Jesus Used The Word To Equip Others Series

INTRODUCTION

• THE BIBLE VIDEO CLIP

• SLIDE #1

• As we have been looking at the importance that Jesus placed on the Word of God over the past few weeks, we will continue on that journey together today as we see the importance that Jesus placed on using the Word to equip people.

• As we strive to live for Jesus and as we endeavor to reach a lost world for Jesus, we have to have an objective foundation for those endeavors.

• Living for Jesus based merely on subjective emotions will not get us far because there will be days in which you do not FEEL like living for Jesus or even doing the right thing.

• As far as reaching others, employing only a subjective emotional appeal will not get us far either.

• To be effective, we need the emotional side; however, we also need the objective truth of the Word of God to guide us, as well as being able to offer answers to the questions that folks will have concerning, God, the world, salvation, and living life.

• SLIDE #2

• Hebrews 4:12 (CSB) For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints, and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• This passage is one of many which speaks of the power of the Word of God.

• Jesus understood the power of the Word, and He wanted to make sure that generation after generation would be equipped by the Word.

• The context of the passage in John 14, Jesus has told the disciples a significant number of things. He is preparing them for His departure, so He is trying to encourage them as well as to let them know they will not be alone when He is gone.

• SO today we are beginning our journey together in John 14, we will be in verses 23-26.

• Let’s begin with verse 23

• SLIDE #3

• John 14:23 (CSB) Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

• SLIDE #4

SERMON

It is important that we are equipped with the Word because…

I. Keeping the Word is tied to our love for Jesus.

• In verse 22, Judas (not that Judas) or Thaddaeus, from the context, he asked Jesus basically how He was going to reveal Himself to the world if He was gone.

• Jesus responds with the verses we are examining.

• In explaining how they, nor the other believers would not be left alone, Jesus describes HOW God the Father, and Jesus (and by implication) the Holy Spirit would reside within those who follow this.

• “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

• Jesus begins His answer with the word IF. IF shows us that for God to make a home within us, there is a condition.

• What is that condition?

• The condition is KEEPING MY (JESUS’) WORD.

• The word keep means much more that, I am going to carry my Bible around.

• It means much more than, oh, I know some stuff written in it.

• It even means more than, I have a Ph.D. in Bible knowledge.

• It means more than even memorizing the entire Bible word for word.

• The word KEEP means to watch over, guard, preserve, hold, observe.

• The sense of the word in this context is to CONFORM ONE’S ACTIONS OR PRACTICE TO…

• This issue of keeping His WORD has profound ramifications.

• I do want to clarify something, not one of us will perfectly keep His word, this is why we need GRACE, to bridge the gap between where we are and perfection.

• With that said, we should be folks who habitually KEEP His Word.

• Keeping His Word means that I will conform my actions, practice, my very life to those Words.

• When I see my life crosswise of His Word, I will ask God to help me make the correction, I will not be willfully, habitually disobedient to His Word.

• If I were arrested and put on trial accused of being a Christian, I would be found guilty as guilty can be.

• Keeping His Word is the acid test for whether we really love Jesus or if we love self more!

• When MY will and MY desires overrule me keeping God’s Word, that says a great deal about who I really love.

• It is like the person who tells their spouse they love them, yet cheat on them at every opportunity.