- 4 weeks ago
What does it really mean to follow Jesus when the world turns against you? How can we stay deeply connected to Christ when life gets hard and loyalty is tested? This powerful message from John 15 reveals what true discipleship looks like in the face of opposition and challenges us to examine if we are truly ready for the cost of following the One who chose us first.
📝 Study Notes, Scripture List, Transcript, and more: https://medicallake.church/sermons/chosen-for-battle
📝 Study Notes, Scripture List, Transcript, and more: https://medicallake.church/sermons/chosen-for-battle
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00It's my privilege this morning to introduce to you our missionaries.
00:04This church supports them on a financial basis, on a monthly financial basis.
00:09And he'll explain a little bit about what his ministry is all about.
00:12But for those of you who were back here in the body in the year 2000, 2001, Stan and Audrey
00:18were here.
00:19And with your help and Stan and Audrey's leadership, this church is what it is today.
00:25You and the body back in 2000, working with Stan and Audrey, made what we see today happen.
00:32If it wasn't for you guys, it wouldn't happen.
00:35And so I'm so glad that I came in on the coattails of someone who worked together with you to
00:40make this church successful.
00:42And he's going to tell us a little bit about what God has done with his ministry since he's left
00:46here.
00:46And then he's going to preach to us the word of God.
00:48So I'm really excited.
00:50My life, thank you for letting us be with you this morning.
00:52He gave a very similar face and face in our introduction during the first service.
00:56And I thought it was a little bit too much.
00:57And I think that he gave a little bit too much, even more.
01:01So this time, nearly.
01:02But still, we appreciate the opportunity to be able to speak here this morning and spend some time in fellowship
01:08with you all.
01:11And very much thank you, Mark, for letting me share this message.
01:14I know it's not always easy on pastors to give over their speaking time and their classroom time on a
01:23Sunday morning.
01:24But you get to preach to us.
01:26Yeah, you get to preach to us.
01:27That's fine.
01:28So I was just a little bit worried.
01:29I mean, you know, after the first service, he'd figure out a way to kind of slide us out.
01:35Since he's good to go, if you're ready to go, I ain't in there, okay?
01:40Up until 1996, Audrey and I were associated with a church that's still our home church in Vancouver, Washington.
01:47And I pastored for many years.
01:49And we're back there right now, not as pastor, but just because it's our home church.
01:53And we live in Vancouver when we are not somewhere else.
01:56But back in the year 1996, toward the end, we began this little ministry that we refer to as helping
02:02churches that need help.
02:04And what that means is a little bit more than being a regular interim pastor.
02:08We call them a transitional pastor when the church is going through a transition,
02:12which often enough has involved some hard times or some trauma or some crises of some sort.
02:19And I think this was maybe the sixth church that we were with, or the fifth, we counted up.
02:24And we've been in another six or seven locations since we left Medical Lake here.
02:31In the year 2005, we were in Newt, Montana with the church.
02:35And in the year 2006, we were with Grace Church in Vienna, Austria,
02:40which is an international Bible church.
02:42Anglophone means English speaking.
02:44The services are in English.
02:45At least they were not in English, but everything was translated also into German.
02:49And international church people from many, many different countries were with it.
02:54And you people were there because you were there with us.
02:59And we thank you for that.
03:00And I want you to know that we appreciate you as a congregation of believers
03:04and your financial support, your prayer support.
03:08I know you're on a mission, and you're supposed to say things like that.
03:12But at the same time, I want you to know that when we go somewhere,
03:15we tell people that they're getting a deal, not because I'm great,
03:21but because other people are helping people like you to pay.
03:25And often because they're going through a crisis or a situation of some sort,
03:29maybe the finances are not quite what they would normally be in a lot of churches.
03:33And so you have been there, and we've told them people in various locations
03:39that you were there, and we want to thank you for that.
03:42Now, like Mark said, we'll give a little bit of a report back,
03:46say a few more things about, you know, Austria and Grace Church,
03:49and what it's like to serve there.
03:51What we did last year, right, that after the hour began,
03:55the light of Matthew service sometime.
03:57So if you want to hang out for that and everything, I guess,
03:59that's a good thing, right?
04:03But the object of this particular service is to share together some thoughts
04:07in the Word of God.
04:08So I thought, well, we'll look at John 15, because it's weekend here.
04:13So if you have a Bible, and you would like to turn to John 3, 15,
04:16any time you want to, begin right away and read right on through.
04:20If you don't have a Bible with you, there's one available in your queue.
04:23Pick it up and feel free to read or just simply listen.
04:26But as we get into John 15, I happen to think that this is a key
04:29and a very important chapter in the book of John.
04:33And the more I read it, the more I like it,
04:35but I will guarantee you, almost, by the time you leave here this morning,
04:39it won't be your favorite chapter.
04:42Because there's some things which are very difficult.
04:44There's some things which are very hard in John 15.
04:48Now, it starts out great.
04:50Everybody understands the passage that it starts out with.
04:53John 15 is the Bible, it's the three paragraphs.
04:56Jesus speaking in all of them.
04:58And it starts out great, because it's a portion that we're all familiar with,
05:02where Jesus says, I am the vine, and my father is the husbandman.
05:08A little bit later, he says, I am the vine, and you, meaning all of us,
05:13are the branches.
05:15He talks about bearing fruit, he talks about abiding again, and things like that.
05:19Now, that's the good part.
05:21Now, my guess is that all of you are quite familiar with that,
05:24and you may be familiar with the rest of the chapter as well.
05:26But in my observation, and experience at least,
05:29the rest of the chapter is the part that often doesn't get covered that much.
05:33Now, I can tell you this for sure,
05:35but when you begin to go and read about John 15 in various commentaries and books,
05:40the first paragraph is covered in lots of detail.
05:43The second two paragraphs are covered in a lot less detail,
05:47sometimes even almost skipped over.
05:50Well, in order to get us into John 15,
05:51I'd like to give you a little agree-disagree survey.
05:55You just take it on your own, answer the question in your own mind.
05:58Do I strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree,
06:03you know, that kind of a continuum?
06:04Here's question number one.
06:07Saying about yourself,
06:09I am a Christian, at least in the sense that I am not something else.
06:19Question number two.
06:21I am a Christian in the sense that I have understood the message of salvation,
06:26that Christ died for my sin,
06:28who was again to offer to me the gifts of eternal life.
06:30I have thought through his offer.
06:32I have made a decision to trust Christ as my Savior.
06:38The Greek is a Greek.
06:41There's a third in our little survey.
06:45I am a Christian in the sense that I've done that,
06:47and I've also grown far enough in the Lord,
06:50that when trials and tribulations,
06:52the hard things of life come upon me,
06:55I stay true to him.
06:58Not much could happen to shape my faith.
07:02The Greek is a Greek.
07:05Now, if you've gotten with us this far,
07:06if you're saying, you know, I agree with that,
07:08I want you to know that you're getting into some company
07:11where not all Christians reside.
07:15Because it's not atypical
07:18for a person to hit the hard times of life
07:22and then say,
07:23God, this isn't the way it was supposed to be.
07:26And even get angry with him sometimes
07:28and go off in a corner and pout for a little while
07:30or even say, I don't think I want this Christian business after all.
07:34See, it kind of becomes decisive
07:36when hard things begin to happen.
07:39Here's item number four on the survey.
07:43Having gotten that far,
07:44I can also say that if I were asked by the Lord
07:48to suffer hardship simply because I belong to Jesus,
07:52persecution is the word that we often use,
07:55I would be ready to suffer hostility against myself
07:58for his sake.
07:59I would be ready.
08:00Here's what can be.
08:01I would be ready to suffer loss of finances.
08:04I would be ready to suffer loss of job,
08:07to suffer loss of friendships,
08:09to have to undergo different experiences,
08:13physical harm, and so on,
08:14for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.
08:16Agree, disagree.
08:19I think a lot of believers are not there.
08:22I lay awake in bed at night wondering if I'm there.
08:26And that's why I put that little criticism
08:28insofar as one can be ready.
08:30And I suppose if you're saying,
08:32yeah, I think I'm there,
08:33then you're also saying things like,
08:36Lord, I'm glad I don't have to worry about it right now,
08:39but give me grace to do it if it ever comes to that.
08:42But, yes, we can be ready.
08:43You're saying, yes,
08:45I would be willing to be that loyal to my Savior.
08:48Now, as you say that,
08:49you see, that's what John 15 is really all about,
08:54this latter topic.
08:56Now, we're going to read a little bit of it here in just a minute,
08:59but let me give you some information
09:00as to where the information in John 15 took place.
09:06Now, Jesus is speaking on the very evening
09:12before his crucifixion.
09:15Picture the Lord Jesus
09:17with his closest disciples gathered around him
09:20in what we refer to as the upper room
09:22where the Passover, the Last Supper, took place.
09:27And now it's late in the evening.
09:29All that is over with.
09:31It may be as late as midnight.
09:32It may be even after midnight.
09:34It might already be on the day
09:37after what we would refer to as midnight
09:39of the piece of fiction.
09:41It might be getting well toward that.
09:43And then Jesus speaks words
09:46which we find in John 15.
09:48And if you happen to have a red letter edition
09:51of the Bible,
09:52you can turn to John 15
09:54and you will see that all of the words,
09:58I can't find them right now,
09:59you will see that all of the words are in red,
10:01meaning that all of the words that are in John 15
10:03are actual words spoken by Jesus.
10:09And he spoke these words
10:10to his 11 closest disciples,
10:12as Judas had already left.
10:15But by extension,
10:16the way we read the passage
10:17and the way he put things,
10:19we come to realize
10:20that the words that he spoke to them
10:21are not only to them,
10:23but also to each one of us.
10:26And especially as we come to the place,
10:28our walk with the Lord,
10:29that we understand
10:30that following Christ
10:32is a matter of loyalty,
10:33not simply a matter of getting the things
10:35by and by.
10:37Okay, so Jesus is talking these words
10:40in John 15,
10:42and compared to what he said,
10:44all of this at the same time,
10:45John 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17,
10:48all of this is one episode
10:50of Jesus together with his disciples.
10:52And when he gets through
10:53what we read in John 14,
10:55he gets up to John 15,
10:56there's such a dramatic,
10:59changing topic
11:00that some Bible students
11:02and ones who have studied this passage
11:04think that maybe he said these words
11:06after they actually left the upper room.
11:09You know, after they finished the Passover
11:11and the last upper,
11:13they left the upper room,
11:14they went along the trail,
11:15past the temple,
11:16down the Deuteron Valley,
11:17up into the Garden of Gethsemane
11:19where he prayed
11:19and ultimately Jesus was arrested.
11:21The trials began,
11:22the crucifixion day happened.
11:24Okay?
11:25And there's such a dramatic change
11:26in topic right here
11:27that some people think
11:28that they may have already
11:29left the upper room
11:30and perhaps paused
11:31at the temple.
11:33They think that maybe
11:34what he says here
11:35happened at the temple
11:36as they were standing
11:37in front of it
11:37because the temple apparently
11:39was decorated with vines
11:42and maybe even had
11:42real vines growing on it.
11:45Or maybe they actually
11:46gone down into the Deuteron Valley
11:48and were going up
11:49the other side of the hill,
11:50the mountain,
11:51where there are vineyards,
11:52where there were vineyards
11:53in Jesus' day.
11:54Maybe they paused
11:55at a vine
11:56and Jesus says
11:57the things
11:58that are found
11:59here in John 15.
12:01There's a dramatic
12:03change in topic.
12:04This is where he says
12:05in John 15
12:06at the beginning,
12:07I am the true vine
12:08and my father
12:09is the vine dresser.
12:10Verse 4 he says,
12:11I mean verse 1,
12:12a little bit further along
12:14he says,
12:14verse 5,
12:15I am the vine,
12:16you are the branches.
12:17Whoever abides in me
12:18and I am him,
12:19he is the bearish month's fruit.
12:20Apart from me
12:21you can do nothing.
12:22Apart from me
12:22you can do nothing.
12:23So you see,
12:25there's some reason,
12:27some feel,
12:27that he brought up
12:28this topic of vines
12:29to teach them
12:30a lesson right here.
12:32So this passage
12:34is divided into
12:34three paragraphs.
12:35The first paragraph
12:36of John 15,
12:37the second paragraph
12:38of John 15,
12:39and the third paragraph
12:40of John 15.
12:41Now the first paragraph
12:42of John 15
12:43has to do with
12:44this business
12:45about vines.
12:46I am the vine,
12:47he says,
12:48you are the branches.
12:49But the second paragraph,
12:51very interesting paragraph
12:52because I think
12:53that it's the second paragraph
12:55upon which all
12:56of the chapter
12:57of Jesus
12:57is trying to communicate
12:58to them
12:59in this topic
13:00in this conversation
13:01we're all sinners.
13:02The second paragraph
13:04is what is most key.
13:06And now when we come
13:07to the second paragraph
13:08or maybe just a little bit
13:10before you
13:10in a second here,
13:12I liken it to this.
13:15Jesus is meeting
13:17with his disciples
13:17and by extension
13:19I said he's talking
13:19to all of us as well
13:21and he says,
13:22I need to tell you
13:23what it's going to be like.
13:26He says,
13:27I chose you,
13:29we'll read that
13:29in just a second,
13:30you need to stay connected
13:31to me,
13:32you need to abide in me
13:33and I need to tell you
13:34what you're going to expect.
13:37And the way he puts
13:38the things which he says
13:39in the second paragraph
13:40of John 15
13:42is very similar,
13:43it seems to me,
13:45as to how
13:46a great general,
13:47which is about
13:48to lead his troops
13:49into battle,
13:50would approach things
13:51if he was given them
13:52a final talk
13:53before they
13:54went to war.
13:57And I gave a similar
13:58message to this,
13:59or I gave a similar
14:00message,
14:00so this is just an hour,
14:01but actually,
14:02for service.
14:03But I gave a similar
14:04message to this here
14:05not too long back.
14:07I know the church,
14:07we were in John 15
14:09and I thought it would
14:10be useful to use
14:11an illustration
14:14of likening Jesus
14:15to General George
14:16Patton,
14:17or maybe likening
14:19General George Patton
14:20to Jesus
14:20would be the way
14:21you put it.
14:22And so I did so,
14:23I'm going to do so
14:24right again right now,
14:25but then I found out
14:26after the service
14:26that many people
14:28who were a little bit
14:28younger,
14:29who were born,
14:30say, 1970 or later,
14:31didn't have any idea
14:32who General George
14:33Patton was.
14:34And so maybe I should
14:35just ask you,
14:36okay,
14:36how many of you know
14:36who George Patton is?
14:37Okay, good.
14:38Well, we've got a lot
14:39of hands there,
14:39so I won't make
14:40a complete explanation,
14:41but just to point out,
14:42the General George Patton
14:43was one of the great
14:44generals during World War II.
14:46The general that led
14:47the Third Army,
14:48and I happened to be
14:50born in the year
14:51of the Battle of the Bulge,
14:52so I guess that
14:53probably gave me
14:54an obvious guy
14:54that I never knew
14:55about him,
14:55you can read about
14:56him in the headlines,
14:57but later on,
14:58I learned about him,
14:59history, and so on.
15:00And probably some of you
15:01have seen that movie,
15:04simply called Patton,
15:05which starred George C. Scott,
15:07and it opens
15:08with a speech
15:11on General Patton
15:12to his troops.
15:15And he was known
15:16as a very blood and guts
15:18kind of guy.
15:19It's a dramatic speech
15:20with words in it,
15:21even though it was
15:22a movie done in the 70s,
15:23there probably would be
15:24better advice,
15:25not these right here.
15:27But the whole thing
15:29was that General Patton
15:30was saying,
15:30tomorrow we go into battle.
15:33Now here we are
15:34in John 15,
15:35and that's exactly
15:35what Jesus is saying.
15:38Halfway through
15:39this chapter,
15:41he says something
15:43like this,
15:44at least this is
15:45the way I picture
15:45the whole thing
15:46before we read the words.
15:482 is 11,
15:49he's saying,
15:50okay guys,
15:50we've enjoyed
15:51some good times together,
15:52haven't we?
15:53You've been with me
15:54now for some
15:55three years.
15:56We've tramped up
15:57and down the hills
15:58and through the valleys,
16:00climbed around
16:01and visited all
16:02the villages of Palestine,
16:03so many of them.
16:04We sat around
16:05the campfire night,
16:06we talked about
16:07our experiences,
16:08and I've told you
16:09many things.
16:09I've told you
16:12where I came from,
16:13who I am,
16:14what this is all about.
16:16You have fought
16:17with me very carefully
16:18and you've decided
16:19to be my followers.
16:21We've had some good times.
16:22We sat around
16:22the campfire,
16:23we've had cocoa
16:24and roasted hot dogs
16:25or whatever they did
16:26that was equivalent
16:27back then,
16:28he says.
16:28But now,
16:30tomorrow,
16:31tomorrow,
16:31he says to them,
16:33the real battle begins.
16:36Tomorrow,
16:36we face the forces of evil
16:39like we never have before.
16:41Tomorrow,
16:42we begin to fight
16:43the enemy.
16:44Tomorrow,
16:45we face the foul deeds
16:47of those who are against us.
16:49Tomorrow,
16:50we go into battle.
16:51Just like George Patton,
16:53said to his soldiers,
16:55Jesus is saying
16:56to those who are
16:57his loyal followers
16:58right here in the middle
16:59of John 15,
17:01and he says to them,
17:03we're going to go
17:04into battle tomorrow
17:05and I'm going to
17:06be the first wave.
17:08I will secure
17:09your salvation
17:09by my crucifixion
17:11on the cross
17:11by my resurrection
17:12from the dead.
17:14But I need to tell you
17:15some things.
17:16He says,
17:16I need to let you know
17:18that that won't be
17:20the end of evil.
17:21The forces of evil
17:22will still be prevalent
17:24in this world
17:25and there will be times
17:27when you yourselves
17:29will be required
17:30to face those forces.
17:32And so I'm here right now
17:34to tell you the three things
17:35he says in this speech.
17:36He says,
17:36the first thing is
17:37you need to be loyal to me
17:38because I have chosen you.
17:39The second thing is
17:40because I have chosen you
17:41and you are loyal to me,
17:43you must stay connected to me.
17:46And the third thing,
17:47I need to tell you
17:47what to expect.
17:49So right here
17:50in the middle of John 15,
17:51I'd like to read to you
17:52verse 16,
17:55because this is the center
17:56of what Jesus is saying
17:58in this whole chapter
17:59to what I understand it,
18:01where he says,
18:02and picture yourself
18:03as if you were there
18:04because by extension,
18:06in effect,
18:07we are there.
18:08We were there.
18:09John 15 verse 16,
18:11Jesus says,
18:13you did not choose me,
18:14you did not choose me,
18:16but I chose you
18:18and I appointed you
18:21that you should go
18:23and bear fruit
18:24and that your fruit
18:24should abide.
18:26You did not simply choose me,
18:30but I chose you.
18:34And he talks in this paragraph
18:35about what that means.
18:37And in the opening sentence,
18:39verse 12,
18:40he says,
18:41this is my commandment
18:42that you love one another.
18:46But wait a second here.
18:47This is the part
18:48that I think is very easy
18:50for us to misunderstand.
18:51He says,
18:52this is my commandment,
18:55but think of it
18:55as a great general
18:57who is going to war
18:58with saving his troops.
18:59This is my command
19:03that you love one another.
19:06And here we have difficulties
19:07because of our
19:11contemporary understanding
19:13of the word love
19:16in American and Western society.
19:20Because I think you'll agree with me
19:22that when we hear,
19:23when we use the word love,
19:26mostly there is wrapped up
19:28now or thinking
19:28the idea of sentimental affection.
19:31Like if I say something like,
19:34I just love Mark and Teresa,
19:36which is the truth,
19:38then you would feel
19:40God would say something
19:41very warm and fuzzy about them.
19:43Oh, they have a good friendship
19:44and he has warm, fuzzy feelings
19:47about him and so on and so forth.
19:48Isn't that right?
19:49Okay.
19:50Now see,
19:50that's the way that we tend
19:51to use the word love
19:53in our language nowadays.
19:56But here,
19:57Jesus used the word love.
19:58The only thing is
19:59that in the Greek language,
20:01which is the language
20:01of the New Testament
20:02that was written in you know,
20:03there are several words
20:04which are translated
20:05into the English word love.
20:07And none of those words
20:08means very much close
20:09to the way that we tend
20:11to use the word love
20:12in our English language
20:13these days.
20:14And this word especially,
20:16when Jesus said here
20:17in verse 12,
20:18this is my commandment
20:19that you love one another
20:20has very little to do
20:21with sentimental affection per se.
20:25Now it's not that Jesus
20:26didn't have sentimental affection
20:27for his disciples
20:29and then for us now.
20:30Certainly he does.
20:31But that's not what
20:32he was getting at.
20:33Because this particular
20:34word for love here,
20:36translated from the Greek
20:37into the English,
20:38is a lot closer to loyalty.
20:41In fact,
20:42the Old Testament word for love
20:43squares and directly keys
20:45on the whole concept of loyalty.
20:47Love has a lot more
20:49to do with loyalty
20:50and a vow
20:51than it does
20:53with sentimental affection.
20:56And so here,
20:57what he is saying is
20:58you need to be loyal to me.
21:01This is my commandment
21:02that you loyally love
21:05one another.
21:06Suppose I were to say
21:08something like
21:09I love my country.
21:11I really love my country.
21:13With sentimental affection
21:15doesn't work quite well.
21:17Quite as well.
21:18In that context.
21:19Isn't it true?
21:20You might sense me saying
21:22oh I love to travel around
21:23and look at the countryside
21:24and people are friendly
21:26and I just love America
21:28and that kind of thing.
21:28But usually when we say
21:29I love America
21:31we're talking about patriotism.
21:33Aren't we?
21:33I love my country.
21:35That's what he's talking about here.
21:36He's talking about
21:37something closer to
21:39patriotism.
21:39That is loyalty
21:40to his cause
21:43and to his kingdom.
21:46And so he says
21:47this is my command.
21:48You are on my team now.
21:50I have chosen
21:51you have not just chosen me
21:53but I have chosen you.
21:54You are on my team.
21:55I am on your team.
21:57You must love me.
21:58I must love you.
21:59There's loyalty.
22:00There's comradeship.
22:01There's patriotism if you will
22:03which is involved there.
22:04And so Jesus is saying this
22:07as he's getting rid of
22:08the very next day
22:09and to the cross.
22:11And he says
22:12these things then.
22:13First of all
22:14I have chosen you
22:18and you must remain
22:20connected closely to me
22:24because I need to tell you
22:25what you can expect
22:26and they're not all good things.
22:29And so he talks about
22:30this connection here
22:31in the first paragraph.
22:32This business about the vine.
22:34You see I like to talk
22:36about the second paragraph
22:37first because I think
22:38it's the vine leading up
22:40to what he says
22:40in the second paragraph.
22:41It's business about
22:42I've chosen you
22:43and I ask you for loyalty
22:44because that's where
22:45the key is.
22:46And you don't really
22:47understand the first paragraph
22:48talking about the vine
22:49until you get to
22:50the second paragraph.
22:52But the interesting thing
22:54is that the first paragraph
22:56where Jesus says
22:57I am the vine
22:57and you are the branches
22:59for some reason
23:00it's captured
23:00everybody's imagination.
23:02and it's captured
23:03all the Bible students' imagination.
23:05And so everybody
23:05gets interested
23:08in studying ghost workers
23:10and they never quite
23:11get to the second paragraph
23:12to figure out
23:13what Jesus is especially
23:14talking about.
23:15But we understand
23:16he's talking about
23:17having chosen them
23:18and he's going to tell them
23:19what to expect
23:20and then you realize
23:21that he's saying
23:22you need to stay connected
23:23to me
23:24then you realize
23:24what the first paragraph
23:25is all about.
23:27So here's what he says
23:28and by the way
23:28there are three
23:30there are three
23:31things in this paragraph
23:34the first paragraph
23:35from John 15
23:36about abiding
23:37that are usually
23:40puzzled over.
23:43The first is
23:44Jesus says
23:44I am the vine
23:45my father is the vine dresser
23:47and every branch of mine
23:47that does not bear fruit
23:49takes it away
23:50and every branch
23:50that does bear fruit
23:51he prunes it
23:52that it may bear more fruit.
23:54Okay
23:54we're not going to cover that.
23:56but most of the ink
23:58is spilled
23:58on trying to figure out
23:59what did Jesus mean
24:00right there.
24:02But we don't need
24:03to cover that right now
24:04because whatever
24:06all he may mean
24:07by that
24:08one thing is very clear
24:10and that's the primary
24:12thing that he says
24:13in this paragraph
24:13when he gets to these words
24:15in verse 4
24:16when he says
24:16abide in me
24:18and I in you
24:20because the branch
24:20cannot bear this fruit
24:22of itself
24:23unless it abides
24:24in the vine
24:24one thing for sure
24:26he is saying
24:26in this paragraph
24:27about abiding
24:28is
24:29you must remain
24:30connected to me.
24:37Right now
24:37that's easy to say
24:38isn't it?
24:39You must remain
24:40connected to me
24:41but what does that
24:42look like?
24:43What does it seem like?
24:44What is it actually like
24:45to be connected
24:47to Jesus?
24:50Abide in me
24:51means stay connected
24:53with Jesus.
24:55So I think
24:56that in our
24:57current day
24:59technology has
25:01come to the forefront
25:01which maybe makes
25:02it a little bit easier
25:03for us to understand
25:05these things.
25:06Now I'm wondering
25:08how many of you
25:09pack a cell phone
25:11around with you?
25:14Okay, quite a few.
25:15Now cell phones
25:16you see even
25:17even us
25:18who are younger
25:18and I see some
25:19of you who have
25:20raised your hand
25:21and even a little bit
25:22older than I am
25:22even those of us
25:24who are older
25:24back in cell phones.
25:26But now I've got to tell you
25:28see I am a product
25:29of the age of the telephone
25:31not a product
25:32of the age
25:33of the cell phone.
25:35And so the way
25:36the younger generation
25:37does the cell phone
25:38is different
25:39from the way
25:39that I do the cell phone.
25:41I find a cell phone
25:42to be a very handy device
25:44which I can place
25:45on my bell
25:47or somewhere
25:48and occasionally
25:49it rings.
25:51And I pull the thing out
25:52and I turn it on
25:53or whatever
25:53and I say hello
25:55and whoever's
25:56on the other side
25:57of the phone
25:57like it's just amazing
25:58to me that my son
25:59in Dallas, Texas
26:00he could bring
26:00my cell phone right now
26:01and let it in the car
26:02so I wouldn't answer it.
26:05But you know
26:05in just a second
26:06I can push one button
26:07and I could be talking
26:09to my son
26:09in Dallas, Texas
26:11in just a moment
26:12or two
26:13but I pick up
26:14the cell phone
26:15and I say hello
26:17and the person
26:17on the other end
26:18of the line
26:19maybe it would be you.
26:20You say
26:21blah blah blah blah
26:22and I say thank you
26:23and I say goodbye
26:24and I put it away
26:25and that's it
26:26until it rings again.
26:29But now
26:30if you're observing
26:30you know
26:31that's not exactly
26:33the technology
26:34of a cell phone.
26:35A cell phone
26:35is much more
26:36than that
26:37supposedly.
26:38it keeps people
26:39connected
26:41in a way
26:42that we're not used
26:42to connecting
26:43with people.
26:45Sometimes
26:45I would admit
26:46in a shallow way
26:48nonetheless
26:48because I ask
26:49my grandkids
26:50I have a 13 year old
26:51grandchild
26:52and he has
26:53a cell phone
26:53and he's always
26:55on that cell phone
26:55you know
26:56and all this
26:57and all that.
26:58I say
26:58what do you do
26:59on that thing
26:59well just how
27:00you and all that
27:00but he stays
27:01connected
27:02with all these
27:02little friends
27:03in the cast.
27:04You get the picture?
27:06How many of you
27:06use your cell phone
27:07for text messaging?
27:10Okay.
27:11That's your man.
27:14Taylor you've already
27:15received at least
27:16one text message
27:16in the service
27:17haven't you?
27:18Text messaging
27:19since we were
27:20sitting here.
27:21That's the internet
27:22because he's not
27:23just a church
27:24he's also text messaging.
27:26Well
27:26that has to be
27:27with being
27:29connected
27:30because a lot of
27:31people keep a cell phone
27:32on their ear
27:33all the time.
27:34Now we're seeing
27:35this is developing
27:36more and more
27:36in Vancouver,
27:37Washington
27:37but we came
27:38from Vienna
27:39last year
27:39as I mentioned
27:40to you
27:40we spent the year
27:412006 in Vienna
27:43and all of the
27:44younger generation
27:45you can watch
27:45things happening
27:46on the UBA
27:47and it's the subway
27:47okay
27:48in Vienna
27:49and everybody
27:50has a cell phone
27:51on their ear
27:52if they're under
27:52a certain age
27:53everybody
27:54and the things
27:55are always ringing
27:55and we can tell
27:56some of the things
27:57that they're saying
27:57but they're
27:58just staying
27:59connected
28:01and so it's
28:02occurred to me
28:02that you know
28:03whoever thought
28:03of the cell phone
28:04it wasn't that
28:05person's idea
28:07it was Jesus' idea
28:08where he says
28:09it's a body
28:09in me
28:10that's being
28:11connected with
28:12the father
28:13and as a matter
28:14of fact
28:14okay I don't know
28:15what network
28:16you're with
28:16I like the ends
28:18for T-Mobile
28:19right now
28:19in the basketball
28:20playoffs
28:20but say five ends
28:22I love those
28:22Charles Barkley
28:23ends
28:23and everybody
28:24watching those
28:24kinds of things
28:25maybe you only
28:25I'm a basketball fan
28:27okay
28:27I'm watching these
28:28phase five
28:29T-Mobile
28:29phase five ends
28:30and everything
28:31but you see
28:32when you get to
28:33chapter 16
28:35of the book
28:36of John
28:36here
28:37then Jesus
28:38tells how he's
28:39going to lay down
28:39the network
28:40see T-Mobile
28:41has one network
28:42whatever network
28:43you're on
28:44AT&T
28:45to be a singular
28:46okay
28:46or one of the
28:48other networks
28:48you know
28:49what's popular
28:50right here
28:50that's my difference
28:51okay
28:52you see
28:52what he laid
28:53down the network
28:53he says
28:54I'm going to
28:54send you
28:54the Holy Spirit
28:55so that you
28:56can stay
28:56connected with me
28:57now I happen
28:58to think
28:59that the
28:59modern use
29:00of a cell phone
29:01sorry about this
29:02Taylor
29:02and whatever your name is too
29:04sorry
29:06can be a distraction
29:07from staying
29:08connected with Jesus
29:09because if you're
29:10so connected
29:11if you're so
29:11concentrating
29:12on staying
29:13in touch
29:14with all your friends
29:15I think that's
29:15possible to tend
29:16to forget
29:17about Jesus
29:18I don't know
29:19how it is with you
29:20but whenever I walk
29:21along
29:21whenever I go
29:22somewhere
29:22I'm in a little
29:22kind of a
29:23continual connection
29:24conversation
29:25with Jesus
29:26it's almost as if
29:27there were a cell phone
29:28right there
29:28but I'm only
29:29the cell phone
29:29that's higher tech
29:33but that's what
29:34Jesus is saying
29:35while he
29:36he said
29:36you'd better
29:36stay connected
29:37you'd better
29:38stay in touch
29:39with me
29:42because I chose you
29:44and the lines
29:44of communication
29:45are important
29:47but I need
29:48to tell you
29:49what to expect
29:51the other thing
29:52in John 15
29:53the third thing
29:54that he talks about
29:55first is the
29:56dividing of branches
29:57and taking away
29:58and pruning
29:59the second thing
30:00in the crux
30:01of the whole
30:02matter
30:02the key point
30:03is you need
30:04to stay connected
30:05with me
30:05that's what this
30:06dividing is all
30:06about
30:07and then he says
30:09because
30:11that's the only
30:12way you can
30:12bear fruit
30:13and so those
30:14who study this
30:14passage
30:15discuss
30:16what does it mean
30:17to bear fruit
30:18for Jesus
30:19and a lot of
30:20answers have been
30:21given
30:21about all five
30:22or six
30:24and the two
30:25major answers
30:25that are given
30:27is maybe
30:27Jesus means
30:28that you're going
30:30to develop
30:30strong character
30:31qualities
30:31such as the
30:31fruit of the
30:32spirit
30:32Galatians 5
30:331-3
30:34certainly so
30:35love
30:36joy
30:36peace
30:36long
30:36suffering
30:37with
30:37beatitudes
30:38beautiful attitudes
30:39for Jesus
30:40what is it
30:41mostly born
30:41and so on
30:42as fruit
30:43fruit of character
30:44belonging to Christ
30:45certainly means that
30:48other people say
30:49that yes
30:50nonetheless
30:50I think that
30:52it really has
30:52a little bit more
30:53to do with
30:53bearing fruit
30:54in terms of
30:55seeing people
30:55come to Christ
30:56and growing
30:56and hid
30:58well
30:59certainly so
30:59you get to lay
31:00down the case
31:01of that
31:01other people say
31:01it has to do
31:02with answered prayer
31:03I'm going to tell you
31:04what I think
31:04that he's talking
31:05about here
31:05in the context
31:06of the whole chapter
31:08bearing fruit
31:10is
31:11any time
31:12you give
31:13evidence
31:14of your loyalty
31:15to Christ
31:17that's fruit
31:19any time
31:20you give
31:20evidence
31:21of your loyalty
31:21to Christ
31:22that's fruit
31:23bearing
31:25when you're
31:25joyful
31:26bearing fruit
31:27of the spirit
31:27like it says
31:28in Galatians 5
31:2820
31:29the office
31:29that is
31:29qualified
31:30when someone
31:31comes to Christ
31:32as a result
31:33of your witness
31:33or grows in you
31:34because it's
31:35something you do
31:35whether it be
31:36in formal service
31:37or informal
31:38certainly that's
31:38fruit
31:40but it's also
31:41a lot of other
31:41things because
31:42this is the thing
31:42Jesus said
31:43you are on
31:44my team
31:45I am on
31:46your team
31:46we are in
31:47this together
31:48there's a
31:49loyalty
31:49which we
31:50must have
31:51you must stay
31:52connected with me
31:53because I want to
31:54tell you what
31:54you can expect
31:55and it's going to
31:57be in a context
31:58where your
31:58loyalty to me
32:00could cost you
32:02something
32:02and when you
32:03give evidence
32:03of your
32:04loyalty to Christ
32:06in a harsh context
32:08that's by
32:09being fruit
32:09bearing
32:09bearing
32:10more fruit
32:11so we come to
32:12the third paragraph
32:13the third paragraph
32:15of what Jesus
32:15is talking about
32:16here is in
32:16verse 8p
32:17part of verse 18
32:18of chapter 3
32:19of chapter 15
32:22now follow me
32:23on this
32:25Jesus has said
32:27I have chosen
32:28you to be a
32:29loyal part of
32:30my team
32:32it is important
32:33for you to
32:33remain connected
32:34to me
32:35abiding
32:37because
32:37what I'm going
32:38to tell you
32:38now
32:38I need to tell
32:39you what to
32:39expect
32:41and we come
32:42to this
32:42what he talks
32:43of
32:43beginning in
32:44verse 18
32:45and this
32:46as far as
32:47I'm concerned
32:48and as far as
32:49you will be
32:50concerned also
32:51this is the
32:52hard and the
32:53harsh part
32:55of the gospel
32:56of John
32:58this is the
32:58part
32:59the most violent
33:00students and
33:00commentators
33:01those who write
33:01books on the
33:02topic
33:02and I've read
33:03several
33:04do not
33:05talk much
33:06about
33:07you read
33:08the commentaries
33:09and everybody
33:10goes right over
33:11this kind of
33:12because this
33:12is not the
33:13happy part
33:13of the book
33:13this is truly
33:15the heart
33:15of the unhappy
33:16part of the
33:17book of John
33:20because this
33:20is what Jesus
33:21said
33:22if the world
33:23hates you
33:24I want you
33:25to know
33:25that it has
33:26hated me
33:26before it
33:27hated you
33:29if you were
33:30of the world
33:30the world
33:30would love you
33:31as its own
33:32but because
33:32you are not
33:33of the world
33:33but I
33:34chose you
33:37there it is
33:37again
33:37out of the
33:38world
33:39therefore
33:40the world
33:41will hate
33:41you
33:44ever read
33:44that in the
33:45Bible before
33:47well I suppose
33:47so but isn't
33:48that the happy
33:49part of the
33:49Bible
33:50isn't that what
33:51you like to
33:51hear when you
33:51go to church
33:52on Sunday
33:52morning
33:55no we
33:56want a
33:56comforting
33:57message
33:59but these
33:59are the hard
34:00words because
34:00then the next
34:01thing he says
34:01is remember
34:04the word
34:04that I said
34:05to you
34:05when I said
34:06a servant
34:07is not
34:07better than
34:07his master
34:08if they
34:09persecuted me
34:10and they
34:11did
34:11they will
34:12also persecute
34:14you
34:14they well
34:15made
34:15I need to
34:16tell you
34:16what to
34:17expect
34:17we're going
34:18into battle
34:20his speech
34:21is at
34:21next
34:21tomorrow
34:22I'm going
34:23to secure
34:23your salvation
34:24on that
34:24hill
34:24right over
34:25there
34:28but that
34:29isn't going
34:29to be the
34:29end of
34:29evil
34:32because you're
34:32going to
34:32encounter
34:33the forces
34:33of evil
34:34in your
34:34own life
34:35and you
34:35better
34:36stay
34:36connected
34:36with me
34:36because
34:37there's
34:37going to
34:37be times
34:37when the
34:38fire gets
34:38hot
34:39and the
34:40war gets
34:40tough
34:42and he
34:42uses the
34:43big keyword
34:43right here
34:44persecution
34:47it's a word
34:47which we all
34:48use a whole
34:48lot
34:49especially in
34:50our context
34:50in the United
34:51States of
34:51America
34:51do we
34:52we don't
34:52suffer too
34:53much persecution
34:53for that
34:54I say
34:55thank you
34:55Lord
34:55you better
34:56say thank
34:56you
34:56Lord
34:56too
35:00I will
35:01give you
35:01a little
35:01affirmation
35:02of persecution
35:02I say
35:03that persecution
35:04is anytime
35:04you experience
35:05hostility
35:06simply for
35:07belonging to
35:08Christ
35:08whether that
35:09be large
35:10or little
35:10hostility
35:11anytime you
35:12experience
35:12hostility
35:13little or large
35:14in form
35:16simply because
35:17someone finds
35:18out that
35:19you're a
35:19Jesus guy
35:20or a
35:20Jesus lady
35:22okay
35:23now here
35:24in the United
35:24States
35:25we don't
35:25usually
35:26experience
35:27very harsh
35:28hostility
35:28I have
35:29known
35:30some
35:30who have
35:33experienced
35:33very harsh
35:34hostility
35:34here in the
35:35US
35:37but I've
35:37known quite
35:38a few
35:38who may be
35:39on their
35:39job
35:41or
35:41in a
35:42circle of
35:43friends
35:44people are
35:44less accepted
35:45when they
35:46find out
35:46that you're
35:46Christian
35:47I mean
35:47some people
35:47love it
35:48but other
35:48people don't
35:48love it
35:50when I
35:51talked a
35:51little bit
35:51on this
35:51passage here
35:52once before
35:53afterwards I
35:54asked a
35:54number of
35:55people as
35:55they were
35:55leaving
35:55and said
35:56come by
35:56and say
35:57have a
35:58good message
35:59all that
35:59sort of
36:00thing
36:00I said
36:00okay
36:01have you
36:01ever
36:01experienced
36:02persecution
36:03of any
36:03sort
36:04little
36:04even
36:05and many
36:05of them
36:06said no
36:06you know
36:06I really
36:07never had
36:07but a
36:08number of
36:08them say
36:09yes I
36:10actually have
36:10in fact
36:11just this
36:11last week
36:11on the
36:12job
36:12or in
36:13this
36:13situation
36:13or in
36:13that
36:13situation
36:15I'm
36:15wondering
36:16about you
36:16but now
36:17here's
36:17what
36:18the thing
36:19is that
36:19we live
36:20in a
36:21good place
36:21in good
36:21times
36:22all that
36:23might
36:23change
36:25I think
36:25the changes
36:26are very
36:26good that
36:26things could
36:27change
36:29here within
36:30the next
36:31within the
36:32lifetime of
36:33the generation
36:33that's under
36:34me at least
36:37but in
36:38much of
36:39the world
36:39living for
36:40Christ is
36:41an extremely
36:41harsh
36:42decision
36:42one that
36:43a person
36:44does not
36:45make
36:45lightly
36:47perhaps I'll
36:48mention a few
36:49things in the
36:50report back
36:51but in
36:52just this
36:53last week
36:53I've read
36:54articles in
36:55national news
36:56magazines
36:57about things
36:59happening in
36:59North Korea
37:01over 50,000
37:03people are
37:04believed to be
37:04incarcerated as
37:05Christians in
37:06North Korea
37:06right now
37:07simply because
37:08they name
37:09the name of
37:09Christ
37:11in Vietnam
37:13in Iraq
37:14that terrible
37:15case that
37:16happened two
37:16three weeks
37:17ago in
37:17Turkey
37:17which was
37:18in the
37:18news
37:19many of
37:19you have
37:19read about
37:20Marcus mentioned
37:21the connection
37:22with the
37:23missionary
37:23knows that
37:24very family
37:25were together
37:26where three
37:27were tortured
37:28brutally to death
37:31we lived in
37:32Vienna last
37:33year and
37:33worked with
37:33Grace Church
37:34International
37:34Bible Church
37:35which is
37:36made up of
37:38the composite
37:39of many
37:39different people
37:40from different
37:41nationalities
37:41most of them
37:42are not
37:44Viennese
37:44we only have
37:45a very very
37:45small portion
37:46and had a
37:46very small
37:46portion there
37:47of people who
37:48were German
37:48or Viennese
37:51most of them
37:51were from
37:52other locations
37:53because it's
37:53an international
37:54thing and
37:55many of them
37:56have come there
37:56to seek religious
37:57asylum from
37:58Iraq and
37:58from Iran
37:59especially
37:59from Iran
38:01and one
38:01family we
38:02sat around
38:02the table
38:03which had
38:03been there
38:03for about
38:04a year or
38:04so trying
38:05to learn
38:05German
38:06came from
38:07Kurdish
38:09Kurdish
38:09speaking part
38:10of Turkey
38:11and were
38:12pushed out
38:12of there
38:13as the
38:13Christians
38:13were by
38:14the
38:14Muslims
38:16they had
38:16a hard
38:16time speaking
38:17their parents
38:17had a hard
38:18time speaking
38:18English
38:18and they
38:19had a hard
38:19time
38:19communicating
38:20but we
38:20may do
38:22we had a
38:22little girl
38:23by the
38:24younger girl
38:24than that
38:25by the
38:25Bozher
38:25and Barshman
38:2611 years
38:27old
38:27they're in
38:27English
38:28quite well
38:28telling us
38:30how it
38:30was that
38:31a pastor
38:31in their
38:32town
38:32had been
38:33killed
38:34and the
38:34Muslims
38:34used his
38:35head for
38:35a football
38:36just thrown
38:36around
38:37and they
38:37witnessed
38:37those sorts
38:38of things
38:38and they
38:39were pushed
38:39down
38:40well they
38:41had to flee
38:42seeking
38:43religious
38:43asylum
38:44and these
38:44sorts of
38:44things
38:44happened
38:45in many
38:46places
38:46around the
38:47world
38:47in the
38:47Philippines
38:49we had
38:49one person
38:50who couldn't
38:50travel to the
38:51Philippines
38:51because it's
38:52too dangerous
38:52in certain
38:53islands
38:53in the
38:53Philippines
38:54we could
38:54go on
38:55and on
38:55about that
38:55but you
38:55see
38:56Jesus
38:56is saying
38:57I need
38:57to tell
38:58you
38:59what you
39:00can
39:00extract
39:01he says
39:02here at
39:02the end
39:02of the
39:03paragraph
39:04verse 24
39:06verse 25
39:08but the
39:09word that
39:09is written
39:10in their
39:10long
39:10let's see
39:11though I
39:11guess I'll
39:11go a little
39:12bit further
39:12yeah here
39:13you go
39:13verse 25
39:13they hated
39:14me without
39:14a cause
39:15they will
39:15hate you
39:16also
39:16and then
39:17you get
39:17to chapter
39:1716
39:18he finishes
39:18up this
39:19topic
39:19he says
39:20I have
39:21said all
39:21these things
39:21to you
39:22to keep
39:22you from
39:23falling away
39:23what does
39:24it mean
39:24by falling
39:24away
39:25well of course
39:25you see
39:26that triggers
39:26a lot of
39:26debate
39:27doesn't it
39:28that's where
39:29all the
39:30commentators
39:30and all the
39:31students like to
39:31talk about
39:32what it means
39:32I don't think
39:33he's talking
39:33about anything
39:34like losing
39:35salvation or
39:35anything along
39:36that line
39:36he's talking
39:37about flinching
39:37under fire
39:39when it really
39:40gets rough
39:40that's what
39:40he's talking
39:41about
39:41are you going
39:42to flinch
39:42under fire
39:43are you going
39:43to make it
39:44I love it
39:45in that speech
39:45by George
39:46Patton in the
39:46movie
39:47he says
39:48guys
39:49some of you
39:50are afraid
39:51he says
39:52to them
39:53he says
39:54you don't
39:55know what's
39:55going to
39:55happen
39:56when they
39:56start shooting
39:57at you
39:58says
39:59Patton says
40:01don't worry
40:02about it
40:02I'm going
40:03to tell you
40:04right now
40:05you'll know
40:05what to do
40:07see he's
40:08saying
40:08he's getting
40:09ready
40:09don't flinch
40:11under fire
40:12I sometimes
40:13think
40:13we Christians
40:15we don't
40:15hear enough
40:15of this
40:16don't flinch
40:17under fire
40:18be ready
40:19because
40:20there are evil
40:20forces out there
40:21and we're living
40:22in peace time
40:24or peace place
40:25we need to
40:25rejoice
40:26but when we
40:27find ourselves
40:27living in a
40:28place that's
40:28not a place
40:29of peace
40:29for Christians
40:30don't flinch
40:31under fire
40:32they can
40:33get ready
40:33tough
40:33so he
40:34goes on
40:34he says
40:35I've sent
40:35these things
40:36to you
40:36to keep
40:36them from
40:36falling away
40:37they will
40:38put you
40:38out of
40:39the synagogues
40:41I like to
40:42point out
40:42that nowadays
40:44we think
40:44about being
40:45put out
40:45of a church
40:46and people
40:47are put out
40:48of churches
40:48or leading
40:48churches
40:49at least
40:49all the time
40:50and if you
40:50put out
40:51of this church
40:51if you feel
40:52put out
40:52of someone
40:53in this church
40:54what do you
40:55do you
40:55simply go
40:55to another
40:56church
40:56or obviously
40:57at home
40:57and watch
40:57church
40:57on television
40:58or something
40:59like
40:59in other words
41:00this whole
41:00big deal
41:00to be put
41:01out of a church
41:02in the United
41:02States of America
41:03we just choose
41:03another one
41:04or it'll go
41:05but
41:07if you were
41:07put out
41:08of the synagogue
41:08in Jesus'
41:09day
41:09you were put
41:10out of life
41:11you couldn't
41:12shop
41:13you didn't
41:13have a circle
41:14of friends
41:14you couldn't
41:15work
41:15it was demand
41:16that's why
41:17that's why
41:17he's saying
41:17you better
41:18abide in me
41:19stay connected
41:20with me
41:20because they're
41:20going to
41:21put you
41:21out of the
41:21synagogues
41:22when they
41:22put you
41:22out of the
41:23synagogue
41:23you'll be
41:24connected
41:24with no one
41:25but me
41:26and one
41:26another
41:27and so he
41:28says
41:29that's where
41:30he says
41:30up here
41:30in verse 12
41:31this is my
41:31command
41:32that you
41:32loyally love
41:33one another
41:34you're going
41:34to need
41:34one another
41:35and you better
41:36stay connected
41:37with me
41:37and then he
41:38finishes up
41:38in chapter 16
41:40verse 2
41:40they will put
41:41you out of the
41:41synagogues
41:42indeed
41:42the hour is
41:43coming when
41:45the worst
41:46words
41:47when it comes
41:48to practical
41:48application
41:49in the book
41:50of john
41:50the worst
41:50words in
41:51the whole
41:51book of
41:51john
41:54whoever
41:54kills you
41:55will think
41:56that he is
41:56offering
41:57service to
41:58god
42:01you can see
42:01that little
42:02story from
42:02turkey
42:04just three
42:05weeks old
42:05and it really
42:06happened
42:06those three
42:07believers
42:08stood
42:09for crimes
42:11and they
42:12were killed
42:14by ones
42:16who fell
42:17they were
42:18doing service
42:18to god
42:19in this case
42:21their god
42:22alone
42:26jesus says
42:27in john
42:2815
42:28i want you
42:30know
42:30you didn't
42:31choose me
42:32i chose you
42:33i chose you
42:34to be part
42:34of my
42:35loyalty
42:37you had
42:37better
42:38stay connected
42:38via me
42:40and i
42:40am you
42:41be ready
42:42to give
42:42evidence
42:43fruit
42:44be ready
42:45to give
42:45evidence
42:46of your
42:47loyalty
42:48to me
42:49because i
42:50need to
42:50tell you
42:50tomorrow the
42:52battle begins
42:52on a hill
42:53called calvary
42:54but the
42:55forces of
42:55evil don't
42:56go away
42:56tomorrow
42:57i need to
42:58tell you
42:59what you
43:00can expect
43:01hours coming
43:01hours are
43:02coming
43:03in certain
43:04places
43:05certain locations
43:06certain times
43:07and certain
43:07ways
43:09and you'll
43:10find out
43:10where it
43:10is
43:11to be
43:11loyal to
43:12christ
43:15father in
43:15heaven we
43:16bow before
43:16you right
43:17now
43:17and we
43:18see that
43:18you have
43:19called us
43:19to eternal
43:20life for
43:20which we
43:21are very
43:21grateful
43:23by many
43:24of us
43:24in this
43:25room
43:25and i'm
43:25one of
43:27us
43:27one
43:29have enjoyed
43:29so much
43:30have been
43:31enjoying and
43:32continue to
43:32enjoy so
43:33much of
43:33this life
43:35we live in
43:36nice homes
43:37and we can
43:37go do
43:37things that
43:38we enjoy
43:39good and
43:39we can
43:39have fun
43:40and we
43:40can define
43:40our lives
43:41by success
43:43and for
43:44that lord
43:44we are
43:45very grateful
43:46but even
43:47so
43:48you have
43:48made a
43:49plain to
43:49us
43:50that having
43:51fun and
43:52seeing success
43:52in this
43:53life does
43:54not amount
43:55to any
43:56kind of a
43:56guarantee
43:57concerning our
43:58well-being and
43:58the life to
43:59come but
43:59rather
44:01you have
44:02pointed out
44:02that we are
44:03sinful and
44:04that you have
44:05died for our
44:05sin and our
44:06separation from
44:07you so that
44:07by a decision
44:09of trust we
44:09could place
44:10our confidence
44:11in you and
44:12be guaranteed
44:13success and
44:14fun not only
44:15in this life
44:15but more
44:16important in
44:16the life to
44:17come for
44:18these things
44:19lord we are
44:20thankful
44:22and then when
44:23we read this
44:23chapter we
44:24realize that
44:25not only
44:25sometimes do
44:26we have to
44:27undergo the
44:27trials and
44:28hardships of
44:28life that
44:30are every
44:30day for
44:31everyone such
44:32as health
44:33concerns and
44:34financial concerns
44:35and wishing
44:36our life was a
44:37little bit
44:38different everything
44:39from our
44:39looks to
44:41what we're
44:41going to do
44:42on any
44:42certain day
44:43not only do
44:44we find that
44:45we have to
44:46face those
44:46hardships
44:47occasionally
44:48but we
44:49find that
44:50it is very
44:50possible in
44:51many cases
44:52for Christians
44:53to face
44:54hostility because
44:56we belong to
44:57you and yet
44:58you are simply
44:59the God who
45:00loved people
45:01in this world
45:01so much you
45:02are willing to
45:02give yourself
45:04so that we
45:05so that they
45:06could have
45:07eternal life
45:09lord I don't
45:11know none of us
45:11knows what you
45:12might call upon us
45:13to have to
45:14endure
45:14help us
45:15if ever
45:16not to
45:17flinch under
45:17fire
45:19but especially
45:20lord even
45:20now since we
45:21are able to
45:22read about
45:22things that
45:23others are
45:23enduring
45:24give us a
45:24heart of
45:25compassion to
45:25pray and
45:27in a
45:27spiritual sense
45:28at least
45:29unite hands
45:29with them
45:30and to take
45:31concern
45:32somewhat
45:32for those who
45:33live in other
45:34places
45:36and have to
45:37show their
45:38loyalty
45:38bear fruit
45:39of their
45:39loyalty
45:40to you
45:40by enduring
45:41hostility
45:42against
45:42themselves
45:43and harsh
45:43things
45:45lord thank
45:46you for
45:46this chapter
45:46in your
45:47word
45:47it's a hard
45:47chapter for us
45:48to understand
45:49but right now
45:50one of the
45:51things that
45:51people like
45:51to do
45:52would be to
45:53commit
45:53ourselves
45:54once again
45:54to take
45:55seriously
45:56the importance
45:57of carrying
45:58on an
46:00ongoing
46:00conversation
46:01with you
46:02in our
46:02minds
46:02staying
46:03connected
46:03abiding
46:04in you
46:04knowing that
46:05you are
46:06there
46:06and walking
46:07with you
46:08and living
46:08our life
46:09with you
46:09right by
46:10our side
46:11and so we
46:11commend ourselves
46:12to that this
46:13morning in the
46:13name of Jesus
46:14who died for us
46:15and is our
46:16leader
46:16our king
46:17amen
Comments