Learning the unforced rhythms of Grace (2)
Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Reading Scripture!
Reading Scripture!
John 15:1–17 (NIV84)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus uses an extended metaphor in which He is the true vine and His followers are the branches (John 15:1-5).
The imagery alludes to the Old Testament depictions of Israel as “the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts”(Isa 5:1-7)
Jesus, here puts His disciples into that Vineyard as the “branches” of His vine and they are called to remain in Him.
How though do we remain in Christ?
This is the question we are addressing in this series of sermons about the role of spiritual disciplines in our lives.
Just as there is a structure and a pattern to our daily lives and activities, so we need to build a structure and pattern into our life with Jesus as well - a pattern of daily devotion in which we stay in regular fellowship with Jesus and a pattern of Church attendance in which we stay in fellowship with God’s people and serve God, through His Church in the world.
This structure and pattern becomes part of our spiritual habits or rule of life and we tend to follow this as part of our regular worship and service plan our liturgical routine so to speak; our rhythm of life which saves our order from unregulated
chaos and spiritual inactivity!
And one of these regular habits is READING SCRIPTURE and this is vitally important in the Christian life!
Think of Psalm 1 for example and the importance of “meditating day and night” upon God’s word.
Think of Psalm 119:9-11
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Think of what Luke tells us of those NT believers in Acts 2:41-44 with its 4 components of devotion to “the Apostles teaching, fellowship; the breaking of bread and prayer!”
Think of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Reading the Bible is an essential aprt of our spiritual education as as Dallas Willard, often pointed out in his teaching on discipleship that, “everyone get’s an education” and “everyone is spiritually formed” because life is educational and formative. The only questions are, “what type of education are you receiving and how are you being spiritually formed?”
The Apostle Paul reminded us of this in Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Am I being transformed by the Spirit or deformed by the world?
As J.B Phillips puts it in his transliteration of that same passage: “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”
So let us come back to Jesus and see in this passage what He has to teach us about the place of Scripture in our discipleship…
We are Renewed in Christ as His Words enter into our Lives:
Now part of remaining in the Vine involves Christ’s “words living in you”(John 15:7) and it is this that I wish to refer to today as we seek to learn the “unforced rhythms of grace”(Petersen).
The Scripture is breathed out to us by the Holy Spirit and it is life-giving.
To illustrate this let us again look at - 2 Timothy 3:14-16
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
From his earliest day, Timothy was nurtured and directed by the Scriptures and this led to his salvation!
The Scriptures became life-giving to Timothy and he was energised and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God and brought to life in Christ, by them!
This true for all of us who find Christ, which is why Jesus says in John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
The adjective “clean” in this passage can also be translated ‘prune’ (Grk: καθαροί) can also mean ‘clean’ or ‘purify’. (see its cognates in John 13:10, 11; John 15:3)
Now this is not achieved merely through reading the Scripture, it happens when the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds and imprints the Scripture there; its seed going into our very hearts!
James therefore exhorts us in James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Can you recall how it happened in your own life?
How when you came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the Scriptures also came alive to you as the Holy Spirit enlightened your heart and mind?
It was no longer an interesting historical book to be studies; it became food and drink; or to change the metaphor slightly, it became medicine for you soul and you could joyfully say with the Psalmist: Psalm 119:97-105
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
2. We Maintain our Life in Christ as His Words Live in Us:
In John 15:2-3, there is a play on the words kathairō and katharos (‘to clean’ and ‘clean’). The disciples have already been rendered ‘clean’ through the word Jesus spoke to them but also the Father has also cleansed/pruned the disciples/ so that they would bear more fruit.
And how does the Father do this? through the word’ Jesus spoke to them.
It is as we hear and respond to the teaching of Jesus that we become more fruitful.
It is through the Scripture, energised by the Holy Spirit that we maintain our life in Christ as Jesus says in John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Let us return once again to what the Apostle Paul reminded us of in Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The point of application here is that we read Scripture not for information but for transformation
And scripture “is the primary way we are transformed by ‘the renewing of our mind.’ As we think God’s thoughts after HIm, we begin to develop the Mind of Christ. We begin to see the world as He sees it. Think how He thinks. Feel what He feels.”(John Mark Comer: Practising the Way. p.186).
We need to read Scripture not in order to arrive at right doctrine but in order to live with Jesus is right relationship!
We need to get into Scripture! To read it regularly and with a desire to hear from God.
We need to read it out loud to hear it; read it together with others to experience it; read it alone to breathe it in.
We need to read it slowly; read it prayerfully - (Lectio Divina - sacred reading approaching the Scriptures expecting God to speak in the present moment!) - read(Lectio); reflect(meditatio); respond (oratio) and worship and rest in God (contemplatio).
Why read in this way? To allow ourselves the space to hear it! Think of Psalm 39 for example. It opens with these words in verse 1 “I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” We could and in everly likelihood would read on very quickly from this verse but listen to this story of a Desert Father named, Abba Pambo, who was asked by a Christian to teach him a psalm and Pambo began with Psalm 39, reading the first verse and just as he was about to move on the brother stopped Abba Pambo saying, “This verse is enough for me; please God may I have the strength to learn it and put it into practice.”
We also need to read the Scriptures faithfully, as it was intended not looking for some opt out clause; we need to read it honestly “as in a mirror”(James).
We need to read it with an open hearted desire to hear from God.
And as we read, “we stay in the place where God is speaking to us, contemplating its meaning for our life and for our relationship. We receive it as it is given without judgment, wanting only to hear the heart of this One we love. Like the little boy Samuel, we approach the Scripture with utter openness and availability to God: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9).” - Barton, R. H. (2009). Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. IVP Formatio.
“The Word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you all day long, just like the words of someone you love. And just as you do not analyse the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did. That is all. . . . Do not ask “How shall I pass this on?” but “What does it say to me?” Then ponder this word long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.
But always remember - WORD AND SPIRIT!
The Bible is “living and active - Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Maintaining our life in Christ via the Holy Spirit applying the Scriptures to us is taught by Jesus in John 16:13-15
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
3. We Remain in the Love of Christ by Obeying HIs Commands:
Jesus reinforced this in John 15:9-10
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
To remain in Jesus is not a given, it is by obedience that we remain in Him. “Remaining’ in Jesus is a metaphor for continuing in fellowship with and loyalty to him.” (Kruse: John: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 4, p. 313).
How then do we do it?
We remain in fellowship with Jesus by obeying his word and through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit which produces ‘fruit’ that pleases the Father.
However, if we do not remain in fellowship with Jesus, there will be no fruit, as Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing.
And note the quality of the relationship if we are determined to abide in Christ!
(a). How it impacts our praying:
Jesus said in John 14:14-15
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.
(b). How it impacts our relationships:
(i). Our relationship with God - “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
“the Lord told the disciples he wanted them to experience the joy he had already found in obedience. Morris observes, “It is an inspiring thought that Jesus calls his followers into joy. The Christian life is not some shallow, insipid following of a traditional pattern. It is a life characterized by ‘unexhausted (and inexhaustible) power for fresh creation’ (Morris, p. 674) - Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 285). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
(ii). Our relationship with one another - 1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Note they are already “purified” and this happens “by obeying the truth” which is expressed in deep and sincere love expressed towards their fellow believers.
"John 15:13 is one of the most dramatic verses of the New Testament: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. But we sometimes forget verse 14 that links friendship with obedience to the command to love. Sometimes Christians get so busy figuring out how they should be loving God that they forget to love one another. In fact, a constant and genuine love for one another would be one way to show love for God” - Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 285). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
READING SCRIPTURE IS ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL WAYS OF MAINTAINING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. LEU THEN MAKE IT OUR REGULAR HABIT OF LIFE!
Dr. Wilbur Chapman referred to what he called :“My rule for Christian living” saying, The rule that governs my life is this: anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.” This simple rule may help you find a safe road for your feet along life’s road.” —The Sawdust Trail (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations p.738).
“Almighty God, give me wisdom to perceive You,
Intelligence to understand You,
Diligence to seek You,
Patience to wait for You,
Eyes to behold You,
A heart to meditate upon You and
Life to proclaim You,
Through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
Benedict of Nursia (AD 480-547).
