Date: September 30th, 2007
Sermon Title: “Five Secrets of Living”
Speaker: Co- Pastor Geraldine Hughes
Opening Thoughts
Are we going to be a productive child of God or an unproductive Child of God? Are we a just man and/or woman of God (spiritual side) or are we just a man or woman of God (natural).
Key Points
Foundational Scripture(s) for Text Below: St. John 15:2-10 & 16, Galatians 5:22-23, 2Timothy 3:16-17, 1John 4:10 & 19
Secret #1 is Fruit Bearing (St. John 15:2)
1. The need for growth - Every branch that does not bear fruit, He (Jesus) will take away.
2. The need for new growth – The new growth is the pruning. He is going to shape and mold us.
3. The need for continual growth – That we bear more fruit.
Are we Baring or Barren?
Barren was a term used in Old Testament Times with women who could not bear children. They were looked down upon.
To be truly barren in the spiritual sense is being fruitless and non productive.
When we unite with Christ He is going to allow us to produce His fruit, not our own fruit.(St. John 15:16)
In order to get what you ask for from God, you must bear fruit!
(St. John 15:4-5)
The secret to living is fruit bearing. We are the branch, but Jesus is the vine. We must make sure we stay connected to the vine.
If we fall away from Christ, then He will no longer be there to hold us.
We must make the decision to abide in Him. Without Jesus we can’t do anything, so we will never ARRIVE!We must yield as a branch, so that Jesus can mold us.
We are not in a place to try God. We do not try Him, but we must trust in Him. Only by faith will we believe the Word of God is true.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
There are 9 characteristics, but only one fruit.
Giving off these 9 characteristics is bearing fruit.
The fruit symbolizes Christ character expressed in and through our lives.
(St. John 15: 8)
When you bear fruit you glorify God.
We are not manufactured. God makes us all different and unique. We want to be like Jesus, who is sinless. We must be followers, and this is not trying to duplicate another’s actions. But to follow the leader as he/she follows Christ.
We need to stay connected to God.
Secret # 2 of Fruit Bearing is Abiding (St. John 15:4)
Abiding- Being rooted and established in Jesus Christ.
Abide - to remain steadfast, faithful, continuous and to submit.
The race is not given to the swift or the strong, but to those who endure.
The branch cannot bear fruit in itself, unless it abides in Him.
You are going to have to submit to Him (Jesus Christ!)
Abiding guards us against outside influences. Our source and rest is in the Lord.
(St. John 15:2)
God will cut way anything that is not like Him. A part of the pruning process is cutting away our sinful ways.
For example in Agriculture: The first year the farmer must prune the field. The 2nd year the farmer trains the branches to grow in the correct form. The 3rd year the farmer prunes and harvests the field. The Farmer has to wait 3 years until his harvest. Sometimes the harvester might have to go back and prune it again. God as the vine dresser will not give up on us. We may prosper in one area of our walk with Him, but then He’ll prune us, cut us back in other areas so that they too will prosper.
Secret #3 to Abiding is Obeying
(St. John 15:6)
We should not go back to our old sin. In order to produce one must obey God and keep His commandments.(St. John 15:10)
We should be wrapped up in God’s love if we obey. Jesus will not require us to do anything that He has not accomplished. So in the flesh we can live a sinless life when we accept Jesus Christ.There is different levels of obedience (See examples below)
Child levels – Obeying only as not to receive the consequences of not obeying.
Adolescent level - Obeying in order to get something you want. In other words you do something to get something back.o
Bartering- agreeing to do something to get something else.(2Timothy 3:16 - 17)
This is our life and our source. His word will tell you how to make it through.
Secret# 4 of Obeying is Loving (St. John 15: 9 - 10)
Love God enough to obey Him!
4 types of Love
Storge (conditional love) - Family love (mom and dad, husband and wife). For example, as long as you make me happy I love you.
Phileo (conditional love) – Friendship love. For example, if you can’t watch my child, then you are not my friend.
Eros (conditional love) – This love is about physical attraction, self pleasure and feelings. For example, you don’t make love to your spouse because of weight gain.
Agape (unconditional love) – God kind of love, faith, loving your enemy type of love.
Secret# 5 of Loving is Knowing (1John 4:10 & 19)
God sent his only son (Jesus) to give us eternal life in Him. Without God’s love we don’t have love. God’s love has to be in our life for anything to come about.
Parakletos- the comforter, the holy spirit
The comforter dwelling on the inside is there to help us and lead us.
Knowing that God loved us so that He has given us an abundant life.