Now This

1 John 5:1–5 NLT

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

1. Now you are a child of God

If you believe that Jesus is the Christ then you are a child of God

If you believe then you have to confess that He is Lord

We take the Roman road

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9-10 “9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Now if you believe, then you are a child of God

2. Love will change your life

When you love someone, you change things in your life that jeopardize you relationship

When you love God you live according to His Word

When you love God, you learn to love His children

When you love God, you obey His Word

Love drove Jesus to the Cross

Love drove God to give His Son for you

Love changes people

Love keeps you from doing dumb things

Will Smith is wrong saying that Love makes you do crazy things

Love keeps you grounded

Love never fails

3. Love means accommodating of others

1 Cor 13:4-8 “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

Love looks to make the other comfortable

Love looks for the good in all things

Love looks for ways to enjoy life

Love looks at the silver lining

Love does not look for negatives

Love is not a burden

Many say to a married person, “Where is the ball and chain”

Love is not a ball and chain

Love is flexible but demanding

Love is an action

4. Children of God are victorious through faith

Heb 11:1 “1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Heb 11:6 “6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony

Go tell someone what God has done for you

Our testimony will recharge someone’s faith

We are victorious through faith

Speak things that are not as though they were

I heard a preacher testify how God provided for his wedding that testimony charged my faith to believe that God could provide for my wedding

I heard a testimony of Lester Sumrall casting out demons

My faith was charged to believe that the same Spirit that worked through him could work through me

I heard a testimony of God’s great healing power, that charged my faith to believe for my healing multiple times and healing for my children, wife, family, church family

I heard a testimony of God bringing the dead to life, that charged my faith to believe that God is still able to bring the dead to life, the dying to life

5. Believe in Jesus and you win

Acts 16:31 “31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.””

All things are possible for those who believe

Have faith in God

If you have faith like a mustard seed

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Don’t be afraid just believe

If you believe you can, then you will

First battle ground is to believe

Everything starts with an idea (vision) that has to become a thought

What you think about will be believed or not

If you don’t believe it, you stop thinking about it and the idea (vision) dies

If you believe it, you keep thinking about it

Your thinking turns to belief

Your belief turns to speech

Your speech leads to practice (action)

Your practice (action) makes a new life

Your new lifestyle awaits you