August 21, 2024 • 30 mins
Can love truly transform the way we live in a world that's often far from godly? Join me as I unpack the powerful teachings of 1 John 3:16-24, exploring how Jesus Christ's sacrificial love sets a profound example for all believers. I'll challenge you to consider whether your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ is genuinely lived out through actions and truth, rather than just words. By prioritizing the well-being of others over our own desires and possessions, we can create a ripple effect that transforms our lives and communities.
Our discussion continues with an in-depth look at the importance of walking in love and obedience to God's commandments. Learn how aligning our actions with God's will leads to a more fulfilling relationship with Him and the Christian family. We'll delve into the principles of loving one another and striving to sin less, emphasizing that true faith is demonstrated through active engagement and support within God's family. Finally, I offer an urgent invitation for those who haven't yet accepted Jesus as their Savior, underscoring that faith is a heartfelt commitment, not a mere ritual. Join me for this heartfelt exploration and be inspired to live out your faith in tangible, impactful ways.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
B.R.Maul (00:29):
Hello and good day.
This is BR Maul and you arelistening to Living God's Way in
an Ungodly World.
It's good to have you here withme.
We are in the book of 1 John.
We will be ending chapter 3today, and John has been making
it quite clear that love is veryimportant when it comes to
(00:55):
being with your brothers andsisters in Christ An important
topic, especially in a timewhere the church has lost a lot
of its love.
So today I challenge you toreally dig your heels into this
topic.
Ask yourself are you one who isloving your brothers and
(01:16):
sisters in the faith, going bywhat John is telling us?
As usual, I'll read God's Wordand then I'll back up and break
it down for you.
If you have any questions orcomments about what I am
teaching today, you are welcometo get a hold of me at my
website, brmaulcom.
(01:39):
That's brmaulcom.
Click on contact, fill out thatinformation and send it in to
me, and there's also a place onthe website that you can sign up
and you will be sent every weekthe new teaching.
So you don't have to jump onthe internet, you can just click
on the message in your emailand off you go.
(02:03):
So 1 John, chapter 3, startingin verse 16,.
It reads by this we know lovebecause he laid down his life
for us and we also ought to laydown our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world'sgoods and sees his brother in
(02:23):
need and shuts up his heart fromhim, how does the love of God
abide in him?
My little children, let us notlove in word or in tongue, but
in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we areof the truth and shall assure
(02:43):
our hearts before him, belovedand whatever we ask, we receive
(03:07):
from him, because we keep hiscommandments and do those things
that are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandmentthat we should believe on the
name of his Son, jesus Christ,and love one another, as he gave
us commandment.
Now, he who keeps hiscommandments abides in him and
he in him.
And by this we know that heabides in us by the Spirit whom
(03:32):
he has given us.
Heavenly Father, I ask you toguide my tongue.
Let not my own thoughts, letnot any of my own narrative
escape my lips, and may it onlyplease you, lord, that the
teaching comes from you.
The Holy Spirit guide me.
I also ask, lord, that you openthe hearts of all who are
(03:53):
listening, those who are seekinganswers to know your Son, jesus
, and those who are already bornagain but, like so many of us,
are struggling to walk in yourway in this ungodly world.
We come to you, Lord, and Ipray to you in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
Let's back up then.
(04:13):
That was verses 16 through 24.
So, going back to verse 16, bythis we know love.
Yes, we know love, john saysbecause he laid down his life
for us.
Who's he?
Well, jesus, right, because helaid down his life for us.
Now, that is love.
Think about that, jesus Christ.
(04:39):
He laid down his lifevoluntarily.
It was not taken.
He laid it down for you and forme, so we may have everlasting
life going on.
And we also ought to lay downour lives for the brethren.
That's a pretty big statement.
So our Savior and our Lord,jesus Christ, gave everything up
(05:01):
for us that we may live withhim in eternity.
And John is saying and we alsoought to lay down our lives for
the brethren, in other words,for one another, those who are
born again.
Can seem like a pretty highprice, but let's take a look at
(05:21):
what he is talking about.
This isn't taking a bullet forone another it could be in time
of war but laying down our lives, giving up, in other words, the
life that we, our flesh, wouldlove to.
Else in this world seeksObtaining as much money and as
(05:47):
much comfort as possible, asmuch security, as fleeting as
that security is.
But that's what our flesh wants.
But we lay down our life.
We give up, in other words, ourown personal desires to make it
better for our brethren,brothers and sisters in Christ,
(06:11):
verse 17,.
But whoever has this world'sgoods, in other words physical,
material possessions, and seeshis brother in need so I have
something and you need it andshuts up his heart from him, so
(06:32):
I decide well, I don't care,even though I have what you need
, I'm going to shut up my hearttowards you and tell myself I
don't care and I will look theother way.
How does the love of God abidein him?
Easy one to answer Either thelove of God abides in him and
(06:54):
I'm struggling, thinking, oh, Ireally should have helped them.
Or, if I am not having anyconsequence whatsoever, I better
question my salvation.
I better question if I reallyam a child of God, because it
should drive me crazy, as theHoly Spirit convicts me that I
(07:15):
have whatever it is that youneed.
But I'm looking the other way.
How different, beloved, wouldthis world be if, as Christians,
we lived according to ourSavior's guidelines here, that
we just love one another, we puteach other first and foremost,
(07:36):
before our own personal desires,our own selfish ways.
This world would be completelydifferent.
It would still have sin, sothere would still be many
problems.
But for those who are bornagain and we were looking out
for one another, the way theHoly Spirit is telling us
(07:56):
through the penmanship of John,that none of us would be in need
, and I argue that our personalwants and desires would deplete.
We wouldn't be needing tofulfill those, because the
blessings that are poured uponthose who walk in the ways of
(08:19):
the Lord is abundant.
And suddenly physicalpossessions become really
irrelevant.
We suddenly find ourselves notonly not needing them but
realizing they were just wantsand not even wanting them.
And that's a good thing.
That is an absolute good thing.
(08:41):
Verse 18,.
I like how John says my littlechildren, because we can behave
that way, can we not?
We can behave like littlechildren that get so caught up
in what's mine, mine, mine, mine, not healthy.
We want to try to stay awayfrom that.
So John says my little children, let us not love in word or in
(09:05):
tongue, but in deed and in truth.
I love this verse.
He's not saying don't just saythat you love somebody.
Telling them you love themmeans nothing.
That's not what John is saying.
When we are sincere and weoffer up our love for our family
(09:26):
, that really gives the otherreassurance.
But what he's saying is yeah,don't stop there.
Don't just say you love them inyour word, but show them your
love in deed and in truth.
Mean it, be truthful about it.
(09:50):
There's nothing worse thansomebody who is forcing
themselves to do something goodand you can see the agonizing
pain in them than when somebody,out of just truth in their
heart, does something good.
That is beautiful.
So talk is cheap.
John is saying Talk is verycheap when it is all by itself
(10:15):
Verse 19,.
And by this we know that we areof the truth and shall assure
our hearts before him.
We can know in our hearts, wecan know that we are being
truthful with our actions.
We don't have to pretend.
We can be confident in what theLord has taught us, that he
(10:38):
will indeed take care of us.
We don't have to store moneyand food and supplies and hoard
things.
We don't need to build morebarns, but by relying on him,
which, when we rely on Jesus,remember he works through us to
(10:58):
do his will.
And so, as we are seeing theneeds of our brothers and
sisters in the faith met, at thesame time Jesus is seeing to it
that our needs are being met.
It's beautiful how that works.
It is absolutely wonderful andamazing how that works.
(11:21):
Verse 20, for if our heartcondemns us, god is greater than
our heart and knows all things.
Verse 20,.
We may go to the Lord and prayto the Lord and just not feel
confident, and we may not feelconfident that we are doing what
(11:49):
we can to better his kingdom.
We may question ourselves, wemay question others around us,
we may even question him, butGod is greater than our heart
and knows all things, and heknows our heart and knows all
things and he knows our heart.
So even though our heart maycondemn us, he can see through
(12:11):
that.
Verse 21, beloved, if our heartdoes not condemn us, we have
confidence toward God.
So that's why the verse beforethat would mean to me that we
don't have the confidence beforeour Lord and God.
But when our heart does notcondemn us, we do have
confidence toward God and weapproach him with confidence in
(12:35):
knowing.
Now, circumstances can affectthat, without a doubt, but the
longer a person is walking withtheir Savior, the more they
learn to rely on the Savior andknow that he will follow through
.
Of course, we never get toperfection.
That's not going to happenuntil we're glorified.
(12:56):
But we strive to get therethrough sanctification.
Right Verse 22,.
And whatever we ask, we receivefrom him because we keep his
commandments and do those thingsthat are pleasing in his sight,
be used in a very negative way,making it sound like, if you're
(13:28):
not receiving what it is thatyou are praying for, that
there's probably something wrongwith you or wrong with your
faith.
Because if you are good withGod, whatever you pray for, then
you'll receive.
You want that brand new car andif you're good with God, then
if you pray right, you'llreceive it.
Or you can always just write acheck, send it in to some radio
(13:50):
ministry or TV evangelist thatis promising you that he or she
will pray for you and thatyou'll get it.
But let's not do that.
So let me read this again,verse 22,.
And whatever we ask, we receivefrom him because we keep his
commandments and do those thingsthat are pleasing in his sight.
(14:11):
Now did you catch that?
We receive what we ask of himbecause we are following his
will.
At this point, our will hasbeen bent to His will, so we are
asking for the same thing thathe wants for us, for our loved
(14:32):
ones, for whoever or whatever itis we are praying for.
We are asking because it is inHis will.
We should know, as matureChristians, that we can't ask
something of God, our Father,that is against his will and
expect him to answer that.
People who pray for a divorce,people who pray misery on
(14:57):
somebody else, somebody who'spraying for money and their
motive behind it, is not sincereIn their prayer.
They may try to make it soundsincere, but it's not sincere
because he knows our hearts.
Proverbs 17, verse 3,.
The refining pot is for silverand the furnace for gold, but
(15:19):
the Lord tests the heart.
He puts our hearts to the test,not our words, not our thoughts
, but our hearts.
That's how he sanctifies us,makes us stronger and more
Christ-like, and that is alsohow he tests us and reveals to
us when our heart is not right.
(15:41):
So when a Christian is living alife that he wants what God
wants, whatever we ask, wereceive from God Because that's
what God wants.
And again why?
Because we keep hiscommandments and do those things
that are pleasing in his sightDoesn't mean we're sinless.
(16:01):
Remember that Keeping hiscommandments and doing those
things that are pleasing in hissight does not mean being
sinless.
It does mean sinning less anddoing everything possible to,
yes, follow those commandmentsbecause they are meant to keep
us out of trouble, to keep us inhis joy, and doing those things
(16:24):
that please him.
Why?
Because it should please us.
And when his children areliving that lifestyle, they are
doing things because it is inhis will and in their will,
because it brings them joy.
That's when you know that youare in his will, that's when you
know you are walking with theLord, that you are in his will,
(16:45):
that's when you know you arewalking with the Lord.
Now, verse 23,.
And this is his commandmentthat we should believe on the
name of his son, jesus Christ,and love one another, as he gave
(17:08):
us commandment.
So there you go.
There's keeping hiscommandments.
Sums it up right there, believeon the name of his son, jesus,
and love one another.
Notice, it's not just lovingJesus he doesn't say that but
that we should believe on thename of his son, jesus Christ.
That's part of that formularight For being born again.
We must believe on the name ofJesus Christ With our mouth,
(17:30):
confess the Lord Jesus, in otherwords, that Jesus is our Lord.
He is the one who is over us.
We are under him.
We look to him for guidance.
We are under him.
We look to him for guidance.
We look to him for all hope andfor all answers.
That is believing on his nameand in our heart, believing that
(17:51):
the heavenly father raisedJesus from the grave and that
Jesus conquered death and hisblood, being sinless, being the
perfect lamb of God with noblemish, has washed all your
sins away.
But his commandment doesn'tstop there.
We should believe on the nameof his Son, jesus Christ, and
(18:15):
love one another, as he gave uscommandment, as he commanded us.
If you do not love God's people,then you do not love God.
These are not my words, beloved.
These are words of God himself,that the love of God is not in
a person if they are not lovingsomebody else.
(18:37):
To sit and have a conversationand tell other people I love
Jesus and then turn around andrip somebody else apart, to
gossip, to cheat, to do whateverit is that a person continues
to do.
That is out of the concept oflove, just means the love of the
Father is not in them.
(18:59):
And what John has been tellingus over the last few lessons is
just that that we can't just saywe love one another and then do
nothing for one another.
I'm going to turn just for amoment.
You can go back on my websiteIf you click on James.
There's tabs in there.
I've already taught on the bookof James, but James is also
(19:21):
known for telling his brothersand sisters in the faith that we
can't just sit around and talkabout love, that we need to show
it.
So I point to the book of James, chapter 2, in verse 14.
It reads what does it profit,my brethren, if someone says he
has faith but does not haveworks?
(19:43):
Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is nakedand destitute of daily food and
one of you says to them Departin peace, be warmed and filled,
but you do not give them thethings which are needed for the
body.
What does it profit?
(20:05):
In other words, what good areyou doing?
Verse 17,.
Thus also, faith by itself, ifit does not have works, is dead.
There you have it, the famousverses of James, that faith
without works is dead, faithwithout works is dead.
So we really are seeing overthese weeks, as we are reading
(20:28):
God's Word and the book of John,that we need to embrace this
whole concept of loving oneanother.
And what does that look like?
Let's think about this for amoment, because we are to love
one another.
Can we love people that we seefor one hour a week, maybe an
(20:54):
hour and a half?
If you're one of those thatstays after and actually has
coffee and cookies after theservice?
Can you really love somebodythat way?
Now you may have your reasoningfor that and I encourage you to
text me or email me.
You can text me on the Text UsNow tab.
That's not on my website, thatwould be at whatever directory
you are on.
Because I'd really like to know, because I would say we can't
(21:18):
do that, we can't do that.
People that we are close to,people that we love and care for
, we give them our time and wewant their time.
Now you might be able to get oh, so-and-so needs this or
so-and-so needs that, and beable to run over to them and
offer a helping hand.
(21:39):
So, yes, sure, that's possibleand that happens.
But I would still say that'snot really loving them If you're
not taking the time to find outwhat is going on in each
other's lives.
And that's why, over and over inmy teachings, I make it very
clear that, yes, we need ourone-on-one time with the Lord.
(21:59):
Be in his word every single day.
That is the only way you aregoing to grow in your walk and
pray to the Lord every singleday.
Let him guide you in yourchoices.
Let him guide you in what it isthat you are doing in life,
whatever that may be.
But then come together with agroup of Christians, a group who
(22:21):
are born again, not justsomebody who is in name, only a
Christian.
There are plenty of those andthat's a topic for another time.
So I caution you to be carefulwith that.
But you need to come togetherwith born-again believers and
you need to know one another.
You need to love one another,know one another's hurts,
(22:43):
because James also tells us thatyou come together, you confess
your faults one to another andpray one for another that you
may be healed.
That's how our Lord and Saviorheals us.
That's how he works in ourlives is through one another.
I don't know why he has chosento do that.
(23:03):
He could be a God that we justonly go straight to him every
time we have aches and pains, wehave troubles in our lives and
he just says, oh, just comedirectly to me and I'll take
care of everything.
And we see angels coming andgoing from heaven and helping
out those who are born again.
He could have chosen to do that.
(23:24):
There's many other ways too,but he has chosen to work
through us and I think it'sbecause it gives us the honor of
participating in healing oneanother, in helping one another,
in talking and loving oneanother, talking to one another.
So there is a beautifulblessing that comes with that
(23:48):
Verse 24,.
Now he who keeps hiscommandments abides in him, and
him is capital H, and so thatwould be God.
Now, he, or the person whokeeps God's commandments abides
in God and he in him.
So God in that person.
(24:10):
That's remarkable.
That truly is remarkable.
Every time I think about thisconcept and it's mentioned
throughout the New Testamentabout God abiding in us.
It's amazing.
Being born again is anincredible concept because the
Holy Spirit dwells in us, thebeliever, and our spirit, which
(24:34):
is born.
So we are born again because itwas dead before.
That works together with theHoly Spirit and we're connected
directly to God.
It's amazing and that's why weare told that even our bodies
are a temple to the Lord.
I say it often that we don't goto church.
We are the church and I'm notadvocating that we don't need to
(24:57):
go worship.
Not at all.
Yes, we need to worship withone another.
That may be in a buildingcalled a church, it could be in
someone's garage, their backyard, in a house, in the back of a
restaurant, wherever, becausewherever we are the believers,
wherever God's children cometogether, we are the church, and
(25:20):
amen to that.
It is absolutely amazing.
He who keeps his commandments,that person, that brother or
that sister in the faith, whokeeps his commandments, the Holy
Father's commandments, abidesin him, and God himself abides
(25:43):
in him or her.
Powerful.
That is powerful, beloved, andby this we know that he abides
in us by the Spirit capital Sthe Holy Spirit whom he has
given us.
So we have the Holy Spiritdwelling in us.
We're never alone as a child ofGod.
(26:05):
It's remarkable.
So if you don't have a smallgroup of born-again believers to
come together, start looking.
It's important.
I understand.
Things come up in life.
People move, major thingshappen in our lives that change
(26:25):
the course of where we were oncegoing.
Things happen and that cansometimes shake our world as we
know it and you may findyourself in a place where you
don't know who the Christiansare.
I hate to say it but it's true,because there are many false
(26:46):
Christians out there, becausethere are many false Christians
out there, there are many whoeven believe they are Christian
but they're not.
And this is all biblical.
Jesus even said many will cometo me on that day and say Lord,
lord, did we not prophesy inyour name?
Did we not do all these greatworks in your name?
And he will say depart from me.
(27:07):
I never knew you.
So be careful.
Just by walking in a buildingthat has a cross on it or in the
title somewhere it says churchor has the name Jesus on it,
does not make it a church.
Remember, it is the believersthat make up the church and I
encourage you to find a healthygroup of born-again believers,
(27:29):
ones who have been in the Wordfor a while, those that you can
walk with and grow with.
In Proverbs it says he whowalks with wise men shall be
wise.
Put yourself among those whoknow the Lord, and you can see
that, because it will show intheir life Somebody who calls
(27:51):
themselves a Christian beloved.
But they talk like the world,they walk like the world, they
act like the world.
Well, if it walks like a duckand quacks like a duck, it's a
duck.
Now, with that said, I'm notadvising you to go out and just
point at people and say oh, yousay you're a Christian, you're
(28:13):
not a Christian, because thereis a lot of believers out there
that haven't been given theguidance that those who are
listening to this podcast, forexample, on a weekly basis, are
getting the education of knowinghow to identify ourselves as a
Christian, how to identifyothers as Christians.
(28:34):
We can never know for sure oneof another's eternity, but we
are told that we can know eachother by our fruit.
We need one another.
We certainly need other sheep.
We need each other.
We have to be in a group wherewe can influence others and they
(28:56):
, in their love, influence us.
Does that make sense?
I hope it does, because withevery passing day we are getting
closer to the day, and that'sthe tribulation coming.
The rapture of the church first, and then the tribulation that
can happen any moment, any day,any week.
(29:18):
So stay strong, my brothers andsisters.
For those of you who do notknow Jesus as their personal
Savior, I say do it now, don'twait.
You never know when your timeis up.
No magical prayer.
As I've said before and I'llsay it again, you must just
confess with your mouth the LordJesus and in your heart believe
(29:40):
he was raised from the dead andyou will be saved.
If you have any questions aboutthat as well, get on my website
, brmaulcom, go to contact andjust ask me your question.
I'd be happy to help you out,and until next time, god bless.
Hello and good day.
This is BR Maul and you arelistening to Living God's Way in
an Ungodly World.
It's good to have you here withme.
We are in the book of 1 John.
We will be ending chapter 3today, and John has been making
it quite clear that love is veryimportant when it comes to
(00:55):
being with your brothers andsisters in Christ An important
topic, especially in a timewhere the church has lost a lot
of its love.
So today I challenge you toreally dig your heels into this
topic.
Ask yourself are you one who isloving your brothers and
(01:16):
sisters in the faith, going bywhat John is telling us?
As usual, I'll read God's Wordand then I'll back up and break
it down for you.
If you have any questions orcomments about what I am
teaching today, you are welcometo get a hold of me at my
website, brmaulcom.
(01:39):
That's brmaulcom.
Click on contact, fill out thatinformation and send it in to
me, and there's also a place onthe website that you can sign up
and you will be sent every weekthe new teaching.
So you don't have to jump onthe internet, you can just click
on the message in your emailand off you go.
(02:03):
So 1 John, chapter 3, startingin verse 16,.
It reads by this we know lovebecause he laid down his life
for us and we also ought to laydown our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world'sgoods and sees his brother in
(02:23):
need and shuts up his heart fromhim, how does the love of God
abide in him?
My little children, let us notlove in word or in tongue, but
in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we areof the truth and shall assure
(02:43):
our hearts before him, belovedand whatever we ask, we receive
(03:07):
from him, because we keep hiscommandments and do those things
that are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandmentthat we should believe on the
name of his Son, jesus Christ,and love one another, as he gave
us commandment.
Now, he who keeps hiscommandments abides in him and
he in him.
And by this we know that heabides in us by the Spirit whom
(03:32):
he has given us.
Heavenly Father, I ask you toguide my tongue.
Let not my own thoughts, letnot any of my own narrative
escape my lips, and may it onlyplease you, lord, that the
teaching comes from you.
The Holy Spirit guide me.
I also ask, lord, that you openthe hearts of all who are
(03:53):
listening, those who are seekinganswers to know your Son, jesus
, and those who are already bornagain but, like so many of us,
are struggling to walk in yourway in this ungodly world.
We come to you, Lord, and Ipray to you in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
Let's back up then.
(04:13):
That was verses 16 through 24.
So, going back to verse 16, bythis we know love.
Yes, we know love, john saysbecause he laid down his life
for us.
Who's he?
Well, jesus, right, because helaid down his life for us.
Now, that is love.
Think about that, jesus Christ.
(04:39):
He laid down his lifevoluntarily.
It was not taken.
He laid it down for you and forme, so we may have everlasting
life going on.
And we also ought to lay downour lives for the brethren.
That's a pretty big statement.
So our Savior and our Lord,jesus Christ, gave everything up
(05:01):
for us that we may live withhim in eternity.
And John is saying and we alsoought to lay down our lives for
the brethren, in other words,for one another, those who are
born again.
Can seem like a pretty highprice, but let's take a look at
(05:21):
what he is talking about.
This isn't taking a bullet forone another it could be in time
of war but laying down our lives, giving up, in other words, the
life that we, our flesh, wouldlove to.
Else in this world seeksObtaining as much money and as
(05:47):
much comfort as possible, asmuch security, as fleeting as
that security is.
But that's what our flesh wants.
But we lay down our life.
We give up, in other words, ourown personal desires to make it
better for our brethren,brothers and sisters in Christ,
(06:11):
verse 17,.
But whoever has this world'sgoods, in other words physical,
material possessions, and seeshis brother in need so I have
something and you need it andshuts up his heart from him, so
(06:32):
I decide well, I don't care,even though I have what you need
, I'm going to shut up my hearttowards you and tell myself I
don't care and I will look theother way.
How does the love of God abidein him?
Easy one to answer Either thelove of God abides in him and
(06:54):
I'm struggling, thinking, oh, Ireally should have helped them.
Or, if I am not having anyconsequence whatsoever, I better
question my salvation.
I better question if I reallyam a child of God, because it
should drive me crazy, as theHoly Spirit convicts me that I
(07:15):
have whatever it is that youneed.
But I'm looking the other way.
How different, beloved, wouldthis world be if, as Christians,
we lived according to ourSavior's guidelines here, that
we just love one another, we puteach other first and foremost,
(07:36):
before our own personal desires,our own selfish ways.
This world would be completelydifferent.
It would still have sin, sothere would still be many
problems.
But for those who are bornagain and we were looking out
for one another, the way theHoly Spirit is telling us
(07:56):
through the penmanship of John,that none of us would be in need
, and I argue that our personalwants and desires would deplete.
We wouldn't be needing tofulfill those, because the
blessings that are poured uponthose who walk in the ways of
(08:19):
the Lord is abundant.
And suddenly physicalpossessions become really
irrelevant.
We suddenly find ourselves notonly not needing them but
realizing they were just wantsand not even wanting them.
And that's a good thing.
That is an absolute good thing.
(08:41):
Verse 18,.
I like how John says my littlechildren, because we can behave
that way, can we not?
We can behave like littlechildren that get so caught up
in what's mine, mine, mine, mine, not healthy.
We want to try to stay awayfrom that.
So John says my little children, let us not love in word or in
(09:05):
tongue, but in deed and in truth.
I love this verse.
He's not saying don't just saythat you love somebody.
Telling them you love themmeans nothing.
That's not what John is saying.
When we are sincere and weoffer up our love for our family
(09:26):
, that really gives the otherreassurance.
But what he's saying is yeah,don't stop there.
Don't just say you love them inyour word, but show them your
love in deed and in truth.
Mean it, be truthful about it.
(09:50):
There's nothing worse thansomebody who is forcing
themselves to do something goodand you can see the agonizing
pain in them than when somebody,out of just truth in their
heart, does something good.
That is beautiful.
So talk is cheap.
John is saying Talk is verycheap when it is all by itself
(10:15):
Verse 19,.
And by this we know that we areof the truth and shall assure
our hearts before him.
We can know in our hearts, wecan know that we are being
truthful with our actions.
We don't have to pretend.
We can be confident in what theLord has taught us, that he
(10:38):
will indeed take care of us.
We don't have to store moneyand food and supplies and hoard
things.
We don't need to build morebarns, but by relying on him,
which, when we rely on Jesus,remember he works through us to
(10:58):
do his will.
And so, as we are seeing theneeds of our brothers and
sisters in the faith met, at thesame time Jesus is seeing to it
that our needs are being met.
It's beautiful how that works.
It is absolutely wonderful andamazing how that works.
(11:21):
Verse 20, for if our heartcondemns us, god is greater than
our heart and knows all things.
Verse 20,.
We may go to the Lord and prayto the Lord and just not feel
confident, and we may not feelconfident that we are doing what
(11:49):
we can to better his kingdom.
We may question ourselves, wemay question others around us,
we may even question him, butGod is greater than our heart
and knows all things, and heknows our heart and knows all
things and he knows our heart.
So even though our heart maycondemn us, he can see through
(12:11):
that.
Verse 21, beloved, if our heartdoes not condemn us, we have
confidence toward God.
So that's why the verse beforethat would mean to me that we
don't have the confidence beforeour Lord and God.
But when our heart does notcondemn us, we do have
confidence toward God and weapproach him with confidence in
(12:35):
knowing.
Now, circumstances can affectthat, without a doubt, but the
longer a person is walking withtheir Savior, the more they
learn to rely on the Savior andknow that he will follow through
.
Of course, we never get toperfection.
That's not going to happenuntil we're glorified.
(12:56):
But we strive to get therethrough sanctification.
Right Verse 22,.
And whatever we ask, we receivefrom him because we keep his
commandments and do those thingsthat are pleasing in his sight,
be used in a very negative way,making it sound like, if you're
(13:28):
not receiving what it is thatyou are praying for, that
there's probably something wrongwith you or wrong with your
faith.
Because if you are good withGod, whatever you pray for, then
you'll receive.
You want that brand new car andif you're good with God, then
if you pray right, you'llreceive it.
Or you can always just write acheck, send it in to some radio
(13:50):
ministry or TV evangelist thatis promising you that he or she
will pray for you and thatyou'll get it.
But let's not do that.
So let me read this again,verse 22,.
And whatever we ask, we receivefrom him because we keep his
commandments and do those thingsthat are pleasing in his sight.
(14:11):
Now did you catch that?
We receive what we ask of himbecause we are following his
will.
At this point, our will hasbeen bent to His will, so we are
asking for the same thing thathe wants for us, for our loved
(14:32):
ones, for whoever or whatever itis we are praying for.
We are asking because it is inHis will.
We should know, as matureChristians, that we can't ask
something of God, our Father,that is against his will and
expect him to answer that.
People who pray for a divorce,people who pray misery on
(14:57):
somebody else, somebody who'spraying for money and their
motive behind it, is not sincereIn their prayer.
They may try to make it soundsincere, but it's not sincere
because he knows our hearts.
Proverbs 17, verse 3,.
The refining pot is for silverand the furnace for gold, but
(15:19):
the Lord tests the heart.
He puts our hearts to the test,not our words, not our thoughts
, but our hearts.
That's how he sanctifies us,makes us stronger and more
Christ-like, and that is alsohow he tests us and reveals to
us when our heart is not right.
(15:41):
So when a Christian is living alife that he wants what God
wants, whatever we ask, wereceive from God Because that's
what God wants.
And again why?
Because we keep hiscommandments and do those things
that are pleasing in his sightDoesn't mean we're sinless.
(16:01):
Remember that Keeping hiscommandments and doing those
things that are pleasing in hissight does not mean being
sinless.
It does mean sinning less anddoing everything possible to,
yes, follow those commandmentsbecause they are meant to keep
us out of trouble, to keep us inhis joy, and doing those things
(16:24):
that please him.
Why?
Because it should please us.
And when his children areliving that lifestyle, they are
doing things because it is inhis will and in their will,
because it brings them joy.
That's when you know that youare in his will, that's when you
know you are walking with theLord, that you are in his will,
(16:45):
that's when you know you arewalking with the Lord.
Now, verse 23,.
And this is his commandmentthat we should believe on the
name of his son, jesus Christ,and love one another, as he gave
(17:08):
us commandment.
So there you go.
There's keeping hiscommandments.
Sums it up right there, believeon the name of his son, jesus,
and love one another.
Notice, it's not just lovingJesus he doesn't say that but
that we should believe on thename of his son, jesus Christ.
That's part of that formularight For being born again.
We must believe on the name ofJesus Christ With our mouth,
(17:30):
confess the Lord Jesus, in otherwords, that Jesus is our Lord.
He is the one who is over us.
We are under him.
We look to him for guidance.
We are under him.
We look to him for guidance.
We look to him for all hope andfor all answers.
That is believing on his nameand in our heart, believing that
(17:51):
the heavenly father raisedJesus from the grave and that
Jesus conquered death and hisblood, being sinless, being the
perfect lamb of God with noblemish, has washed all your
sins away.
But his commandment doesn'tstop there.
We should believe on the nameof his Son, jesus Christ, and
(18:15):
love one another, as he gave uscommandment, as he commanded us.
If you do not love God's people,then you do not love God.
These are not my words, beloved.
These are words of God himself,that the love of God is not in
a person if they are not lovingsomebody else.
(18:37):
To sit and have a conversationand tell other people I love
Jesus and then turn around andrip somebody else apart, to
gossip, to cheat, to do whateverit is that a person continues
to do.
That is out of the concept oflove, just means the love of the
Father is not in them.
(18:59):
And what John has been tellingus over the last few lessons is
just that that we can't just saywe love one another and then do
nothing for one another.
I'm going to turn just for amoment.
You can go back on my websiteIf you click on James.
There's tabs in there.
I've already taught on the bookof James, but James is also
(19:21):
known for telling his brothersand sisters in the faith that we
can't just sit around and talkabout love, that we need to show
it.
So I point to the book of James, chapter 2, in verse 14.
It reads what does it profit,my brethren, if someone says he
has faith but does not haveworks?
(19:43):
Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is nakedand destitute of daily food and
one of you says to them Departin peace, be warmed and filled,
but you do not give them thethings which are needed for the
body.
What does it profit?
(20:05):
In other words, what good areyou doing?
Verse 17,.
Thus also, faith by itself, ifit does not have works, is dead.
There you have it, the famousverses of James, that faith
without works is dead, faithwithout works is dead.
So we really are seeing overthese weeks, as we are reading
(20:28):
God's Word and the book of John,that we need to embrace this
whole concept of loving oneanother.
And what does that look like?
Let's think about this for amoment, because we are to love
one another.
Can we love people that we seefor one hour a week, maybe an
(20:54):
hour and a half?
If you're one of those thatstays after and actually has
coffee and cookies after theservice?
Can you really love somebodythat way?
Now you may have your reasoningfor that and I encourage you to
text me or email me.
You can text me on the Text UsNow tab.
That's not on my website, thatwould be at whatever directory
you are on.
Because I'd really like to know, because I would say we can't
(21:18):
do that, we can't do that.
People that we are close to,people that we love and care for
, we give them our time and wewant their time.
Now you might be able to get oh, so-and-so needs this or
so-and-so needs that, and beable to run over to them and
offer a helping hand.
(21:39):
So, yes, sure, that's possibleand that happens.
But I would still say that'snot really loving them If you're
not taking the time to find outwhat is going on in each
other's lives.
And that's why, over and over inmy teachings, I make it very
clear that, yes, we need ourone-on-one time with the Lord.
(21:59):
Be in his word every single day.
That is the only way you aregoing to grow in your walk and
pray to the Lord every singleday.
Let him guide you in yourchoices.
Let him guide you in what it isthat you are doing in life,
whatever that may be.
But then come together with agroup of Christians, a group who
(22:21):
are born again, not justsomebody who is in name, only a
Christian.
There are plenty of those andthat's a topic for another time.
So I caution you to be carefulwith that.
But you need to come togetherwith born-again believers and
you need to know one another.
You need to love one another,know one another's hurts,
(22:43):
because James also tells us thatyou come together, you confess
your faults one to another andpray one for another that you
may be healed.
That's how our Lord and Saviorheals us.
That's how he works in ourlives is through one another.
I don't know why he has chosento do that.
(23:03):
He could be a God that we justonly go straight to him every
time we have aches and pains, wehave troubles in our lives and
he just says, oh, just comedirectly to me and I'll take
care of everything.
And we see angels coming andgoing from heaven and helping
out those who are born again.
He could have chosen to do that.
(23:24):
There's many other ways too,but he has chosen to work
through us and I think it'sbecause it gives us the honor of
participating in healing oneanother, in helping one another,
in talking and loving oneanother, talking to one another.
So there is a beautifulblessing that comes with that
(23:48):
Verse 24,.
Now he who keeps hiscommandments abides in him, and
him is capital H, and so thatwould be God.
Now, he, or the person whokeeps God's commandments abides
in God and he in him.
So God in that person.
(24:10):
That's remarkable.
That truly is remarkable.
Every time I think about thisconcept and it's mentioned
throughout the New Testamentabout God abiding in us.
It's amazing.
Being born again is anincredible concept because the
Holy Spirit dwells in us, thebeliever, and our spirit, which
(24:34):
is born.
So we are born again because itwas dead before.
That works together with theHoly Spirit and we're connected
directly to God.
It's amazing and that's why weare told that even our bodies
are a temple to the Lord.
I say it often that we don't goto church.
We are the church and I'm notadvocating that we don't need to
(24:57):
go worship.
Not at all.
Yes, we need to worship withone another.
That may be in a buildingcalled a church, it could be in
someone's garage, their backyard, in a house, in the back of a
restaurant, wherever, becausewherever we are the believers,
wherever God's children cometogether, we are the church, and
(25:20):
amen to that.
It is absolutely amazing.
He who keeps his commandments,that person, that brother or
that sister in the faith, whokeeps his commandments, the Holy
Father's commandments, abidesin him, and God himself abides
(25:43):
in him or her.
Powerful.
That is powerful, beloved, andby this we know that he abides
in us by the Spirit capital Sthe Holy Spirit whom he has
given us.
So we have the Holy Spiritdwelling in us.
We're never alone as a child ofGod.
(26:05):
It's remarkable.
So if you don't have a smallgroup of born-again believers to
come together, start looking.
It's important.
I understand.
Things come up in life.
People move, major thingshappen in our lives that change
(26:25):
the course of where we were oncegoing.
Things happen and that cansometimes shake our world as we
know it and you may findyourself in a place where you
don't know who the Christiansare.
I hate to say it but it's true,because there are many false
(26:46):
Christians out there, becausethere are many false Christians
out there, there are many whoeven believe they are Christian
but they're not.
And this is all biblical.
Jesus even said many will cometo me on that day and say Lord,
lord, did we not prophesy inyour name?
Did we not do all these greatworks in your name?
And he will say depart from me.
(27:07):
I never knew you.
So be careful.
Just by walking in a buildingthat has a cross on it or in the
title somewhere it says churchor has the name Jesus on it,
does not make it a church.
Remember, it is the believersthat make up the church and I
encourage you to find a healthygroup of born-again believers,
(27:29):
ones who have been in the Wordfor a while, those that you can
walk with and grow with.
In Proverbs it says he whowalks with wise men shall be
wise.
Put yourself among those whoknow the Lord, and you can see
that, because it will show intheir life Somebody who calls
(27:51):
themselves a Christian beloved.
But they talk like the world,they walk like the world, they
act like the world.
Well, if it walks like a duckand quacks like a duck, it's a
duck.
Now, with that said, I'm notadvising you to go out and just
point at people and say oh, yousay you're a Christian, you're
(28:13):
not a Christian, because thereis a lot of believers out there
that haven't been given theguidance that those who are
listening to this podcast, forexample, on a weekly basis, are
getting the education of knowinghow to identify ourselves as a
Christian, how to identifyothers as Christians.
(28:34):
We can never know for sure oneof another's eternity, but we
are told that we can know eachother by our fruit.
We need one another.
We certainly need other sheep.
We need each other.
We have to be in a group wherewe can influence others and they
(28:56):
, in their love, influence us.
Does that make sense?
I hope it does, because withevery passing day we are getting
closer to the day, and that'sthe tribulation coming.
The rapture of the church first, and then the tribulation that
can happen any moment, any day,any week.
(29:18):
So stay strong, my brothers andsisters.
For those of you who do notknow Jesus as their personal
Savior, I say do it now, don'twait.
You never know when your timeis up.
No magical prayer.
As I've said before and I'llsay it again, you must just
confess with your mouth the LordJesus and in your heart believe
(29:40):
he was raised from the dead andyou will be saved.
If you have any questions aboutthat as well, get on my website
, brmaulcom, go to contact andjust ask me your question.
I'd be happy to help you out,and until next time, god bless.
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