Author: Art Davison

GOD’S LOVE- – JOHN 15:9-16

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
GOD’S LOVE
JOHN 15:9-16
Introduction:
Here the Lord discusses the greatest need among His people – to love one another. That love is based on His love for us. He gives us an example by showing us His love for His Son, Jesus Christ.
We see God’s love in His sending “His only begotten Son” to die for us. Here we will look more closely at His love and how it should be manifested in us as His children.
I. “GOD IS LOVE”
1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
A. “The Father LOVES the Son,” John 5:20, “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
B. “God so LOVED the world,” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1. We who believe are called to live in a fellowship of Love with God AND our fellow-believers, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
2. And our fellow-men, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
3. This IS NOT following a NATURAL inclination, Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
4. But it expresses our NEW NATURE in FELLOWSHIP with our Lord as we walk in the Spirit, Galatians 5:13, 22, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
II. WALK IN LOVE,
Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
A. It is the BOND (that which binds together) of PERFECTION (moral and spiritual), Colossians 3:14, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
B. We are TAUGHT of God to love one another, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
III. TO HAVE LOVE IS TO ACT LOVINGLY
A. As God does towards His ENEMIES, Romans 5:6-8, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
B. “As I have love you,” John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
C. Loving one another fulfills the Law, Romans 13:8, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” See 1 John 4:7-21.
D. Such Love is a RESPONSE to God’s Love for us, John 14:15, 21, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 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.”
E. It is our DELIBERATE CHOICE to share our life with Him IN OBEDIENCE, John 14:23, 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.”
1. This is good evidence of salvation, 1 John 2:5, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
2. His commandments are not GRIEVOUS or BURDENSOME, John 5:2-3, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
a. An obedient believer will seek the welfare of all, LOVEABLE or NOT, as found in Romans 15:1-7:
b. He seeks NOT to please himself, v. 1, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
c. But to please his NEIGHBOR, v. 2, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
d. Christ pleased not himself, v. 3, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
e. The Lord has INSTRUCTED us in His Word, vs. 4-7,For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
CONCLUSION:
The actions listed are good in themselves but Paul reminds us that without love they are useless. Using them in Love gives value to gifts, devotion, and sacrifice. They see themselves as spiritual in things they are proud of.

FATHER, THE WORLD HAS NOT KNOWN YOU (2)–JOHN 17:25-26

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
FATHER, THE WORLD HAS NOT KNOWN YOU (2)
JOHN 17:25-26
Introduction:
The Lord is concluding His prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples. He declares the UNBELIEF OF THE WORLD, but note that His disciples know the Father for He has revealed the Father to them, v.26, “And I have declared unto them thy name.”
That message continues to be preached and taught today as it was in the Lord’s day. It will be preached until the Lord returns for His people and during the Tribulation period also. That message is …
I. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD
A. The Lord has DECLARED Himself, Isaiah 45:21, “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD ? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”
1. A JUST God, Jeremiah 23:5, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”
2. He will NOT sin, Zephaniah 3:5, “The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”
B. He is the ONLY SAVIOR, Isaiah 43:3, 11, “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
1. There is NO OTHER NAME among men that will save, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
2. Jesus is the GREAT GOD and SAVIOR, Titus 2:13-14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
II. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH PREACHING
A. What men consider FOOLISHNESS, 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
1. Foolishness to the LOST, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
2. It is the POWER of God to salvation for the believer, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
B. The BRILLIANCE of man CANNOT APPRECIATE the plan of God, Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
1. God’s ways are BEYOND man’s ways, Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?”
2. God’s THOUGHTS are BEYOND man’s thoughts, Psalm 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
C. God has REVEALED Himself through His SON, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
1. God has put EVERYTHING into the hands of His Son, John 3:35, “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”
2. Jesus reveals the Father to us, John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
3. It is Jesus who INVITES the SINNER to come to Him for REST, Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
4. It is the SON that offers PEACE to the sinner, Luke 7:48-50, “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

FATHER, THE WORLD HAS NOT KNOWN YOU- – JOHN 17:25-26

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
FATHER, THE WORLD HAS NOT KNOWN YOU
JOHN 17:25-26
Introduction:
The Lord is concluding His prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples. He declares the UNBELIEF OF THE WORLD, but note that His disciples know the Father for He has revealed the Father to them, v.26, “And I have declared unto them thy name.”
There is much to see in these verses and we will just touch on a few things here.
I. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD
A. The Lord has DECLARED Himself, Isaiah 45:21, “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time ? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD ? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”
1. A just God, Jeremiah 23:5, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”
2. He will NOT sin, Zephaniah 3:5, “The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”
B. He is the ONLY SAVIOR, Isaiah 43:3, 11, “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
1. There is NO OTHER NAME among men that will save, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
2. Jesus is the GREAT GOD and SAVIOR, Titus 2:13-14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
II. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH PREACHING
A. What men consider FOOLISHNESS, 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
1. Foolishness to the LOST, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
2. It is the POWER of God to salvation for the believer, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
B. The BRILLIANCE of man CANNOT APPRECIATE the plan of God, Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
1. God’s ways are BEYOND man’s ways, Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath been his counsellor?”
2. God’s THOUGHTS are BEYOND man’s thoughts, Psalm 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
III. THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR
A. Jesus REMINDS the Father of those who have believed, v. 25b, “and these have known that thou hast sent me.”
1. THESE are the ones Jesus was PRAYING FOR, John 17:9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”
2. He was praying for…
a. Their PROTECTION, John 17:11, 15, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
b. Their UNITY in the Lord, John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
B. The Lord’s final thought in this chapter was on the NEED that God’s love be in them, v. 26; John 15:9, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
1. GROUNDED in love, Ephesians 3:17, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.”
a. BUILT on the foundation of Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
b. FIRM in the LOVE of Christ, Matthew 7:24-25, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock : 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
2. We are COMPLETE in Jesus, Colossians 2:10, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus finishes His prayer asking that the love that He and the Father have might be in His disciples; that they might realize that they are COMPLETE IN HIM and LACK NOTHING TO PLEASE THE FATHER.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE LORD- – JOHN 14:15-24

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE LORD
JOHN 14:15-24

Introduction:

There is no comparison to the love that Jesus manifested when He gave His life for us on the Cross. He loved us in the past and He loves us still, even though we are unlovely because of our sins. I trust that this message will cause you to reevaluate your love for Him.

He is our Friend and Savior, the Lover of our soul. Fall in love with your Savior, Jesus Christ.

I. FULFILL YOUR LOVE

A. Keep my commandments, v. 15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

B. If ye keep my commandments… John 15:10, “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.”

1. “Ye shall abide in my love.”

2. You joy will be constant, John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

C. What are these commandments?

1. Love the Lord with all of your being, Matthew 22:37-38, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment.”

2. Love your neighbor as thyself, Matthew 22:39, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

3. Love the brethren, John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “

4. Love the Church of God, Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

a. Be watching (take heed, be cautious), Matthew 25:13, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”

b. Be sober (calm), 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

II. FAITHFUL LOVE

A. “I will not leave you comfortless:” John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

1. “Another Comforter,” v. 16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

2. The Spirit of Truth whom you know, v. 17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

B. How faithful is our love for Him?

1. Have we kept his Word? Psalm 119:87, “They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.”

2. Have we been faithful ambassadors? Proverbs 13:17, “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.”

III. FAULTLESS LOVE

A. His love for us is perfect.

1. He will never leave us, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

2. He will come for us, John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2-In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
B. Is our love for Him divided, Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (riches) Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

CONCLUSION:

The Bible says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:13.

No one has ever loved you more or given more to save your life. Yet many times we treat Jesus as if he is a stranger.

What would you think if your spouse, who says that he or she loves you, treated you like you treat the Lord Jesus Christ? “I love you, but I just don’t have time for you.”

DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?- – JOHN 6:53-71

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DOES THIS OFFEND YOU?
JOHN 6:53-71
Introduction:
The Lord had declared Himself to be the Bread of Life. His “disciples” had declared that Moses had given them bread from heaven, but the Lord challenged that statement. It was God the Father who had given them the “true bread” from heaven.
Then Jesus had declared “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (v. 53). This seemed to offend them.
Jesus, the Son of God, had become a partaker of flesh and blood as we are. Hebrews 2:14 tells us, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” These Jews had a hard time with what he was saying to them.
I. THIS IS A HARD SAYING
A. These “disciples” began to murmur among themselves.
1. These were the “frequent hearer,” and those that followed him in public for the material blessings, John 6:26, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
2. Their murmuring seems to be the history of Israel.
a. Israel began murmuring soon after they left bondage in Egypt, Exodus 15:24, “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?”
b. They murmured later because they missed the flesh pots of Egypt, Exodus 16:2, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:”
c. They murmured accusing the Lord of trying to destroy them, Numbers 14:2, “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”
B. Jesus’ declaration was a conflict for them.
1. Moses taught them not to drink blood, Leviticus 3:17, “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.”
2. It was the practice of the heathen down through the ages.
II. THE JEWS WERE MISSING THE POINT
A. Does this offend you? John 6:61, “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?”
1. The Lord knew their thoughts, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
2. Paul wrote that the crucified Messiah was a “stumbling block” to the Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
B. These Jews DID NOT KNOW Jesus as the SAVIOR, John 6:64, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
C. Jesus knew them as UNBELIEVERS.
1. These, it seems, were not drawn by the Father, John 6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
2. From that time these professed disciples walk no longer with Jesus, John 6:66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
III. WILL YOU GO AWAY ALSO?
John 6:67, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”
A. Jesus framed this question to encourage their weak faith and Peter responses, John 6:68, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
B. Peter spoke for the twelve of whom the Lord knew that one would betray Him, John 6:70-71, “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
C. The Lord knew those who loved Him, for He had chosen them, Mark3:13-19.
D. He also knew who it was that was a devil, John 13:2, “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.”
CONCLUSION:
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an offense to some people. In our day it seems to be an offense to the majority, however, every man needs that Good News. Jesus know those that are His and make no mistake about it. However, He has given us the commission, saying, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. The greatest blessing that a Christian can know is seeing someone come to know Jesus Christ as his or her Savior.