Building the Foundation

NRSV - John 15:7 - If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

As we get back to basics and the foundation of Love Christian Center, we continue with our statements of faith.

The first statement of faith says, “We believe - the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, and our only infallible authority.” and Pastor Ed told you about that last week.

Today our second statement of faith says…

We believe - that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible should have pre-eminence in the church, home, and each person's life. By doing this, there is a joyful, useful, and victorious Christian testimony.

The foundation of this church is Jesus Christ. We believe in his virgin birth, his sinless life, his crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension. If not for this belief, there would be no Love Christian Center.

The Bible tells the story of Jesus Christ, be it the Old or New Testament. The Old Testament points to his coming and the New Testament tells us about his birth, life, the miracles he did, the ministry he had, and the lives he saved.

There are those who think it takes so much to get salvation, then they pass those challenges on to others, and because they think salvation is hard, they try to make it almost impossible for others to attain. They will put up roadblocks, such as the way you dress, where you live, your gender and even your race. It’s been said that 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America.

But the truth is, salvation is just about one of the easiest things you can attain. Jesus made it easy for us; all of us.

And while it is true, we shouldn’t make it difficult for others to come to Christ, we also shouldn’t lower the standards of the church to that of the world.

The church, and when I say the church, I mean Christian men and women, have been instructed to live a life of holiness and that doesn’t change with age, gender, race, or denomination, Christianity is about a relationship, then a lifestyle. The church needs to give the world something to aspire to. The standard for the church is holiness and nothing should change that, not tradition, and not the times. Holiness is never old fashioned, and it never goes out of style.

So how do we achieve holiness? I’m so glad you ask. First by giving Jesus Christ and the Bible pre-eminence in your life. And you do that by abiding in Christ.

In the seventh verse of our text Jesus says, we know it’s Jesus speaking because if you have a certain type of Bible, you will find his words in red; so in the 7th verse Jesus says, “If you abide in me,”.

First who is you? This dialogue is taking place after the Last Supper, Jesus is speaking to the disciples and by extension to today’s believer. So as a believer today, you are to abide in Christ. To abide is to remain, to stay, to persevere, to stay connected to Christ. “…and my words abide in you”. Whose words? Christ’s words, and we find Christ’s words where? You got it, the Bible.

First things first. Jesus and the Bible must be first in the church. If the church is not abiding in the Word of God, how can it possibly lead the people to Christ? Where does the church get its direction? How does it instruct the people on how to live?

If the Word of God is not abiding in the church, then whose words are? Satan’s? The world’s? The pastor’s? How many know if it’s not God’s Word abiding in the church, it is impossible for the church to accomplish the mission for which it was created? What is that mission? Well…

• It’s not to raise money, although the church needs money to operate and do ministry.

• It’s not to build huge buildings, although we do need places to gather.

• It’s not to build mega churches, although the church universal should be a mega church.

• It’s not to put the pastor on a pedestal, although the pastor should be respected. Not necessarily because of who they are, but because of what they do.

So what is the mission? The primary mission of every church with its doors open in the name of Jesus Christ is to win souls for the Kingdom of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible should have pre-eminence in our home. There are very specific instructions for each member of the household.

In Joshua 24:15 we find these words, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua stated in no uncertain terms the direction his family would be going. Now let’s drill down on the family.

For husbands and wives, we see in Ephesians 5:21 husbands and wives are to, “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Wives, verse 22 tells us, “22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.”

Now there are some wives who may have issue with that word submit but understand that word does not mean subservient. To submit is to willingly follow him as he follows Christ.

• It doesn’t mean he will always be right.

• It doesn’t mean that what he says goes every time.

• It doesn’t mean that you are never to question him.

• And if you don’t agree and he won’t hear you, tell God.

Husbands look at verse 25 “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her...28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.”

What this means is…

• He is to be the priest in the home

• It means he should be in communication with God on how to best lead his family.

• It means he should be praying for and leading his wife and the family in prayer

• It means he is to sacrifice for her as Christ sacrificed himself for the church.

o Meaning supporting her spiritually, emotionally, and financially. But understand ladies and gentlemen, husbands are not God, their place is second only to God, even above the children.

Husbands and wives, we are in this thing together, or at least we should be.

The children were not left out. In the sixth chapter of Ephesians there are these instructions,

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

I believe that’s pretty clear. When parents are living according to their instructions, children should have less of a problem honoring them, although, you honor them not for how they treat you, but because you belong to the Lord and it’s the right thing to do.

God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb; he ordained you before the world began but, he used your parents to give you life.

This was God’s design for the home, not to be confused with God’s design for the church when it comes to gender and leadership.

♪All the single ladies, all the single ladies♪ — and men you’re not left out, these next scriptures cover everyone. 1 Peter 1:13 “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” There’s that word again.

So the church must put Jesus and the Bible first or how can it teach the people?

Then, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible are to have pre-eminence in each person’s life. Jesus set the standard when he came as a man. He was the perfect example. While we won’t live a perfect life, Romans 3:23says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So it’s not perfection that’s expected, but holiness is what God desires.

The Bible gives instructions and directions for our lives to know what direction we’re supposed to be going. It’s the road map, not just to heaven, but to life, and not just to life, but to abundant life.

Now, when we all get that part down, Jesus says, “…you can ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

That’s like getting a signed blank check from someone with limitless funds. On the surface it may sound dangerous, but when you are living your life to please God, you’re only going to ask for the things that please God. You’re only going to ask for and seek those things that glorify God and because you glorify God you will bear much fruit and become his disciples.

How do you become a disciple of Christ? Abide in Christ and abide in his love.

Love like the Father loved Jesus and gave him up for us. Love like Jesus loved and gave us life for us. They will know you are mine by the love you have one for another.

If you keep his commandments, you will abide in his love, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

Jesus is not asking us to do anything he hasn’t done, because he continues saying, “…just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

It may not be easy, but with the help of God, we can love the unlovable. In order to love the unlovable, we must keep at the forefront of our minds that Jesus died for them too, whoever they are, and whatever they’ve done. So, if they’re important to Jesus, then there is value in them.

So for the believer pre-eminence in each person’s life is evidenced by following God’s commands and the love they have for one another.

And… “By displaying love, there is a joyful, useful and victorious Christian testimony.” What’s my evidence? Verse 11 — “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Anybody need a little strength out there? Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. The joy that Jesus gives is there no matter what your circumstances are, no matter you situation. When your world seems to be falling apart and you have Jesus’ joy you can smile through your pain, through your sorrow, through your grief. You can even smile through your anger and disappointment. Your joy will be complete, lacking nothing

The joy of the Lord also comes with peace, peace that surpasses all understanding. That peace you can’t explain, but you’re glad you have it.

So as we look at this second statement of faith, it’s like building blocks. Each feeds into the next. The Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible should have pre-eminence, or first place, in the church, in the home, and in each person's life. And when we get it right, we have attributes that make us useful for the Kingdom. And when we’re useful for the Kingdom, we can have a victorious Christian testimony.

But everything has a beginning, and Christianity is no different, it begins in one place, with a confession and a belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, [him being Thomas] I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” When you can get that revelation, you can now receive salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 gives us the key, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

So it sounds a little like this, “Lord Jesus I believe that you are the Son of God, that you were born of a virgin, and you died for my sin. Please forgive me for my sin, I’m asking you to come into my heart, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. That’s it.

For our online viewers, if you prayed that prayer for the first time, you are now a believer, congratulations and welcome to the family. Send us a message so we can connect and pray with you.

Now get into a Bible believing, Bible teaching church, so you can go further into your journey. If that journey brings you to Love Christian Center, you’ll learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible having pre-eminence in the church, home, and each person's life. And, by doing this, there is a joyful, useful, and victorious Christian testimony.

And finally, know this, there can be no testimony, without a test. When you pass the test, don’t be ashamed of what you’ve gone through, share your story of deliverance

• so you can help someone else receive their deliverance,

• so you can help someone else receive their breakthrough,

• so you can help someone else receive their victory.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to share. I was looking at my fb posts of messages I’ve done live. When no one shares the message, we’re starting to consistently get close to or just a little over 100 views. When shared by one person the number of views increased to 171; when shared by 2 people the views increased to 250, at 4 shares, 290 views and with 7 shares there were 471 views. Your participation matters we ask you to simply share the message on fb so we can increase the number of people who #1 hear the message and possibly decide to receive Christ, 2 increase the LCC footprint and outreach, and 3 increase the chances of people physically coming into the church. So please ma’am, please sir, when you get home, when you’re on your way home, or if you’re already at home, go to fb and share the message.

Our desire is that you live your best life in Christ, and that you give Jesus and the Bible pre-eminence in your heart and your life.

Connect with us, maybe you have a prayer request, see our website at www.lovechristianctr.org for full information about the church, our location, how to join us for our weekly services on zoom if you’re not in the area, how to request prayer, or how to support the ministry through giving. Any support you give will be greatly appreciated.

If you’re in the area, join us at 3500 Hwy 5, Ste 101, Douglasville, GA. Sunday school begins at 8:45 for children and adults, Worship Service begins at 10:00 a.m. and we are back for Bible study this Wed at noon and 7:00 p.m.

If you’re here in the sanctuary and have not received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is a great day to do that.

If you have already made that crucial decision, but do not have a church home where you can work out your soul salvation and would like to join us in the work and cause of Christ, you’re welcome to come do that now.