FHBC Sermon Notes

The are laws.  We acknowledge them, but do we obey them? We so often obey our "version" of the rule.  For instance we are given instructions at work, but then do it our way.  Our children given instructions… "I don't want to…" or "I've got to do …". The problem is not understanding the instructions, but of obeying what we heard.

**Why must we obey God's Word?**

*We must obey God's Word because…*

**1. … God is our authority. (14:24, 28, 31)**

Who has the right to lay down commandments?  Who has the right to rule? Who other than God.  Here we see Jesus proclaiming the absolute authority of the Father in v. 28

>If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Christ who was God and equal to him, submitted himself to the will of the Father.  In this way we see what it means for the clay to submit to the potter. 

We worship not just because God is the creator, but also in Christ He is our Lord!  He is our master, furthermore we are family.  God is Our Father.  We call God Father, we call him Lord, but do we really mean it?

**2. … we love Christ. (14:15, 21, 23-24)**

How do we love Jesus?  It is that we do as he did, and obey the Father, to obey Jesus.  That is how we show our love.

**How do we obey God's Word?**

*We obey God's Word by…*

**1. … abiding in Christ.**

How do we do this?  Do we just need to know the laws better?  No.  Many times in the laws of our countries, in our families, in our own lives, we simply try to make rules to motivate ourselves, give ourselves incentives in hope of a change.  But this does not work. It is not enough.  Our hearts must be changed, and this happens only in Christ, only by being conformed into his likeness, receiving his identity - only in Him are our hearts truly changed.

**2. … availing ourselves of the Spirit's help.**

We are not powerless in this work, for we are not alone. Jesus prepares our path, sitting beside the throne of the Father, but he has left us the Spirit. The Spirit is a person, active in our lives, the Spirit of Truth, who brings forth to memory, who speaks to us in time of trouble, and empowers live that very truth.

>And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, [6] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

He is the one let's us bear the fruit the word puts in our lives.

**3. …living in the Father's sovereignty.**

All of history is under the sway of the Father. We must remember him who loves us and cares for us. Let us obey is word, even when it seems unintuitive, for the Father is true to his word. Through his word he invites and calls us as his people so that the lost, the world may know his glory.  Amen. 

>30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.