August 4, 2013 Sermon - You Are Appointed/Ordained to Go

Yesterday, continuing our study of John 15, Ron had us looking at the fact that as friends of Jesus we are to go and produce fruit that abides.  We focused on vs 16... I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide...     (you can review the full sermon outline from our resources page)

Here are a few thoughts to chew on this week as you seek to apply the message in your life:

• we are all appointed/ordained for a purpose; special service; set apart for a special reason
• we're to go- withdraw from our personal social circles and go into the world
• as we go, everywhere we go, in our ordinary every day lives we are to bear fruit and that fruit should abide (and it will if we are abiding in Christ)  

We can bear fruit for eternity in the course of our every day ordinary lives. 
Fruit is Christlikeness in ordinary life, potentially impacting the eternal destiny of others 

I try to start each day using a personal adaptation of a simple prayer from Ruben Job's little book "Three Simple Rules".  It occurs to me that it helps me to apply much of what I heard in yesterday's message.  Perhaps you will find it useful too:

Inviting God’s intervention in our lives
Loving Teacher, come and make your home in my heart today. Dwell within me all day long and save me from error or foolish ways. Teach me today to do no harm, to do good, and assist me so that I may stay in loving relationship with you and my neighbor. Help me today to be an answer to another’s prayer so that I may be one of your signs of hope in the world you love.

Last week Verne Montana posted a comment that seems to summarize a really good way to live out this weeks message: 

A comment to last weeks blog post by Verne Montana
I'm not sure when God chose me out of this world, but I know he did. 
Upon being diagnosed with a serious form of cancer I could have reacted in three ways as I see it. I could have stayed on the wide road I had been traveling most of my life where people give and receive good luck wishes and "positive energy" in situations like I found myself. Or I could have become bitter and resentful and turned away from God all together. Or I could do what I did and Immediately turn to God for help and made the commitment to accept and follow Jesus for the rest of my days. Was I already chosen at this point to have made such an immediate and resolute choice? 
And now I realize I was bearing fruit shortly after this, major fruit, the peace that surpasses all understanding. After initially being filled with feelings of terror and anxiety I soon felt hopeful and contented and at peace with my situation. So I am proof that one does not need to know scripture and in some cases even misunderstand it for this process to occur!
It is puzzling why God reached in and pulled me out of the darkness, why me?. I too did not bring anything to the table. And since then all I have done is respond to his grace and mercy in humble amazement. I think I have tried to be obedient when I felt called to action or something presented itself. And when picking up ones cross to bear on a daily basis I do not view mine harder than others. I place everything in God's hands and am strengthened by two simple common bits of scripture.

Luke 22:42 Father if you are willing take this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.

Proverbs3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.