The Word Reveals Him

Intro:

I shared with you last week from John 15:16 that the goal of the Christian life is to go and bear much fruit and that your fruit should remain. We looked at how reading and applying the word to our lives is fundamental to growth and development in the Christian life.

A root foundation of the message was that God shapes everything by the power of His word.

However, we must learn that growth and development in the Christian life are more than a checklist of rules and regulations to follow. This mentality is called “Legalism” which is preoccupied with the form of religious activity at the expense of substance. It focuses on obedience to laws or moral codes based on the assumption that such obedience is a means of gaining divine favor. Legalism is rooted in a works mentality: I Earned It, therefore God owes it to me to _______.

Legalism while seemingly admirable falls well short of true growth and development. You could attend church every time the doors are opened for 30 years and yet continue to live with an unrenewed mind (Romans 12:2) leaving you void of a relationship with Christ. Still living double-minded driven and tossed by the wind and waves of life (James 1:6-8).

The purpose of the word is to help us cultivate a lasting relationship where we know Him and are known by Him. It’s a relationship where obedience stems from Love not Obligation.

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Submit:

The Word of God isn’t a set of do’s and don’ts. It is an invitation to know Him. The word reveals who He is along with the framework of the relationship that He desires to have with us. The word reveals God’s desires for the relationship, necessary boundaries, how He wants to be treated, and how He views us. The goal is a healthy vibrant relationship between creator and creation.

Let me give that concept to you in a practical sense. My wife would not like for me to sleep with other women while married to her. Why? Because there is an expectation of faithfulness within our marriage covenant. The agreement we have gives boundaries to our relationship. These boundaries are good, and yield strength to our relationship.

In John 15:5-6 Jesus reveals a piece of the framework for healthy relationship, He says, ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

When you hear the word abide what comes to mind?

It is not a word that we readily use today. In reference to rules we could abide by the rules. In legal matters we could abide by the judges ruling.

In the Kingdom of God this word means to remain. It speaks of a place to dwell or live. The posture is one who has sat down to stay to inhabit a place.

With this understanding how do we abide in Him?

Abiding doesn’t always look religious. It is not necessarily outward religious activity, but often just time spent with Him. Literally its just being relational with Him.

Think about a close friend or spouse. Your time with them is not contractual. You mostly spend time together. Conversing, hanging out, going to your favorite restaurant, or coffee shop. You talk about life, how your day is going, the kids, hopes and dreams for the future, etc. Your relationship is not a transaction, method, or program. You simply spend time.

Let me take this idea a bit further. You don’t go up to someone you love and impatiently demand things all the time. Threatening to get your own way or you’ll leave. You instead give to one another freely because you love each other.

An intimate relationship is not contractual you give me this, and I will provide that. This may sound crass but to prove my point in a marriage you don’t go to your spouse and pay for sex. Why? Because that’s not relationship, its prostitution. It would be using that person selfishly for personal gratification.

However, when your in a healthy marriage you can initiate a time of intimacy because you have spent enough time together creating an avenue for it. Intimacy is not a demand but an expression of closeness that overflows our of your love for one another.

It’s easy to look at the benefits of God and want to shack up while its convenient. Having more of a contractual relationship than time spent with Him. I don’t think that our motives or intent is to treat God this way, but its possible for us to have this type of relationship. Lord I tithed so now you have to release your blessing. Lord I served, so give me favor. Lord I went to church so make everything in my life better with no problems.

We all could easily see that this mentality would just be one of user. Taking advantage for personal benefit while not truly caring for the other person in the relationship. I think we could all agree that a vibrant relationship with Christ would not include using Him for our personal gain.

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Apply:

Time spent with God in the word helps us to get to know Him. We can know a lot about God based off what others have said, but not know him ourselves. When we gain first hand knowledge it changes our heart posture. For example: Job 42:5-6 ““I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.””

Job had been questioning God because of the trials that he faced. After God revealed himself and spoke to Job it changed everything.

The Word of God leads us into transformation. When we truly begin to understand who He is and what He has done. We desire to change. For example: Galatians 3:13-14, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-9.

For example: When you study the word and realize that mankind was under the curse of the law and Jesus came and set us free from the curse, and not only that he blessed us so that we might receive the promise. Galatians 3:13 -14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

When you know the weight and severity of your sin and find out that Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

Or when you gain understanding of the richness of His grace Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

These truths and many others like it draw us to a place of transformation. Our heart begins to burn for the God of the Word. We long for more of His word. 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

When in proper relationship with God keeping within the confines of what God desires in relationship is not a difficult thing. It’s when our heart is wayward that we struggle.

In Matthew 15:8-9 Jesus reveals that we can just go through the motions using him. “‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”” This Vain worship reveals a distant heart.

There are two churches in the Book of Revelation that reveal this thought further.

1) The Church of Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-6

““To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

They were commended for many things but ultimately had forsaken their first love.

Remember our aim to is abide in Him. To love Him and serve him. It is possible to become so obsessed with the tasks of serving Jesus that we fall out of love with Jesus. He is our prize not the task.

2) The Church of Sardis: Revelation 3:1-6

““And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’”

This church was a show. There were outwardly alive but completely void. He called them to remember what they had heard in the gospel and repent or else they would eternity with Him.

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Closing:

Authentic relationship with Christ is not a show. Its not philanthropy. Its knowing Him. Knowing His ways. Walking in Humility and showing gratitude for the amazing things He has done. Allowing our lives to be transformed by the power of His word so that we might not just check a religious box each week and leave.

The outward works of Christianity (Christ-likeness) are an indicator of known identity. They are an outward expression of an intimate relationship. Relationship with Christ begins when open the word and allow it to become a time of communion and fellowship that leads us into deeper relationship. It may look different every time, but the result of that time with him is seen in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

My prayer this morning is that you will abide in His word and be lead into encounter with Christ, resulting in a transformed life.

Let’s Pray!

Salvation

For a deep hunger for the word.

Remind about connect lunch