"REMAIN WITH JESUS, AND BE USEFUL" | John 15:9-17

Introduction

Welcome to BUMC on this first Sunday of the month of May. "Remain with Jesus and be useful” | John `5:9-17 that was read Last week, we were presented with a metaphor in which Jesus said “I am the true vain”, the Father gardener, and the disciples (You are) as branches.

The Father’s Expectation

That every branch of this great vain becomes a useful and productive branch for the Father’s glory.

To be fully committed to Christ as true followers or disciples not a mare fans. Jesus continued by saying, "As the father has loved me, I have also loved you." "Remain in my love." And then he proceeds to provide how we are to remain in his love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love. Just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love.

HOW IT WORK

The pattern: Jesus remain or stay with the Father’s love, he learned from the Father how to love, God in His love decided to seek the well-being of humanity compassionately, righteously, responsibly,and sacrificially. We know this because Jesus tells us in John 5:19

“Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.” Last week we spoke about the word "remain" can be understood as to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, to persevere, or continue in believing.

LOVING LIKE JESUS

None of us can decide to compassionately, righteously, responsibly, and sacrificially seek the well-being of others according to the Word of God without staying with Christ. Jesus commend us to love- to seek the welfare of others but it’s not nurture for us therefore Christ provided a means of how to love like him. We are called to stayed with Him and learned just as he stayed in his Father’s love. John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.”

Remain with Jesus and be useful

I want to think about the concept of someone staying with you or you staying with someone. Whenever someone stayed with you or when you stayed with someone, you are a recipient of that person's hospitality. Jesus is instructing his disciples and all true followers to stayed and experience Jesus’ love that comes from the Father.

QUESTION: WHAT DOES IT MEANS

To remain or stayed in the love of Jesus?

A life of joy- completed confidence or a sense of issuance that God is in control regardless of the circumstances of your life.

Usefulness - there is no greater joy in life than to be use by God in anyway God see fit and in any season God sees.

To remain in Jesus’ love is to depends on Him. To trust in Lord and not on our own effort

To stayed in Christ love is to be hated- you may be dislike because your way of life as a true follower of Christ is different from the world and world or the systems of the world don't like the things of God. Jesus says if they did it to me they will do it to you.

Example: Have you ever being the target of hate because you’re friend with or in the house of the person who is hated?

Key focus today: Holy Communion that prove God’s love toward us.