Solid Foundation part 4 & 5

We concluded our series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 6" How do I Integrate the Bible into my daily life?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  
We talked about on Sunday the importance of Building our lives on the Word of God. That is the first step in integrating the Bible into our lives. So for I have blogged the 2^nd step which is living the Word of God and the 3^rd step which is growing through the Word of God. Let’s take a look at the 4^th & 5th steps of integrating God's Word into our daily lives.

#4—I’ve got to act on it.

One of the verses we memorized during the 40 Days in the Word series was James 1:22.  “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” 

If I go to church and it’s going in one ear and out the other and I listen to it, I’m living a life of self-deception.  I think because I’ve written notes down I’ve got it.  No.  I don’t have it.  I only believe the part of the Bible I actually do.  We’ve spent six weeks in the home groups teaching you how to write personal application, how to personalize it and paraphrase it and probe it and pronounce it.  All those ways we talked about in our home groups.  

When we take a growth step and put God’s Word into action, we discover and encounter God in ways we never have before. We get to experience God in ways others don’t or others can’t understand. Why? Because we have put into practice and acted on what God has said. I think about Peter walking on water. I think about the little boy giving Jesus his little lunch. I think about the blind man throwing off his robe and running toward Jesus. Never underestimate one simple act of obedience. Apply God’s Word to your daily life isn’t easy but it is worth it. We get to know God and experience a level of relationship with Him the way we were created to.

Finally there is a 5^th step.

 
#5—I must trust in it. 

I build on it, I feed on it, I live by it, I grow through it, I act on it, and I then live it out by trusting in it. 

 
Why can I trust the Bible?  We did a whole session on that.  God is never going to guide you in the wrong direction.  Other people will.  Even well-meaning people.  I’ve had dear friends give me advice, and it was the wrong advice.  You’ve had friends who love you deeply and gave you advice but it was the wrong advice.  Even well-meaning people often will steer you in the wrong way.  But God will never do that.  You can always trust him.  If he tells you to go that way, you’d better go that way!  Because it’s always going to be the right way.  It’s going to be the best way.  It’s going to cause a whole lot less problems if you trust and follow.

Psalm 119:105 was one of our memory verses during this series; “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  

I call this the flashlight verse of the Bible.  Your word is a lamp for my feet.  It’s like flashlight.  Showing me so I don’t stub my toe at night, and a light for my path.

Are you ever in the dark?  Yeah, all the time.  Some of you are going, “I don’t have the slightest idea of what I’m supposed to do about this relationship I’m in right now…  I haven’t the slightest idea whether I should accept this job offer… I haven’t the slightest idea where I should invest next … What I should do with the next five years of my life. I am clueless right now what to do with my children.”

What do you do when you’re in the dark?  You flip on the light.  This is why memorizing this verse is so important.  This verse is a promise from God.  The next time you’re in the dark and you’re confused and you don’t know which way to turn and you don’t know what to do and where to go you just say, “God, you’ve said in Psalm 119:105 ‘Your word is a light to my feet and a lamp for my path.’  God, keep your promise.  I’m going to start reading your word.  Show me what you want me to do.” 

If you go to the Word and you say, “Lord, I’m trusting that your Word will be a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, in other words you’re going to show me the path to walk on, you’re going to lead me in the dark.  When I’m confused and I don’t know what to do about this relationship, but you promised and I am going to trust in your Word,” you will see amazing things happen.

Here’s what I want to challenge you to do.  I want to challenge you to make a commitment to keep on doing what you’ve been doing – not to stop.  I want to challenge you to keep on being in a home group and I want to challenge you to keep on reading the Bible every day, having a daily quiet time, a daily devotion.

If you want to change groups and get a new one, that’s fine.  If you want to start a whole new group, that’s fine.  But keep the habit of a group study and keep the habit of personal study so that you can become a man of the Word or a woman of the Word.  Let me pray for you as we conclude this blog series and the 40 Days in the Word series.

Prayer:

       Father, I want to thank you for the Word of God.  I thank you that it calms our fears.  It enlightens our mind.  It strengthens our will.  It grows our maturity.  I thank you, Lord, that it calms our worries and it leads us in the dark.  All the things that your Word does we want to commit to being a part of an ongoing process of continuing in your word. Father God, so many good things have been happening the past 40 Days. So many great stories of people finding hope, courage and renewed passion in your Word. I pray that you give us the grace and strength to continue on. I pray that we will not quit with the end of the this series but that this will be a life-long healthy life giving habit. We love you and thank you for teaching us and guiding us. In Jesus Name! AMEN!

 

Adapted from thoughts form Rick Warren and the 40 Days in the Word Campaign.

 

PS. This Sunday is the KICKOFF of our NEW series “Stories.” Come and hear Jeff Hlavin share from “Hippy to Happy.” We’ll also be debuting a NEW video story each week from someone in the WFC family.

Solid Foundatin Park 3

We concluded our series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 6" How do I Integrate the Bible into my daily life?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about on Sunday the importance of Building our lives on the Word of God. That is the first step in integrating the Bible into our lives. Yesterday’s blog was the 2^nd step which is living the Word of God. Let’s take a look at the third step.

#3—I grow through it.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that the Bible is often referred to as a seed.  It’s planted in our hearts.  When the truth is planted our hearts, if it finds good soil, it grows and it produces fruit.  Remember, no root, no fruit.  God wants you to be fruitful in your life.  In order to have that you’ve got to have an open heart.  You’ve got to have a receptive heart.  You’ve got to have good soil in your life. 

The fourth verse that we looked at that we memorized earlier this month is Psalms 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

There are lots of wonderful things in the Bible but we can’t see them unless God opens our eyes.  Circle, underline or highlight the word “open” in Psalm 119:18.  Open means being receptive.  I’ve got to be open to the Word of God.  So if I’m going to become a woman of the Word or a man of the Word I’ve got to be open to it.  That means even when we don’t like it, we are open to it. 

Jesus told a whole story about this.  It’s in Luke 8 it’s called the parable of the sower or soils.  He says, a famer goes out and sows seed and it falls on four different kinds of soil and it gets four different kinds of results.  This represents four different attitudes that you can have toward the Bible.

I used to think that the four soils represent four different kinds of people.  They don’t.  They represent our attitudes (condition of our hearts) and on the same day I can have all four attitudes.  

1. The first is the hardened soil. 

The hardened soil represents a closed mind.  The hardened soil in this story represents a closed mind.  Sometimes we don’t even give God a chance to talk to us.  Our minds are made up, our hearts are hardened.  We’re not willing to listen.  I don’t want to hear what God has to say about my boyfriend.  I like my boyfriend.  So I don’t want to hear what God has to say.  I don’t want to hear what God has to say about my debt.  I don’t want to hear what God has to say about sex.  I don’t want to hear what God has to say about this or that because I’ve already got my mind made up. 

That is a closed mind.  And a narrow footpath is narrow and it’s hardened.  Some people are simply not open to what God has to say.  Their hearts are hardened to His Word and reality.

So the first action to growing through it is I must cultivate an open mind.  If I’m going to let God’s truth really change my life I have to be open to it.  I have to cultivate an open mind.

 

2. Then Jesus said the second kind of soil that the farmer throws seed on is the shallow soil. 

That represents the superficial mind.  Sometimes we react superficially to the Bible.  We go to church and say that was a good sermon.  I really liked that   That was good.  But we’ve forgotten it by the time we get to the parking lot.  We get excited, we react emotionally, we’re moved impulsively.  But we don’t really let it take the time to sink in.  It never really penetrates the bedrock of our personality.

So what is the action step if I don’t want to be superficial?  And I know you don’t.  You don’t want to be a superficial man.  You don’t want to be a superficial woman.  How do I have some depth in my life?  How do I get some roots in my life?  How do I get some spiritual maturity in my life? Here’s the second action step: I must make time for God’s Word. 

If I just do a quick little glance at it, I glance at it, I don’t gaze it, I don’t give it any time, then I can’t build any roots.  Roots take time to develop.  No roots, no fruits.  Busyness is a major barrier that keeps us from being a man of the Word or a woman of the Word.

3. A third soil is a soil with weeds. 

The soil with weeds represents a preoccupied mind.  In other words the seed God gives is the truth and he plants it in my mind and my heart and I go, yeah ok! And I let it sit there and it starts growing.  But then I let other things choke it out of my life – worry and busyness and money and job and all these other things.  And the weeds choke it out and I get preoccupied and I can’t really do anything with it.  All the circuits are busy in my life.  And that’s why I can’t hear God.

What’s the action step?  I must eliminate the distractions.  I must eliminate the distractions in my life. What things distract you from connecting with God in His Word?

4. Then finally Jesus says there’s a fourth kind; good soil. A willing mind.

A willing mind says, God, I’m willing to learn.  I’m teachable.  I’m humble.  I don’t think I know it all, so God, teach me.  The action step is to cooperate with what God says. 
 

That means, “God I don’t understand it all, but I’m going to trust you. I am going to cooperate.”

When our heart/attitude has good soil we find ourselves growing through it. We find ourselves changing simply because we are allowing God to change us on the inside.

What do you do if you don't have this kind of soil right now in your heart? Talk to God about it. Be honest. Share with you where you are at but pray and ask Him to lead you to where He wants you to be. Pray for a soft heart and willing mind. That is a great prayer to pray every morning before the day starts :)

 
 

Adapted from thoughts form Rick Warren and the 40 Days in the Word Campaign.

PS. This Sunday is the KICKOFF of our NEW series “Stories.” Come and hear Jeff Hlavin share from “Hippy to Happy.” We’ll also be debuting a NEW video story each week from someone in the WFC family.

Solid Foundation part 2

We concluded our series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 6" How do I Integrate the Bible into my daily life?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about on Sunday the importance of Building our lives on the Word of God. That is the first step in integrating the Bible into our lives. Let’s take a look at the second step.

#2--Live by the Word of God.

The Word of God (Bible) is not only food for your soul, the Word of God is your standard of living.  It is the Word of God that sets the standard by which you judge everything else of value in your life.  It’s the standard by which you make decisions for the things you are facing in life.  We build our lives on something.  We base those decisions on something.  It comes when we allow the Word of God to become the standard by which we live by. 

The Bible says in Psalm 1:1-2, Oh, the joys (other translations say “Blessed are”) of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. ² But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

What does that mean?  It means if you want your life to be blessed you don’t build your life on the counsel of the world, on the way the world thinks. But you meditate, you build your life on the way that God thinks. It means we find out what God has to say and His reality before we act or make a decision. We thing, mediate and trust His ways.

The counsel of the ungodly, that’s the stuff we hear all the time – on television, in movies, in print, and in media.  It’s the talk that goes on around the world around us.  It’s the values of the world. It is extremely popular! And the Bible says if you want your life to be blessed you don’t build your life, you don’t live your life by that kind of counsel; but live your life, build your life, feed your life, on the Word of God.  

It’s the Word of God that will give you hope when you’re in crisis.  It’s the Word of God that will give you comfort when you are in despair.  It’s the Word of God that will give you strength when you are weak.  It’s the Word of God that will give you wisdom when you’re confused.  It’s the Word of God that will give you guidance when you’re looking for direction.  And it’s the Word of God that will give you strength to resist when you face temptation. These are all things we will have to walk through in our lives.

Psalm 119:11 says “I’ve hidden your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you.”  He says this is the reason I’ve hidden your word in my heart.  This is what memorizing the Bible is about.  It’s about hiding it.  Taking it into my heart.  He says I’ve hidden your word in my heart not so I can just be Super Christian.  But it’s so I will not sin against you. So I can live in such a way that honors You. 

Remember in Matthew 4 when Jesus was tempted? There were three times the devil came and tempted him.  And all three times Jesus only used one weapon to defend himself.  He said “It’s written…”  When the devil would tempt him again he says, “Yeah, but it’s written.”  It is written.”  It is the only weapon he used to defend himself.

If you have the desire to follow Jesus and be like Jesus, then we learn from how He defended Himself. Even Jesus used the weapon of Scripture to fight temptation.

So often, when we most need the Bible is when we don’t have a Bible with us, when we’re talking to a friend who’s in trouble, or when we’re tempted by something or someone.  We don’t have our Bible with us.  That’s why we have to hide the Word of God in our hearts.  God will bring the word back to our minds.  But he can’t bring it back to our minds if we haven’t hidden it in our hearts yet.  He’ll bring the word back to your mind for yourself, for what you’re facing.  And he’ll bring it back to your mind for what some friend of yours is facing, some challenge that they’re up against.  You can say, but here’s what God’s Word says.  And the verse that you’ve memorized will come back to you.  And you’ll be able to share that to help them as they build their life.  To help them in their walk with Jesus Christ. 

That’s why God wants us to remember the Word with our hearts, to put it in, to memorize it, and then to let that be the standard by which we live our lives.  By which we build our lives and fight the good fight of faith.

It is very much like the process of making tea. Coffee is more popular here Downriver Detroit but many still like to drink tea. Once you have hot water you but the tea bag in your mug. As it seeps, the water absorbs the color and the flavor and the aroma and the character of the tea. But something else happens to the water.  It takes on a whole new identity.  Because we no longer call it a glass of water.  We now call it a glass of tea. 

When you let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly you absorb the nature of Christ, the flavor and the aroma of Christ.  But something else happens to you.  You take on a whole new identity and you begin to become the man or the woman of God that he has always wanted you to become.  You begin to become the man or woman of God that you have always wanted to be when you let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.  Not only do you know what the Word of God says, you begin to become more and more like the author. 

As we build out lives on the Bible and begin to follow through and live the Bible we find ourselves become stronger and stronger. We find ourselves building our lives on the rock!! In a world that is unstable and constantly changing, we can be standing strong!!!

 

Adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign

PS. This Sunday we launch our new series “STORIES.” It is going to be a fun, inspiring and motivation month as we hear many peoples stories from our church and from around the state.

 

How to celebrate your 50th Wedding Anniversary!

This past Sunday we took a break from our "40 Days in the Word" series and did a special Illustrated Message "Marriage Is It Worth It?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We continue our blog series on Marriage this week with, "How to Celebrate your 50th Wedding Anniversary."

One thing that I remember about both of my Grandmothers and Grandfathers was their longevity in marriage. My Fathers side I believe were married for 60 years and I know my Mothers side were over 50 years of marriage. This was probably true for a lot of your grandparents.

When you look at that generation you hear all sorts of answers from people. "They just stayed together no matter what." "They didn't necessarily love each other or even like each other, they just stayed together." "They weren't necessarily happy but their generation didn't believe in divorce."

Wherever you fall on the spectrum as an outsider looking in, there is something deep down in our hearts that is attractive to that. Being able to stay with 1 person for 50 years. Working out problems, forgiving, growing and moving forward together. Who wouldn't want that for their marriage. So, if you are married, how do you do that? How do you make it? How can you celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary?

Two simple thoughts of being able to kiss your bride or hubby for a 50th wedding anniversary.

#1-Stay Close to your first love

All throughout the Bible, God calls His children to keep him first above all things, even the marriage relationship. The more connected to your first love (Jesus Christ) the better equipped and able you will be to love your 2nd love (your spouse). It is hard to harbor bitterness, resentment, jealousy etc. in our hearts when we are growing in our relationship with God. As we put God first, He works on our hearts and gives us the strength to keep moving forward with our spouse.

#2-Consistently take inventory

Here is a great quote from one of my heroes, mentor and friend.

Marriage is More about effort than infatuation, callouses then goose bumps and faithfulness than fun—Lance Lecocq

On Sunday we talked about marriage being more about holiness than happiness. Marriage is hard work. We need to recalibrate and be reminded often that marriage isn't about my needs, my happiness and my pleasure. Here is the amazing reality of doing marriage God's way. When we put our spouse before ourselves, we find the peace, love and joy we were hoping for and wanting.

Marriage is hard work but IT IS WORT IT!!!

PS. Our Reconnect Marriage Retreat is March 21-22. 7pm on Friday to 4pm on Saturday. This years retreat is at the Henry in Dearborn. THIS WEEK ONLY get a $25 discount if you register. With the discount that makes the retreat only $150 for 1 night stay at the Henry, 4 group sessions, snacks Fri. night and breakfast Sat. morning. Email Lisa lisa.wyan.family@gmail.com for registration info.

PSS. Don't forget our first 3rd Friday of the season is this Friday!!! We will be by the clock tower 5-8pm with a "mindcraft" ice sculpture. You can volunteer for helping the city set up or helping at our booth by emailing Timeia at timeialee@yahoo.com 

Nice Sermon but What if I am Single?

This past Sunday we took a break from our "40 Days in the Word" series and did a special Illustrated Message "Marriage Is It Worth It?" You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

It was a great message and everything Pastor Jeremy but I am not married. Matter of fact I may not ever get married. If I do get married it may not be for a while. So how does this message apply to me? What can I do now in preparation for the future? I want to share two quick thoughts with you today...

#1-Work on becoming the person you would want to marry

We spent most of our time this past Sunday on Ephesians 5:21-23. If you think you are going to be getting married in the future then focus on the very things that you are looking for. If you are looking for someone who is completely in love with Jesus, then you become completely in love with Jesus. If you would want to marry someone who is thoughtful and kind then you work on becoming thoughtful and kind. If you would want to marry someone that is faithful to going to church, then work on being faithful on attending church. Work on becoming the person you want to marry.

So how do you do that? How can you work on becoming the person you would want to marry?

  a) Write out a specific list of what matters to you. Maybe you write thoughts about
  prayer, forgiveness, spending time together, encouragement etc.

  b) Do a topic search and find as many Bibles verses that pertain to the list that
  you wrote down. If you wanted someone who was going to love you the way God
  defines love then do a search on love. Write out all of the verses you find.

  c) Pray through and read all of the verses often. Allow the very things that you are
  looking for to begin to renew your mind and shape your character. Allow that list to
  become a reality in your own life.

The harsh reality is that we often attract the things we are focusing on. If you focus on the list, focus on God's Word and are praying you will not be swept away only by someone's looks or fleeting charm or infatuation. This way you are preparing and planning for a healthy, godly and growing marriage.

#2-If you don't ever plan on becoming married then be an advocate for healthy, godly and growing marriages.

How can you be an advocate??

  a) Be cognitive of other peoples marriages and be careful to be the cause of
  temptation to others. Don't put yourself in situations with others who are married that
  you wouldn't want your spouse to be in if you were married.

  b) Pray for the friends and family in your life who are married. Every marriage is
  walking through the refining fire like we talked about on Sunday. They need your prayer
  support. By praying you are helping them fight the real battle, their spiritual enemy.

  c) Use the extra time you have to invest in eternal things. I always laugh when I hear
  single people say they are busy. I get it. I really do. I thought I was busy as a high school
  senior. I thought I was busy as a college student. I thought I was busy as a newly married
  in my first year of full time ministry. I think I'm busy now 13 1/2 years later working on a
  healthy marriage, enjoying and pouring into 3 kids, loving & being involved in a community
  and pastoring a church.

  God gives us the grace for every stage we are in. All I am saying is if you are not married
  and aren't focusing on a spouse and children then do not allow "business" to rob you of
  investing your life in what matters. Take an honest inventory of your time and see how
  many things are "time robbers" in your life. Take some time to pray and ask God to use
  you like never before in serving and loving others .


PS. Don't forget our first 3rd Friday of the season is this Friday!!! We will be by the clock tower 5-8pm with a "mindcraft" ice sculpture. You can volunteer for helping the city set up or helping at our booth by emailing Timeia at timeialee@yahoo.com 

Knowing you are reading it right part 2 & 3

We continued our series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 5" How to study a particular passage of the Bible." You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about how context is key when reading and studying the Bible. On Sunday we practiced context by looking at principle #1 Historical Context. Then in the previous blog we looked at principle #2 Looking at Key Words. In today’s blog we will look at principle #3 and #4. Using all of these principles will help you learn how to understand the Bible. When you begin to hear God speak to you and challenge you and encourage you there is nothing else like that. When you realize and experience God speaking for yourself. He loves you and wants to speak to YOU!

PRINCIPLE #3—I must interpret unclear verses with clear ones.

In this passage as I read John 15 we find three clear characteristics of fruit.  What it means to grow spiritual fruit.  We find them in verse 4 and verse 8 and verse 11. 
 

What are the three characteristics of fruit?

In verse 4 it says this, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” Remember I said “remain” means to stay, to continue, or to CONNECT.  It’s the Greek word meno.  It just means to be connected.  A branch that’s disconnected from a tree is not going to bear any fruit.  It’s got to stay connected or it won’t bear any fruit.  That’s all he’s saying.  Be connected to me and I’ll be connected to you.  “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

(On a side note staying connected is our responsibility. I don’t know of any VINES that disconnect from a BRANCH. It usually is the other way around. The branch disconnects from the vine. God is so faithful and has done everything through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to stay connected to us. Now we get connected through repentance and then we stay connected in relationship with Him daily.)

So the first thing I’d write down if I’m doing a Bible study, and I’m writing down an observation, here’s what I’d write down:

·        Bearing fruit is produced by remaining in Christ. 

That’s not an exaggeration.  That’s not reading into the text.  That’s pretty clear.  That’s a very clear verse there.  He says it three times.  You stay in me, you’re going to bear fruit.  If you don’t stay in me, you’re not going to bear fruit.  If you don’t stay in me you can’t do anything.

So the first thing we learn is that bearing fruit is produced by remaining in Christ.  What does that mean?  Fruit is an inside job.  You can’t just tack it on to your life and pretend like you’re bearing fruit.  That would be like taking a barren tree, with no leaves on it and tying apples to it and saying, I’ve got an apple tree.  People would think you were absolutely crazy!.  Unfortunately, a lot of people in our culture try to do this.  They try to tie on good works to their life and say, see I’m bearing fruit.  No, you’re just tying it on.  It’s got to come from within.  He says the Holy Spirit flowing in you is going to bear fruit.  Fruit is produced by remaining in Christ. 

Verse 8 says this “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”  So the second thing I write down is this:

·        Bearing fruit brings glory to God. 

How do I know that?  Because that’s what that verse says.  It’s very clear.  I’m not making this up.  I’m not misinterpreting it.  It says that when I bear fruit it brings glory to God.  So I would write that down.

It says bearing fruit is produced by remaining in Christ, it brings glory to God, then in verse 11 we get the third characteristic.  “I have told you this [Jesus says] so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  Jesus tells us his motive for talking about bearing fruit.  It’s joy.  So I write this down:

·        Bearing fruit will give me complete joy. 

He says that.  “… so that your joy may be complete.” Bearing fruit, whatever it is, it’s produced by remaining in Christ, it brings glory to God and it’s going to give me great, complete joy.

Now I’m interested.  I want to know what fruit is because I want to live a joyful life of complete, complete, joy.

So we learn three things about it.  But we’re still stuck with the question, what’s fruit?  If I’m supposed to bear it I better figure out what it is. 

How do I do that?  You go to the fourth principle.  The fourth principle of interpretation is this:
 

Principle #4—Look for the most obvious meaning.

Look for the most obvious meaning in the text. This is the exact opposite of what a lot of people want to do.  They want to go find some deep meaning.  Some hidden meaning in the Bible.  Some secret meaning in the Bible.  If you go looking for some secret, hidden, mysterious meaning you’re going to miss it, because the Bible isn’t full of secrets. 

All these History channels, Discovery channels, the Secrets of the Bible.  There are no secrets in the Bible. It’s right up front.  Why would God put secrets in the Bible?  What is the purpose of the Bible?  To reveal God, not to conceal him.  Why would God give us the Bible to tell us what he’s like and then hide it from us? 

The purpose of the Bible is not to conceal.  The purpose of the Bible is to reveal.  So there’s nothing hidden in the Bible.  It’s obvious if you just look for it.  So all this stuff about Bible codes and stuff like that and secret meaning, there’s one word for that.  It’s what you get when you cross a crocodile and a balone – it’s a crock of baloney.  There are no secrets in the Bible.   

So any time you find somebody with some secret meaning, they’re making it up.  In fact if you ever read a verse of the Bible and you come up with an interpretation that nobody else has ever seen, one thing is simple: you’re probably wrong.  Because God, for two thousand years has been speaking to his body, the church.  If it is new it is probably not true.  If it’s new it’s probably not correct.  Because if it’s truth, it’s been around forever and ever.  And thousands of people have seen it before me and thousands of people will see it after me.

So if I read a Bible verse and I come up with an interpretation that nobody else has seen, I’m probably wrong.  It’s just that simple. Because God doesn’t have secrets that he holds back to keep from us so we don’t really know him.  That is why you look for the obvious meaning.
 

So what you do is you let the text speak for itself.  And when you let the text speak for itself the meaning becomes obvious.  When we let the text speak for itself it’s very clear what the meaning of “fruit” is.  We don’t have to use any Bible dictionary or Bible encyclopedia or any other tools.  Those are all good tools but you don’t have to use them to figure out what “fruit” is. 

So let’s just go back to the text.  Let’s look at three things. 

Verse 7 in chapter 5 says this “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you!”  Now he’s talking about prayer.  So I would write down this:

·        Remaining in Christ produces answered prayers. 

That’s no stretch of that verse; that’s just what that verse says.  ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.’  So remaining in Christ, being connected to Christ, produces answered prayer.

Have you ever thought about the fact that prayer can do anything that God can do?  So why are we speaking these little tiny prayers?  Why not ask him for big prayers?  Prayer can do anything that God can do.  Don’t expect a thousand dollar answer to a ten-cent prayer. 

It says, “… whatever you wish, and it will be given you!”  You say, wait a minute!  I’ve asked for a lot of things I didn’t get.  Let me just say this to you.  If God doesn’t give you what you ask for it will always be something better.  God will never give you something worse than you asked for.  “I didn’t get what I asked for!” God knew ahead something better in mind.  Maybe you don’t think its better.  But God knew it was better, and God is God and He knows and sees far beyond we do.  God will never give you something worse than you asked for.  He will only give you something better than you asked for.  And when you pray don’t ask God for what you think is good for you.  Say, God I want you to give me what you think is good for me, because you know what I need more than I do.

 Second, 14:13.  Remember it’s the same conversation.  Same guys, same eleven guys.  “I will do whatever you ask [There’s that phrase again!] in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” 

 What’s the second thing we learn? 

·        Answered prayer brings glory to God. 

 He says when you ask for something in my name and then I give it to you it brings glory to the Father.  That’s good.  So when I pray and ask for things and then God gives it to me, it brings glory to God because it shows how loving God is. It shows how powerful God is. It shows how faithful God is.

What do you need to be asking God for in your life?  Some of you are going through a really challenging and difficult time right now. The more time we spend in prayer, the less time we will spend in despair.  You can’t fall when you’re on your knees.  You cannot fall, you cannot stumble, when you’re on your knees.  When you’re on shaky ground, kneel and begin to pray.  When you are swept off your feet by the storms of life, when you’re swept off your feet, kneel.  Because you cannot fall when you’re on your knees.  When you feel the sky is falling in on you, you hold up your hands in prayer.  Jesus said, Ask anything in my name.  It will bring glory to God.  It will cause you to remain connected to me. 

One other verse.  Chapter 16:24.  Same conversation, same group of guys.  Jesus says guys, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. [There’s that phrase again, you haven’t asked for anything in my name.] Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete!”  Have you ever heard that phrase before –your joy will be complete.  Yeah when he talks about bearing fruit.  So I write down the third thing:

·        Answered prayer gives me complete joy!

Did you know that over twenty times in the New Testament we are commanded to ask?  “Ask and it shall be given… Seek and you’ll find…  Knock and the door will be opened.”  James says “You have not because you ask not.”  God never shuts his storehouse until you shut your mouth. 

Jesus, in his final words to his disciples says, guys, I want you to ask.  I’m not going to be here with you anymore, but you can talk to me any time.  And you can ask.  And I want to give and when I do it’s going to produce answered prayers.  Remaining in Christ is going to bring glory to God, and answered prayer will bring joy to you.

 When we don’t pray you don’t cheat God.  You are cheating ourselves.  We are missing out.  It’s like having a bank account that we never cash.  When we don’t pray we don’t hurt God, we don’t cheat God, we just hurt ourselves.  We cheat ourselves of all of the fruit God wants to produce in our lives. 

Are you seeing a little connection here?  Bearing fruit is produced by remaining in Christ.  Bearing fruit brings glory to God.  Bearing fruit gives me complete joy.  And answered prayers come from remaining in Christ.  Answered prayer brings glory to God.  Answered prayer gives me complete joy.  You see any connection here?   

Just in case you missed it, Jesus mentions it one more time in verse 16.  He says this.  He ends his talk with this one last mention.  “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.  [What’s the first thing he talks about after he talks about fruit?  Prayer.]  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name!”

So here it is.  Looking at the Word, looking at the context and letting the text speak for itself you write this down:

I bear fruit by asking in prayer.  

He’s talking about fruit comes through prayer.  Prayer is the root of all fruit.  All the other virtues in life come through prayer.  The fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, come through prayer.  Gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, self-control come through prayer.  Prayer is the password to everything God wants to do in your life.

 IF THAT IS TRUE and this is what Gods Word says in John 15, then why don’t I see more fruit in my life?  We have to ask ourselves the tough question, “Do we treat prayer like a spare tire?”  The spare tire is there when we have a flat.  When you have a flat and your life goes flat and you’re in trouble you pull out prayer.  In fact we say, all we can do now is pray!  Then people say, has it come to that?  Like it really must be bad if that’s all we can do is pray!  Prayer is the last resort.

There is a BIGGER VISION for your life than that. God has so much more in store for you than that!.  God does not want prayer to be your spare tire.  He wants it to be your steering wheel for your life.  It is where you get all the fruit in your life.  Much prayer, much fruit.  Little prayer, little fruit.  No prayer, no fruit.  If you are not praying you have no fruit in your life.  You’re just hanging apples on a barren tree.  It all comes through prayer.  That’s what Jesus is saying. 

The more I pray, the more fruit I’m going to have.  The more fruit I’m going to have the more prayer I’m going to give and the more fruit I’m going to have after that. 

See what our problem is?  We have trouble with prayer when we’re not in trouble.  We don’t have trouble praying when we’re in trouble.  We have trouble praying when we’re not in trouble.  When things are going good I don’t need to pray.  

A Bible study isn’t a Bible study until you get to the what am I going to do about it part.  That’s the personal application.  Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice [circle that “puts them into practice”] is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.”  So if I put into practice what I’ve learned about prayer today then I’ve built my house on the rock and when the storms come it’s going to stand.  If I don’t put into practice what I’ve heard today, I just come to the Bible study, take notes and go home and forget it, I’m a fool.  The Bible says the foolish man builds his house on sand.  He hears it but he doesn’t do anything about it.

So now that we have studied John 15 about remaining in Him, bearing fruit and prayer, what is your next step? What is God speaking to you? What should your response be? What do you have to strategically do to respond?

This is how spiritual growth and vision happens in our lives. The more we spend time in God’s Word and in prayer the more we see life for the way God intended it to be. The more we have our eyes opened and the more we keep moving forward and bearing fruit.
I pray this blog helps you and strengthens you in your relationship with Christ. I pray that we become a church who knows how to pray!!!

 

Adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign

PS. Don't miss this Sunday and our special illustrated message "Marriage: Is it worth it?"