Week 32 What Makes God Happy
“I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.”
D.L. Moody
Passage
5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:5–11 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-Dwight Lyman Moody (February 5, 1837 – December 26, 1899), was an American evangelist and publisher connected with Keswickianism, who founded the Moody Church, Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts (now Northfield Mount Hermon School), Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Publishers. Moody gave up his lucrative boot and shoe business to devote his life to revivalism, working first in the Civil War with Union troops through YMCA in the United States Christian Commission. In Chicago, he built one of the major evangelical centers in the nation, which is still active.
Passage-The book of John is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Sermons, Parables, and a few Prophetic Oracles. It was written by the Disciple/Apostle John around 85-95 A.D. The key personalities of this book are Jesus Christ, His Twelve Disciples, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Lazarus, his sisters Mary and Martha, Jewish religious leaders, and Pilate.
It was written so that all may believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God who gives eternal life. John’s gospel uses the word “Believe” 98 times and the word “Life” 36 times, in an effort to embed the importance that one must believe in order to live eternally. John is not one of the three synoptic (common view) gospels, but instead was written with a more theological substance, yet equally as inspired and important as the first three gospels.
Opening Statement
God likes people who are useful to His goals. To ensure we are more useful to reach those goals, we should understand what those goals are and the approved of tools to be used to reach them.
Ask: What does it mean to “…he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit?” What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
Point: Please see the Definitions page.
Ask: Okay, so how do we remain, continue, or stay in Jesus?
Point: Look at the third definition of Abide, to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last. Synonyms: endure, or persevere.
Ask: What “condition” are we in with Jesus?
Point: Our “condition” with Jesus relies on our “attitude” towards Him and our “relationship” with Him.
Ask: Does that suggest another, human word that might be in play with regard to our condition, attitude, or relationship with Jesus that affects our walk and our fruits with Him?
Point: Yes. Doubt. Please Read the Following:
28Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:28–31 (NASB95)
Ask: Jesus asked Peter to come to Him in person, so he came out of the boat of comfort. Who calls to us today in Jesus’ name?
Point: The Holy Spirit, who is God just as Jesus and the Father are God. Please Read the Following:
12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:12–15 (NASB95)
Ask: So, as adopted children trying not to doubt the Father, how should we address Him?
Point: Please Read the Following:
20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luke 15:20–21 (NASB95)
Ask: Do we have a single word for what the son did when talking to the Father?
Point: Yes, Repentance or repent.
Ask: What did the Father do after the son approached?
Point: The father was watching for him, saw him from a great way off, ran to him, had compassion on him, fell on his neck, and kissed him welcoming him back.
Ask: How does all that have bearing on making God happy?
Point: Please Read the Following from Today’s Passage:
7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:7–11 (NASB95)
Ask: How do we “abide in Jesus” so we bear much fruit if we don’t know how to do that or question that we are doing it now?
Point: Please Read the Following:
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5–8 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
Be not the double-minded person. Do not serve two masters “24No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24 (NASB95))” “12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:12–14 (NASB95))” How to make God happy is known. We just have to continue in relationship with Jesus and follow His Holy Spirit to keep His commandments as Jesus kept God’s commandments. Then, He will fall on our necks and kiss it telling His servants we have returned home.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 The implication of the closing statement is that we’ve somehow departed from God or “left home.” Even if we don’t think we’ve “left home” or “left God” is that always true?
Question 2 Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son and the state of the son that remained who was indignant at all the celebration for his lost brother who returned. Was this brother who dutifully remained always abiding in the Father’s love?
Question 3 Consider how the parable of the prodigal son and his brother who remained able to remove our doubt about God and His path for our life.
Question 4 Consider how learning more about what God likes through scripture might end up being the way we make ourselves happy by doing more of the things that make God happy.
Definitions
Abide
uh-bahyd
verb (used without object)
, a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.
1. to remain; continue; stay:
Abide with me.
Synonyms: tarry
2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside:
to abide in a small Scottish village.
Synonyms: live
3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.
Synonyms: endure, persevere