Sermon Tone Analysis

John 15:1-9

Pastor’s fellowship Calvary Bapt Ch/09 Nov 04/am - Faith Baptist Church/14 Nov 04/am First Baptist Church of Westminster/17 Jan 10/am – FBCW/1 Nov 2015/am-FBC Lafayette/6 Mar 2022/am

INTRO: In our text, Jesus is telling us that He is the vine, the main stem and root of the plant, and we are the branch, the off- shoot.

If we are to provide fruit, which is the purpose of any tree or plant, we must abide, or be a part of the vine/stem.

It all comes down to our relationship with God and are we abiding in him or are we just dead branches not producing eternal fruit.

All too often we are too busy doing things, even in our living for the Lord, actively doing what we think we need to do or where we need to be, and yet not where God wants us.

Are we asking, or do we ask God to bless what we are doing, when we should we be joining God where He already is working.

I think that I may have, at times, hindered some of my own ministries in the past and I am trying to avoid that same problem in this present ministry.

Don’t misunderstand, what we may be doing now is good, but are we just asking God to bless it/us and not being sure if God is in it.

Do we really want to discern what God has for our personal lives and ministry and not just what we think we need to be blessed, we must;

I. First and foremost, before anything, we must check our relationship with God.

It is at the heart of all blessing and working.

Jn 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you : continue ye in my love.”

That is a love relationship between God, Jesus & us!

A. Is it what it should be?

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?

1.

I know most, if not all you here love God and have given yourself to him.

Nevertheless, is your relationship what it is supposed to be? Are you right w/God at this moment?

a.

If you have not received Christ as Lord and Savior, you don’t and can’t have a personal relationship with Him because you are still trying to save yourself by what you do and who you are.

b.

Practicing Religion outside of surrendering to the Lord and faith in Jesus Christ.

Sin is a barrier to a proper relationship w/Lord if we are not careful.

Isa 59:2

2. Some Bible characters had a relationship w/God but were at times not where God was or where they should be.

David (murdered ,etc), Elijah (lost trust), Moses (disobedient), Noah (drunk), Abraham (too many wives), Isaac (lied), all of these men had a heart for God, yet they didn’t always do what was right in the sight of God b/c they weren’t where God was active in there lives.

a.

When they had a right relationship, they knew where God was at and His message for them was clear/plain.

Prov 15:19 “The way of the slothful man is as and hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.”

b.

God will make things plain to us.

Jn 16:25 “ These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.”

3. When their relationship was right/close with the Lord, God’s message to them was clear and they obeyed in faith and were blessed of God.

At those times they knew where God was at and didn’t go their own way.

(Doing what was right in their own eyes, the natural mans way)

a. Paving the way w/Good intentions alone and doing right doesn’t necessarily mean much or guarantee success.

1Cor 3:12,13 If we are doing what we think and not where God is working/doing we will pay a price/or lose a reward.

b.

When the time is right, we will know His will plainly, if we are watching for where he is already active.

(speaking of prayer and in a loving relationship with obedience) Seedline, etc.

B. Have we left our first love?

Rev 2:4

1.

The church at Ephesus was commended for what it was doing, but God rebuked them in that they left their first love.

2. We have spent much time preparing for life with our spouses, for our personal ministries and it’s people, but, have we prepared ourselves for a right relationship with God and being where He wants us.

3. Do we work as hard at our relationship w/God as we do at our lives, our marriages and relationships with God’s people?

Or have we left our first love in the busyness of business in the name of doing right.

C. Put the love back in your relationship with God.

Jn 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

1.

Just like with our personal relationships, it starts out great and may progressively deteriorates (not bad, just not as good) and seems to stagnate.

We still love and maybe even more, but we get comfortable, don’t appreciate like we did/take for granted, we work at it like a job and not a love relationship.

We leave our love in one way or another.

2. We do it with God too and don’t realize it sometimes.

a.

In the process of trying to do right, we forget about our relationship and that is key to that relationship, and not just trying to do/duty, but loving Him in everything we think and do.

Personal worship/corporate worship, etc.

b.

All we should want is what He wants, Paul said it best, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

1Cor 13:2

c.

Love is the key to everything, all laws of God hang on that one command & attribute.

Love God first, and others as self.

II.

God wants you to JOIN Him where He is.

Gen 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”

Abram was where God was at! (Maybe not always, but generally)

A. Or, are we asking God to join us.

Deu 1:42-43 “And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

So I spake unto you ; and ye would not hear….

and went presumptuously up into the hill.”

We too often ask: From a Church standpoint:

1. “God, we are doing all these good things having a Wednesday and Sunday evening services (Youth Clubs, TLUSA/AHG, FPU, Bible Institute, etc), therefore you should bless it.”“All

the churches that are growing have all these and other special programs, so for your sake and the gospel’s we will too.

God please bless it!

2. We also may say “God, it’s a new culture in our churches today if we want to reach people, saved and unsaved, We need to change our methods (not necessarily bad).

Please bless us.”

Too often not only is the method changed, but so is the message.

Why?

Because God isn’t there!

3. Have we asked God to join us in what we think he wants for us to do or will we ask Him if we can join Him where He is at.

4. Have you changed what you know is right because it doesn’t seem to work anymore or because everybody else is doing it and seem blessed.

B. God’s timing (a heavenly timetable-Jn 2:4-8) or ours.

Judges 20:18-48 Israel against Benjamites.

Sometimes we may not understand, but it is God’s timing!

Israel and the tribe of Benjamin were in a bad spiritual place at the time.

1.

We all say and believe it is in God’s timing not ours, but we all still try to affect the timing by doing things until God will bless them.

2. If it is really God’s timing that we are waiting for, then we will wait for Him to do something.

(prepare while we wait)

3. When He is ready for us, we will know because we will see where He is at.

Then it’s time and not sooner or later, now!

4. It takes time for God to prepare where He wants his activity, we need to be prepared, our people need to be prepared, our community, and everything else in between.

C. Are we preparing.

God didn’t allow the nation of Israel to go in the promised land until they were ready.

They had to be prepared in faith and to fight.

1. Are we prepared by our knowledge and strength.

Or by God’s.

2. We need to prepare in prayer, in building our character, getting knowledge and wisdom for God.

a.

Not by just doing things just because we think we should do them for whatever reason, unless it’s Gods reason/purpose.

D. Are we ready.

1.

We believe the preparation is over, when we’ve done all we can by what we think and what we have seen by others.