LOVE TESTED

Sermon Notes, September 2, 2012

Pastor Ralph Branch

Pastor Ralph’s message was titled “Love Tested.” Beginning with the end in mind.  The scripture text was John 14:25-28.  As Nazarenes we are called to be mission-minded, holiness-led, and to reach out to the lost, poor and hurting.

What is our faith building?  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was praying.  What did He do when He got up?  We need to bring to remembrance people who established a strong foundation for us to stand on: people such as Phineas Bresee, Hiram F. Reynolds, Charles B. Jernigan and Mary Lee Cagle.  They built the foundation of our denomination.  Now we are the generation that’s building.

We need to commit our plans to God’s plan.  We are to be a representative of Jesus to the homeless, sick, imprisoned, etc.  Don’t just sit—keep on.  We need to tell others “I love you because Jesus lives in me.” Verse 27 assures us that the Holy Spirit will not forsake us.  God can use us in any condition if we let Him.  Loss and uncertainty can destroy our testimony.

In verse 28 Jesus tells us “I’m coming back.”  What are we to do until he returns?  Verse 26 tells us that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach us all things.  We are to be holy and righteous before the King.  We are to speak the truth in love, even to ourselves.  Then the weight of our minds is lifted.  The truth can be scary if you’ve got something to hide.  

The love of Jesus is so big we can’t get our arms around it.  It’s deep and high and wide.

Only God can bring us to where He wants us to be as a body of believers.  Our love will be tested.  If we have issues with one another, we need to talk about it.  We need to communicate, with family, friends, and job situations.  We can pray about any situation.  But if we pray and then get up and do the same thing we’ve always done, nothing will change.  We need to let God change us.  Trust the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, then get up and do what He says.