John 15:7-11 Joy Complete

John 15:7-11  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.   "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. (NASB)

There are those in Christian circles that claim what has been referred to as a “Prosperity” gospel.  Simply put it is a “Name it and Claim it” attitude that says God wants us to have everything we ask for.  All we have to do is go to Him earnestly in prayer and He will grant us whatever it is.

Poppycock!  That is just not the way it is.  Creator God is not a genie in a bottle waiting to grant our wishes.

This passage in John’s gospel however does point to some things that might be misunderstood as a prosperity gospel message when if fact that is not the case.  Let’s take a closer look at these words of Christ.

Let’s stipulate up front that the passage does say, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  If that was a standalone thought it might be argued that you have your genie in a bottle proof text.  That is not in fact the case.  The condition of, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” preceed the “Ask whatever you wish … “statement.  So what does He mean when He says “Abide in me” and regarding His words that they “Abide in you”?  Abide means to “Continue in a place” according to Webster.  I like to refer to it as taking up residence.  So you might paraphrase the passage to read, “If you live in Me and My words live in you …”.  So the condition on the name it and claim it appears to be an inseparable relationship with Christ.  Living in Christ and His word living in you results in the capacity to “Ask whatever you wish and …”. 

Now that sounds a little different than just dream something up and ask for it.  Why?  Because when you are that close with Jesus you won’t be thinking selfishly.  You will be in fact thinking correctly about things such that when you pray it will be according to His will.  Jesus prayed in the garden, “…, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42 NASB).

So the bottom line here is that we can ask for and expect to come to pass exactly what we ask when we are praying perfectly in God’s will.  Sounds simple right?  Yep!  Do you know why?  Because of grace.  Grace provides a couple of helpers in the process.  First, a little humble pie though.  Scripture tells us quite clearly, “We do not know how to pray as we should”. (Romans 8:26 NASB)  So it’s hopeless then right?  Wrong!  The full passage reads this way, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”.

But you said there were two helpers.  That’s right.  Jesus Himself helps in the process of prayer.  The book of Hebrews speaks in long passages of Jesus’ ministry as our “Great high priest” ministering on our behalf.  See Hebrews 6-8

Now there is a point to all of this praying and that is that when His will is accomplished when we pray that way then it can ultimately be counted or even measured.  There is something that has transpired that can be pointed to and taken not of.  In the same way a farmer harvests his crop bringing it to yield the Lord refers to the work that is accomplished through this ministry of prayer.  John records,  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples”.  This is a direct outcome of the abiding and the praying which of course is something that Christians that are submitting to the Lord do.  So the bearing of fruit or yielding good things for Christ is the way we can count the accomplishments that are done by God through his servants.

I want to get to what I see as a critical point in the passage and one reason I clipped this long passage in the first place.  John wraps up this section by showing us another result beyond fruit being produced when we submit to Him in our abiding and our prayer.  That result is a direct benefit to us, the believer.

JOY!

John records that when all of this abiding and yielding fruit takes place we are filled with joy.  Jesus said it this way, "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”.  So he is letting us in on this information for this specific purpose – so that His, “Joy may be in you”.  Isn’t it exciting to think that Jesus thought enough of us to share this thought with us letting us in on the understanding that if we will abide in Him, allow His word to abide in us and pray according to His will yielding fruit as His servants then His joy will be in us?  And that isn’t the whole thing.  He says, “That your joy may be made full”.  Other translations say “Made complete”.

Now that is a great closing thought indeed.  Jesus wants us to abide in Him and His word in us ultimately so that through the accomplishment of His will through us His servants we will receive abundant joy.  AMEN!

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 Imitators

1Thessalonians 1:6-7  “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia”. (NASB)

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he gives them commendation on the way they have lived out their faith in the midst of their troubles.  It is this way of living that I’d like to discuss today.

This passage occurs in the preliminary section of the letter just after Paul’s greeting and as we’ve seen before the finding joy in the midst of trouble is discussed.

It is first interesting to note that the commendation is for becoming imitators.  That is they have fallen into a pattern of behavior that they have seen modeled for them.  First they were imitators of Paul himself.  When you think about it, as new believers, Paul or other Christian leaders were the first of the faith they had encountered.  It is then expected that having adopted the faith of Paul in Christ they should also adopt the behavior Paul exhibits.

It then is sobering to those of us as Christians with some maturity under our belts to think that new believers would be looking to us to see how they should live.  That is exactly what they should do and so we need to be worthy of their study and imitation.

It is only after first imitating Paul and by extension other Christians that they are able to imitate Christ.  I believe that this refers to spiritual growth and understanding of God’s Word that comes with maturity.  As one’s faith matures through understanding the imitation becomes more of Christ Himself than a fellow imitator.  So the order revealed by Paul is important.

Next it is important to see that this imitation of Paul and then Christ took place in the midst of trouble.  Maybe a way to look at it is this.  Anyone can behave well when things are all going their way.  It isn’t so easy to be cheery and gracious when the circumstances of life seem to be dumping on you.  Paul seems to be pointing out that these believers have been tested with trouble and have responded well as imitators of Christ.

Next Paul’s argument comes full circle as he shares that because they have behaved well under these difficult circumstances, while others have been watching, they have been a good, “Example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia”. This shows that a good example has an effect on more than just new believers.  A good example of Christian conduct does show new believers how to behave but it encourages all believers as well.

We cannot move from here with going back and seeing how all this good behavior is made possible.  This is a principle many Christians fail to grasp so listen up!  We believe we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.  The problem is that some believers think that living out our faith reverts back to personal effort or works.  That is frankly a miserable way to live out your faith.  It was grace that saved us and it is grace that makes it possible for us to live out our lives in accordance with God’s will.  This passage shares that principle with reference to, “The joy of the Holy Spirit”.  Only the Holy Spirit at work in the believer can produce joy in the midst of trouble.  It isn’t in us to just be happy when life dumps on us.

Praise be to God that He calls me to be an example to others but then equips me by the work of the Holy Spirit within me to accomplish what He asks.  AMEN!

James 1:2-4 Joyful Trials

James 1:2-4  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (NASB)

Did you somehow think when you became a Christian that from that point on everything was going to be just “Peachy”?  Well if you did, or still do for that matter, guess again.  There’s nothing in Scripture to indicate that as believes we’re going to get on with our lives free from trouble.  In fact, there is plenty to support the idea that we’ll actually in some ways receive persecution for our faith.

So today as I’m sitting with my new company issued Blackberry device and not having a bit of fun with the new interface or the activation of said device I thought, here’s a topic to consider.

I’m not having fun with this and although it is a minor thing I do feel a bit of frustration.  Frustration frankly is one of my weaknesses.  When things don’t go as I think they should or for that matter as I know they should, I can become frustrated.  Frustration has on occasion, okay many occasions, caused me to stumble and stumble pretty hard.

James reminds us that trials are a reality of the Christian’s life.  He challenges us with a perspective that gives me pause every time it comes to mind.  He says, “Consider it all joy … when you encounter various trials”.  WHAT?  Trials tend to present themselves as roadblocks to what needs to be done.  Whether for ministry, for work, for family, for whatever, ROADBLOCKS!  I don’t like them yet James says I should, “Consider it all joy”.

Hmmm!  Thankfully, he goes on to explain further.  He says that these, “Various trials” are, “The testing of your faith”.  I’ll say!  Not that I’m having faith issues over my Blackberry but over the years with more serious trials at play such as personal health or that of a loved one a testing of faith could be at play.  Going through those serious trials can have you questioning the Lord; testing your faith.

This testing though goes on to produce endurance.  After you’ve been through the trials, the speed bumps in life time after time testing your faith each time you become stronger.  You become stronger in faith.  It’s like exercise.  The more you do, the stronger you become.  So with testing over time your faith becomes stronger and as such, “Your faith produces endurance”.

But endurance is not yet the end result.  The passage says, “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”.  OKAY!  That’s more like it.  But what is meant by, “Perfect” and “Lacking in nothing”.

Well, it’s not a promise that everything will be fine and dandy once you mature on this earth having hit all those speed bumps early in life.  What is referenced here is the process of spiritual maturity.  Each of us is on a growth path leading us each day closer to Christ likeness.  Paul puts it this way, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” Ephesians 4:15

So, when the speed bumps in life come around we’re supposed to rejoice because it is ultimately an opportunity to grow into Christ likeness.  Certainly the little bumps are easier to face than the big ones but the Lord will not put a burden in your path for which He doesn’t also provide the way through.  He will walk you through it, rely on Him!  AMEN!