Developing your shape to serve others
We have here the parable of the talents committed to three servants; this implies that we are in a state of work and business, we are in a state of expectancy. the necessity of habitual preparation, of actual diligence in our present work and service. We are stirred up to do well for our own spiritual life; to work for the glory of God and the good of others.
1. The Master is Jesus, who is the Owner and Proprietor of all persons and things, and his church;
2. The servants are Christians his own servants, born in his house, bought with his money, devoted to his praise, and employed in his work.
I. The trust given to these servants; their master delivered to them his goods: having called them to work (for Jesus keeps no servants to be idle), he left them with something to work with
We receive from Jesus in order to work for him. Our privileges are so we do our job! The gift of the Spirit is given to each one of us to bring God glory. 2. Whatever we receive is made use of for Jesus, it is all his anyway! we are but tenants upon his land, stewards of his grace,
On what occasion this trust given to these servants: The master was travelling into a far country. This is explained, Eph_4:8. When he ascended on high, he gave gifts to men.
he sent his Spirit to enable his servants to teach and profess truth, to live and apply his promises, and to exercise and employ powers, ordinary or extraordinary he gives us. Thus Jesus, at his ascension, left his goods to his church.
to what proportion was this trust given. [1.] He gave talents He gave to some more, to others less; to one five talents, to another two, to another one; to every one according to his ability. God shapes us in different ways, throughout our lives we have been shaped to serve God in our own particular way, each one of us is unique, also Every one had some one talent at least, All alike, they had not the same abilities and opportunities. God is a free Agent, giving, as he will; some are cut out for service in one kind, others in another, the church body like the human body
Two of the servants did well.
(1.) They were diligent and faithful; They went, and traded; A Christian is a spiritual tradesman. it is a manufacturing trade; there is something to be done for our own hearts, and for the good of others; things of value to us are parted with for things of greater value.
2) A tradesman is one who, having made his trade his choice, and taken pains to learn it, makes a business of it, he does all he can to grow his business, he lives for it, to give him and his family life. So too a Christian in the work of faith; we have no stock of our own to trade with, but trade with our saviour’s stock. The way we are shaped through life our minds - reason, wit, learning, must be used for Jesus and his Church; the enjoyments of the world - house, money, jobs, power, must be improved for the honour of Jesus. The gifts of the gospel, and our opportunities to use them, bibles, prayer, Sundays the sacraments, must be improved for the end for which they were given, and our walk with God kept up by them, the gifts and graces of the Spirit must be used; and this is trading with our talents.
(3.) They were successful;
2. The third did ill (Mat_25:18); He that received one talent, went, and hid his lord's money.(1.) notice if he who only had one talent, was treated this way for burying one, what of those that have more than one talent and bury them. (2.) Also those who have the littlest to do for God, frequently do least of what they have to do. Some make it an excuse for their laziness, that they have not the opportunities of serving God that others have they will not do what we are sure they can, and so sit down and do nothing; it is really a sad situation that when they have but one talent to take care about, they neglect that one.
He dug in the earth, and hid the talent, for fear it should be stolen; he did not misspend or misemploy it, did not embezzle it or squander it away, but he hid it. Money is like manure good for nothing in the heap, but it must be spread; yet it is an evil which we have often seen treasure heaped together does good to nobody; and so it is in spiritual gifts; many have them, and make no use of them Those that have but do not stir up the gift that is in them, are those lazy servants that seek their own things more than Jesus’.
We must all be reckoned with - what good we have done for our own growth, and what good we have done to others by the advantages we have enjoyed
If we be careful in our spiritual trade, we, and others will soon see it. Not that the saints will in the great day make mention of their own good deeds; no, Jesus will do that for them (Mat_25:35); but it intimates that they who faithfully improve their talents First, He commended them; Well done, good and faithful servant. Those that own and honour God now, he will own and honour in time. 1. Their persons will be accepted 2. Their performances will be accepted; Well done. Some bosses are so miserable, that they will not commend their workers, though they do their work ever so well: but Jesus will commend his servants that do well; He rewards them.
The bad account of the lazy servant.
[1.] His apology for himself I have not made more, as the others have done, yet this I can say, I have not made less.” This servant thought that his account would pass well enough, because he could say“ Lord, I didn’t waste any of my estate, no wasting of my time, I was always here, I did not oppose good ministers and good preaching; Lord, I never ridiculed my bible, nor set my wits to work to against my faith, nor abused my power to persecute any good man; I never wasted my time and others in drinking, nor ever to my knowledge did I ever bring injury to anybody.” Many that are called Christians, build great hopes for heaven upon their being able to make such an account; yet all this amounts to no more than there thou hast that is thine; as if no more were required, or could be expected.
Secondly, What he confesses. He owns the burying of his talent; I hid thy talent in the earth. He speaks as if that were no great fault; nay, as if he deserved praise for his prudence in putting it in a safe place, and running no hazards with it. Thirdly, What he makes his excuse; I knew that thou were a hard man, and I was afraid. Good thought of God would beget love, and that love would make us diligent and faithful; but hard thoughts of God beget fear, and that fear makes us slothful and unfaithful. His excuse speaks volumes
1. The sentiments of an enemy; 2. The spirit of a slave; I was afraid, [2.] His Lord's answer to this apology. First, His conviction, Mat_25:26, Mat_25:27. Two things he is convicted of.
1. Laziness; 2. Self-contradiction The hard thoughts which sinners have of God, though false and unjust, will be so far from justifying their wickedness and slothfulness, that they will rather aggravate and add to their guilt the master’s reply(1.) “Suppose I had been so hard a master, shouldest not thou therefore have been the more diligent and careful to please me, (2.) “If thou didst think me to be a hard master, and therefore durst not trade with the money thyself, for fear of losing by it, and being made to stand to the loss, yet thou mightest have put it into the hands of the exchangers, or goldsmith, mightest have brought it into the bank, (3.) “Suppose I did reap where I sowed not, yet that is nothing to thee, for I had sowed upon thee, and the talent was my money which thou wast entrusted with, not only to keep, but to improve.” Secondly, His condemnation. The slothful servant is sentenced,
1. To be deprived of his talent (1.) To the blessings of this life - worldly wealth and possessions. These we are entrusted with, to be used for the glory of God, and the good of those about us.(2.) We may apply it to the means of grace. They who are diligent in improving the opportunities they have,(3.) We may apply it to the common gifts of the Spirit. He that hath these, and doeth good with them, shall have abundance; these gifts improve by exercise, and brighten by being used; 2. He is sentenced to be cast into outer darkness, Mat_25:30. Here,
How do you use what you have?
Recognize the platform you have been given, where you are and what opportunities only have been given and the you are the only one who has been put in that situation. Even the worst has a talent, a gift a God given ability, so you have so much more how will you use it? The last servant was thinking of himself, he hoped to play it safe and protect himself, but he was judged for his self centeredness, we must not make excuses to avoid doing what God has made us and called us to do, if God is our master we must obey willingly, joyfully! We are caretakers, our time, talents money are all God’s anyway, when we ignore, squander or abuse what we are given, we are out of God’s will and to be fare when we are this rebellious we need to accept the consequences of our decisions.
Becoming like Jesus
Homeless guy, never let me in, Jesus says don’t worry I am never allowed in either
I 1. That Jesus Jesus is the vine, the true vine.
(a.) He is the vine, planted in the vineyard, for a purpose and not a spontaneous product; planted in the earth, for he is the Word made flesh. (b.) He is the true vine, opposed to those who deceive and mislead; he is really a fruitful plant, a plant of renown. He is the one from whom we grow, through 2 things forgiveness and The Holy Spirit
2. That believers are branches of this vine, grafted in; Jesus is the root of the vine. The branches of the vine are many, some on one side of the house or wall, others on the other side; yet, meeting in the root, all from the one vine; so all Jesusians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, yet meet in Jesus, the centre of their unity. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are insufficient to stand or survive on their own, but Jesus lifts us, feeds us, lets us blossom and bloom!
3. And my Father is the gardener- The word “vine-dresser” more properly expresses the sense of the original word than gardener. It means one who has the care of a vineyard; whose job it is to nurture, trim, and defend the vine, and who of course feels a deep interest in its growth and welfare. This means that God gave, or appointed his Son to be, the source of blessings to us all; that all grace descends through him; and that God takes care of all the branches of this vine - that is, of all who are by faith united to the Lord Jesus Jesus. In Jesus and all his church he feels the deepest interest, and it is an object of great solicitude that his church should receive these blessings and bear much fruit.
II. we are called to bear fruit, and, in order to this, to remain (abide) in Jesus.
(1.) The fate of the unfruitful: They are taken away.
[a.] It is here intimated that there are many who pass for branches in Jesus who don’t bear fruit. Were they really in Jesus by faith, they would bear fruit; but being only tied to him by the thread of an outward profession, though they seem to be branches, they will soon be seen to be dry ones. Unfruitful people are unfaithful people.
[b.] It is here threatened that they shall be taken away, in justice to them and in kindness to the rest of the branches. Difference of cutting back and separating, cut out that which can infect the whole plant
(2.) The promise made to the fruitful: He prunes them, that they may bear more fruit. Note, [a.] Further fruitfulness is the reward of first fruits. [b.] Even fruitful branches, in order to their further fruitfulness, have need of pruning; he takes away that which is surplus to requirements, which hinders its growth and fruitfulness. [c.] The pruning of fruitful branches, in order to their greater fruitfulness, is the care and work of the Father, for his own glory. [d] as we accept his forgiveness and let the Gift of the Spirit work through us we grow the way the Father wants us to grow, like Jesus
(3.) The Spirit of grace refines them from the dross of the world our old nature, and purged out of them it cleanses as fire cleanses the gold from its dross,
(4.) The glory that will be given to God by our fruitfulness, that should be our chief desire to glorify God, when so many give God a bad name, our desire should be to give him a good name.
2. In order to bear fruit, we must remain (abide) in Jesus, means believing he is the Son of God, receiving him as our saviour and Lord, doing what God says, continuing to believe the gospel, love the body of Jesus. Requires work on our part also.
Hallelujah, that’ll do ya!
Been saved, being saved will be saved. Much of the Jesusian life is coming to grips with what is already true about us, even when we do not “feel it”
(1.) (Joh_15:4): Abide in me, and I in you. Note, It is the great concern of all Jesus's disciples constantly to keep up a dependence upon Jesus The knot of the branch abides in the vine, and the sap of the vine abides in the branch, and so there is a constant communication to abide, to remain means being open to what he has got for us, as he is open to all of our needs
(2.) The necessity of our remaining in Jesus, so we bear fruit (Joh_15:4, Joh_15:5): “You cannot bear fruit, unless you abide in me; but, if you do, you bear much fruit; for, in other words, without me, or separate from me, you can do nothing.” Many try their best on their own, but
[a] Abiding in Jesus is necessary in order to our doing much good. A life of faith in the Son of God is incomparably the most excellent life a man can live in this world; it is regular and even, pure and heavenly; it is useful and comfortable, and answers the meaning of life. Without Jesus we can do nothing, nothing pleasing to God or profitable to ourselves,
(3.) The great privilege, which those have, that abide in Jesus (Joh_15:7): If my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will of my Father in my name, and it shall be done. When you are growing in faith, bearing fruit, when you are in God’s will, He will work for you, he will give you your heart’s desire, how good is that?
So how do we become like Jesus? Faith, which produces fruit, we abide in Jesus, we experience his grace, we obey, we love, we try not to grieve the Holy Spirit, we put to death our earthly nature, we dignify the trial (no complaining, no taking easy way out, we regard it as part of God’s plan as he works for the good of those who love him), we walk in love, we walk in the light, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Basically we become more like Jesus in our attitude and in accepting others. The ultimate proof is if people see Jesus in us, the question is will we let him be seen?
Sermon notes
A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor's office. After the check-up, the doctor took the wife aside and said, "If you don't do the following, your husband will surely die." 1. "Each morning, fix him a healthy breakfast and send him off to work in a good mood."2. "At lunch time, make him a warm, nutritious meal and put him in a good frame of mind before he goes back to work."3. "For dinner, fix an especially nice meal and don't burden him with household chores.”4. "Satisfy his every whim." On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor had said. "You're going to die," she informed him.
· "During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labour leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade, which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea-lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky."Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, "And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?" And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, 'We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'" Not all the jobs in a church are prominent and glamorous. But it is often the people with their "faces to the coal" who help the church accomplish its mission.
· James and John make a request for glory, a glory that is misplaced they do not understand that the kingdom of God, is not that of conquering soldiers, but of salvation for all humanity throughout time.
· They ask to be the 1st and 2nd in the kingdom, an earthly kingdom with palaces and thrones, but the kingdom of God is in the hearts and lives of Jesus’s followers
· James and John say freely that they are willing to suffer with Jesus, they say it pretty quickly without thinking, James is martyred in Acts ch 12, John suffered all his days, and spent time in exile on the island of Patmos for his faith in Jesus.
The sons of Zebedee make a request that from one point of view seems natural and acceptable. That point of view, however, reflects the distorted perspective of human falleness, wherein the greatest good appears to be that which serves the self, e.g. honor, position, glory, and prestige. It is the perspective that dominates the world and its powerful rulers.
The kingdom brought by Jesus defines greatness in an entirely opposite way in terms of servanthood, in terms of service
This way is foreign to the world and to human nature.
Yet it is the way of Jesus, and it is thus to be the way of his disciples. There will be rewards for the disciples, of course, but these are not for the present, nor are the disciples to have them uppermost in their minds.
Instead the disciples are to be marked by the humility, servanthood, and obedience to death that characterized Jesus, in the knowledge that to suffer with him may mean to drink the cup that he drank before ultimately reigning with him
To serve is to reign is the essence of Jesusian life
Jesus gave his life as a ransom, he paid the price to buy us back from the slavery of sin, he calls us to serve him and to serve everyone else we meet, and why shouldn’t we? Especially after the death he endured, so we could be named in God’s book and in his family
So what shall we do in this God’s fellowship here in St John’s? Will we strive for what the world asks for, prestige, honour, position, glory will we go for ourselves, look out for number one or will we follow what Jesus calls us to? To suffer and to serve without any expectation of getting anything in return?
Not very attractive is it? But the truth is this, the world with all the comfort, the success, wealth and glory is ultimately for nothing
Story of the fisherman and the rich businessman
During the bombing of London, it was found that people suffering from nervous disorders found unexpected health by forgetting their own troubles and ministering to the terrible needs of victims of the air raids. The reason many of us have no energy, no vitality, no joy, is that we are living only for ourselves. Service doesn’t simply mean service to those we trust and love, not simply service to the people and the building of this church, but serving the wretched, the unloved, the lonely the hurting, the bereaved and the ones who think they have it all
It is in service that we find true honour, but it is only when we are one with Jesus that we can understand this, we need a servant heart, to minister to the needs of others we need to grasp that Jesus forgives all, everyone, no matter how they have wronged you, Jesus loves all, even those you hate, he forgave the ones who hung him on the cross, that is how we should live, that is how our Church must grow together, not looking out for ourselves and our own needs, but looking to see how we can serve each other and our community of Dalkeith, the world tells us that value comes from being important and feeling good
Jesus calls us to travel another path, a hard path, perhaps that is why many cannot follow, a path of endurance and obedience, or suffering and service, but the rewards are so much more than what the world can offer, in this world we have purpose, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace, and when we leave this world we will receive so much more!
Pastor tells of a conversation with an active member, who mentioned, "You preachers talk a lot about serving, but when you get right down to it, it all comes down to basin theology.” Pastor asked, "Basin theology? What's that?" The member replied, "Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before his death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology: Which one will you use?"
James and John wanted the highest positions in Jesus’ kingdom, but Jesus told them true greatness comes in serving others; most businesses, institutions, and organisations measure greatness through high personal achievement. In Jesus’s kingdom, the way to get ahead is service, the desire to be on top only hinders, it doesn’t help, rather than seeking out your own needs, look for ways, pray for ways in which you can minister to others.
We have here the parable of the talents committed to three servants; this implies that we are in a state of work and business, we are in a state of expectancy. the necessity of habitual preparation, of actual diligence in our present work and service. We are stirred up to do well for our own spiritual life; to work for the glory of God and the good of others.
1. The Master is Jesus, who is the Owner and Proprietor of all persons and things, and his church;
2. The servants are Christians his own servants, born in his house, bought with his money, devoted to his praise, and employed in his work.
I. The trust given to these servants; their master delivered to them his goods: having called them to work (for Jesus keeps no servants to be idle), he left them with something to work with
We receive from Jesus in order to work for him. Our privileges are so we do our job! The gift of the Spirit is given to each one of us to bring God glory. 2. Whatever we receive is made use of for Jesus, it is all his anyway! we are but tenants upon his land, stewards of his grace,
On what occasion this trust given to these servants: The master was travelling into a far country. This is explained, Eph_4:8. When he ascended on high, he gave gifts to men.
he sent his Spirit to enable his servants to teach and profess truth, to live and apply his promises, and to exercise and employ powers, ordinary or extraordinary he gives us. Thus Jesus, at his ascension, left his goods to his church.
to what proportion was this trust given. [1.] He gave talents He gave to some more, to others less; to one five talents, to another two, to another one; to every one according to his ability. God shapes us in different ways, throughout our lives we have been shaped to serve God in our own particular way, each one of us is unique, also Every one had some one talent at least, All alike, they had not the same abilities and opportunities. God is a free Agent, giving, as he will; some are cut out for service in one kind, others in another, the church body like the human body
Two of the servants did well.
(1.) They were diligent and faithful; They went, and traded; A Christian is a spiritual tradesman. it is a manufacturing trade; there is something to be done for our own hearts, and for the good of others; things of value to us are parted with for things of greater value.
2) A tradesman is one who, having made his trade his choice, and taken pains to learn it, makes a business of it, he does all he can to grow his business, he lives for it, to give him and his family life. So too a Christian in the work of faith; we have no stock of our own to trade with, but trade with our saviour’s stock. The way we are shaped through life our minds - reason, wit, learning, must be used for Jesus and his Church; the enjoyments of the world - house, money, jobs, power, must be improved for the honour of Jesus. The gifts of the gospel, and our opportunities to use them, bibles, prayer, Sundays the sacraments, must be improved for the end for which they were given, and our walk with God kept up by them, the gifts and graces of the Spirit must be used; and this is trading with our talents.
(3.) They were successful;
2. The third did ill (Mat_25:18); He that received one talent, went, and hid his lord's money.(1.) notice if he who only had one talent, was treated this way for burying one, what of those that have more than one talent and bury them. (2.) Also those who have the littlest to do for God, frequently do least of what they have to do. Some make it an excuse for their laziness, that they have not the opportunities of serving God that others have they will not do what we are sure they can, and so sit down and do nothing; it is really a sad situation that when they have but one talent to take care about, they neglect that one.
He dug in the earth, and hid the talent, for fear it should be stolen; he did not misspend or misemploy it, did not embezzle it or squander it away, but he hid it. Money is like manure good for nothing in the heap, but it must be spread; yet it is an evil which we have often seen treasure heaped together does good to nobody; and so it is in spiritual gifts; many have them, and make no use of them Those that have but do not stir up the gift that is in them, are those lazy servants that seek their own things more than Jesus’.
We must all be reckoned with - what good we have done for our own growth, and what good we have done to others by the advantages we have enjoyed
If we be careful in our spiritual trade, we, and others will soon see it. Not that the saints will in the great day make mention of their own good deeds; no, Jesus will do that for them (Mat_25:35); but it intimates that they who faithfully improve their talents First, He commended them; Well done, good and faithful servant. Those that own and honour God now, he will own and honour in time. 1. Their persons will be accepted 2. Their performances will be accepted; Well done. Some bosses are so miserable, that they will not commend their workers, though they do their work ever so well: but Jesus will commend his servants that do well; He rewards them.
The bad account of the lazy servant.
[1.] His apology for himself I have not made more, as the others have done, yet this I can say, I have not made less.” This servant thought that his account would pass well enough, because he could say“ Lord, I didn’t waste any of my estate, no wasting of my time, I was always here, I did not oppose good ministers and good preaching; Lord, I never ridiculed my bible, nor set my wits to work to against my faith, nor abused my power to persecute any good man; I never wasted my time and others in drinking, nor ever to my knowledge did I ever bring injury to anybody.” Many that are called Christians, build great hopes for heaven upon their being able to make such an account; yet all this amounts to no more than there thou hast that is thine; as if no more were required, or could be expected.
Secondly, What he confesses. He owns the burying of his talent; I hid thy talent in the earth. He speaks as if that were no great fault; nay, as if he deserved praise for his prudence in putting it in a safe place, and running no hazards with it. Thirdly, What he makes his excuse; I knew that thou were a hard man, and I was afraid. Good thought of God would beget love, and that love would make us diligent and faithful; but hard thoughts of God beget fear, and that fear makes us slothful and unfaithful. His excuse speaks volumes
1. The sentiments of an enemy; 2. The spirit of a slave; I was afraid, [2.] His Lord's answer to this apology. First, His conviction, Mat_25:26, Mat_25:27. Two things he is convicted of.
1. Laziness; 2. Self-contradiction The hard thoughts which sinners have of God, though false and unjust, will be so far from justifying their wickedness and slothfulness, that they will rather aggravate and add to their guilt the master’s reply(1.) “Suppose I had been so hard a master, shouldest not thou therefore have been the more diligent and careful to please me, (2.) “If thou didst think me to be a hard master, and therefore durst not trade with the money thyself, for fear of losing by it, and being made to stand to the loss, yet thou mightest have put it into the hands of the exchangers, or goldsmith, mightest have brought it into the bank, (3.) “Suppose I did reap where I sowed not, yet that is nothing to thee, for I had sowed upon thee, and the talent was my money which thou wast entrusted with, not only to keep, but to improve.” Secondly, His condemnation. The slothful servant is sentenced,
1. To be deprived of his talent (1.) To the blessings of this life - worldly wealth and possessions. These we are entrusted with, to be used for the glory of God, and the good of those about us.(2.) We may apply it to the means of grace. They who are diligent in improving the opportunities they have,(3.) We may apply it to the common gifts of the Spirit. He that hath these, and doeth good with them, shall have abundance; these gifts improve by exercise, and brighten by being used; 2. He is sentenced to be cast into outer darkness, Mat_25:30. Here,
How do you use what you have?
Recognize the platform you have been given, where you are and what opportunities only have been given and the you are the only one who has been put in that situation. Even the worst has a talent, a gift a God given ability, so you have so much more how will you use it? The last servant was thinking of himself, he hoped to play it safe and protect himself, but he was judged for his self centeredness, we must not make excuses to avoid doing what God has made us and called us to do, if God is our master we must obey willingly, joyfully! We are caretakers, our time, talents money are all God’s anyway, when we ignore, squander or abuse what we are given, we are out of God’s will and to be fare when we are this rebellious we need to accept the consequences of our decisions.
Becoming like Jesus
Homeless guy, never let me in, Jesus says don’t worry I am never allowed in either
I 1. That Jesus Jesus is the vine, the true vine.
(a.) He is the vine, planted in the vineyard, for a purpose and not a spontaneous product; planted in the earth, for he is the Word made flesh. (b.) He is the true vine, opposed to those who deceive and mislead; he is really a fruitful plant, a plant of renown. He is the one from whom we grow, through 2 things forgiveness and The Holy Spirit
2. That believers are branches of this vine, grafted in; Jesus is the root of the vine. The branches of the vine are many, some on one side of the house or wall, others on the other side; yet, meeting in the root, all from the one vine; so all Jesusians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, yet meet in Jesus, the centre of their unity. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are insufficient to stand or survive on their own, but Jesus lifts us, feeds us, lets us blossom and bloom!
3. And my Father is the gardener- The word “vine-dresser” more properly expresses the sense of the original word than gardener. It means one who has the care of a vineyard; whose job it is to nurture, trim, and defend the vine, and who of course feels a deep interest in its growth and welfare. This means that God gave, or appointed his Son to be, the source of blessings to us all; that all grace descends through him; and that God takes care of all the branches of this vine - that is, of all who are by faith united to the Lord Jesus Jesus. In Jesus and all his church he feels the deepest interest, and it is an object of great solicitude that his church should receive these blessings and bear much fruit.
II. we are called to bear fruit, and, in order to this, to remain (abide) in Jesus.
(1.) The fate of the unfruitful: They are taken away.
[a.] It is here intimated that there are many who pass for branches in Jesus who don’t bear fruit. Were they really in Jesus by faith, they would bear fruit; but being only tied to him by the thread of an outward profession, though they seem to be branches, they will soon be seen to be dry ones. Unfruitful people are unfaithful people.
[b.] It is here threatened that they shall be taken away, in justice to them and in kindness to the rest of the branches. Difference of cutting back and separating, cut out that which can infect the whole plant
(2.) The promise made to the fruitful: He prunes them, that they may bear more fruit. Note, [a.] Further fruitfulness is the reward of first fruits. [b.] Even fruitful branches, in order to their further fruitfulness, have need of pruning; he takes away that which is surplus to requirements, which hinders its growth and fruitfulness. [c.] The pruning of fruitful branches, in order to their greater fruitfulness, is the care and work of the Father, for his own glory. [d] as we accept his forgiveness and let the Gift of the Spirit work through us we grow the way the Father wants us to grow, like Jesus
(3.) The Spirit of grace refines them from the dross of the world our old nature, and purged out of them it cleanses as fire cleanses the gold from its dross,
(4.) The glory that will be given to God by our fruitfulness, that should be our chief desire to glorify God, when so many give God a bad name, our desire should be to give him a good name.
2. In order to bear fruit, we must remain (abide) in Jesus, means believing he is the Son of God, receiving him as our saviour and Lord, doing what God says, continuing to believe the gospel, love the body of Jesus. Requires work on our part also.
Hallelujah, that’ll do ya!
Been saved, being saved will be saved. Much of the Jesusian life is coming to grips with what is already true about us, even when we do not “feel it”
(1.) (Joh_15:4): Abide in me, and I in you. Note, It is the great concern of all Jesus's disciples constantly to keep up a dependence upon Jesus The knot of the branch abides in the vine, and the sap of the vine abides in the branch, and so there is a constant communication to abide, to remain means being open to what he has got for us, as he is open to all of our needs
(2.) The necessity of our remaining in Jesus, so we bear fruit (Joh_15:4, Joh_15:5): “You cannot bear fruit, unless you abide in me; but, if you do, you bear much fruit; for, in other words, without me, or separate from me, you can do nothing.” Many try their best on their own, but
[a] Abiding in Jesus is necessary in order to our doing much good. A life of faith in the Son of God is incomparably the most excellent life a man can live in this world; it is regular and even, pure and heavenly; it is useful and comfortable, and answers the meaning of life. Without Jesus we can do nothing, nothing pleasing to God or profitable to ourselves,
(3.) The great privilege, which those have, that abide in Jesus (Joh_15:7): If my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will of my Father in my name, and it shall be done. When you are growing in faith, bearing fruit, when you are in God’s will, He will work for you, he will give you your heart’s desire, how good is that?
So how do we become like Jesus? Faith, which produces fruit, we abide in Jesus, we experience his grace, we obey, we love, we try not to grieve the Holy Spirit, we put to death our earthly nature, we dignify the trial (no complaining, no taking easy way out, we regard it as part of God’s plan as he works for the good of those who love him), we walk in love, we walk in the light, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Basically we become more like Jesus in our attitude and in accepting others. The ultimate proof is if people see Jesus in us, the question is will we let him be seen?
Sermon notes
A woman accompanied her husband to the doctor's office. After the check-up, the doctor took the wife aside and said, "If you don't do the following, your husband will surely die." 1. "Each morning, fix him a healthy breakfast and send him off to work in a good mood."2. "At lunch time, make him a warm, nutritious meal and put him in a good frame of mind before he goes back to work."3. "For dinner, fix an especially nice meal and don't burden him with household chores.”4. "Satisfy his every whim." On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor had said. "You're going to die," she informed him.
· "During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labour leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade, which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea-lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky."Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, "And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?" And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, 'We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'" Not all the jobs in a church are prominent and glamorous. But it is often the people with their "faces to the coal" who help the church accomplish its mission.
· James and John make a request for glory, a glory that is misplaced they do not understand that the kingdom of God, is not that of conquering soldiers, but of salvation for all humanity throughout time.
· They ask to be the 1st and 2nd in the kingdom, an earthly kingdom with palaces and thrones, but the kingdom of God is in the hearts and lives of Jesus’s followers
· James and John say freely that they are willing to suffer with Jesus, they say it pretty quickly without thinking, James is martyred in Acts ch 12, John suffered all his days, and spent time in exile on the island of Patmos for his faith in Jesus.
The sons of Zebedee make a request that from one point of view seems natural and acceptable. That point of view, however, reflects the distorted perspective of human falleness, wherein the greatest good appears to be that which serves the self, e.g. honor, position, glory, and prestige. It is the perspective that dominates the world and its powerful rulers.
The kingdom brought by Jesus defines greatness in an entirely opposite way in terms of servanthood, in terms of service
This way is foreign to the world and to human nature.
Yet it is the way of Jesus, and it is thus to be the way of his disciples. There will be rewards for the disciples, of course, but these are not for the present, nor are the disciples to have them uppermost in their minds.
Instead the disciples are to be marked by the humility, servanthood, and obedience to death that characterized Jesus, in the knowledge that to suffer with him may mean to drink the cup that he drank before ultimately reigning with him
To serve is to reign is the essence of Jesusian life
Jesus gave his life as a ransom, he paid the price to buy us back from the slavery of sin, he calls us to serve him and to serve everyone else we meet, and why shouldn’t we? Especially after the death he endured, so we could be named in God’s book and in his family
So what shall we do in this God’s fellowship here in St John’s? Will we strive for what the world asks for, prestige, honour, position, glory will we go for ourselves, look out for number one or will we follow what Jesus calls us to? To suffer and to serve without any expectation of getting anything in return?
Not very attractive is it? But the truth is this, the world with all the comfort, the success, wealth and glory is ultimately for nothing
Story of the fisherman and the rich businessman
During the bombing of London, it was found that people suffering from nervous disorders found unexpected health by forgetting their own troubles and ministering to the terrible needs of victims of the air raids. The reason many of us have no energy, no vitality, no joy, is that we are living only for ourselves. Service doesn’t simply mean service to those we trust and love, not simply service to the people and the building of this church, but serving the wretched, the unloved, the lonely the hurting, the bereaved and the ones who think they have it all
It is in service that we find true honour, but it is only when we are one with Jesus that we can understand this, we need a servant heart, to minister to the needs of others we need to grasp that Jesus forgives all, everyone, no matter how they have wronged you, Jesus loves all, even those you hate, he forgave the ones who hung him on the cross, that is how we should live, that is how our Church must grow together, not looking out for ourselves and our own needs, but looking to see how we can serve each other and our community of Dalkeith, the world tells us that value comes from being important and feeling good
Jesus calls us to travel another path, a hard path, perhaps that is why many cannot follow, a path of endurance and obedience, or suffering and service, but the rewards are so much more than what the world can offer, in this world we have purpose, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace, and when we leave this world we will receive so much more!
Pastor tells of a conversation with an active member, who mentioned, "You preachers talk a lot about serving, but when you get right down to it, it all comes down to basin theology.” Pastor asked, "Basin theology? What's that?" The member replied, "Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before his death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology: Which one will you use?"
James and John wanted the highest positions in Jesus’ kingdom, but Jesus told them true greatness comes in serving others; most businesses, institutions, and organisations measure greatness through high personal achievement. In Jesus’s kingdom, the way to get ahead is service, the desire to be on top only hinders, it doesn’t help, rather than seeking out your own needs, look for ways, pray for ways in which you can minister to others.
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