John Chapter 14:20-25

Do your actions suggest that you love the Lord, are you in God's word are you serving are you giving these things that we know are in his word and Jesus suggests that our obedience and our love are tied together, even to the point that you can see what level somebody is on scene to just say I love the Lord get is easy to do but to obey the Lord more difficult. This is a tough message just tough to deliver stuff to hear. This is the truth of God's word and as we dig into it. I'm not in a skip around her namby-pamby. This is not necessarily a what you would term a seeker sensitive message welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were blessed to have one of babies associate pastors with this pastor, DA DA, it's great to be here with you, and I got a question for you about your actions suggest that you love the Lord probably should. As followers of Jesus, our words should line up with her asked today pastor Dave explains what these words and actions should be as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 14 sounds good, so let's listen as McGee teaches, promises were in John chapter 14 were continuing our march through the gospel of John working to pick it up at verse 20. But first, let's pray Lord we thank you for the opportunity to sit here this morning and hear the timeless truths of your work.

Lord we ask that we would be strengthened, we would be encourage, we would be drawn closer to you and we thank you Lord for an opportunity to sit here this morning, we ask you would take the words and the letters off of this page and somehow changes change our hearts change our minds change our lives to follow you more closely. Lord we ask that you would open our hearts to your word and open your word to our hearts in Jesus name.

Everybody said amen and amen.

All right. Let's pick it up at verse 20 at that day you will know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you.

This is an interesting verse speaks of the intimate relationship that we have with the Lord. Once we ask the Lord to forgive us of our sin.

Now a lot of people say that they know God, but really what they're saying when they say that sometimes is that they know about God. So the question is not, do you know about God but do you know God, do you know God didn't you be hard-pressed to grow up in this country and not know about God but didn't know God and to have him in you as this verse states and there's a there's a beautiful sense of intimacy if you will with the Lord in this and that Jesus is in you ever thought about that Jesus is in you. Praise God. Verse 21 he who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

This is proven in a this is one of those verses that you don't here talk a lot because it's pretty forceful and what it saying that now understand verse 20 comes before verse 21 you taken note. You may want to write that down Olympic. The reason I'm saying is verse 21 is talking about the fellowship that we enjoy with the Lord and in part of that fellowship is us being obedient to the Lord now love the fellowship with the Lord and I'm covering this intentionally, for reasons I love the fellowship that I have with the Lord.

Also love the fellowship that I have with brothers and sisters here in the body. It's an awesome thing and you know it's something the world doesn't have the understanding that that we have a special treasure in our relationship with one another, but the world doesn't have the world can't really have fellowship. You may have notebook before your conversion, you may have had moments you know, whatever late night in the bar where you thought you were having fellowship or something but really true fellowship.

You can't have that outside of Jesus outside of relationship with Jesus. I'm talking about Jesus being in you, but you need to realize something other people that are around you this morning who invited the Lord into their heart to ask him to forgive them of their sins, they have Jesus in and you know it when I'm fellowship and we were fellowship in yesterday with workday and stuff. There's just something about that.

There's that recognition and say no. I like that Jesus and you. The reason I want to emphasize that is because were getting ready to talk about works and I want you to understand that the basis for works is our relationship with the Lord and not get that backwards works are not the basis of your relationship with the Lord. But your relationship with the Lord should lead you to works. This verse doesn't leave a lot of hope for those people who say they know the Lord love the Lord, but you don't see any fruit in their lives. You've probably met him, i.e. maybe you've even been one very well. I believe I know I just don't go to church and pretty much act like a pagan but I know all that stuff when you meant Jesus is saying someone who has my commandments will keep this is the deal when you begin to walk with the Lord.

When you begin to really understand what you've been forgiven of and understand the grace of God. It's a natural response to desire to serve. It's a natural response to desire to obey him. It's an unnatural response to not desire to do those things now when Jesus says these things. And again he's not mincing words here see when you really love the Lord, you have a desire to have his commandments and keep them in.

James talks about this James chapter 2 verse 18 says, but someone will say you have faith and I have works.

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. See, we tend to separate faith and works where the Bible simply doesn't separate know. Again, we are saved by grace that is plain from Scripture, but when you really comprehend that grace you desire to serve, you will need to be coerced into serving.

You may notice we don't have big long tearful pleas about this ministry needs help in that ministry needs up while because we have so much help in those ministries know because I want you to be motivated out of the grace of God.

James goes on the segment chapter 2 verse 26 for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also see this is part of why I encourage people to serve see if I and I have to check my heart if I am motivating people to serve because we need help in ministry is the wrong motivation to understand that that is the wrong motivation if I'm trying to motivate you to serve because we need more help. I want to encourage you to serve because that's what followers of Jesus do, that's what followers of Jesus do they seek to obey him.

They seek to serve him.

Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 says and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. I love this stir up know a couple other words first or agitate or excite, put that in perspective than it agitate somebody to good works. I am not interested in this lot did die social club form of Christianity that's taken over the world. I'm not interested in is not biblical is not biblical. What is biblical is the people of the body of Christ coming together as a team reaching out to the world and watching live stream. Hopefully everybody in here and get excited about that. A man so remember that when it's stir up because some of you might need to be agitated and deserve it. I'm okay with that. If God wants to use me as a agitating spoon.

I'm alright with that.

Praise God. Some of you might need to be excited and to serve praise the Lord. I'll do that to all your problems. I'll do whatever the Lord tells me to do and has me to do to encourage you into serving the Lord and to works because that's what's supposed to happen. That's what's close this Jesus is and what this is. This is what happens. It's not like now some of you will recall somebody saying here. He said you know what is. If you are following the Lord, you will be obedient you will begin to serve the Lord, you will need to be coerced. You will need to be manipulated.

You will have in you a desire to serve the Lord, it will happen naturally and I think what's happened is we have gotten to an unnatural state in the body of Christ, where we think it's the norm, not to do anything I don't understand that. I know that's the norm. Other places it will never be the norm here, it will never be the norm here.

Here's the thing you know the picture that I get of somebody that says I believe, but I'm not doing anything. It's a car without wheels. LMS US you pulled up to the stoplight was so you're kind of a racing sort of a guy or girl and you pull up to the spot this the stoplight in this course beside you.

Are you threatened me. Maybe the guy you know I mean are you Senegal and he's good he's got my daddy that low-end torque on a BMW man. I do know there's just no now you're sitting there going well on your guard, but you understand this is what the world looks at Christianity.

That's not obeying Jesus and serving. This is what they say we may sit stoplight go wrong and there going for all you believe it all yeah really do are you what are you doing with not much not have any wheels on the car that is an enemy that is really as unnatural as a Christian who is not serving and not doing the things that Jesus told him to do and we have to get out of our heads out of our hearts this thing of it. Okay not to follow him passionately.

It's okay not to serve him it's okay not to do what he is told us to do. We gotta get out of that because that is not a follower of Jesus, and I would hesitate to use the word Christian. Here's the life lesson when you understand what Jesus did enough the prayer prayer to ask him to forgive you of your sins and you have a thankfulness and a gratitude for what he did the blooms into a love for him that will obey and serve. This is supposed to be the natural progression of the Christian if you've had any other thing represented to you. May I suggest this morning that it was not a biblical model. This is the natural progression for a believer will be right back with more from David Magee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown papers seven cities in our listening audience for Allen, Louisiana, Fruitland and St. Mary city, Maryland situate Massachusetts.

Baldwin Benton Harbor in Vassar, Michigan, Lord, thank you for the cities. Thank you that we get the broadcast in the cities, Lord, thank you for everyone listening pray that you would encourage them right now. Help them in these last days to keep their mind and their eyes are heart focused on you hoping to be in your word every day Lord for encouragement. God, I pray that your mind and that you have a good plan you're going to take care of them. They don't have to fear the Lord for anyone listening who doesn't yet know you. I pray today that they will put their trust in you. Jesus simply receive the gift that you paid a high price for them to have.

Just by trusting in you in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 22 Judas Iscariot said they have explored how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world and Jesus answered and said to him. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my father will love them and we will come to him and make our home with him again.

Jesus in the final closing moments with these disciples is eight.

He is on a theme of saying you know what, if you left me do the things I said to do if you left me, keep my commandments. If you love me, keep my word. It's really easy to say I love the Lord is not that hard to say is that I love the Lord. But how do your actions are your words line up with your actions. Do your actions suggest that you love the Lord goes through mentally. Are you in God's word are you serving are you giving these things that we know are in his word and Jesus suggests that our obedience and our love our time together even to the point that you can see what level somebody is on with her obedience level, but their love for the Lord is seated to just say I love the Lord. I get is easy to do but to obey the Lord so more difficult and now I understand this is this is this is a tough message is tough to deliver. It's tough to hear but this is the truth of God's word and as we dig into it. I'm not in a skip around her namby-pamby and I understand this is not necessarily a what you would term a seeker sensitive message but this is biblically sensitive man. This is the stuff that Jesus is saying if you love me this stuff is supposed to be going on. Verse 24 he who does not love me does not keep my words and the word what you hear is not mine, but the father sent me.

Jesus is is been real plainspoken harassing you know if you love me you keep my commandments and do whatever ask you to do and if you don't love me then you will keep my words this sheds a lot of light on conversations that I've had in the past when talking to someone in and in.

You say you know. Do you know Jesus holy I know Jesus really where do you fellowship well I don't fellowship a go to church lately me know the church you now watch TV or watch a little TV you bodices for sake, not the fellowship hall.

Yeah, you have heard that verse four. What are you doing now you know I'm just hanging out her unibody know you have brothers and sisters at your question are you serving no according to the word of God that looks like some I doesn't love the Lord and if somebody doesn't love the Lord God has in all honesty I have to wonder if they know the Lord because the know the Lord is the love the Lord, the more you find out about Jesus the more in love. You fall with Jesus, the more as we dig in order to go all ask my Jesus, look what he's doing here.

Look what he's doing now. It's my Jesus, I love my Jesus, so it makes me wonder seen as followers of Jesus is his next life lesson. As followers of Jesus words should line up with her actions are words should line up with her actions. I'm not talking about you be in perfect I'm not tired about may be imperfect, we can freely admit anywhere this morning.

None of us are perfect, but we need to have in our heart a desire to be obedient to the Lord, that those times we fail those times we fall are exceptions to the rule and not the rule because we want to show the Lord that we love him and again Jesus ties love and obedience so closely. It's like it's like Nestlé quick you know when you when you take the powder and you mix it into the milk. It goes together.

If somebody came to you after you mix that all up and said hey get the powder back out got can't do it why because it's mixed together exactly you can't separate this concept of love and obedience always try.

Don't wait, we do try Jesus makes no separation when you take the next step in this thought process here because Jesus shares another theme towards the close of his life. About reaching the lost and reaching out the connection would be were acting in obedience to what he told us to do to reach the lost and we love it if we don't we don't live in.

I know that's convicting. I understand that's convicting but you know what Jesus is called upon us to walk in the great commission that the great omission, not the great suggestion. The great commission is.

I love the little story you know of an angel see in Jesus when he comes back, I think is okay you know you died for their sins, would supplant Mesa well after you left 11 guys down there looking to go spread the word angel goes those living on just because you angel said with plan B Jesus, there is no plan B hope that you understand that evangelism I think is something that every pastor should have a heart for every body should have a heart for, but I like you can get callused, get jaded can get distracted.

Do you cry out for the lost.

Is it a bird when you go through a Walmart shopping mall and look at all the people and look at their faces and though so many of them don't know what you know and are you okay with that. If you're okay with that. Something is wrong, as the Lord for more of a burden for the lost because he has told us to reach out to them and in obedience. We should be reaching out to them. We should be talking to them about the Lord about the good news. We read song lyrics to Keith Green and artist two went to be with the Lord many years ago, wrote a song called asleep in the light which you listen to these words do you see do you see all the people sinking down. Don't you care don't care are you gonna let them drown.

How can you be so none not to care if they come you close your eyes and pretend the jobs done will bless me Lord blessed me, Lord, you know it's all I ever hear when aches no one hurts no one even sheds when tears but he cries he weeps and he bleeds and he cares for your needs and you just lay back and keep soaking it in. Can't you see it such a sin, because he brings people to your door and you turn them away and you smile and say God bless you. Be at peace in all heaven just weeks because Jesus came to your door and you've left them out on the streets smell pastor, your you're getting out of balance here talking about reaching the lost MI don't think I am Jesus said in John chapter 4 verse 35 through 37 says do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from Outlook around you. Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest the harvesters or pay good wages in the fruit they harvest as people brought to eternal life.

What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike. It's an amazing thing that Jesus ask us to partner with him to reach the world.

I've given it some thought and I thought, you know, Lord, when it just be better if you just spoke in a thunderous voice from the sky explaining the gospel everybody. Maybe you know you actually write it in the sky and clouds are soft. That would really that would move over and let them but God is selected to use you in a to reach the lost. That his plan and we should be moved with compassion. Jesus in Matthew chapter 9 verse 36 it, but when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. And then he said to his disciples, the harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest is pray be moved with compassion. Charles Spurgeon said this not love this quote if they will perish.

Let them perish. With arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarranted and un-pray for.

If you can see the picture of us grabbing people around the legs trying to keep them from an eternal destiny without God getting closer to being moved with compassion to the reality is either we hear this colonnaded or being disobedient to what the Lord is told us to do. I never want to get to the place as a church where seen people get saved was something we used to do that we no longer do. If that happens and were were way off track. Verse 25.

These things I have spoken to you while being present with you but the helper of the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I sent to you. This is interesting because it goes back to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We talked about that last week but it says here that the Holy Spirit will be our teacher. What a wonderful ministry yet sea this morning as I'm talking to these things and you're listening to these things.

If you're really get them in your heart you know what's going on.

The Holy Spirit is teaching you the Holy Spirit is here this morning, teaching you, and opening things up. Perhaps like you've never seen them before, because that's what the Holy Spirit does now is an interesting and I've been in church a five fellowship in churches where you gauged what the Holy Spirit was doing. How crazy the service God made of people ran around the right man owes very powerful you know or they hollered, or they did this they did, but according to this Scripture. One of his main ministries is to teach, to teach friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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From the heart a day than we do. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues taking verse by verse in the gospel of God