Holding God's Hand
Notes
Transcript
1
A LITTLE GIRL WAS STANDING ON
THE CURB OF A VERY BUSY
STREET
• SHE WANTED TO CROSS THE STREET
BUT SHE WAS INEXPERIENCED,
• THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND SHE
WAS AFRAID.
• AS THE LITTLE GIRL WAS ABOUT TO
STEP INTO THE STREET
• A BIG, STRONG POLICEMAN CAME
UP
• AND REACHED OUT FOR THE HAND
OF THE LITTLE GIRL
• PUTTING HER LITTLE HAND IN HIS
BIG HAND
• THE TWO OF THEM STEPPED OUT INTO
THE STREET
• THE HEART OF THE LITTLE GIRL WAS
STILL TREMBLING
• AS THEY CROSSED THE STREET SHE
KEPT HER EYES FIXED ON THEIR HANDS
• SHE DID NOT LOOK AT BIG CARS, SHE
ONLY SAW HER HAND IN HIS
• THEY MOVED AHEAD AND SOON
WERE SAFE ON THE OTHER SIDE
• THE LITTLE GIRL'S SAFETY, DID NOT
DEPEND UPON HER HOLDING ON
• TO THE POLICEMAN’S HAND, BUT
ON HIS HAND HOLDING ONTO HERS
• SEEING HER HAND WAS IN HIS HAND
• ASSURED HER SHE WOULD MAKE IT
ACROSS THE STREET
• IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE
CALLED TO HAVE
• CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE OF
OUR ETERNAL DESTINY
• WE NEED TO KNOW THAT LOVING
ONE ANOTHER
• IN ACTS OF SERVICE, SACRIFICIALLY
CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER
• CAN GREATLY HELP US IN HAVING
ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE
• ABOUT OUR SALVATION AND OUR
WALK WITH GOD
• TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
JOHN
• INSTRUCTING HIS READERS TO
LOVE OTHERS
• IN TRUE ACTS OF SERVICE NOT
JUST IN WORDS
• TURN TO 1 JOHN 3:18
• JOHN HAD EXPLAINED THAT WE
KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
• BY THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
GIVING HIS LIFE FOR US
• JOHN HAD TOLD THEM THEY
OUGHT TO LAY DOWN THEIR
LIVES FOR ONE ANOTHER
• HE HAD GONE ON TO SAY
THAT IF THEY HAVE ALL THEY
NEED
• THEY SHOULD NOT CLOSE
THEIR HEART TO THOSE IN
REAL NEED
1 JOHN 3:18–20
LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT
LOVE WITH WORD OR WITH
TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND
TRUTH. WE WILL KNOW BY THIS
THAT WE ARE OF THE TRUTH,
AND WILL ASSURE OUR HEART
BEFORE HIM IN WHATEVER
OUR HEART CONDEMNS US;
FOR GOD IS GREATER THAN
OUR HEART AND KNOWS ALL
THINGS.
HOLDING GOD’S HAND
MEANS ACTIONS NOT
WORDS
• THE TRUE TEST OF LOVE IS NOT
FOUND IN WHAT WE SAY
• THE TRUE TEST OF LOVE IS WHAT
WE ARE WILLING TO DO
• LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE
WITH WORD OR WITH TONGUE, BUT
IN DEED AND TRUTH.
• NOW UNDERSTAND NOT JUST ANY
DEEDS WILL DO
• NOTICE HOW JOHN SAYS IN DEED
AND TRUTH
• THIS WORD TRUTH IS ADDED
BECAUSE EVEN ACTIONS CAN BY
HYPOCRITICAL
• THE KIND OF DEEDS JOHN IS
TALKING ABOUT HERE
• ARE TRUE ACTS OF SACRIFICIAL
LOVE
• ACTS NOT MOTIVATED TO
IMPRESS OR GAIN FAVOR
• BUT DEEDS OF SERVICE DONE IN
LOVE
• WHEN WE DO TRUE ACTS OF
COMPASSION AND KINDNESS
• WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD AS
HE WOULD HAVE US LIVE
• WE ARE IN EFFECT HOLDING HIS
HAND AS WE WALK
• AND JUST LIKE THAT LITTLE
GIRL… WE CAN LOOK AT OUR
HAND IN HIS
• WHEN WE ARE DOING THESE
DEEDS OF TRUE LOVE
• WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD
• OF OUR WALK WITH GOD
HOLDING GOD’S HAND
CONFIRMS OUR POSITION
• WHEN WE KNOW WE ARE
WALKING WITH GOD
• ABIDING IN CHRIST WE WILL
HAVE ASSURANCE OF OUR
POSITION IN CHRIST
• IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST’S
WORK AT THE CROSS
• WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD,
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, ETERNALLY
SAVED…..
• BUT THE TRUTH IS SOMETIMES WE
DON’T FEEL CHILDREN OF GOD
• JOHN UNDERSTANDS THIS, HE
KNOWS THE FALSE TEACHERS
• HAVE BEEN TELLING THESE PEOPLE
THEY ARE NOT CHILDREN OF GOD
• THEY ARE NOT SAVED THEY ARE
NOT CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
• SO JOHN TELLS THEM SOMETHING
• THEY CAN LOOK AT, SOMETHING
THEY CAN SEE
• TO KNOW, TO CONFIRM THEIR
POSITION
• HE SAYS; WE WILL KNOW BY THIS
THAT WE ARE OF THE TRUTH,
• THE WORD THIS REFERS TO THEIR
TRUE DEEDS OF LOVE
• THEIR SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO ONE
ANOTHER
• AND JOHN TELLS THEM THEY CAN
KNOW BY THESE DEEDS
• THAT THEY ARE IN FACT “OF THE
TRUTH”…
• WHEN ONE IS OF THE TRUTH ONE IS
ALIGNED WITH JESUS CHRIST
JOHN 18:37
FOR THIS I HAVE COME INTO THE
WORLD, TO TESTIFY TO THE
TRUTH. EVERYONE WHO IS OF
THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE.”
• SO IF WE ARE DOING TRUE
DEEDS
• OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO ONE
ANOTHER
• NOT JUST TALKING A GOOD
GAME ABOUT HOW MUCH WE
LOVE PEOPLE
• WE ARE WALKING WITH,
ABIDING IN CHRIST
• OUR POSITION IS THAT OF CHILD
OF GOD, CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
• AND THIS SHOULD GIVE US
ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE
IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK
• WE CAN LOOK AT THESE ACTS
• AND SEE OUR HAND IN GOD’S HAND
AS WE WALK..
• AND THIS WILL ASSURE OUR HEART
BEFORE HIM, IN WHATEVER OUR
HEART CONDEMNS US.
• AND SOMETIMES OUR HEARTS NEED
ASSURANCE
HOLDING GOD’S HAND HELPS US WALK
• AT TIMES WE CAN BE PARALYZED BY
SELF CONDEMNATION
• THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE PAY MORE
ATTENTION TO OUR FEELINGS THAN
GOD’S WORD
• WE CAN END UP CONDEMNING OUR
SELVES IN MATTERS THAT
• GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN US FOR
• NOW THIS IS NOT TO SAY WE
SHOULD NEVER FEEL
CONDEMNATION
• WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE
WHERE THIS CONDEMNATION IS
COMING FROM
• WHEN WE FEEL CONVICTION
• WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTING US
• AND NOT OUR OWN HEARTS.
JOHN TELLS HIS READERS
• FOR GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR
HEART AND KNOWS ALL THINGS.
• THE WORLD SAYS OVER AND
OVER LISTEN TO YOUR HEART..
FOLLOW YOUR HEART..
• BUT, THE TRUTH IS OUR HEARTS
CAN BE VERY WRONG
JEREMIAH 17:9
“THE HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN
ALL ELSE AND IS DESPERATELY SICK;
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?
• OUR HEART MAY THINK SOME
ACTION IS PERFECTLY OK
• BUT GOD HAS SAID IT IS A GREAT SIN
• OUR HEART MAY CONVICT US THAT
SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE
• IS A TERRIBLE THING AND WE HAVE
GREAT GUILT
• AND YET GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS,
HE IS GREAT THAN OUR HEART…..
• WHEN WE ARE HOLDING GOD’S
HAND, WALKING WITH CHRIST
• ABIDING IN HIM, WE WILL NOT
LISTEN TO WHAT OUR HEART SAYS
• WE WILL LISTEN ONLY TO WHAT
GOD HAS SAID
• WE WILL REJECT SELF
CONDEMNATION AND SELF
CRITICISM
• OUR HEARTS CAN BE ASSURED THAT
WE ARE IN FACT HOLDING GOD’S HAND
• WALKING WITH HIM, ABIDING IN
CHRIST
• WHEN WE DO TRUE DEEDS OF
SACRIFICIAL SERVICE FOR OTHERS
• THESE NEED NOT BE BIG GRAND
GESTURES
• TRUE DEEDS OF SERVICE CAN BE AS
SIMPLE
• AS HELPING SOMEONE GET TO THE
DR’S OFFICE
• TAKING THEM A MEAL WHEN THEY
ARE NOT WELL
• HELPING THEM CHANGE A FLAT ON
THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
• THEY DO NOT NEED TO COST
GREAT SUMS OF MONEY
• THE KEY TO THESE DEEDS IS
THAT THEY BE FROM THE HEART
• OUT OF LOVE, NOT DONE TO
IMPRESS
• OR OUT OF SELF INTEREST
• BUT OUT OF CARE AND CONCERN
FOR ONE ANOTHER…
• AND WHEN WE DO THESE TRUE
DEEDS OF LOVE
• WE CAN BE ASSURED AND HAVE
CONFIDENCE
• THAT WE ARE IN FACT HOLDING
GOD’S HAND
THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY TOLD
OF MCLEOD CAMPBELL
• THE SCOTTISH PREACHER
• ONE DAY A FRIEND CAME TO HIM IN
SPIRITUAL CONFUSION
• "TELL ME, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE ALWAYS GOT HOLD OF
GOD?"
• FOR A LONG MINUTE THE
MINISTER WAS SILENT,
• AND THEN, WITH A GREAT
WISTFULNESS IN HIS EYES, HE
SAID:
• "HOW DO I KNOW THAT I HAVE
ALWAYS GOT HOLD OF GOD!
• I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW; BUT I
DO KNOW HE ALWAYS HAS HOLD
OF ME!"
• THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE
ASSURANCE
• TO KNOW THAT GOD ALWAYS HAS
A HOLD OF US (PAUSE)
• AND WHEN WE HAVE THIS
ASSURANCE
• WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE WHEN
WE TURN TO GOD IN PRAYER
1 JOHN 3:21–22
BELOVED, IF OUR HEART DOES NOT
CONDEMN US, WE HAVE CONFIDENCE
BEFORE GOD; AND WHATEVER WE
ASK WE RECEIVE FROM HIM, BECAUSE
WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND
DO THE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING
IN HIS SIGHT.
CONFIDENT THAT GOD HOLDS
OUR HAND
• WHEN WE ALLOW OUR HEART TO
GUIDE US AND NOT GOD
• WE CAN END UP LACKING
ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE
• THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANY OF US
• NOTICE HOW JOHN INCLUDES
HIMSELF BY SAYING OUR ,US AND
WE
• BELOVED, IF OUR HEART DOES NOT
CONDEMN US, WE HAVE
CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD;
• IF THE APOSTLE JOHN CAN HAVE
THIS HAPPEN TO HIM
• WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE IT CAN
HAPPEN TO US
• WE CAN AVOID LETTING OUR HEART
CONDEMN US
• BY UNDERSTANDING THAT
• GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART
AND KNOWS ALL THINGS
• WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THIS WE WILL
LISTEN TO GOD AND NOT OUR HEARTS
• WE WILL LEAN ON GOD AND NOT OUR
OWN UNDERSTANDING
• WHEN WE DO THIS WE WILL HAVE
CONFIDENCE TO COME TO GOD
• ONE WAY WE COME TO GOD IS IN
PRAYER
WE HOLD GOD’S HAND WHEN
WE PRAY
• OUR PRAYERS CAN PRAISE GOD
GIVING HIM THANKS FOR WHAT HE
HAS DONE
• OUR PRAYERS CAN CONTAIN
CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE FOR
OUR SINS
• OUR PRAYERS CAN BE FILLED WITH
APPEALS FOR THE NEEDS OF
OTHERS
• OUR PRAYERS CAN AND SHOULD
HAVE REQUESTS FOR OUR NEEDS
• JOHN TELLS HIS READERS THERE IS
A CONNECTION BETWEEN
• HAVING CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD
AND RECEIVING WHAT WE ASK FOR
• AND WHATEVER WE ASK WE
RECEIVE FROM HIM,
• THAT LITTLE WORD AND MEANS
THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN
• HAVING CONFIDENCE AND
RECEIVING WHAT WE ASK
• NOW THIS CONNECTION DOES
NOT MEAN IT IS THE
CONFIDENCE
• THAT MAKES US GET WHAT WE
ASK FOR.
• THE CONFIDENCE IS A RESULT OF
OUR HAND BEING IN GOD’S
HAND
• THE CONFIDENCE IS A RESULT OF
US WALKING WITH GOD,
ABIDING IN CHRIST
• AND THAT IS WHY WE GET WHAT
WE ASK
• IF WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD,
ABIDING IN CHRIST
• WE WILL NOT ASK FOR
ANYTHING OUT SIDE OF GOD’S
WILL
• AND THEREFORE WE WILL GET
WHAT WE ASK FOR
• JOHN MAKES THIS VERY CLEAR
LATER IN THIS SAME BOOK
1 JOHN 5:14
THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE
WHICH WE HAVE BEFORE
HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK
ANYTHING ACCORDING TO
HIS WILL, HE HEARS US.
HOLDING GOD’S HAND
MEANS OBEYING
• WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN
WE SIN
• WE HAVE LET GO OF GOD’S
HAND
• WE ARE NOT WALKING WITH
HIM
• AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND
WE ARE WALKING IN SIN
• IF WE ASK FOR SOMETHING
FROM GOD
• HE MAY WITH HOLD IT
• JOHN TELLS HIS READERS
• BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND DO THE
THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN
HIS SIGHT.
• THAT WORD BECAUSE MEANS
THIS IS THE REASON
• WHATEVER WE ASK WE RECEIVE
FROM HIM
• AGAIN THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE
EARN WHAT WE ASK FOR BY
OBEDIENCE
• IT IS NOT THAT WHEN OBEY WE
GET WHAT WE WANT
• IT IS THAT WHEN WE KEEP HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND DO THE
THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN
HIS SIGHT
• WE WILL ONLY ASK…. FOR THE
THINGS THAT ARE PART OF HIS
WILL
• AND THEREFORE WHATEVER WE
ASK WE RECEIVE FROM HIM
• OUR OBEDIENCE DOES NOT MAKE
GOD GIVE US WHAT WE ASK FOR
• OUR OBEDIENCE IS THE REASON WE
ONLY ASK FOR THINGS THAT ARE HIS
WILL
A MAN HAD A HABIT OF
GRUMBLING
• AT THE FOOD HIS WIFE PLACED
BEFORE HIM AT FAMILY MEALS.
• THEN HE WOULD ASK THE
BLESSING AND THANK GOD FOR
THE FOOD.
• ONE DAY AFTER HIS USUAL
COMBINATION COMPLAINT-PRAYER,
• HIS LITTLE GIRL ASKED, “DADDY,
DOES GOD HEAR US WHEN WE
PRAY?”
• “WHY, OF COURSE,” HE REPLIED. “HE
HEARS US EVERY TIME WE PRAY.”
• SHE PAUSED ON THIS A
MOMENT, AND ASKED,
• “DOES HE HEAR EVERYTHING WE
SAY THE REST OF THE TIME?”
• “YES, DEAR, EVERY WORD,” HE
REPLIED, ENCOURAGED THAT HE
HAD
• INSPIRED HIS DAUGHTER TO BE
CURIOUS ABOUT SPIRITUAL
MATTERS
• HOWEVER, HIS PRIDE WAS
QUICKLY TURNED TO HUMILITY
• AT HIS DAUGHTER’S NEXT
QUESTION.
• “THEN, WHICH DOES GOD
BELIEVE, WHEN YOU GRUMBLE
ABOUT THE FOOD OR WHEN
YOU THANK HIM FOR IT?”
• IF WE ARE NOT HOLDING GOD’S
HAND
• NOT ABIDING IN CHRIST IN OUR
DAILY LIFE
• HOW COULD WE POSSIBLY ASK
GOD FOR THINGS THAT ARE
PART OF HIS WILL?
• WE WILL ONLY ASK FOR THAT
WHICH WE ARE WALKING IN
• IF WE ARE WALKING IN SIN WE
WILL ASK FOR SINFUL THINGS
• IF WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD
WE WILL ASK FOR GODLY
THINGS
1 JOHN 3:23–24
THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT,
THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE NAME
OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND
LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS
HE COMMANDED US.
THE ONE WHO KEEPS HIS
COMMANDMENTS ABIDES IN
HIM, AND HE IN HIM. WE KNOW
BY THIS THAT HE ABIDES IN US,
BY THE SPIRIT WHOM HE HAS
GIVEN US.
HOW TO HOLD GOD’S HAND
• I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU…
BUT WHEN I HEAR THE WORD
COMMANDMENT
• MY MIND JUMPS RIGHT TO
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
• THIS MAY BE BECAUSE MY ONLY
EXPOSURE TO THE BIBLE
• BEFORE COME TO CHRIST WAS THE
MOVIE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
• THANKFUL JOHN MAKES IT CLEAR
WHAT COMMANDMENT HE IS
TALKING ABOUT
• THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT, THAT WE
BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF HIS SON
JESUS CHRIST, AND LOVE ONE
ANOTHER, JUST AS HE COMMANDED
US.
• NOW IT IS VERY CLEAR WHERE WE
HAVE THE COMMANDMENT
• TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIKE JESUS
LOVED US…
JOHN 13:34
“A NEW COMMANDMENT I
GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE
ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS I
HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU
ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
• BUT WHERE IS THE COMMAND TO
BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF HIS SON
JESUS CHRIST
JOHN 6:29
JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO
THEM, THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD,
THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM
HE HATH SENT.
• THE CONCEPT OF TRUSTING
IN THE NAME OF JESUS IS
• ALL OVER THE NEW
TESTAMENT (PAUSE)
• TO BELIEVE IN THE NAME
JESUS CHRIST
• MEANS TO TRUST, TO RELY ON,
TO DEPEND ON
• WHO HE SAYS HE IS, GOD COME
IN HUMAN FORM
• WHAT HE SAYS HE DID, LIVE A
SINLESS LIFE AND DIE ON THE
CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
• AND WHAT HE SAYS THE RESULT WILL
BE, THAT WE WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
• THIS IS HOW WE HOLD GOD’S HAND
• WE TRUST IN, RELY ON, BELIEVE IN
CHRIST
• AND WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER IN TRUE
DEEDS OF SERVICE
• AS WE DO THIS WE ARE WALKING
WITH CHRIST, YOU SEE
HOLDING GOD’S HAND IS ABIDING
• SO MUCH OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
• ABOUT ABIDING IN CHRIST,
WALKING WITH HIM
• AND RIGHT HERE WE HAVE A CLEAR
STATEMENT
• OF WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR
FELLOWSHIP
• THE ONE WHO KEEPS HIS
COMMANDMENTS ABIDES IN HIM,
AND HE IN HIM.
• THIS STATEMENT COMES RIGHT
AFTER TELLING US SPECIFICALLY
WHAT
• HIS COMMANDMENT IS
• BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF HIS
SON JESUS CHRIST, AND LOVE
ONE ANOTHER,
• WHEN WE BELIEVE IN CHRIST
• WHEN WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
• WE ARE ABIDING IN GOD,
WALKING WITH HIM
• WE ARE HOLDING HIS HAND
• BUT HOW DOES
GOD HOLD OUR HAND
• OUR PART IN THE HAND
HOLDING IS
• TRUSTING CHRIST AND LOVING
ONE ANOTHER
• THESE ARE THINGS WE DO
SOMETIMES
• AND FAIL AT OTHER TIMES
• BUT GOD ALWAYS HOLDS OUR
HAND
• WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT
IS ALWAYS WITH US
• WE KNOW BY THIS THAT HE ABIDES
IN US, BY THE SPIRIT WHOM HE HAS
GIVEN US.
• WE CAN KNOW GOD IS HOLDING
OUR HAND
• WHEN HIS SPIRIT WHICH ABIDES
IN US
• CONVICTS US WHEN WE SIN
• PROMPTS US TO LOVE OTHERS
• GUIDES US TO DO GOD’S WILL….
• OUR TRUE DEEDS OF SACRIFICIAL
LOVE
• ARE THE EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE
HOLDING GOD’S HAND
• ABIDING IN HIM
• THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMPTING US,
CONVICTING US GUIDING US
• IS THE EVIDENCE OF GOD
HOLDING OUR HAND
• WHEN WE NOTICE THESE
EVIDENCES IT CAN CHANGE OUR
WALK WITH GOD (PAUSE)
AFTER A TRIAL HAD BEEN
GOING ON FOR THREE DAYS,
• THE DEFENDANT—STOOD UP AND
APPROACHED THE JUDGE’S BENCH.
• “YOUR HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO
CHANGE MY PLEA
• FROM INNOCENT TO GUILTY OF THE
CHARGES”
• THE JUDGE ANGRILY BANGED HIS FIST
ON THE DESK.
• “IF YOU’RE GUILTY, WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY
SO IN THE FIRST PLACE
• AND SAVE THIS COURT A LOT OF TIME
AND INCONVENIENCE?” HE DEMANDED.
• THE DEFENDANT LOOKED UP WIDEEYED AND SAID,
• “WELL, WHEN THE TRIAL STARTED, I
THOUGHT I WAS INNOCENT,
• BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I HEARD ALL
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ME.”
• SOMETIMES WE MAKE UP OUR
MINDS ABOUT SOMETHING
• WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE
EVIDENCE….
• THE FALSE TEACHERS HAD TOLD
THESE PEOPLE
• THEY WERE NOT SAVED, NOT
GOING TO HEAVEN
• BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE
• THE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE THE
FALSE TEACHERS OFFERED
• JOHN TELLS THEM LOOK AT THE
EVIDENCE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD
• ARE YOU PRACTICING TRUE DEEDS
OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO ONE
ANOTHER?
• ARE YOU KEEPING GOD’S
COMMANDMENT TO TRUST
IN JESUS CHRIS?
• IS THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING
IN YOU?
• THESE ARE ALL EVIDENCES OF
YOUR SALVATION, YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
• THEY CAN GIVE YOU ASSURANCE
AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR
WALK WITH GOD….
SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE FIND OUR
SELVES
• STANDING ON THE CURB OF A VERY
BUSY STREET
• ONLY IT’S NOT CARS WHIZZING BY
• THE TRAFFIC IS ALL THE FEARS,
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS OF
THIS LIFE
• WE KNOW GOD CAN GET US
ACROSS THIS STREET
• BUT WE DON’T FEEL OUR HAND IN
HIS…..
• JOHN TELLS US HOW WE CAN KNOW
OUR HAND IS IN GOD’S
• IF WE ARE LOVING OTHERS NOT
JUST WITH WORDS
• BUT WITH TRUE DEEDS OF
SACRIFICIAL LOVE
• HELPING, SERVING OTHERS
• NOT FOR OUR OWN GAIN, NOT
TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD
• NOT TO IMPRESS OTHER PEOPLE
• BUT OUT OF LOVE, COMPASSION,
CARING FOR OTHERS…..
• WE CAN KNOW OUR HAND IS IN
GOD’S HAND
• THESE DO NOT NEED TO BE GRAND
GESTURES,
• EVERYDAY LITTLE THINGS THAT
TRULY SERVE THOSE IN NEED
• ARE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HERE
• TAKING SOMEONE A MEAL, HELPING
THEM GET TO THE DR’S OFFICE
• FIXING A FENCE, FEED THEIR
ANIMALS, RUNNING TO THE STORE
FOR THEM
• WATCHING THEIR KIDS
• DOING THESE THINGS OUT OF LOVE
FOR ONE ANOTHER
• CAN HELP US HAVE ASSURANCE AND
CONFIDENCE IN OUR WALK WITH
GOD
• WE CAN CONFIDENTLY PRAY TO GOD
FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO HIS
WILL
• AND HE WILL GIVE US ALL THAT
WE ASK AS WE TRUST IN CHRIST
• AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER
• BUT, WE MUST TRUST IN CHRIST
• WE DO NOT EARN GOD’ HELP BY
DOING GOOD DEEDS
• WE DO NOT LOVE ONE ANOTHER SO
THAT HE WILL LOVE US
• HE FIRST LOVED US WHEN HE CAME
IN THE FORM OF A MAN
• LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND DIED ON
THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
• WE TAKE GOD’S HAND WHEN WE
TRUST IN CHRIST’S WORK ON THE
CROSS
• IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO
HAS NOT TRUSTED….
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