided for us. He provided facility after facility, uh things after thing. He provided because he chose me to come here to bear much fruit for him and that our fruit should remain, meaning that I know long after I'm gone if the Lord should tarry.

This church will continue.

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