I will rejoice greatly...
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
The lie of the enemy is to degrade the idea that you can actually walk in the Spirit and discern between the things of this world and the things of God.
Our moments of failure does not impact God’s promise of our future.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
He has enabled us by the gifting of His Spirit to walk in such a way that we have fellowship with one another and fellowship with Himself.
Why is this reality sometimes difficult for you and I to experience regularly?
Shame and guilt.
Truthfully, shame is a result from our sin. Our sin is our shame!
But we must remember in this world that it is not in our shame that we reside, but in His Spirit that is inside.
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Trust His Spirit
Trust His Spirit
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Some of the most known statements of all of scripture are found in this passage.
John begins this passage with identifying the call for us to love!
This isn’t just any type of love- it is an unconditional love! (Agape)
We don’t naturally understand this or can offer this on our own.
But God, being the creator and the essence of this love, has now presented this love to us in such a way that we can embody it as well.
So how do we come to understand this type of love?
Through his Son!
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And it by this love that we know we are abiding in Him! If His love is within us and expressing itself through us.
To Himself and to others!
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
So let me ask you… Do you know this love? Do you feel this love from God?
How do you know if you don’t?
Fear and shame cripple you.
Selfishness defines you.
Insecurity rules you.
Emptiness is within you.
Is there a constant urge to be “that guy” or “that girl?”
The one defined by the standards of those around you?
Do you long for the attention and acceptance of others?
Are you quick to grow angry, accusatory, or defensive?
Are you tired?
Do you feel like life isn’t getting better?
Like your level of endurance or tolerance is depleting...
Trust His love.
Trust His love.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Maybe we are experiencing those things because we haven’t been trusting God’s love for us and allowing that love to change us.
It begins with placing your faith and trust in Jesus, confessing that He is who He says He is and has done what He said He has done.
But until we take a step back and be honest with ourselves… We will never confess and trust God with the rest.
You can live a life free of fear and shame.
A life sought out to love and serve others.
One where you are secure in who you are.
One that is completely filled and satisfied.
You just have to know who you and and who’s you are.
The love of God is powerful...
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.
God’s love enables us to be confident conquerors.
Are you a confident conqueror?
John ends this chapter by reminding us of the entire picture.
When we are changed by God, others are affected too...
21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
We don’t love out of obligation, fear, or servitude. We love each other because we now can… Because He loved us first.
This is the beauty of what is in this room right now.
There is no club, no sorority, no team, no class, no click that can offer what God is offering through His love, by His church!
We are marked and we live and breathe by this love that is different than the world!
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
So you mean that God’s way of life is not burdensome?
It enables us to overcome the troubles and hardships of this world?
It is not our obedience that allows us this experience but simply the faith to obey?
It is by faith?!
Do you have this faith?!
And you know what the best part about this is?
This faith is not just the faith that will offer you a community and fellowship built on unconditional love, it will not just give you the endurance to withstand tough times or hardships, it will not just be truth for this time and season of life...
It actually offers you ETERNAL life, and not a life like the one on this earth,
But a life living in the means of perfection and complete restoration
One centered in a fellowship with perfect people, you included, serving and worshipping our perfect God!
In this eternal life, He will be glorified and you will be completely satisfied?
WHO DOESN’T WANT THIS?
This is what John is pointing to in
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
but look, he ties this bow in verses 11-12
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
And then look how he transitions to close this book...
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Trust His Word
Trust His Word
When we trust His word, look at what John says is available...
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
1.He will hear our prayers and answer them according to what is best for us.
He means this! He will even go to the extent of helping others because of your faith to seek His word and pray!
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
2. He will protect us all the days of our life...
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
3. He will give us understanding as we navigate this life in a broken world if we trust His word.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
But notice how he ends this book with a very sharp and intentional warning.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
What is an idol?
The little thing Indiana Jones takes from the hidden and secret aztec cave?
Obviously not.
Greek word is εἴδωλον (eidolon)
It’s definition means Phantom; an image reflected in the mirror, drawn in the sand; any unsubstantial form; an image of God.
In other words… Something in the place of God that does not have the actual ability to be God.
To be love. To offer purpose, confidence, protection, and grace..
John is saying, if you want to experience a life rooted in love, full of love, saved out of sin, one that is eternal...
Don’t listen to this world and seek these things from it.
It is only God and will only ever be God.
So here is my call to you.
If you want to bear this fruit, experience this salvation, and walk in a life filled with this love, we have to take care of the idols that are currently residing in the place of our one true God.
This calls for repentance.
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Trust God today… Repent from your sins.
Act now.
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My prayer for the future of this ministry...
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
I pray there will be a day when I hear of you walking faithfully and following the Lord with your whole heart.
I will rejoice greatly.
It has been a joy.