Holy Affections
John 4:27-42
Can I make an observation this morning? You can agree or disagree with me if you like, but I really want you to listen to what I have observed about my own life. Do you realize before I was saved the only person I loved the most. Answer: Was Myself. Do you realize that before salvation came to us, we always for the most part conducted ourselves by: 1. Fulfilling the desire and the lusts of our flesh. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. (Rom 7:5). 2. Saying that our own ways are right. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Prov 21:1). 3. Seeking to justify oneself. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts..... (Luke 16:15) 4. Saying I am pure in my own eyes. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. (Prov 30:12). Listen to what Paul said to the church of Ephesus (Eph 2:3-5) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Before we were saved by His wonderful grace: We were children of wrath, Seeking only to fulfill our own desires, Haters of God, lovers of self. My question to us this morning is: Who do you love the most now? Who do you want to serve with a subservient heart? See the answer must be the Lord Jesus Christ! You cannot be a true born again believer if He isn’t your greatest joy and desire for your life. The Bible commands by saying ...'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Matt 22:37). That’s a tough statement to answer or to practice. Do we really understand what the Lord Jesus is saying to us in that statement? he wants all of of us! NO QUESTIONS ASKED. So my question to us is; Do you love Him will all your heart, soul and mind this morning? Do you love the God? The God of all comforts. The God of all grace. The God who supplies all our needs. The God who leads us to sing to Him. The God who we cry out Abba Father as little children crying out to their daddy. The One who is near us in times of trouble. The One who we have communion with through prayer and worship. The One who we have a intimate relationship with. The One who knows our deepest thoughts. The One who knows our hidden sins. The One who is the giver of life eternally
This is my Holy Affection! A passion and a deep longing for God and personal holiness. Why? Because He is the lover of my soul. This woman turned from love of self to the love of the Messiah (verse 28) “... Come see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.” This woman was eager to share with others about what see just encountered. This woman was eager to take these men to the Christ. This woman was displaying the characteristics of a changed life. This woman was beginning to have a holy affection. Today we are going to examine 11 of the holy affections that will be displayed in true Christian’s life.
1. Have You Enjoyed Fellowship with Christ and the Father
This is an essential element in true salvation (1 Cor 1:9) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ÿ Fellowship is personal to every believer
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me...” (Gal 2:20)
2. Are You Sensitive to Sin
The person that is truly saved is sensitive to the sinful realities in his or her life. (Rom 7:23-25) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Paul was aware of the sin that was committed in his body. This woman realized the sin that was committed in her body (verse 29) “...who told me all things”. Are you aware of the sin in your mortal bodies this morning?
3. Do You Obey God’s Word
Is your life characterized by obedience to His will for your life?
Ÿ Spirit filled
Ÿ Committed to Christ
Ÿ Submitted to His standards
Ÿ Worshipping and honoring Him continually
Does the scriptures conform you into the image of the Son? Are you being transformed, renewed each and every day? Moses said “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD (Yahweh)” (Deut 8:3). (John 14:23-24) Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
4. Do You Reject this Evil World
When the Lord gave you eternal life, did you stop embracing this world? What do I mean by that?
Ÿ Reject its false religion
Ÿ Cursing ideologies
Ÿ Godless living
Ÿ Vain pursuits
(1John 2:16-17) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.The ones who obey His will and abide in Him will abide forever in: His truth, His kingdom, His holy presence. For those who have taken the gift of salvation. Why? Because The fields are ready for harvest, salvation is now. We are called to reap the harvest with the God News of the Gospel, because the outcome is amazing for the fruits of our labour. (verse 39) and many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him, because of the word of the woman who testified...”
5. Do You Eagerly Wait for Christ’s Return
Do you love Christ so much that you cannot wait to se Him face to face? (Phil 3:20-21) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Ÿ One day we are going to be given perfect sinless bodies
Ÿ One day we are gong to be holding the living hand of the Lord Jesus Christ
Ÿ One day He is going to answer all the questions that have gone unanswered
Do you want that day to come or not? The evidence of a true Christian is the desire
and eagerness as the Lord calls us to Himself
6. Do You See a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in Your Life
From the point of conversion has your life been transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 3:4-10) Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. This doesn’t mean sinless perfection! This means the pattern of sin has been broken and a new pattern came into existence. A holy affection took over your flesh is tainted with sin but the more your seek righteousness and holiness your sin will not be as predominate I your walk
7. Do You Love Other Christians
Do you honestly care for other believers or are you cold and uncaring, and indifferent? Do you desire to reach and meet their needs? (1 Peter 1:22) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, Since you have obeyed His commands through the Spirit. Which is the will of God you have a fervent love for the brethren. Fervent (means) sincere, to strive, a veal or passion. Its a love that fervently wants to serve one another even over their imperfections. A holy love for brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul said “do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10). Look at (verse 41) “and many more believed because of His own word”
8. Do You Experience Answered Prayer
God is more eager to answer the prayers of His children than they are to ask. Jonathan Edward's said “I suspect there’s a certain disappointment in God’s heart because he would do so much more than we ever ask Him to do. Think of the blessings and assurance we miss out on!” (1John 3:22) And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. A holy affection leads to blessings from God, Obeying His commands and living a life that glorifies the Lord. You will receive answers to your prayers, in His timing not yours. You must first belong to Him? Jesus said (Matt 7:7-8) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. This is the power that we have through faith in Jesus Christ. The power to receive answered prayer from our LORD
9. Do You Experience the Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Apart from the Holy Spirit you wouldn’t know who Christ is, and you certainly wouldn’t confess Him as your Savior and Lord. (1Cor 2:10-12) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. The Spirit is our Guide and teacher when you read scripture the Spirit illuminates it to you. Before salvation scripture to you was just a bunch of sentences and stories, but after your conversion the Spirit gives you a hunger and a thirst for the Word of God. Its the Spirit that leads us “to cry out Abba Father” (Gal 4:6) Never let your heart condemn you or tell you you’re not a Christian. Recognize the Spirit’s work in you.
10. Can You Discern between Spiritual Truth and Error
From the moment of your salvation, there’s one thing you’re clear about; who Christ is, and what He did to your depraved heart. Otherwise you wouldn’t be saved today! John said (1John 4:1-3) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. We must test all things. More Samaritan people were coming to meet the Lord with discerning hearts Because they said (verse 41-42) And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. We must be a people who test all things against scripture. Why? Because this is our highest authority for life. (2Tim 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
11. Have You Suffered Rejection because of Your Faith
Do you suffer for having the name Christian? We are classified as the scum of the earth, we are a bigot’s, intolerable people to most of the post modern world. (1Cor 4:12-13) And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. John said “Don’t marvel the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). Little did these people understand who they were getting themselves involved with. Look at what John writes in (verse 42) “The Christ the Savior of the World”. You will face suffering in your walk but be of good courage! We are seated in Heavenly places. He will never leave you nor forsake you, He is our protector and provider. Jesus said (John 10:29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. The final chapter of the Bible closes with an invitation. (Rev 22:17 ) And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. This is a wonderful picture of what the Lord offered this woman at the well.
This woman was so excited she had to tell others to come and drink of the fountain of the Lord Jesus Christ . Why? The harvest is ripe for the picking. Today is the day of salvation for all those who believe and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John MacArthur says “ while it is free, it is not cheap; the Savior Himself paid the ultimate price so that thirsty, repentant seekers can drink as deeply as they like”. The Bible says Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Matt 22:37). Do you love Him will all your heart, soul and mind this morning? Are you living a life of Holy Affections? Are you saying in your heart, like what the Samaritan people said “They urged Him to stay with them..” (verse 40) Lord Jesus please we beg you, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain with us. That's what Holy Affection is all about wanting Him to never leave. Let’s Pray
John 4:27-42
Can I make an observation this morning? You can agree or disagree with me if you like, but I really want you to listen to what I have observed about my own life. Do you realize before I was saved the only person I loved the most. Answer: Was Myself. Do you realize that before salvation came to us, we always for the most part conducted ourselves by: 1. Fulfilling the desire and the lusts of our flesh. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. (Rom 7:5). 2. Saying that our own ways are right. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Prov 21:1). 3. Seeking to justify oneself. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts..... (Luke 16:15) 4. Saying I am pure in my own eyes. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. (Prov 30:12). Listen to what Paul said to the church of Ephesus (Eph 2:3-5) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Before we were saved by His wonderful grace: We were children of wrath, Seeking only to fulfill our own desires, Haters of God, lovers of self. My question to us this morning is: Who do you love the most now? Who do you want to serve with a subservient heart? See the answer must be the Lord Jesus Christ! You cannot be a true born again believer if He isn’t your greatest joy and desire for your life. The Bible commands by saying ...'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Matt 22:37). That’s a tough statement to answer or to practice. Do we really understand what the Lord Jesus is saying to us in that statement? he wants all of of us! NO QUESTIONS ASKED. So my question to us is; Do you love Him will all your heart, soul and mind this morning? Do you love the God? The God of all comforts. The God of all grace. The God who supplies all our needs. The God who leads us to sing to Him. The God who we cry out Abba Father as little children crying out to their daddy. The One who is near us in times of trouble. The One who we have communion with through prayer and worship. The One who we have a intimate relationship with. The One who knows our deepest thoughts. The One who knows our hidden sins. The One who is the giver of life eternally
This is my Holy Affection! A passion and a deep longing for God and personal holiness. Why? Because He is the lover of my soul. This woman turned from love of self to the love of the Messiah (verse 28) “... Come see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.” This woman was eager to share with others about what see just encountered. This woman was eager to take these men to the Christ. This woman was displaying the characteristics of a changed life. This woman was beginning to have a holy affection. Today we are going to examine 11 of the holy affections that will be displayed in true Christian’s life.
1. Have You Enjoyed Fellowship with Christ and the Father
This is an essential element in true salvation (1 Cor 1:9) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ÿ Fellowship is personal to every believer
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me...” (Gal 2:20)
2. Are You Sensitive to Sin
The person that is truly saved is sensitive to the sinful realities in his or her life. (Rom 7:23-25) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Paul was aware of the sin that was committed in his body. This woman realized the sin that was committed in her body (verse 29) “...who told me all things”. Are you aware of the sin in your mortal bodies this morning?
3. Do You Obey God’s Word
Is your life characterized by obedience to His will for your life?
Ÿ Spirit filled
Ÿ Committed to Christ
Ÿ Submitted to His standards
Ÿ Worshipping and honoring Him continually
Does the scriptures conform you into the image of the Son? Are you being transformed, renewed each and every day? Moses said “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD (Yahweh)” (Deut 8:3). (John 14:23-24) Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
4. Do You Reject this Evil World
When the Lord gave you eternal life, did you stop embracing this world? What do I mean by that?
Ÿ Reject its false religion
Ÿ Cursing ideologies
Ÿ Godless living
Ÿ Vain pursuits
(1John 2:16-17) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.The ones who obey His will and abide in Him will abide forever in: His truth, His kingdom, His holy presence. For those who have taken the gift of salvation. Why? Because The fields are ready for harvest, salvation is now. We are called to reap the harvest with the God News of the Gospel, because the outcome is amazing for the fruits of our labour. (verse 39) and many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him, because of the word of the woman who testified...”
5. Do You Eagerly Wait for Christ’s Return
Do you love Christ so much that you cannot wait to se Him face to face? (Phil 3:20-21) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Ÿ One day we are going to be given perfect sinless bodies
Ÿ One day we are gong to be holding the living hand of the Lord Jesus Christ
Ÿ One day He is going to answer all the questions that have gone unanswered
Do you want that day to come or not? The evidence of a true Christian is the desire
and eagerness as the Lord calls us to Himself
6. Do You See a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in Your Life
From the point of conversion has your life been transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 3:4-10) Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. This doesn’t mean sinless perfection! This means the pattern of sin has been broken and a new pattern came into existence. A holy affection took over your flesh is tainted with sin but the more your seek righteousness and holiness your sin will not be as predominate I your walk
7. Do You Love Other Christians
Do you honestly care for other believers or are you cold and uncaring, and indifferent? Do you desire to reach and meet their needs? (1 Peter 1:22) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, Since you have obeyed His commands through the Spirit. Which is the will of God you have a fervent love for the brethren. Fervent (means) sincere, to strive, a veal or passion. Its a love that fervently wants to serve one another even over their imperfections. A holy love for brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul said “do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10). Look at (verse 41) “and many more believed because of His own word”
8. Do You Experience Answered Prayer
God is more eager to answer the prayers of His children than they are to ask. Jonathan Edward's said “I suspect there’s a certain disappointment in God’s heart because he would do so much more than we ever ask Him to do. Think of the blessings and assurance we miss out on!” (1John 3:22) And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. A holy affection leads to blessings from God, Obeying His commands and living a life that glorifies the Lord. You will receive answers to your prayers, in His timing not yours. You must first belong to Him? Jesus said (Matt 7:7-8) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. This is the power that we have through faith in Jesus Christ. The power to receive answered prayer from our LORD
9. Do You Experience the Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Apart from the Holy Spirit you wouldn’t know who Christ is, and you certainly wouldn’t confess Him as your Savior and Lord. (1Cor 2:10-12) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. The Spirit is our Guide and teacher when you read scripture the Spirit illuminates it to you. Before salvation scripture to you was just a bunch of sentences and stories, but after your conversion the Spirit gives you a hunger and a thirst for the Word of God. Its the Spirit that leads us “to cry out Abba Father” (Gal 4:6) Never let your heart condemn you or tell you you’re not a Christian. Recognize the Spirit’s work in you.
10. Can You Discern between Spiritual Truth and Error
From the moment of your salvation, there’s one thing you’re clear about; who Christ is, and what He did to your depraved heart. Otherwise you wouldn’t be saved today! John said (1John 4:1-3) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. We must test all things. More Samaritan people were coming to meet the Lord with discerning hearts Because they said (verse 41-42) And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. We must be a people who test all things against scripture. Why? Because this is our highest authority for life. (2Tim 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
11. Have You Suffered Rejection because of Your Faith
Do you suffer for having the name Christian? We are classified as the scum of the earth, we are a bigot’s, intolerable people to most of the post modern world. (1Cor 4:12-13) And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. John said “Don’t marvel the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). Little did these people understand who they were getting themselves involved with. Look at what John writes in (verse 42) “The Christ the Savior of the World”. You will face suffering in your walk but be of good courage! We are seated in Heavenly places. He will never leave you nor forsake you, He is our protector and provider. Jesus said (John 10:29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. The final chapter of the Bible closes with an invitation. (Rev 22:17 ) And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. This is a wonderful picture of what the Lord offered this woman at the well.
This woman was so excited she had to tell others to come and drink of the fountain of the Lord Jesus Christ . Why? The harvest is ripe for the picking. Today is the day of salvation for all those who believe and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John MacArthur says “ while it is free, it is not cheap; the Savior Himself paid the ultimate price so that thirsty, repentant seekers can drink as deeply as they like”. The Bible says Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Matt 22:37). Do you love Him will all your heart, soul and mind this morning? Are you living a life of Holy Affections? Are you saying in your heart, like what the Samaritan people said “They urged Him to stay with them..” (verse 40) Lord Jesus please we beg you, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain with us. That's what Holy Affection is all about wanting Him to never leave. Let’s Pray
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