Three simple rules (3)
Excerpts taken from the talk (and book) of Bishop Rueben P. Job by the same title
John 21: 15-17
Last two week
Do no harm
Do Good
Today = Stay in love with God
Wesley says = “Stay in love with God by attending all of the ordinances of God...”
All you legalists should have been here last two weeks
“Ordinance” to us means law
We have learned “Loving God, loving neighbor and loving self” fulfills all of the law
John W saw the word differently
Wesley said there are six ways of staying in love (walking closely) with God
= Six spiritual disciplines
Attending regular, public worship
The Lord’s Supper
Private and family prayer
Searching the scriptures
Bible study
Fasting
He believed these six were essential for the spiritual growth of all baptized believers
Central to our faithfulness to God in Christ
Consistent practice kept those who sought to follow Christ
In touch with the presence and power of Christ
So they could fulfill their desire to live as faithful disciples
To live in harmony with the living God who makes himself know through Jesus Christ and indwells us by the Holy Spirit
Live life from inside out
Spiritual disciplines keep us in the healing, redeeming presence and power that forms and transforms each of us more and more into the image of His son Jesus Christ
Holy living cannot be discovered, achieved and maintained without staying in Love with God
In our scripture reading today, Jesus told us of another way we can stay in love with God
Feeding His sheep, caring for others, providing for His lambs
Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves
Healing the pain, suffering and inequality of our world
It is impossible to be in love with God and not want to see God’s goodness and grace shared with the entire world
What if I am not there yet?
What if I do not have the spiritual life I would like to have?
What if, like Paul, I cannot do good, but do harm?
There is GOOD NEWS
God is a God of second chances
Third, fifth, tenth chances
Anyone that will follow the six disciplines will find...
It becomes more and more difficult to stay where you are
It becomes more and more difficult to continue in sin
Discernment becomes easier
It becomes easier and clearer to hear God’s voice
Choices become easier
If you want to keep sinning, do not follow Wesley’s spiritual disciplines
There are few guarantees in this life
This is one of them
If you attend church regularly,
Partake of the Lord’s Supper
Participate in regular private and family prayer
Study the Bible and Fast
You will find your life, thoughts, heart, feelings, love,
Changing beyond your dreams
Some difficulties
John 21: 18-19
We will ALL go places we do not want to go
Whether saved or not
In 19 Jesus says, “Follow me”
If you stay in love with Jesus, you can
These last 3 weeks promise a new and holy way of living
3 simple rules that promise to change the world
Rules that can be understood and practiced by everyone
A way of living that can guard your life from doing evil and help you to do good
A way of living that provides a way of staying in love with God in this world and the next
A way of living that promises a way to claim & enjoy your full inheritance as children of God
We will not avoid what the first disciples could not
There will be hardships
Will be temptations
We will stumble and fall
GOOD NEWS is we can rise above our denials of Christ, receive forgiveness and begin again
Rules are simple, but way is not easy
Only those with great courage and faith will walk this exciting and challenging way
There are other options, lesser options
Leading to lesser results range from poor to disaster
“My child, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord”
Are we ready to choose this costly way
I believe some are
Read more at www.opendoorstochrist.org
Rev. O. K. Neal
