Sermon 5 of 5 in a series "Living the Full Life" presented August 30, 2009, at Palm Desert Church of Christ, by Dale Wells

1. Living Life to the Full 5. The Secret of Loving is Knowing

2. Final lesson in this series concerning “Living the Full Life” John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

3. In previous lessons we have examined four of these “secrets” The secret of living is bearing fruit John 15:8 NIV This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. The secret of bearing fruit is remaining John 15:5 NIV "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

4. In previous lessons we have examined four of these “secrets” The secret of remaining is obeying John 15:10 NIV If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. The secret of obeying is loving John 14:15 NIV "If you love me, you will obey what I command. Next question: "What is the secret of loving?"

5. THE SECRET OF LOVING IS KNOWING

6. THIS TRUTH IS SEEN IN RELATIONSHIPS True love between husband and wife is based on knowing & understanding one another Strong friendships are based on knowing each other well Christianswho love one another are those who have made the effort to know each other Likewise, in our relationship with God, the more we come to know God & Jesus, the more we will love Them!

7. Especially when we comprehend Their love for us John 3:16 NIV "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 1 John 3:16 NIV This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Only those who know God can love man & God 1 John 4:8 NIV Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

8. Knowing God is the first major step in the process of living “the full life” Knowing God leads us to love Him Loving God leads us to obey Him Obeying God causes us to remain in Christ Remaining in Christ causes us to bear fruit Bearing fruit brings us the joys of the full life Before we conclude, we ask one final question: “How can we know God so as to produce this ‘chain-reaction’ that leads to the full life?”

9. WE COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH COMMUNICATION...

10. This is the way it is in human relationships Where there is communication, knowledge of one another grows Where there is little or none, relationships flounder It’s the same with our relationship with God Communication with God is a two-street...

11. He speaks to us through the Bible, written by inspired men 2 Peter 1:21 NIV For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. John 16:12-13 NIV "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

12. He speaks to us through the Bible, written by inspired men 1 Corinthians 14:37 NIV If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

13. And we speak to God through prayer Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV Be joyful always; (17) pray continually; (18) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

14. As simple as it may sound, reading the Bible and praying to God can be the catalysts starting the “chain-reaction” that will lead one to experience “the full life”

15. The value of God’s Word in bearing fruit is described Psalms 1:1-3 NIV Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (3) He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

16. The value of prayer was taught by Jesus Matthew 7:7-11 NIV "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (9) "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? (11) If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

17. WE ALSO COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH EXPERIENCE

18. Sharing experiences with friends and loved ones helps us know them better As we go through life, walking with God and Jesus, we will experience such things as: Their love for us Their strength that is imparted to us

19. Paul prayed that we would experience and comprehend the love & strength Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV For this reason I kneel before the Father, (15) from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

20. Paul prayed that we would experience and comprehend the love & strength (18) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, (19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

21. Experiencing such blessings helps us know God better & love Him more Psalms 116:1-2 NIV I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. (2) Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

22. WRAPPING UP THE SERIES

23. “The full life” is a self-perpetuating cycle! It begins with knowing God (by giving Him our minds as read His Word and pray) Knowing God, we will "love God" (and give Him our hearts as we grasp His love for us) Loving God, we will "obey God" (giving Him our wills as we are motivated by love)

24. “The full life” is a self-perpetuating cycle! Obeying God, we will “remain in Him” (and benefit from His strength) Remaining in Him, we will “bear fruit” (and enjoy the blessings found in doing so) And through the experience of bearing fruit and walking with God, our knowledge of Him will increase & the cycle starts all over again!

25. Coming to know God is the most important thing you can do in life Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, (24) but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

26. To know God is to love Him To love God is to obey Him To obey Him is to remain in Him To remain in Him is to bear fruit for Him To bear fruit is to experience “the full life” the Vine offers to His branches

27. If you know His love for you, but have not obeyed His gospel, why not today? Mark 16:15-16 NIV He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.