Bob Josey - Thriving in Jesus Chapter 14 & 15- Honoring the Son and Conclusion

SLIDES

Thriving in Jesus

Chapter 14 & 15

Honoring the Son and Conclusion

Introduction

Review of Rightly Related by Joel Stroud

The book we have studied for about four months by Pastor Joel Stroud is all about being Rightly Related to Jesus and going deeper in one’s relationship Him. Today as we conclude our study of this book. Frist, I would like for us to review what we have learned by discussing some of the highlights of each chapter. Then, I want to ask some questions for us to ruminate on and think about.

1.Since the book is entitled Rightly Related, to whom do we need to be righty related? Who is Jesus and what is so special about Him that we need to be rightly related. Why do we need to develop this relationship with Him?

2.How does one establish this relationship with Jesus? If a dying man asked you how they could enter heaven whey they died, what would you tell them?

Romans 3:23 – Man is a sinner.

Romans 6:23 – Sin separates us from God.

Romans 5:8 – Jesus died as our sin substitute.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by God’s grace through faith and never by works.

After going through the material in this book, do you feel your understanding and relationship with Jesus has improved in these areas that characterize a healthy relationship:

· Accessibility

· Communication

· Intimacy

· Love - Your commitment to Him and His commitment to you in the areas of loyalty and faithfulness

· Fellowship

· Appreciation

· Responsibility

· Trust

· Transparency

3.As with a home, an automobile, yard equipment, watches, tools, machines, and marriages etc. there needs to be routine maintenance to keep them running smoothly. There is also maintenance needed in the spiritual realm. We get out of fellowship with Jesus. Our standing with God never changes. We have eternal security or once saved, always saved. Even though our standing with God never changes. Our fellowship with God does. How does a break in fellowship occur? Yes, sin makes that possible. How do you deal with sin and iniquity in your life? Do you ignore, excuse, or rationalize wrongdoing? Do you justify wrong thoughts, words, actions, attitudes, or motives? Do you welcome the light of truth into your heart, agree with God, and confess your sin? Are you keeping short accounts with God, or is there a backlog of sin that you have conveniently forgotten? Are you more sensitive to sin than you were four months ago?

Then, how does one repair broken fellowship? Yes, confession! (1 John 1:9) But what is the process behind confession? Why do we have to confess to Jesus? Could anyone go directly to the judge in a courtroom and plead your case? There must be an advocate between you and the judge. What is that advocate called? An attorney or lawyer. Jesus is our advocate between us and the Father. He is seated at the right hand of the Father to come to our aid and to represent us as believers in Him.

1 John 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Rev 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

4.Jesus was obedient to everything the Father asked Him to do. How did Jesus know what the Father wanted Him to know or do?

John 14:10

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

John 5:19-20

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

How does God speak to the believer today?

Through the Bible

Through prayer

Through circumstances

Through other people

What makes God speaking to us through these different means possible? God speaks to us through these different means because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spriit speaks to our spirit to guide us, convicts us of sin, encourage us, teach us, assure of our salvation, etc.

5.Our next port of call was the Vine and the Branches found in John 15. The metaphor of the Vine and the Branches dealt with a believer’s intimate relationship with Jesus so that he can produce many good works. When the believer does not maintain that intimate relationship with Jesus, the believer is disciplined.

The word abide, remain as in some versions, is used 10 times in the metaphor of the vine and branches. To whom are we to abide or remain? Jesus. What does it mean to abide or remain in Jesus? To abide or remain in Jesus means that the believer will have an ongoing, vibrant, intimate relationship with Jesus. Basically it means to constantly remain in fellowship with Jesus. Can a believer produce real spiritual fruit by himself. No, it is not possible according to John 15:4.

Many believers say they love Jesus. What does the word love mean in this contextual setting. It means commitment. How does one know if they really know if they love Jesus. According to John 15:10 one knows if they love or are committed if they are keeping His commandments. Are there consequences for not keeping the commandments of the New Covenant and producing spiritual fruit? Yes, God’s discipline that can take many forms.

6.In chapter 6 we learned that believers in Jesus live under a new paradigm. A paradigm is defined as a model, pattern, or framework to be followed. What are the old and the new paradigms for a Jewish believer in Jesus. The old is the Law of Moses and the new one is the New Covenant. What one word describes the Law of Moses? Law. What one word describes the New Covenant? Grace.

In John 14:13-14 Jesus told the disciples that whatever one ask for, they will receive it. Are there any conditions to that promise from Jesus? Yes, as long as it God’s will. If we ask for something that James calls the wrong motive i.e. a selfish desire, we will not receive it. Also, to receive what we asked for, it must be in requested in Jesus name. Why must we pray in Jesus’ name? Believers should pray in Jesus’ name because He delivered us from our sins, because His name is superior to all names, and because of His sovereign authority.

7.In Ephesians 2:8-10 Paul tells us that we are saved by God’s grace and that He saved us so that we would produce good works that He ordained us to do during our lifetime on the earth. But how do we know what works He wants us to do? When we have an intimate relationship with the Lord and are sensitive to His leading, we will be observing where He will lead us to the activities He wants us to be involved in. He usually does this though prayer, Bible study, and observing where He is working. When He does call us to an activity, He will provide all the wisdom, strength, and material resourced to accomplish the task.

8.The word grace has several meanings. If we are reading our Bible, and come to the word grace, how do we know which meaning fits? Context is the way the meaning of grace or any other word is determined. As I said, the word grace has several meanings. What seem to be the two most important aspects of grace in the New Testament. One is unmerited favor or undeserved favor. That meaning for grace usually occurs in the contest of a sinner being saved. The second important meaning for the word grace is divine enablement. Divine enablement is the power, wisdom, and/or resources that comes from the Lord in times of need. When divine enablement is needed in our lives, we go to the throne of grace and ask for it.

Now I want to conclude this study by asking important questions for each of us to ruminate over and to make a few statements concerning Growing Deeper in one’s relationship to Jesus.

v We have been studying growing deeper in your relationship with Jesus for four months so, have you grown any deeper in Jesus?

v Has your relationship with Jesus improved in any area of your spiritual life?

v Do you feel your association with Jesus is more personal now then it was four months ago?

v Is your love relationship with Jesus more important than any other single factor in your life?

v Has the study of growing deeper in your relationship with Jesus changed you in a positive manner in any way?

v Are you totally committed to Jesus?

v Can you say what Paul said in Philippians 3:10 that your goal in life is to know him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering?

v Can you say that your love (commitment) for Jesus is with all your heart, soul, and mind?

v Are you completely fulfilled in your relationship with Jesus? If not, you are seeking other things to try to be fulfilled.

v Do look forward to and treasure your quiet time with Jesus on a daily basis? Adam and Eve literally walked with God in the garden every day. After they sinned, they hid and God wanted to know where they were. We should also have a time with God every day when we talk to Him and He talks to us, When we do not show up to fellowship with Him, does He call your name and say “Where are you, ______? On the day we do not fellowship with Jesus, we really don’t know what we may have missed.

v Do you read and study your Bible listening for God to speak to you personally from its pages?

v When you pray to the Father through Jesus who is our Mediator, do you feel that you are talking to a friend who loves you and want the best for you?

v Are you more interested in knowing God’s will for you on a daily basis more than you were four months ago?

v Are you more sensitive to God working around you now then you were four months ago. Do you listen or observe God calling you to be part of one of His activities?

One final thought. Janie Hammond quoted Charles Stanley in saying, “We were all born to a generation and a location.” The LORD placed us in this location in this generation with spiritual gifts and human abilities to reach the people in this location and this generation for Christ. He also placed us in this generation and this location with spiritual gifts and human abilities for the common good and to build up the Body Of Christ. How is that working out for you? Remember time gets shorter every day for each of us in this class. Also remember that getting old is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. Let’s commit to the LORD to redeem the time each and every day and to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.

SELAH