Jeremy Utley - Obedience is the way to abide in His love

Jeremy UtleySeptember 29, 20159mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: Jeremy Utley Title: Obedience is the way to abide in His love Date: 09-27-2015 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that true motivation for obedience to Christ should stem not from a desire to prove one's own love, but from the desire to know God's infinite love more deeply. Jesus promises that keeping His commandments will cause us to abide in His love. The speaker emphasizes that this abiding love is confirmed by the Holy Spirit and that obedience provides an opportunity for God to lavish His love upon us.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

What motivates our obedience to Christ?The speaker reflects on how his desire to obey Christ should stem from a deep wish to know and experience God's love more and more.

The command to abide in His loveJesus commands believers in John 15 to abide in His love, which is something God desires for us and makes possible to achieve.John 15:9

The secret to remaining in His loveJesus reveals the secret in verse 10: keeping His commandments allows us to abide in His love, providing assurance whether we feel it or not.

A flawed motivation vs. an infinite promiseTrying to obey merely to prove our love is limited by our own capacity, whereas looking to the infinite promise of abiding in His love provides endless motivation.

The joy set before usJust as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, knowing God's love should be the joy that gives us strength to obey daily.Hebrews 12:2

Jesus followed His own secret to abidingJesus kept His Father's commandments and thereby abided in His love, showing us an example of peace, protection, and freedom from anxiety.

Obedience and the Holy Spirit's testimonyFirst John 3:24 explains that keeping His commandments makes us abide in Him, and the Holy Spirit testifies to our spirits that we belong to God.1 John 3:24

A father's perspective on obedienceLike a human father who uses small acts of obedience as an opportunity to lavish love on his children, God uses our obedience to pour out His love.

What to ask when you don't feel His loveIf you do not feel like you are abiding in His love, a vital question to ask God is whether you are currently keeping His commandments.

Responding when your obedience is intactIf you are obeying as far as you know, ask God to help you look past fleeting emotions and grow in hearing the Holy Spirit's affirmation.

Responding when disobedience is revealedIf God reveals a specific commandment you have neglected, you must confess it, repent, accept His forgiveness, and let His love flood your heart again.

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