If Anyone Loves Me
If Anyone Loves Me, He Will Keep My Word
1. Let’s read John 14:13 – 24
2. Vv13 & 14 “Whatever you ask in My name”…Why?
“so that the Father may be glorified”. It’s not some magic formula to tack “In Jesus Name” at the end of a prayer and God suddenly becomes required to grant your request. God is sovereign and His will is with which we should be concerned. If it will glorify the Father – that is the key.
3. What is the character of someone within the Kingdom who may ask in the first place? Vv15 is the focus of the entire passage. In fact, it should be the focus of our entire Christian lives. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”.
IF! – If what? If you love. Love who? Love Jesus, love God.
Do you really love Jesus? How are we to love God?
Dt 6:5 says "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”. This is part of the Shema (Dt 6:4-9). The Shema is a declaration of faith, a pledge of allegiance to God. Said in the morning and at night. When praising or making request of God. It’s the first prayer a Jewish child is taught.
In Matt 22:36 –40 is the story of a lawyer who asks Jesus – “Which is the Great Commandment?” Jesus quotes the Shema in His answer.
It underscores the completeness of our love. Heart, soul, mind, strength.
But Jesus goes on in Vv39 & 40. “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
We are to measure our love for others as we wish for ourselves. If we are to love other “people” in the same fashion as we love “ourselves”, how much more so should we then have love for God. To the very last “jot and tittle” of His will.
Verses 21 & 22 of John 14 repeat this same idea. Three times in 8 verses! It must be important! We are to love Jesus, God, completely, with all that we are.
4. How do we know when we are loving God completely?
Okay, here is where I start meddling! Look at Vv15.
What does it say after “If you love me”? “You will keep my commandments”.
In case that’s not clear, let’s look at Vv21. “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me”.
Still not sure. Look at Vv23. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”.
Again we see an idea repeated 3 times in 8 verses. And this is our Lord and Savior, Jesus, speaking. I think we should take note!
It’s not difficult to understand and it couldn’t be any plainer.
If we truly love God, we will obey Him!
Just in case you may not be completely convinced, look at Vv24.
“He who does not love Me does not keep My words”.
Again, this is Jesus speaking. I think He means it!
But what are we really talking about when we say “keep my commandments”?
A Lifestyle! Do you make a habit of obeying God.
Can an outsider look at your life and see the Biblical principles of Christianity at work.
Could we take a slice of your life last week, just any ole slice, examine it and come away “knowing” – this person is a disciple of Christ. A led by the Spirit, follower of Godly precepts. NOT a good person, but a Godly person.
The old adage “If Christianity were illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you”? If you are allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you, I assure you that a guilty verdict will be rendered.
It’s not always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright hard.
Mark Chapter 1 repeats an adverb that describes how we should respond to the will of God – IMMEDIATELY! It is repeated not only in Mark but throughout scripture.
God is very patient with us but is much more pleased by an immediate response.
Those of you with children, do you like to repeat yourself 3 or 4 times before they do what you ask of them? Of course not!
While God may be pleased if you obey Him eventually….how much more would He be pleased if you obey Him immediately!
5. There are consequences to all of this obedience. Look at Vv16.
“He will give you another Helper”. The Holy Spirit. Read on further, “with you forever”. He’s not on loan! Vv17 calls Him the “Spirit of Truth” (source of truth).
We have Him with us. Again in Vv17 “He abides with you and will be in you”. You can’t get much closer than in you!
Let’s go back to that slice of your life last week.
If the Holy Spirit is within you, wouldn’t you think that your lifestyle should indicate His presence?
For those of you who are married, would I be able to pick up on that from just about any little slice? I would suggest that if I couldn’t, you probably don’t have much of a marriage!
If we can agree on that, let’s take it one step further.
How many times in scripture are we, the followers of Christ, referred to as the Bride of Christ! And Christ called the Bridegroom! To numerous to list!
What consequences are shown in Vv21?
“will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him”.
Show of hands….Who doesn’t want to be loved by the Father?
Now I must say here that God does love everyone and wishes for all to become His children. However, just as you may love someone else’s children, because of the relationship with your own children, you are better able to demonstrate that love.
Even more so with an obedient child.
Think of the Prodigal Son, though the father loved him, while he was off living in disobedience, the father was not able to demonstrate that love as he certainly wanted.
Lk 11:13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
Vv21 also indicates that we will know what His will is for us – “disclose myself”.
You will know, it won’t be a secret. As you truly love the Lord and seek His will you will find it. Vv23 repeats this same idea.
Back to Vv17 – What about those who don’t love God?
“whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him”. Why? 1Cor 2:14 – “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised”. It’s an inside job!
The Holy Spirit can only reside in those cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Acts 2:38 "Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.
Acts 5:32 “the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
He can convict us of sin and make us aware of our need for a Savior, but he cannot reveal Himself to us completely until He lives within us.
That’s why it’s “foolishness” to non Christians.
So, to sum it all up….Through the relationship we experience with the Father, via the Holy Spirit, because of Christ our Savior, our lives should be the habitual practice of obedience, evident in our lives, because of our Love for Him!
Does your life show that you love God? Or maybe you need to begin a relationship with God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.