Sermon 4 of 5 in a series "Living Life to the Full" presented August 23, 2009, at Palm Desert Church of Christ, by Dale Wells

1. Living Life to the Full 4. The Secret of Obeying is Loving

2. We’ve been looking at “Living the Full Life” with a focus on John 15 The secret of living is bearing fruit The secret of bearing fruit is remaining The secret of remaining is obeying But what is the secret of obeying? “The Secret Of Obeying Is Loving” Let’s back up a few verses into John 14

3. John 14:23-24 NIV Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (24) He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. Consider the different levels of obedience

4. THE LEVEL OF “FEAR” Where we obey because we know what will happen if we don‘t

5. Ephesians 5:5-7 NIV For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (7) Therefore do not be partners with them.

6. There is a place for a proper “fear of the Lord”

7. Fear of the Lord can motivate us to initially turn to God Acts 10:1-2 NIV At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. (2) He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Acts 10:34-35 NIV Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

8. Fear of the Lord can motivate us in our service to the Lord Philippians 2:12 NIV Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

9. Fear of the Lord can motivate us to repent when we have disobeyed God Hebrews 10:26-31 NIV If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, (27) but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (28) Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

10. Fear of the Lord can motivate us to repent when we have disobeyed God (29) How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." (31) It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

11. But God wants us to progress past fear as the motive for obedience

12. Jesus wants our relationship to be much closer & more loving John 15:15 NIV I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

13. A “slave-master” relationship is based on fear Jesus wants a relationship based on friendship Fear, can rob us of the joy God wants us to experience when as we obey Him Motivation by fear builds walls, not bridges 1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

14. THE LEVEL OF “SELFISHNESS” We obey because of what we know we will get in return

15. Peter showed this attitude once Matthew 19:27 NIV Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

16. The difference between “fear” & “selfishness” can be seen in our kids Some children will obey parents to avoid discipline (the level of fear) Other children will obey parents to incur favor (the level of selfishness)

17. THE LEVEL OF “LOVE” This is the highest level of obedience

18. This is where we obey God because we love Him We continue to obey,no matter the outcome This is the level of obedience Jesus wants John 14:15 NIV "If you love me, you will obey what I command. John 14:23 NIV Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

19. THE SECRET TO OBEYING IS LOVING God has always wanted his people to obey Him out of love

20. He wanted Israel to obey Him Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

21. He wanted Israel to obey Him Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

22. He wanted Israel to obey Him Deuteronomy 11:1 NIV Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. And Jesus wants His disciples to obey Him John 14:15 NIV "If you love me, you will obey what I command.

23. THE VALUE OF OBEDIENCE OUT OF LOVE IS EVIDENT We may initially obey out of fear or selfishness

24. But the key to continued obedience is love! When things are going so well that we’re not aware of sin & judgment – We won’t be motivated by “fear” When things are going so well that we don’t need anything – We won’t be motivated by “selfishness” Only love can motivate us to obey in good times & bad!

25. TO ENJOY THE FULL LIFE JESUS OFFERS, OBEDIENCE MUST FLOW OUT OF LOVE

26. The more we love Him, the more we will obey Him The more we obey Him, the more we will remain in Him The more we remain in Him, the more we will bear fruit And the more we bear fruit, the more we will truly experience “the full life!” Our next lesson, the final one in this series, will examine the secret to loving

27. For today, can you say that you love Jesus enough to obey Him? John 14:15 NIV "If you love me, you will obey what I command.