Abiding In The Vine... Together - Cato Christian Fellowship

July 28, 2013 Sermon - Chosen Out of this World

7/29/2013

This past Sunday Ron continued our study of John 15 as we explored our relationship to one another in church and what it means to be a friend of Jesus. Remember the three relationships that must be in order in our lives

Relationship with Jesus - John 15:1-11
Relationship with the body of Christ - John 15:12-17
Relationship with the world - John 15:18-27

By way of review we have been looking at 5 characteristics of Jesus' friends:

They love one each other
They have knowledge of divine truth
They have been chosen out of this world
They bear fruit that remains
They pray in the will of the Father

This week focused on Jesus' statement in John 15:16 where he reminds his disciples that they had not chosen him but that He had chosen them out of the world. Here are some related thoughts that might be worth thinking about. My experience is pretty well summed up by a Gaither song that I'd bet many of you are very familiar with:

Shackled by a heavy burden
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
Now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met the blessed Saviour
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole...

I am not sure I can explain how God does what he does but I am sure that "Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole." It was all God. All I did was respond to His mercy and grace on my behalf. It was after God's touch that my new found faith started seeking knowledge as to how all this works. But more important than being able to explain how God did what he did was the Holy Spirits assurance that He, God had touched me, made me whole, made me a friend of Jesus, made me a member of the one church.

In Ephesians 4:1-6 The apostle Paul exhorts us: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Let's take care to bear with one another particularly in the area of our doctrines. Make every effort to maintain unity in the church; first in Cato Christian Fellowship and then with the true church throughout the world.

Ron Dusharm

7/31/2013 02:38:37 am

There is truly nothing that causes my heart worship God in humility more than the reality of His choosing ( or calling) me out of this world. Jim' commented on the words to the song, "Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole', these words truly express my experience with the grace of God. When it comes to my salvation, I know I brought nothing to the table, God reached in and called me out of the darkness. He did it in such a profound and powerful way that since that time all I have wanted to do is follow Jesus, and out of love and gratitude for what God has done for me, I want to live in obedience to Jesus.

The obedient life I so desire to live is not out of an effort to earn or keep my salvation, it is only motivated by reciprocating the love that the father has first lavished on me in Christ Jesus.

As I preached the message from John 15:16 focusing on the words Jesus spoke to his disciples saying, "You did not choose me but I chose you", I did so with a cautious and prayerful heart. As I said in the sermon, many people jump to what I think are many wrong conclusions about these kinds of biblical truths. Many think that to state this is to say that God chooses who will follow and who will not, and that it is to imply that this then requires no responsibility or effort on our part. This is not at all what the biblical record states. In fact, as you look at the life of the disciple to whom Jesus first spoke these words, what we find in them (with the exception of Judas) is an exemplary life of obedience and sacrifice.

No where do we find that because Jesus told the disciples that they did not choose him but he chose them, that they then concluded that God did all the work so they could put a "get in to heaven free card" in their back pocket and they could now just carelessly go about their own way. We find quite the opposite really. We find that they surrendered their will for the will of God, We find that nearly all of them were martyred for their faith. We find a group of men who denied themselves and took up their crosses daily as Jesus said was the only way one could truly follow him (Luke 9:23), and really that is the only proper response to the love, grace, and mercy of God.

larry

7/31/2013 10:56:11 am

amen brothers

Verne Montana

8/3/2013 08:07:38 am

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.

8/4/2013 09:47:58 am

Verne, you bless my heart my friend. You are living the reality of faith and you are bearing fruit in abundance!

8/4/2013 01:37:00 pm

thanks for sharing Verne...peace that surpasses all understanding, now that's the power of God!

Micah 6:8

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July 28, 2013 Sermon - Chosen Out of this World

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