Text: John 14:1-18
(1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (5) Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? (6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (7) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (13) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. Joh 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Quote: If ye love me - Do not show your love by grief at my departure merely, or by profession, but by obedience. Show LOVE through your “THE COMMITMENT OF LOVE.”
INTRODUCTION: One area of love for Christ could be seen in Church attendance.
Q: How many people go to church each Sunday?
A: For years, the Gallup Research Organization has come up with a consistent figure — 40 percent of all Americans said they attended worship on the previous weekend.
Recently, sociologists of religion have questioned that figure, saying Americans tend to exaggerate how often they attend. By counting the number of people who showed up at representative sample of churches, two researchers, Kirk Hadaway and Penny Marler found that only 20.4 percent of the population, or half the Gallup figure, attended church weekly.
As added proof for the accuracy of this smaller percentage of churchgoers, if 20.4% of Americans attended the nation's 350,000 congregations weekly then the average attendance would be 180 people per congregation.
Illustration: Why is it?
Church: Why is it, that on Sunday morning, hundreds of churches have empty pews?
Reading: Why is it, that since we believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God, and so few read it?
Prayer: Why is it, that since we know that our God is a prayer answering God, (and He is) and if He meant for us to ask, seek, and knock, then why is so little praying going on?
Witnessing: Why is it, that if we believe that there is a heaven & hell, why do we keep so quiet about the gospel? If we believe that there is no other name under Heaven whereby, we must be saved, then why are we not sharing the message of His saving grace?
The sad answer is there’s a lack of commitment! A lack of keeping our word!
Why do we commit and then not follow through with our commitment?
When we hear the command of Christ to Love God and Love our Neighbor, we assure ourselves that we indeed do; that our love for God and neighbor is true, it is real.
But when and where is it evidenced?
I make a commitment to pray… then I become too busy, too tired… and so I don’t pray!
I make a commitment to read His Word… I start off well, I buy a new Bible, I arrange a time and place, but soon I find cobwebs around the table and dust on the Bible.
I make a commitment to worship. Initially I didn’t dare miss a service. I refuse to be around people who discourage me from coming to church. I will not allow anything to interfere… then I find myself missing Sunday after Sunday for all sorts of reasons.
I make a commitment to tithe and give offerings. I want to give; I take joy in giving. I will even sacrifice… But then, I want to take a trip, then I want a new gadget.
Finally, I must admit that I am giving to the Lord only a tiny portion of what I should be giving, maybe I have stopped giving all together.
“Enough!” We cry out.
“You don’t understand! I am in hardship. I am discouraged. I am disappointed.”
Our Passage: Devastating news! John 14:1 “Troubled hearts!”
When the Disciples heard the news that He would be leaving them, they were filled with discouragement, disappointment, sadness, anxiety, and fear.
Soon they would be going through persecution!
What does Christ do? Read John 14:15
He doesn’t make them comfortable in their misery.
He doesn’t allow them to drown in self-pity.
He doesn’t give them time to get side-tracked.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
He said unto them, “Obey Me!”
Jesus reminded them of their commitment!
Jesus challenged them with His response to their sadness!
Jesus said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
The disciples were acting and speaking like you, and I normally do, “Oh Lord, I love you. Don’t leave me. I am so sad. I love you so very much. I don’t think I can go on without you!”
Jesus made the statement, “Do you love me?”
Jesus then challenges them to make A COMMITMENT of their LOVE!
Don’t show me that you love me by grieving over my departure.
Don’t show me your love by the tears rolling down yourr face.
Don’t show me that you love me by your words of love for me.
Don’t show me your love by telling others that you love me.
Here we see then, “THE COMMITMENT OF LOVE.”
Show me your love by being obedient to me!
That seems hard, but is that not what we read here?
Do you love God? Does your Life reflect your LOVE?
Yes, and I would like to pray, but I don’t have time.
Yes, and I would like to read, but I am too tired.
Yes, and I would like to worship, but I only have one day of rest.
Yes, and I would like to give, but I have bills to pay!
Jesus said, “I will have none of those flimsy excuses! If you love Me obey Me!
Joh 15:10-14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Jn 5:1-3 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
What about you? Can they see your “COMMITMENT OF LOVE?”
Jesus said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
“How can I do it?” We protest.
JESUS GIVES US POWERFUL REASONS:
1. His Word: 14:1-4 READ the TEXT
If you believe in God, then Believe in me.
Trust my promises.
This life is not the end, it is but a steppingstone to paradise!
2. His Power: 14:5-14 READ the TEXT
I am in the Father, he is in me and we are in you!
The works that we do, those who believe in us, shall do even greater!
I would not lead you into a commitment and then leave you during it. Whatever you promise to me in faith, I will help it to become a reality!
3. His Spirit: 14:15-18 READ the TEXT
His Spirit will provide us comfort through all trials, when going through valleys!
His Spirit will teach us, and remind us and guide us in our way.
His Spirit will give us the power as needed, the instruction needed for the journey!
OUR TEXT:
The situation at hand: They were sad. They would offer an excuse for not doing His will.
He accepts none of their excuses…
He said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
It is wonderful to know…
God will not leave us to go through any issue alone!
God has gone to prepare for us a mansion!
God will one day return for us!
God has promised us exceeding and great promises!
God had provided the power through the Holy Spirit to enable us to do whatever He commands of us!
But He expects obedience from us!
Jesus expects a “COMMITMENT OF LOVE?”
Jesus said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
WE might say, “I love Jesus, but I can’t!”
Jesus said, “If you love me… you can!”
The only clear evidence of our love is through our obedience!
The evidence is our “COMMITMENT OF LOVE?”
A Profession of love is not proof of your love!
A Proclamation of love is not proof of your love!
A Pronouncement of love is not proof of your love!
Only that which leads us to do all his will.
To love each other.
To deny self.
To take up our cross.
To follow him through the good, bad and ugly!
To be obedient even when your heart is troubled!
Only through a “COMMITMENT OF LOVE?”
CONCLUSION: Do we love Jesus?
What commitments have you made to Him?
The commitments you have made to God run deeper than any others you have made!
The commitments you have made to God take priority over all others you have made!
Do you love Him?
Illustration: What parent doesn’t long for their child to be obedient?
The evidence which we have that a child loves its parents is when that child is willing, without hesitation, gainsaying, or complaining, to do all that the parent requires him to do.
So, the disciples of Christ are required to show that they are attached to him supremely by yielding to all his requirements, and by patiently doing his will in the face of ridicule and opposition.
1Jn 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Illustration: Let me tell you a story using four typical Church Members. I’ll name them: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to do and everybody thought that somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but none of them did it, so it didn’t get done. Somebody got angry because it was everybody’s job. Everybody thought for sure that somebody would do it, but nobody asked anybody. In the end the job wasn’t done, and everybody blamed somebody when nobody asked anybody.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keeps my commandments.” John 14:15
INVITATION
I Will Serve Thee
I will serve Thee because I love Thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing before You found me
You have given life to me
Heartaches, broken pieces
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary
Your touch was what I longed for
You have given life to me.
© 1969 William J. Gaither, Inc. All rights controlled by Gaither Copyright Management.
Disclaimer: This sermon is a collection of several sources and I claim no originality to all, only as I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
