Sermons
Abiding in Light, Life, and Love
Link to sermon video: Abiding in Light, Life, and Love - L Siegle
Abiding in Light, Life, and Love
(John 15:4)
Thesis: The gospel invites those who become God’s children to discover the light, experience the life, and demonstrate love for God and for one another.
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of this series is, Abiding in Light, Life, and Love.
2. Turning 65 this week and having an annual physical exam was no surprise.
a. What was somewhat surprising was the cognitive skills testing that was done.
1) The person gave me five words to remember (car, house, cat, banana, red)
2) They have you draw a clock and set the time for “ten minutes to 11”
3) There are several steps and then they ask you to repeat from them the five words.
b. The idea is to evaluate the depth and extent of how our memory works.
3. There is a concern these days with how our ‘attention span’ has been affected by all of the excess ‘noise’ and
information overload most of us experience daily.
4. According to recent studies, an article in Time points toward the problem of ADHD in both children and adults that
had a negative influence on the length of our attention span (social media, television, constant phone usage)
a. God calls on us to meditate and to experience a genuine sense of quietness (Psa. 4:3-5, 8)
b. It is interesting that the word “meditate” in the original language carries the idea of “speaking in an undertone
aloud”--muttering, mumble, whisper quietly”--not simply limited to “thinking” but also with expression.
d. Joshua was told to “meditate day and night” on God’s Word (Josh. 1:8)--that His Word becomes embedded in the innermost parts of our being (Col. 3:16).
WE ABIDE IN WHAT WE ALLOW TO REMAIN WITHIN US
1. When we become Christians, we “abide” (remain) in Him in order to manifest good, healthy “fruit” in our lives (John
15:4).
a. The intimate connection each of us comes to have with Christ draws us ever closer to being shaped and molded
into the “image” of Christ, equipped for the life and work God has for us (II Pet. 1:3, 4).
b. The “old things” of our former lives and way of thinking have “passed away” as the transforming power of the gospel brings us into His “new creation” (II Cor. 5:17, 21).
2. We come into the “light” which gives us “life” and from it comes the expression of “love” for one another--in these
three areas we learn to “abide” because we understand that Christ lives within each of us.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT IN OUR LIVES
1. There is an amazing transformation that begins to take place within our hearts and minds when we become “people
of the Word” (Psa. 119:105)
a. To “walk in the light” (I John 1:7-9)
b. To “feed” upon the nourishment of God’s Word (Matt. 4:4; 5:6)--there is a “hunger” that comes in the pursuit of
God’s righteousness.
c. Feeding on the Word of God protects us from transgression (Psa. 119:11)--God’s Word arises in in the moments of
temptation and provides us with the power to over come (Matt. 4:1-10)--“It is written…”
2. To be genuine disciples of Jesus Christ means that we “abide” (remain) and continue in His Word (John 8:31, 32).
THE WORD OF GOD BRINGS “THE LIFE” INTO OUR LIVES
1. The promise of God is that, through the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16) we experience “salvation” and that “in it” (the
gospel) is revealed the “righteousness of God” (Rom. 1:17)--God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises.
a. The Word of God gives the children of God a sense of confident assurance (Rom. 8:1; I John 5:13).
b. When we obey the gospel we are translated into the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13, 14).
c. We pass out of “death” and into “life” (John 5:24).
2. The reality of having “eternal life” is the foundational basis of the “peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
THE WORD OF GOD ALLOWS GENUINE LOVE TO BE MANIFESTED
1. The Bible teaches the very essence of God’s nature is “love” (I John 4:8).
a. God loved us “while we were yet enemies” (Rom. 5:8)--“dead in sin and trespasses” (Eph. 2:1-3).
b. The “love of God” compels believers to manifest that the love we have toward others (II Cor. 5:14).
c. The “fruit of the spirit is love…” (Gal. 5:22, 23).
d. “Love one another” is found 77 times in the NT (I John 4:7, 11, 12; II John 5).
CONCLUSION
1. God is calling out to those who would be His children, to demonstrate the reality of what it means to be a Christian
(Christ-within).
2. There is more than just knowing “right doctrine” there is something more on the inside of each of us that brings us
into the very heart of God, His power, His presence--and that calls us to manifest His presence love, care, and concern
into the hearts and lives of those around us.
3. May each of us begin (or continue) to “walk and to abide in the light, manifest the qualities that reflect the “life of God” and motivates us to express His “love” in every area of our daily lives.
4. Prayer.
