Episode 39: If you love me, keep my commandments.

[00:00:00] Thank you for listening to The Finding Neverland Podcast. Finding Neverland is a Christian

[00:00:17] Metalcore Band based in Denver, Colorado. This episode was broadcasted live.

[00:00:47] Tonight we're going to talk about John chapter 14 verse 15. I think I might have flipped that

[00:01:01] in the episode bio. It's John 14 15 where it says Jesus is telling his disciples, he says,

[00:01:12] if you love me, keep my commandments. So if you guys want to turn to that one, we'll talk about that,

[00:01:19] which is cool. It's actually fitting because this is during his last supper. So good Friday is coming up.

[00:01:27] So that's kind of really cool. Yeah, Passover, Passover feast also. Yeah.

[00:01:41] Yeah, so we got that coming up. So it's cool that this topic just came to my head. Yeah, we'll talk about that.

[00:01:50] Announcements first off. I want to just share that my autobiography, Little Man Big God if you guys can see that in the camera.

[00:02:03] Came out on Wednesday, March 20. So you can purchase a like paperback version like this or I have hard copies and there's also an

[00:02:14] audio bull audible version audio version of the book as well. So that came out last Wednesday. So it's available now on Amazon.

[00:02:24] Or you can listen to it wherever audio books are found as well. Super excited about that happening so far, got good reviews.

[00:02:32] Got a few good reviews from people saying they've enjoyed the book so far. So that's really amazing.

[00:02:39] So thankful for God and his help to just put this book out there and hopefully you guys are enjoying it. So that's my announcement.

[00:02:51] Luke, you got anything going on?

[00:02:53] I'll just just to piggyback on that. Yeah, praise God for what you've been able to do and what he's been able to do through you in such a short time and actually being able to be an eyewitness to you creating that and being being obedient to finishing that work because

[00:03:19] I mean, I don't think he started really throwing it down until December or the end of December and you got to do such a short amount of time and such.

[00:03:31] You know, such an actual lengthy amount of book that you wrote and you wanted to make an audio version of it to go along with it.

[00:03:42] Yeah.

[00:03:43] I think that's never seen anything like it, honestly.

[00:03:47] Thanks man.

[00:03:48] I don't know.

[00:03:49] You're welcome to do that.

[00:03:50] A lot of authors.

[00:03:51] Yeah.

[00:03:52] Yeah. That's the Holy Spirit, man.

[00:03:54] So I started it over at COVID. I started writing it, but really the whole most of the book was written in about two months time in December and January of this year.

[00:04:05] And I just self published it and it's like it's doing pretty well so far.

[00:04:10] And you know, people of you know are reading it and listening to it on audio.

[00:04:16] So I've had a lot of people come up to me and say that they're going to purchase it.

[00:04:21] So really cool.

[00:04:23] Again, it's a book about my childhood and my time at CU Boulder.

[00:04:29] But mostly I wanted to share on how big and sovereign God is and how he uses our, you know, self destruction.

[00:04:39] Our own sin and he uses it to bless us because he's, he's good and he's in control of your lives and he'll change the trajectory of your life and a really quick amount of time.

[00:04:54] And that's what he did with me.

[00:04:55] So I think that was why it was important for me to write that book.

[00:04:59] So that we can see what God can do with somebody that is running in the other direction.

[00:05:06] He can turn you around with just one yes to him.

[00:05:09] He can turn you back to where he wanted you to be all along and that's where I feel like he did with me.

[00:05:15] So so thank you.

[00:05:17] If you listen to it, if you bought it, really appreciate that support.

[00:05:26] Yeah, I can't tell it's going to help a lot of people out spiritually and mentally and probably physically too because you know he used to be a really hard athlete.

[00:05:37] I mean, he's still are you workout.

[00:05:40] You know pretty diligently and stay fit.

[00:05:44] And just as an example to everybody, you know that's really what.

[00:05:51] And what I'm about is just, it's just covering all bases and honestly done of them.

[00:05:57] Just kind of go off on them here.

[00:06:01] I've always kind of been curious as to his business and how he created his paracord.

[00:06:09] And divers and things like that because he's always stayed in touch with us and been a good friend and fan of what we do.

[00:06:16] And if we could get him on here and he, if he has a testimony, he'd be willing to share also I'd be really interested to host it.

[00:06:25] And you know, I think he probably has a he probably has one.

[00:06:30] You know, just from what we would know about him.

[00:06:33] So.

[00:06:35] But yeah, no, no other big announcements. I don't think man.

[00:06:39] Or just we're really setting up early trying to set up for some physical practices.

[00:06:45] To start running through our songs.

[00:06:48] With the justice, our drummer and as soon as we start getting some repetitions in I think we're going to start branching out locally and.

[00:06:58] You know see what the scenes got going on and.

[00:07:01] That we have a Corona and one step closer to meeting more people.

[00:07:08] And you guys are in the color our area.

[00:07:10] And my supporters will be there soon.

[00:07:13] So, you know, and then people outside of Colorado area that's just one more step for us to branch out and meet you guys too.

[00:07:21] So I'm really exciting things to me.

[00:07:28] So we have a drummer now that we're practicing with and we're going to start practicing hopefully more routinely.

[00:07:35] And, you know, if you're in Colorado and you like Metalcore,

[00:07:41] and you want to be a rhythm guitarist, we could be looking at...

[00:07:44] We're looking for a rhythm guitarist too, that would be really awesome to find.

[00:07:49] You never know who's listening, but that's planned.

[00:07:54] We're going to hopefully start really diving deep into attempting to play shows.

[00:08:00] So thank you for your support on that and anybody listening, we could use your prayers.

[00:08:06] And we'll obviously keep doing this podcast and maybe it'll all grow.

[00:08:11] Maybe we'll have more people on here. That's what we're looking for.

[00:08:15] So yeah, cool things ahead for finding every land.

[00:08:20] Exciting things for me.

[00:08:24] Cool man, so yeah, I guess we're about a little bit in.

[00:08:32] I guess we can start kind of transitioning into the word of God that we've...

[00:08:39] I really enjoy these episodes where we look at a scripture and kind of take it apart.

[00:08:48] So this one is John chapter 14, verse 15.

[00:08:54] I'll just read... I think I'm going to just read kind of just from 15 through 18.

[00:09:01] And we're kind of on this topic of the Holy Spirit.

[00:09:05] So last week we were talking about living a Holy Spirit filled life.

[00:09:08] And I think Jesus talks about how that's going to happen.

[00:09:13] He's telling his disciples that this is going to happen, that he's going to be leaving them.

[00:09:18] But you won't be alone.

[00:09:23] And Jesus is really teaching like if you love me, you're gonna follow my commands.

[00:09:31] Be obedient to me.

[00:09:32] And that's what we kind of talked about last week was Mary heard last thing that she said

[00:09:37] that was recorded in the Bible was do whatever he tells you.

[00:09:40] And I kind of take that as like literal, like do whatever Jesus tells you.

[00:09:46] That's the first thing.

[00:09:48] You'll be into Jesus and he will send you the helper, the comforter, the Holy Spirit to guide you in this life.

[00:09:55] So... So that's the first thing.

[00:09:58] So I'll just read 15 through 18 and then we can...

[00:10:02] And then Luke, if you want to share, you can talk about that.

[00:10:07] So chapter 14 verse 15, Jesus says,

[00:10:11] If you love me, keep my commandments.

[00:10:15] And I will pray the Father and He will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever.

[00:10:22] The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him.

[00:10:28] But you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you.

[00:10:33] I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

[00:10:38] So yeah, just... I hear that.

[00:10:41] The first thing I think of is Jesus is really teaching his disciples like be...

[00:10:49] But if you love me, obey me. Like do what I... do what my teachings are saying.

[00:10:56] And I think he's, you know, sharing that this is going to be hard.

[00:11:00] Like our American Christian culture thinks following Jesus is easy.

[00:11:04] It's not easy. It's hard.

[00:11:07] But God helps us with His grace and His Spirit.

[00:11:14] Yeah, that's... that's good. God, Jesus said that...

[00:11:19] Can we do it without those things?

[00:11:24] Can we...

[00:11:29] You know love the way that God wants us to love without the whole truth and without His grace and His mercy and truth?

[00:11:37] Because, you know, He's telling that He's telling... there was another part in this chapter where He's telling people.

[00:11:47] It made so much sense to me. It's something like I don't give as if the world... I don't give like the world gives.

[00:11:58] But...

[00:12:03] See, uh...

[00:12:08] Well, I guess it is the part where He says, uh...

[00:12:12] You know, love one another is, uh... as I love you also.

[00:12:16] Is the final statement. I'm not sure if that's in this chapter or not.

[00:12:21] But, uh...

[00:12:23] Yeah, I think I saw something which just said...

[00:12:29] You know, can we love one another in our own human understanding of love?

[00:12:35] Or is it possible? Jesus is actually telling us disciples at a certain point that you can love as I love.

[00:12:42] You can love as God loves you.

[00:12:48] I have not been able to do up until this point because you've seen the Father.

[00:12:53] If you've seen me, then you've seen the Father.

[00:12:56] And, uh... because they asked...

[00:12:59] They're asking Him, uh...

[00:13:01] You know, just show us the Father.

[00:13:05] You know, just show us the Father and there will be enough for us.

[00:13:10] And, uh... He says,

[00:13:12] Do you not have enough?

[00:13:14] No me.

[00:13:15] Is it entire time?

[00:13:16] Uh...

[00:13:17] Basically saying you've been with the Father the entire time.

[00:13:20] Um...

[00:13:21] Because to know me is to know the Father and nobody comes to the Father except through me.

[00:13:25] Um...

[00:13:26] But even then they were saying just show us the Father.

[00:13:30] Um...

[00:13:31] And they didn't yet that they were actually one with the Father through Him loving Yeshua.

[00:13:37] Um...

[00:13:38] But, uh...

[00:13:39] You know, honestly when I said,

[00:13:41] Can we truly love?

[00:13:43] Uh...

[00:13:44] Past our own human idea of love.

[00:13:46] He's telling us, yes, we can.

[00:13:48] But only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[00:13:50] Um...

[00:13:51] Can we have that...

[00:13:52] That love come from us and that's why you see some people that's just, uh...

[00:13:56] And unnatural love.

[00:13:58] It comes...

[00:13:59] You know, it's not something they...

[00:14:01] They're flesh told me to do because your flesh is not gonna...

[00:14:04] It's not gonna love that strongly.

[00:14:06] Um...

[00:14:07] But we would need that kind of love in order to love Yeshua properly also I think because...

[00:14:14] When He says,

[00:14:15] If you let me keep my commandments,

[00:14:17] That's kind of the deal breaker for everyone who couldn't follow them beforehand.

[00:14:21] Um...

[00:14:22] Was he asked them to do something and they said,

[00:14:25] Oh, well, that's too much of a past.

[00:14:27] Yeah.

[00:14:28] The rich, you know, and things like that.

[00:14:30] Um...

[00:14:31] And then I've always taken this passage because I know it well.

[00:14:35] And I've kind of really beat myself up over it too a lot,

[00:14:39] saying that if I...

[00:14:41] If there's one part of my life that I haven't submitted to God or if there's something that...

[00:14:48] I disobey Him and it just keeps happening over and over again.

[00:14:53] Um...

[00:14:54] I must not really love Him.

[00:14:58] And I think He would say yes.

[00:15:01] And it's just not...

[00:15:03] Not in a...

[00:15:04] But His grace is sufficient for that.

[00:15:08] It's basically pointing out big yet.

[00:15:10] You know, yes, you are disobeyed.

[00:15:13] You know, if you loved me,

[00:15:15] You wouldn't disobey that commandment.

[00:15:17] But my grace and my mercy sufficient to actually sustain you through that.

[00:15:23] And if you repent from it,

[00:15:25] I'm going to help you do that through the Holy Spirit.

[00:15:27] Um...

[00:15:28] So it's not like a place to stay and be guilty about.

[00:15:31] Like the enemy wants you to believe, you know,

[00:15:33] because there's so many passages where it says,

[00:15:35] well then who can be saved?

[00:15:37] You know, even Job was just like,

[00:15:39] Well, I know I know what kind of a God you are.

[00:15:42] So, uh...

[00:15:44] You know, if this is the God you are, who can be saved?

[00:15:47] You know, because he was a righteous man, you know?

[00:15:50] But he knew right away that he had no...

[00:15:52] He had no stake in salvation.

[00:15:57] Right, I've heard it quote and I don't remember where I heard it,

[00:16:00] but I think I put it on like a social media bio,

[00:16:04] but...

[00:16:08] Um...

[00:16:09] It says...

[00:16:11] But I kind of see myself as,

[00:16:13] I'm loved by God and I'm learning to love Him back.

[00:16:16] And I feel like...

[00:16:19] That's just what this life is,

[00:16:21] is we're learning how to love God back.

[00:16:23] We'll never probably love Him the way that He deserves,

[00:16:26] but I think with our obedience, our trust, our faith...

[00:16:36] That is our way of showing our love for God.

[00:16:40] And it's not gonna be perfect,

[00:16:42] it's gonna be messy sometimes,

[00:16:45] but...

[00:16:48] Remember that yes, as Luke said,

[00:16:50] His grace is sufficient for you.

[00:16:56] Yeah, it is enough.

[00:16:58] I don't know why I can't remind myself.

[00:17:00] I need to go into these scriptures more often,

[00:17:02] but um...

[00:17:05] You know, verse 14,

[00:17:07] I mean, chapter 14, verse 1 in verse 1,

[00:17:10] he just says,

[00:17:11] don't let yourself be disturbed, trusting God,

[00:17:13] entrusted me as the first...

[00:17:15] How He opens up to them.

[00:17:17] And that's where he says,

[00:17:18] I am the way of truth in the life.

[00:17:20] No one comes to the Father,

[00:17:22] except for me,

[00:17:24] because Thomas was asking me,

[00:17:26] and he's like,

[00:17:27] he's telling me,

[00:17:28] no, the way where I'm going,

[00:17:29] because he's gonna leave,

[00:17:30] and he's like,

[00:17:31] we don't know the way,

[00:17:32] where are you going?

[00:17:33] And he said,

[00:17:34] I am the way...

[00:17:36] I am the way in the truth and the life.

[00:17:39] And so he's just telling them,

[00:17:41] you know, if you...

[00:17:43] from now on,

[00:17:44] you didn't...

[00:17:45] you do know him.

[00:17:46] In fact, you have seen him.

[00:17:48] But this is where Philips says,

[00:17:50] Lord, show us the Father,

[00:17:52] and it will be enough for us.

[00:17:53] The Yeshua is right to Him.

[00:17:55] Have I been with you so long

[00:17:57] without your knowing me, Philip?

[00:17:59] And I feel like that was almost like God Himself

[00:18:01] talking through Yeshua

[00:18:02] and saying,

[00:18:03] have I been with you this whole time

[00:18:05] and you still don't know?

[00:18:06] Yeah, it's almost like...

[00:18:07] it's almost like Jesus is a little frustrated

[00:18:10] with their answers.

[00:18:12] Yeah, this is at the point...

[00:18:13] This is the very end

[00:18:14] where there's like,

[00:18:15] show us the Father

[00:18:16] and he actually says,

[00:18:19] if he says,

[00:18:20] whoever has seen me,

[00:18:21] has seen the Father,

[00:18:22] so how can you say,

[00:18:23] show us the Father?

[00:18:24] Don't you believe that I am united

[00:18:26] with the Father

[00:18:27] and the Father united with me?

[00:18:28] What I'm telling you,

[00:18:29] I am not saying my own initiative,

[00:18:31] the Father living in me

[00:18:32] is doing his own works.

[00:18:33] Trust me that I am united

[00:18:35] with the Father

[00:18:36] and the Father united with me,

[00:18:37] but if you can't,

[00:18:38] then trust because of the works themselves.

[00:18:41] So he's basically saying,

[00:18:44] trust in the miracles at this point.

[00:18:46] Like that's how much issue

[00:18:48] was just like,

[00:18:49] look,

[00:18:50] I don't know what to tell you,

[00:18:51] you know?

[00:18:52] And they probably felt like...

[00:18:54] They probably felt like,

[00:18:56] oh man, you know,

[00:18:58] well, that's all they were trusting

[00:18:59] and anyways was the miracle.

[00:19:00] Yeah, so maybe they wanted more than that

[00:19:03] and, you know,

[00:19:04] and then, of course,

[00:19:05] yes indeed, I tell you that you ever trust

[00:19:07] and me will also do the works I do.

[00:19:09] Indeed he will do greater ones

[00:19:11] because I'm going to the Father

[00:19:14] why as you say,

[00:19:16] he will do greater ones

[00:19:18] because I think about it like this.

[00:19:20] Yeshua being God,

[00:19:22] fully God and fully man,

[00:19:24] honor,

[00:19:25] he can find himself to be at one place

[00:19:28] in one time,

[00:19:29] at one time,

[00:19:30] on this earth in a body.

[00:19:32] And so he went around doing the miracles that he did.

[00:19:35] And so he was limited.

[00:19:37] He limited himself to do the miracles

[00:19:40] that he did in that body.

[00:19:42] And I think he's trying to tell them,

[00:19:44] look,

[00:19:45] as soon as the Holy Spirit comes,

[00:19:48] it's going to...

[00:19:50] You're going to be able to do

[00:19:51] all of these miracles

[00:19:52] and this can be like a million different

[00:19:54] Jesus'

[00:19:56] across the entire planet.

[00:19:57] Being able to be the hands and feet of God.

[00:20:00] So I think that's what he meant

[00:20:02] by you will do greater works than he did

[00:20:04] because he was only in ministry for,

[00:20:07] I don't know how many years

[00:20:09] before he was crucified.

[00:20:11] Well,

[00:20:12] I get like a few short years

[00:20:16] recorded of his life

[00:20:18] around 33 years old

[00:20:20] as when his ministry ended

[00:20:22] but I don't know how many years

[00:20:24] before he was crucified.

[00:20:26] And so he was in ministry

[00:20:28] and he was in ministry

[00:20:30] and he was in ministry

[00:20:32] but I really think that's what he meant by that.

[00:20:35] You will do greater things

[00:20:37] than I have done.

[00:20:39] So he's,

[00:20:40] you know,

[00:20:41] in many other big things to take away

[00:20:43] in chapter 14,

[00:20:44] he says,

[00:20:45] I leave my shalom

[00:20:47] or peace.

[00:20:48] You know,

[00:20:49] I'm giving you my shalom.

[00:20:50] I don't give the way the world gives.

[00:20:52] I tell you,

[00:20:53] I am leaving

[00:20:54] and I will come back to you.

[00:20:55] If you love me,

[00:20:56] you would have been glad

[00:20:57] that I'm going to the father

[00:20:58] because the father is greater than I.

[00:21:01] So he basically told me,

[00:21:03] you don't love me the whole time.

[00:21:05] You know,

[00:21:06] like you want me to go

[00:21:08] to be with the father

[00:21:09] and then later on,

[00:21:10] I think he tells them

[00:21:11] like,

[00:21:12] because if I don't leave,

[00:21:13] then the Holy Spirit will not come.

[00:21:16] You know,

[00:21:17] then you will not have the counselor.

[00:21:18] You know,

[00:21:19] so I have to leave.

[00:21:21] You know,

[00:21:22] this is just a little more

[00:21:24] thing than I did.

[00:21:25] Yeah, go ahead.

[00:21:26] Yeah.

[00:21:27] I was saying it was all planned.

[00:21:29] There's one last thing

[00:21:30] at the very end of chapter 14.

[00:21:32] You know,

[00:21:33] I won't be talking to you

[00:21:34] much longer

[00:21:35] because the ruler

[00:21:36] of this world is coming.

[00:21:37] He has no claim on me.

[00:21:39] Rather,

[00:21:40] this is happening

[00:21:41] so that the world may know

[00:21:42] that I love the father

[00:21:43] and then I do

[00:21:44] as the father has commanded me.

[00:21:46] Get up.

[00:21:47] Let's go.

[00:21:48] Let's get going.

[00:21:49] So basically telling them this is planned.

[00:21:52] The ruler of the world is coming. He has no claim on me,

[00:21:56] but I'm doing this to show the world that I love the Father

[00:21:59] and that I follow through with what he commanded me to do.

[00:22:02] And people, I think, have gotten really my point

[00:22:07] with saying Jesus died because he loved us

[00:22:12] or Jesus loves me this much or Jesus loves the world

[00:22:16] so he died for us, but it says God loved the world.

[00:22:20] So he gave his only son and I think we get a little bit too

[00:22:24] flamboyant with it because Jesus was being obedient to the Father

[00:22:28] that was his most reason for following through with me.

[00:22:32] Of course he loved the people that he created,

[00:22:37] God created or he went and had done it also,

[00:22:40] but ultimately he was being obedient to the Father

[00:22:44] and the garden he was saying, you know, Father,

[00:22:47] if possible, let this cut pass for me.

[00:22:50] I don't want to go through with this, you know,

[00:22:53] but nevertheless, let your will be done that way.

[00:22:56] So he's basically distinguishing the fact that he does have a will

[00:23:00] that can be apart from God's just like, you know,

[00:23:04] just like anyone's.

[00:23:05] And he chose to align it with his will.

[00:23:08] So ultimately that was his victory was being obedient to God

[00:23:13] and death.

[00:23:14] And you know, he, you know, no one took his life from him.

[00:23:18] He laid it down by his own accord.

[00:23:21] And I just love that I loved it part of the Bible when he's telling

[00:23:25] pilot that I think is who he's telling it.

[00:23:28] And he's like, don't you know I have the power to purify

[00:23:31] you or save your life?

[00:23:32] And he said, you only have as much power as, you know,

[00:23:36] that's given to you from love from above from my Father.

[00:23:40] You know, I have the power to have the power to lay my life down

[00:23:45] and the power to take it up again.

[00:23:49] Good stuff, Luke.

[00:23:52] Yeah, and I almost want to keep going like it Jesus talks about.

[00:23:57] So we can see that if we're being obedient to Jesus,

[00:24:04] it's pretty much in our sinful world.

[00:24:06] It's pretty much impossible to be obedient without his help.

[00:24:12] So we need his help.

[00:24:13] We need the whole spirit, the comforter, the, the helper.

[00:24:18] And which, which Jesus then kind of is teaching that that will produce fruit.

[00:24:28] So obedience is obedience to Jesus will produce good fruit.

[00:24:35] And he's saying in chapter 15,

[00:24:39] I am the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser.

[00:24:42] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away.

[00:24:46] And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit.

[00:24:53] You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

[00:24:57] Abide in me and I am you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine.

[00:25:04] Neither can you unless you abide in me.

[00:25:11] I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.

[00:25:16] For without me, you can do nothing.

[00:25:24] Yeah, we'll stop there.

[00:25:29] So yeah, when we see it when we truly love,

[00:25:33] when we truly love Jesus, there's this desire to be obedient to him.

[00:25:39] And there's this desire to honor him and we want to produce fruit that like that helps us live in a way that that pleases him and reflects Jesus' character.

[00:25:53] Not our own character because it's fallen, right?

[00:25:58] So I think Jesus is really touching on that is we need him and our obedience to him produces good fruit.

[00:26:14] That's why we see in the world, we see a lot of people who say they're Christian but their life looks completely different than what.

[00:26:22] Then what it actually is producing, the what their life is actually looking like.

[00:26:31] Yeah, yeah.

[00:26:34] I was just thinking to him, like you know, just picking it apart, you know, where he says, you know,

[00:26:43] every branch, which is part of me that fails to bear fruit because so he's saying he's not talking about the world at all here.

[00:26:51] Yeah, he says, I'm a Christians church going Christians.

[00:26:55] Yeah, anyone claiming to be in Christ, if they fail to bear fruit, it gets cut off.

[00:27:03] But I think that says the ones who bear fruit get pruned.

[00:27:11] So I think about like this, like you know, can you bear bad fruit on the line of Yeshua and still not be cut off so that he can prune so that he can work on it and actually teach you how to bear good fruit.

[00:27:26] You know, so I take this very literally where it says, you know, bears, fails to bear fruit.

[00:27:32] It means absolutely has never tried or never, you know, it never will try is actually.

[00:27:40] Poisoned itself to not to not or like sterilize itself to not there any type of fruit, but then you have the branches that are bearing poor fruit.

[00:27:52] You know, they're really their heart God knows your heart.

[00:27:56] You know, so he would not cut off a branch.

[00:28:01] Cut off a branch that was bearing fruit that was not good, you know, right away.

[00:28:09] I mean, I think it's just if you're bearing fruit, it might not be the fruit that he wants.

[00:28:17] But go on out there. So basically every branch that does bear fruit, you could be in that category. I think it just doesn't say good fruit, you know, just says bears fruit.

[00:28:29] So I think I think they literally and say, you know, any branch that's not not even producing is going to be cut off, you know, and this is probably all.

[00:28:41] You know, at the very end it's going to be cut off.

[00:28:45] You know, but this is also speaking about now like he wants to prune you to actually get you to.

[00:28:52] You know bear more fruit.

[00:28:55] But so I just want that I want that to be kind of like a and maybe I'm wrong in that interpretation, but I know for a fact there's somebody other scriptures that says, you know, a smoldering wick.

[00:29:07] I will not snuff out meaning a candle that just got a little bit of amber left on it. It's not a flame, but it's not quite out yet that there's a little glow to it and a little bit of smoke coming off of it.

[00:29:20] He's not going to snuff it out so that it can't you know he wants to fan the flame again. He wants to get the flame out of that amber and he wants it to become a flame in a candle again to shine bright.

[00:29:33] So there's somebody different scriptures out there were God, you know, is it is, you know, he's grace and mercy is just knows no bounds. But those scriptures emulate that him actually putting it into practice and saying look, you know I'm not going to give up on you like that.

[00:29:54] You have many, many moments and opportunities to repent from your sins. He told the Israelites through Isaiah. I think, you know, look, I'm here. Let's settle this now.

[00:30:07] You know, turn from your sins. Repent.

[00:30:12] You know, turn from evil ways and do good. Follow me and I will be your God and you will be my people and they saw Isaiah and half forward because that was just like.

[00:30:27] You know, no, thanks. You know we're actually doing pretty good right now. But so God himself is teach them that I said before you life and death, you know choose life. There's two choices.

[00:30:40] So I like that fine scripture right there and that's my interpretation. I don't know if I'm doing it right or wrong because generally people think fruit is fruit. No fruit is bad.

[00:30:54] Yeah.

[00:30:56] But there is a lot of, but you're right. There is a lot of people who you know answered the sinner's prayer and then they're like I'm good. I'm saved. I don't need to.

[00:31:04] You know there's just this worldly thinking of just like okay, I'm good. We're just going to.

[00:31:09] We're just going to lay back until Jesus comes back.

[00:31:13] Yeah.

[00:31:14] Yeah. You know, I think that's a I think you're in danger. I think there's a there's a lifestyle change that happens when you begin to follow Jesus is you start to you want to consistently test yourself and ask yourself you know what what do I love? Do I love.

[00:31:38] Do I really love Jesus and do I really love his word?

[00:31:43] You know are those important to me and I think that's something that every Christian should consistently maybe make a lifestyle of repenting.

[00:31:54] You know, testing ourselves seeing our lives and being like are these two things at the forefront of our lives loving Jesus and being obedient and reading his word.

[00:32:07] And I love where it says in chapter 15 verse 8 says by this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit so you will be my disciples.

[00:32:22] Yeah. Yeah, I just.

[00:32:26] I love that we can we can be we're called to be obedient to Jesus because it's going to glorify God to the people around us to the the when we're following Jesus in obedience and reading the word of God it has this outflow effect to the people to our city to your school to your work

[00:32:46] to the people around you to the the the the waiter that you you see every day God gets glorified when you're when you're being obedient when your his just true disciple.

[00:33:00] And when you're pursuing that that like true intimacy with God it takes it takes reading his word and it takes again it takes reading his word and it takes private time in prayer with God.

[00:33:14] And yeah, I lost track where I was going but that's really intentional man.

[00:33:26] Totally was listening and all of that and you know there's the intentional nature of repentance and you know actually showing God that you love him but ultimately when you know here's

[00:33:43] a little last verse I think I found it.

[00:33:47] And I think it's too you know if you love me keep my commandments or if you love me you would listen to me.

[00:33:55] It's just as my father had in verse nine this is my father has loved me I too have loved you so stay in my love if you keep my command he will stay in my love just as I have kept my fathers commands and staying his love.

[00:34:09] And I'm going to ask you so that my joy may be in you and your joy be complete.

[00:34:14] So there's a next there's a new thing it's like the joy that I have yeah my joy may be in you and you're joy be complete and it's like who's had complete joy apart from apart from what he's promising here.

[00:34:31] You know so we've gone from do you love me you know and then this is my command so he's saying keep my commandments here's the here's the command he's talking about that you keep on loving each other as I have loved you.

[00:34:46] No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends.

[00:34:53] You know and so he's telling him another command on top of you know.

[00:35:00] You love me if you keep my commandments and saying love one another as you know as I have loved you.

[00:35:10] I mean just the wisdom in here and also he uses his joy his joy is something that's enduring everlasting so his joy will will guide us through circumstances.

[00:35:28] He's not saying that if we follow his teachings we're going to be happy you know and I think that's that's a that's something that gets confused is happiness is a fleeting feeling.

[00:35:44] We need God's joy that that deep enduring faith that gets you through anything.

[00:35:55] And it's again and Jesus is teaching that this is a gift from him.

[00:36:01] This isn't something that we've we've produced this is a gift from him because that's how much he loves us so we get this we by his spirit we have the gift of this like strong everlasting faith this joy in times of difficulty.

[00:36:22] And then I think you know this and then he kind of he goes into how the world is the world hates you because of him.

[00:36:35] So it's like we're following we're following something that really pulls us out of the world that that causes us to be hated by the world so we need his help.

[00:36:47] It's not supposed to be easy.

[00:36:51] But it is worth it. It's a sacrifice that's worth it.

[00:36:56] It's like a prerequisite for following Christ I suppose and he's giving it laying it out for us, I think because you know when you were talking to I think the happiness thing is just yeah an amazing point due because I think happiness is a fleeting emotion and joy.

[00:37:16] And it's a state of being is meant to this maintainer or some end to be fortified because happiness I don't care what you do to it.

[00:37:28] You can't really fortify and baptize that emotion and say I'm going to be like this because look at the people who tried with worldly things it just always ends up leaving them out out and down.

[00:37:43] It's very unstable. It's not something from the divine like the joy of the Lord, like the Shalom that he promises his disciples and promises us by extension.

[00:37:57] You know he says I don't give as the world gives you know as the world cannot give you know I give you my peace.

[00:38:06] Not the peace that the world claims to have for you, which is very brittle.

[00:38:14] And I'm just already going down last thing is like it's like there's gold in all of this.

[00:38:21] It's such incredible wisdom and this is me reading it's not like I wanted to kind of come up with some notes and stuff but

[00:38:31] actually the word God is amazing in the Holy Spirit is working great.

[00:38:36] When the counselor comes talking about the Holy Spirit,

[00:38:40] whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who keeps going out from the Father.

[00:38:47] He will testify on my behalf and you testify too because you have been with me from the outset to talking to his disciples.

[00:38:57] But honestly saying keeps going out from the Father. So it's like we said, you know, it's like a renew.

[00:39:02] It's like a refill of the Holy Spirit being renewed renew with it over and over again.

[00:39:09] It's like pouring your cup out and getting a refill and pouring it out and everything you refill.

[00:39:14] Yeah, we have a father that gives abundantly.

[00:39:18] If you call, if you ask for his spirit, you know, he's never going to deny you.

[00:39:24] He will keep giving you more and more and more and more and more and more and more.

[00:39:32] Yeah, it's just like I have to pray for you know God's wisdom to actually be able to handle some of those things.

[00:39:40] You know, to sit to the Holy Spirit is just really decipher some of the things that he downloads because the enemy also wants to, you know,

[00:39:52] masquerade as a wolf and sheep's clothing and try to get me to believe God wants me.

[00:39:57] Like God said this and this and this and our, you know, divine betrayal is the biggest trick the devil ever perpetrated on mankind that God, you know, is done with you.

[00:40:08] You know, you've, you've sickened him or he's, you know, he gave up on you.

[00:40:14] You know, yeah, you know John 316 but that was like, man, look what you guys did since then and I just need the absolutely need to be strong and prayer and understand where my roots are and the actual truth.

[00:40:32] You know, when Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life he was truth and carny when they talk about the Holy Spirit, you know, the counselor.

[00:40:43] Somewhere else earlier said that you know he comes, he's the spirit of truth.

[00:40:49] I will send a spirit of truth. He's talking about the Holy Spirit so God's Holy Spirit cannot lie.

[00:40:55] You know he's only and then I've heard certain scriptures say that the Holy Spirit only speaks with the father wants him to speak just like you do a only spoke with what the father wanted him to speak.

[00:41:07] So they honor the father as being the one who, you know, gives the or gives the call, you know, or sets out to the truth to speak to people.

[00:41:18] And so I can trust in it.

[00:41:21] Yeah.

[00:41:25] Something came to my brain was you know, it's so this passage if you love me keep my commandments and it just seems like Jesus is the you know how we you know how we say action speak louder than words.

[00:41:43] It's kind of a biblical concept actually because you can say you love Jesus, but how does your life look?

[00:41:54] So your actions I think if you're really love Jesus, you're going to be obedient. You're going to want this there's there's just desire to be obedient to them and that will show in your life.

[00:42:06] And so I think that's a big message for us is your you know, you might say.

[00:42:16] You might say you're your Christian or you love Jesus, but what does your life look like?

[00:42:21] You know test yourself and that doesn't mean that you're supposed to look perfect and you're going to be.

[00:42:27] You might not you know, you're still going to be struggling with sin, but I believe that.

[00:42:33] You know Jesus is really teaching that your life's going to look separate than the world also.

[00:42:44] You know, the world is going to like he says the spirit of truth from the world cannot receive.

[00:42:51] You know, he's going to pull you out of the world. So I mean there's a lot of people that are professing Christians but they're.

[00:43:02] The way their life looks.

[00:43:06] They're missing that key key component of being obedient to the Lord.

[00:43:13] Yeah, and then the examples of Jesus is disciple that think is you had Judas who up until the last supper was like this.

[00:43:24] You know, I'll follow you probably you know like everyone else they were just he was like I'll follow you till the end.

[00:43:31] And then on the side he was like look you know, I know these Sanhedrin are looking for somebody they've got a bounty on them.

[00:43:41] So I'm pretty sure I could I could turn them in for that.

[00:43:44] And he didn't really understand the way to his consequences, but his heart was just not.

[00:43:51] You know, it was not captured by Jesus like the other song you know, I think he obviously the enemy snuck in there and.

[00:44:01] He's worked his is thinking and morality, which I think you are granted after the fact but then you have somebody like Peter who.

[00:44:13] You know he loved Jesus so much, you know, he has some three times do you love me Peter? And you know he said then 10, 10, my flocking.

[00:44:21] He's yes and three times and by the third time Peter is like why are you asking me again? You know I love you.

[00:44:26] And then he's like build my church, you know it's because he was going to deny him three times when they were arresting Jesus.

[00:44:34] And Jesus wanted him to understand the weight of look I knew you were going to do that that's why I asked you it all came back to him probably his flashbacks.

[00:44:43] I think he became suicidal after that too.

[00:44:46] But he came back from that to be the actual one who built the church like Christ they told him he was he was going to do his deal, his deal for Jesus being the Messiah.

[00:45:00] You know, and after being in such a probably depression and suicide, I already that's when Jesus actually when he resurrected me and I'm on the beach and.

[00:45:12] I could some fish with him and mate with them and basically had another reunion with them saying look you know I forgive you, you know, and he's just crying and then he tells Peter you know when you were young you dressed yourself and you went where you wanted to but when you are older someone else will dress you and they will lead you where you do not want to go.

[00:45:35] And so this was prophesying the way that Peter was going to be killed.

[00:45:41] And Peter was crucified upside down because he didn't feel worthy enough to be crucified like Christ and so the upside down cross is actually an early Christian symbol, you know, the press was a Roman symbol of death obviously but.

[00:45:58] Peter was just like to the very end he was he had the zeal about making it up to Jesus you know his Lord.

[00:46:08] That's great man.

[00:46:10] I just started reading John chapter six where.

[00:46:18] Jesus says in verse 39.

[00:46:22] This is the will of the father who sent me that all that of all he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day.

[00:46:39] Yeah it's it's almost a scary thought but God knows exactly or Jesus knows exactly who are his and who are going to endure and follow him.

[00:46:52] And that's a little bit of a scary thought you know there's a lot of people who are confessing to follow him but.

[00:47:03] You know maybe they they have reservations leave the faith or there's tons of people now in our day and time they're just walking away from the faith I think it's like record.

[00:47:15] Record numbers of people.

[00:47:21] They have left the church or they've left the faith and so it's just kind of a scary thought to me that Jesus knows exactly he's saying I will lose I'm not losing any of the ones that are mine.

[00:47:36] And so yeah so again I think we should as Christians you should you know you shouldn't live like you're worried that your life is.

[00:47:45] That you're you're going to like lose your salvation.

[00:47:49] I think we should just consistently live this life of loving Jesus and being obedient to him staying in prayer reading his word just consistently testing yourself and going back and having this lifestyle of repentance and just fixing your eyes on Jesus and saying, you know.

[00:48:13] It takes work like it's going to it takes work and it's hard but just consistently living your life in a way where you're testing yourself like focusing on asking yourself like what do you love are you.

[00:48:25] Do you still love Jesus do you still read his word are you still following his commandments.

[00:48:34] Yeah I just think that's that's the lifestyle and I think we've gotten away from that in Christian culture.

[00:48:41] I think we've just we've really gotten away from that daily lifestyle of repentance and testing ourselves and you know seeing what our life looks like seeing the fruit that we're producing you know reflecting on that and saying, you know am I doing this.

[00:49:02] Am I truly following him or not.

[00:49:08] Yeah, I think the blending between our own will and what we think God's will is in our life is very common practice and very we've we've perfected the art as if it hadn't already been perfected.

[00:49:28] Before Jesus is time you know the fairs the fairies were geniuses it.

[00:49:38] You know portraying that the righteousness and but it's self-righteousness you know there's not.

[00:49:45] That's a lot of cool yeah it's really I mean just leading other people away straight to but I mean what what what registers is there that isn't already given to us by God or you know but.

[00:49:59] You know by knowing him in the first place there is no such rush is this we didn't create any of it on the idea that you actually worship a holy God or that you try to be holy because he is holy.

[00:50:14] Is there not human constructs.

[00:50:18] There's no other God that we've been able to concoge false God where we have tried to live a holy life in regards to that being being holy like our God is because that being was not holy.

[00:50:34] Most of the time that being was evil and very fallible like us we created gods out of our own image.

[00:50:43] God created us out of his image and we created our own false gods out of our own images that we wanted to kind of dance around and pretend like that's all there was you know.

[00:50:57] Because that thing can't hurt me it can't judge me it can't send me to hell yeah but it can't save you either you know and for a lot of people that's been perfectly okay you know.

[00:51:12] You don't need saving from something that they don't know.

[00:51:17] They need to be safe from you know I think most people don't really know they need to be saved from anything.

[00:51:26] So yeah one of my favorite things that I try to remember is you can't follow Jesus and hold your sin in your other hand you can't have your savior at one hand and sin in the other.

[00:51:40] Yeah like it when it says you know you know a serving cannot serve two masters he will sit evil and love the other or hate that one and love the other one.

[00:51:58] It just does not we can't work like this so and then you know of course it was talking about money you know in that moment saying you know if you love money more than God.

[00:52:08] You know if God would be coming your master is being saying anything that you put before God is going to master you and the other scriptures were says you know look you know I think Paul maybe was talking to Thomas or something.

[00:52:25] He said you know sin is crouching at the door.

[00:52:28] That was actually God talking to the cane I think you know because cane was upset about his this is in Genesis chapter one you know Genesis the first few chapters he said the cane was upset that God didn't look favorably upon his sacrifice and he said cane.

[00:52:49] You know sin is crouching at the door you must you must master it or it will destroy you know or you have to overcome it or it will master you.

[00:53:00] You know he's telling him how to overcome this sin that he you know and then he ends up capitalizing on this sin after what God told them you know he said if you do where to the right well I not be pleased that's what he told them.

[00:53:18] And I think he became very resentful and jealous of his brother obviously but yeah I was telling him exactly what he wanted from it you know if you did what was right would I not be pleased with it.

[00:53:35] But here I knew that just like the fair she's already knew half the things the issue was telling him.

[00:53:44] Yeah so good stuff man already at a time this could go on forever well that's it that's good yeah I mean just so much gold and I I pray some of you read read this read book of John in a lot of what Jesus a lot of what Jesus.

[00:54:13] A lot of what was recorded at that last supper and during Passover and because we're coming up on that on Easter I think it's I think it's fitting to revisit a lot of what he's saying in in these chapters so.

[00:54:34] We love you guys thank you so much for tuning in this has been episode number 39.

[00:54:42] Donovan appreciate your comment he said always stay in his word amen my friend yeah I've heard from my friend from my friend Mark Johnson the see you see you boss radio now he says you can never overdose on the word of God.

[00:55:03] I love that I love that thought you know always keep coming back to this because it's never going to be too much you're always going to find something new that you've missed and you know God always has something new for you.

[00:55:18] And a lot of times you'll read something and you'll see it in a different perspective that you that the spirit might show you and so yeah we love that so thanks for that comment Donovan thanks for listening to.

[00:55:34] Yeah appreciate it yeah guys.

[00:55:40] We love you thank you so much for listening to this episode again we'll just kind of recap we talked about John chapter 14 verse 15 where Jesus says if you love me keep my commandments and I mean this is really just a message of there are two things.

[00:55:59] In this in this Christian life that it really takes and it takes loving Jesus and it takes being obedient and you're not going to do that perfectly that's why we need his we need the Holy Spirit to help us to guide us to keep us.

[00:56:16] Moving forward we want we want God's joy to remain in us we want that faith that's going to be enduring.

[00:56:25] And it takes you know it takes intimacy with God it takes a relationship consistently striving consistently testing yourself consistently revisiting what your life looks like and saying Jesus I need I need your help I need your help more and more and more and he's going to give it to you so.

[00:56:47] But yeah I guess the message tonight is you're not called to just to you're not called to the world you're called to be obedient to God that is your ultimate calling and he will and you will have joy in your circumstances and peace and the present and excitement for the future so.

[00:57:11] Amen yeah yeah love that.

[00:57:18] Cool so you have anything else to share Luke and we can go into prayer and finish this episode up.

[00:57:27] I'm not really mad.

[00:57:30] Just thankful to be able to keep doing this with you and yeah.

[00:57:35] But you know yeah I could I could read every person that whole book you know just I could have went backwards forwards and just still been like oh yeah that's what I got it and just sometimes this.

[00:57:48] You're just ignited by the spirit and.

[00:57:53] That's the blessing that's you know you find sometimes put sometimes you don't want to read it and sometimes it's like reading alien.

[00:58:01] I read alien language or something and you know you have to really just ask God for the for the you know the perception or the vision to keep going in the perspective it's right.

[00:58:19] Align with his will so I think that's what Jesus did every time he went off to pray.

[00:58:25] Because he can really reconcile suffering that you were going through around him with him actually having to wait and wait to be crucified when he could end it right then you know so I think he was a man of sorrow like it like it says you know scripture.

[00:58:46] Here in good company so.

[00:58:51] But he loves this and just keep praying for that revelation.

[00:59:00] Love that man good stuff tonight guys thank you for listening yet another episode we're going to keep doing this if you want to guest on our show come join us.

[00:59:15] Or come comment leave a comment follow us.

[00:59:20] Yeah say prayer and then we'll get out of here how's that sound.

[00:59:25] Sounds good there cool.

[00:59:31] Father thank you so much which is I'm just I'm feeling so grateful for your your word.

[00:59:38] I feel I feel in and.

[00:59:43] I feel grateful that we've been able to dive into your word tonight and the things that just keep getting revealed to us is is.

[00:59:53] It's amazing you're amazing your word is just amazing we're so thankful that we have.

[00:59:59] This option and I were thankful that this this verse came up tonight and this reminder.

[01:00:09] That having a true relationship with you and showing our love towards you is by being obedient to what you say.

[01:00:18] Thank you so much that you're willing to share your wisdom with us each and every day.

[01:00:24] And you're giving us your grace you're sending us the Holy Spirit to help us to get to get through this life that can be so difficult.

[01:00:47] God we just love you we love you we're so thankful for this opportunity. We just want to do it what you say and we believe that this podcast is now your podcast and it's in your hands and I just pray for anybody listening that there will be a revelation or a reminder.

[01:01:07] A heart that's softened towards you that just we don't want to do our desires are.

[01:01:19] Our goals we you know we want your plan for our lives take away anything that disagrees with your love.

[01:01:28] Father I thank you for our listeners and I thank you for Luke and his insights and just looks yes to you that his ability to share has been incredible and I'm just so thankful that you'll I pray that you'll continue to pour yourself into Luke's life as well.

[01:01:53] And to anybody listening.

[01:01:59] We love you because you've you loved us first.

[01:02:04] And we just I just pray tonight that somebody listening is just is is excited to turn their heart back towards you.

[01:02:16] That the the their heart posture is back towards you and what your will is and what you're saying.

[01:02:22] Help us God to stay obedient to our daily lives.

[01:02:34] Help us to stay strong we want your joy you have so much joy for the world and for your children.

[01:02:40] We need your help we need joy in these circumstances that are just drowning people each and every day.

[01:02:51] Thank you that you're just pouring your spirit into us you are God that is just abundantly giving us your grace and your love and your mercy.

[01:03:00] It just keeps coming back stronger and stronger.

[01:03:05] Your character is like nothing that we've that we will ever quite understand but I think God I pray that there are hearts tonight that are desiring to produce fruit in their lives that's going to demonstrate what your character is.

[01:03:26] God I pray that there's that me and Luke that we're falling that we want to follow your teachings because we want to.

[01:03:34] We want to show what your character is it's something that we've never seen before we just.

[01:03:43] We can't really even comprehend but.

[01:03:46] We're just so thankful yeah I feel like I'm rambling but we love you we bless you thank you so much for this evening for this scripture I pray for healing and physically mentally to Luke into anybody listening.

[01:04:08] Keep moving forward that your commandments is what is best for our lives it's what's going to keep us moving forward it's going to help us endure when times are tough when the world is coming at you.

[01:04:24] With problems and issues and circumstances your faith is this faith is a gift from you and you're just going to keep us going strong and enduring through tough times.

[01:04:39] So I pray that our love for you is just going to keep growing and there will be a desire to be obedient to you and not to our own selfish desires because they fail.

[01:04:51] Yes or thank you God.

[01:04:57] You are holy we love you so much your sovereign.

[01:05:03] Jesus is the name above all names I pray that everybody will understand that and just fix our eyes on the winner the one who's winning currently and the one who will win at the end.

[01:05:13] Pray all this in the sun the name that is above all names Jesus the Messiah amen amen awesome guys thank you so much for tuning in we love you keep us in your prayers and we'll see you next week.

[01:05:38] Yeah, so thank you for commenting thank you guys for for listening and for supporting us thank you to everybody who was purchased my book little man big God.

[01:05:54] And it was send me you know I love hearing messages about you know the podcast or book or a band so feel free to reach out to us and let us know.

[01:06:05] If we bless you and if we can pray for you and if we can be there to support you so we love doing that.

[01:06:15] Amen.

[01:06:17] Till next week guys yeah it's going to be it's going to be good Friday next week.

[01:06:26] Sweet.

[01:06:29] So have a good Friday episode pretty crazy.

[01:06:33] I'll be nice for that yeah it's going to be really cool.

[01:06:37] So come join us on good Friday evening come we're just going to we'll probably will share the word of God and we'll pray over you guys so I think it'll be a good time.

[01:06:47] Thank you.

[01:06:49] Yeah so till next time we love you guys thank you so much and we'll see you next week.

[01:06:56] Love you see you guys peace.

[01:06:59] Peace peace.

[01:07:03] Thank you for listening to this episode of the Finding Neverland Podcast.

[01:07:09] We pray that you were challenged encouraged and uplifted as we seek to establish the Kingdom of Heaven.

[01:07:16] If you are impacted by our band or if you would like to partner with Finding Neverland please email us at finding Neverland Band then the number 7 at gmail.com.

[01:07:33] .