Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many of you who grew up with a dad understand that at certain times they can get very upset, because each dad has specific things that will set them off.
Maybe your dad was a mechanic and whenever you went out to the garage to tighten the chain on your pedal bike, you never bothered to put any of his tools away in the proper place. This resulted in a harsh rebuke from him over the supper table, so in order to remain in his good graces in the future, you made sure that you put them away the next time that you used them.
Perhaps your husband isn’t that concerned about a dirty house or unkept kitchen, but he does get very upset when he comes home from a hard day at work and there is nothing readily available to eat on the table. So in order to remain in his good graces in the future, you will make sure to have something is prepared for him the next time that he arrives.
Perhaps your dad let you borrow the family car occasionally, but whenever you used it, you always brought it back with an empty tank. This caused his anger to wax hot because in the morning, he would have to waste time trying to find a gas can to fill up the vehicle. To remain in his good graces in the future, the next time that you used the vehicle, you made sure that you put some gas in it before you returned home.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
God loved the world so much that He sent His son Jesus to save us, but in order to enter into eternal life it will require that you love God in return. This means that you must repent of the wicked way that you lived in the past, and humbly submit to the teachings of His Holy Word. The relationship with one’s dad is at times very similar to the relationship that we have with the Heavenly Father, because in order to find favor in His sight, we must do those things that please Him. Our love for God is proven through our obedience towards Him, and if you truly care about your own salvation, you will make sure to obey Him and continue to abide in His good graces.
Jude 1:20-21 (KJB) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
It is clear that some people are outside of the love of God simply because of their refusal to submit themselves to the commands and the teachings of the New Testament. There is a lot of false Christianity that surrounds us in the world today, a massive group of people who claim that God loves them, but do not love Him enough to submit to biblical truth. They kind of remind me of a spoiled child who has become intoxicated on the inordinate love of their own parents, and because of this they feel like they can do no wrong. Then when rebukes come along they say it’s not loving. But don’t confuse an overly permissive parent with the qualities of God. God hates rebellion and the wicked works of darkness, and to keep yourselves in the love of God one must turn away from sin and humbly submit to His calling and purpose. He has already proved His love toward us and to obtain eternal life, you must prove your love for Him, and this will only happen through obedience to the teachings of scripture.
Proverbs 8:17 (KJB) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
What’s the point of claiming to be a Christian if you are not going to be obedient?
Luke 6:46 (KJB) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Many people are not abiding in the love of God because they are reprobates to the Christian Life. They want to believe that they will be in heaven, but refuse to do the things that are required by God to get there. A lot of them really don’t want to change at all, so they never really submit to biblical teachings. But people will reap what they sow, whether they claim to be Christian or not, because obedience to God will be blessed, and disobedience will be punished.
Romans 2:7-8 (KJB) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Psalms 55:19 (KJB) God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
Galatians 6:7-8 (KJB) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
So just like an Earthly dad, to keep in the good graces of God we must submit to the things that He wants us to do, because when we obey, it pleases Him! Christianity is much more than being loved by God, it is learning to love Him with your whole heart, which is actually a fulfillment of the first commandment. If you are not going to obey the commandments of Christ, then you are outside of the love of the Heavenly Father, something that the Lord Jesus taught to His own disciples.
John 14:21-24 (KJB) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
There are numerous commandments and teachings throughout the New Testament that we need to obey, in order to abide in the love of Jesus towards us.
John 15:9-10 (KJB) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Remember that when Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus later asked him,…”Peter, lovest thou me?” But love for the Lord is proven by one’s actions, and the Lord commanded him,…”feed my sheep.”
Understanding what your dad wants and expects out of you can help you to become pleasing in his sight, but you never want to stir him up to anger. To receive blessings from the Heavenly Father, one must have a humble and obedient heart before Him, because when you serve Him in such a manner, you are keeping yourselves in the love of God, and abiding in,…..
…….His Good Graces
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
https://tlkjbc.com/written-sermons/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055335/episodes
https://www.facebook.com/share/14RHGVBBHbG/
tlkjbc.com
Note: Any copies may be printed and freely distributed among those who have no internet service. There is no AI creative involvement in my writings, and must be left intact because they are very personal to me. These are not to be sold, and are made public only for the free benefit of Spiritual knowledge to those who are genuinely seeking the will of God.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 