Trust, Praise, and Bearing Fruit

Phrases not only glorifying to God for its own value because it speaks truth about him, but it is glorifying to God because it affirms our confidence in you. Thus, we glorify God by reciting by reciting his word by saying things to customers why we work grabbing his tools by muscle memory. It seemed afterwards. He couldn't even remember which tools he had used, but he consistently did great work. He had become a master of his craft so much that he hardly had to think about which tool to use. Now, can you become so in tune with God that it becomes second nature to obey him. Well, if you focus on the fundamentals of the Christian faith. If you work at the basics you will definitely experience growth and you'll notice your life becoming more in step with the Lord. John MacArthur helps drive those fundamentals home today on grace to you join him as he takes you back to basics. That's the title of his study and here's John if you do not live to the glory of God. You do not grow. If you're not living to God's glory, or living the glory of your own self and that retards immediately. Spiritual maturity but as our lives are abandoned to the glory of God to his causes to his honor to his praise. Then we progress along the line of growth.

Now if that's true, if glorifying God is the way we grow, then it is absolutely essential that we know what it means to glorify God. That is not just a foggy concept, not some vague mystical thought, but glorifying God is a very concrete practical truth. In fact, I've shared with you already.

Three keys to spiritual growth.

Three key areas in which we glorify God. Number one, we glorify God by confessing Jesus as Lord.

Philippians 2 number two we glorify God by aiming our life at that purpose. First Corinthians 1031 in our last study we saw that we glorify God by confessing our sin as Joshua 719 says give glory under the God of Israel make confession of your sin not want us to come to 1/4 principle for glorifying God. It is this. We glorify God by trusting in him on this theme. It seems a very basic thing.

And indeed, it is. It's very essential for us to realize that glorifying God is simple. It's not complex. Some of us have seen the stained-glass windows and the massive cathedrals and and all of the grandeur and the embellishment of religions that are supposedly doing all of this to the glory of God when in fact glorifying God is a very basic and simple thing. In fact, it is as simple as trusting him. Let me show you an illustration that points this out. Look with me in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 in verse 20. This great portion of the word of God deals with the life of Abraham, and in Romans chapter 4 Paul the apostle is speaking about Abraham and his relationship to faith Abraham was saved not by law but by faith as is any man in any age. And in verse 19 it says regarding Abraham and being not weak in faith.

He considered not his own body now dead when he was about 100 years old. Neither, yet the deadness of Sarah's womb that tells us a little about the circumstance. Abraham and Sarah had never had children they had never had children because Sarah's womb was dead.

She could not produce. They have never been able to have a child God comes to them and says you're going to have a child now you know well enough the story to remember that Abraham at first did not believe God, but after a while he began to be confident of God's word, and so says Paul. He was not weak in faith, but rather verse 20. And here's the key.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith and noticed the last phrase, giving glory to God. What glorify God in Abraham's life was that Abraham believed God, God said, Abraham, I know it sounds ridiculous, and by the way they even named the child Isaac and that means laughter because it started out as such a joke, but the point is Abraham is here believing God and that gives God glory what saying is God. If you say it.

I believe it and what that means is God I trust your word and that gives him glory is seen most of us really honestly have to face the fact that were a little thin in this area of really believing God. Abraham staggered not at the promise of God God said walk this way and he walked it came to the place where Isaac was a young man and God said to them all right Abraham I gave you your son in the loins of that child is the promise of the Abraham a covenant out of his loins will come this great nation, and Abraham. I'm telling you this is the fulfillment of my promise not take him up on a mountain and killing you know what Abraham did he just took off with Isaac strapped on a bundle of sticks and off they went up to the mountain, laid them on the altar tied him down took a knife and was ready to plunge into his heart never flinched, never stop until he heard a ram in the thicket and he knew God provided a way out. But the point of the story is this Abraham was willing to go the full route to kill the very thing that was the fulfillment of God's promise in his life.

He was absolutely confident that if God said to do something you do it you never stagger and God will provide. Because there will God how the world can you possibly say is going to be in Abraham a covenant fulfilled with people as the sands of the sea as the stars of the heaven if I'm in a killing only one there is, but he didn't argue he believed God would keep his word, even if he had to kill his son. Personally I think he may well have believed that Isaac would be raised from the dead, even though in his experience that had never happened. That's how much he believed God. That's the issue to believe God gives him glory. You see God's glory is the sum of all of his attributes, the fullness of all of his Majesty and if he is who he says he is then he is a God to be believed. Now you're the grow spiritually when you live a life that functionally trusts God when you say if your word says that I want to do it. If your word promises that I'm on a claimant if your word commands and I'm going to obey.

We greatly dishonor God. When we claim to believe in him, and yet we can't cope with life as you live by faith. You're like Abraham was staggered, not at the promise of God was strong in faith, giving glory to God one live to his glory, believing that everything that happens everything that he says every promise he gives an walk by faith and that is the progress of spiritual maturity is going to 1/5 principle we glorify God. Fifthly, and this is a tremendously important truth by fruit full nests. We glorify God by fruitfulness. Now this is a subject that we could spend a lot of time talking about I want to try to kind of boil it down a little bit for our study and the session but in John chapter 15 is our key text in verse eight in John 15, the Lord is talking about how he is the vine and we are the branches. In other words, his life pulses through us. We are spiritually one organism with him organically connected so that the flow of his life proceeds through us and is the flow of his life proceeds through us.

It produces fruitfulness.

Now verse eight tells us what it is but fruitfulness accomplishes it says this in this is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

Now that's the point. Fruitfulness glorifies God. Spiritual growth again is glorifying God and glorifying God is bearing fruit. Why, because that is allowing God's power to be productive in our lives as we receive Christ aim at his glory deal with sin in our lives.

Walk by faith God produces in us fruitfulness. Now it dishonors God when you have a little little fruit I don't think there's any such thing as a no fruit.

Christian there are just fruits little fruits and much fruit, because it only if you're Christian doll you have a least a few dried grapes hanging somewhere because Jesus said, by their fruit you show what you'll know that's very important that you produce fruit because that's how you manifest your character.

How do people know that you're a believer and that you belong to God. If they don't see new product right now they know you're an apple tree on Apple how they know you're Pete's reveal of the peach and how you know your artistry phenomenon. How can they tell what you are a listers a manifestation and so that the character of God is at stake. God wants to produce something that radiates himself in your life was to do more than what you your flesh can do more than what the world can do. This is important. That's what Paul meant when he wrote to Titus and said you are to live to adorn the doctrine of God there to be something of the nature of God hanging on you, so that it's evident that he's at work in your life.

Matthew chapter 5 verse 16 Jesus said, let your light so shine before men that they may see your what your good works and do what glorify your Father who is in heaven. Jesus is saying the product of your living is the manifestation of God and if it isn't there, then God is invisible, not summary my say what's all well and good.

John keep talking about the fact that were to be fruitful.

What's fruit what you mean. While glad you asked because that's very important what we mean by fruit. Philippians 111 Good Pl. to start. Listen to this being filled, not just here and there, but filled with the fruits of righteousness.

Now listen to this, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

When you produce God is glorified at such a great thing and what is it the fruits of righteousness. What is fruit in your life that they immerse up righteousness. Righteousness was righteousness.

That's right as opposed wrong.

Righteousness is a long way of saying doing right when you do write I glorifies God. When you do wrong dishonors God. So if you're to have fruit that means your to have visible righteousness visibly. You do what's right. That's really all righteousness me doing what is right.

If God is to be glorified. It's in our fruitfulness we get real specific. There are two kinds of fruit in the Bible. The first is called action fruit action fruit. That's called action fruit by me, not by the Bible just a category was action fruit listen Ashley Romans 113 says it, I would not have you ignorant brother and that oftentimes Paul says I purpose to come unto you. In other words, a lot of times I want to come to you in Rome but was prevented. Why did you want to come. Paul, in order that it's a hidden purpose clause I might have some fruit among you, even as among other Gentile know what's he referring to here. What is fruit here converts right on the coming winter people to Christ fruit in action fruit is winning some of the Christ you have that product in your life one know something I think the most natural thing for a believer to do is to win other people to Christ because one of the products of life is reproduction why Paul said to Timothy things that I've committed you commit to faithful men, whichever shall be able to teach others also keep the process going. Jesus said, going all the world and make disciples reproduce yourself.

That's one of the qualities that life carries the ability to reproduce choices.

I wish I could come and have some fruit, like I've had another places fruit is converts to Christ. Now is a believer. If you are involved in re-production you are growing your growing because life is at work in you. But that's not all there other things that are also fruit. Philippians chapter 4 verse 17 in this section, just a little background. The Philippians had sent Paul a rather magnanimous gift. They were very generous and it sent him a love offering, but he says to them.

In effect, you know, I really appreciate your gift. I just want you to know that I don't need it. But even though I don't needed. I'm so glad you said it. Why verse 17. Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. In other words, the great thing about your gift was it was fruit.

Not that I needed it, but that you produced it is not for sitting around waiting for somebody to have a huge big need before you act. You missed the point. Maybe want to give to somebody doesn't have that great of a need, but because it's fruit because it's fruit. If your life when your life is filled with the power of God. And when you are totally committed to glorifying the Lord you will find yourself giving because giving is fruit an active giving so what is fruit it is winning some of the Christ is giving even a monetary gift, even when there is in a specifically great need.

You give because it's in your heart to give my father used to always say you can give without loving but you can never love without giving. And if you love. And if you're lost in the glory of God going to give and give and give even as God gives another thing that we can consider fruit is in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15 says there by him therefore that is by Christ. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. Now watch the fruit of our lips giving thanks. Did you know that saying thanks to God is fruit try. That's a product of God's working in your life. Fruitfulness is winning people to Christ giving a gift and saying thanks, Colossians 110 Colossians 110 says this that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing not get this being fruitful in every good work. Now you see how encompassing that it any good work is fruit. It could be winning some of the Christ giving a gift, thanking the Lord with your lips or doing any good work.

It's all fruit and people. That's what God wants to see in your life and what I'm saying is this productive Christians are growing Christian you make a gift you praise the Lord. You do good work, but there's a different category altogether not call it attitude fruit. Now if you look with me for a minute. Galatians chapter 5 you'll see that particular kind of fruit. Verse 22 it says but the fruit of the spirit is in here you don't have action at all. You have attitude love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.

Now, here the apostle Paul lists attitude. He's not talking about action. He's talking about attitude. Love is an attitude joys and attitude. Peace is an attitude, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness or humility there all attitude. But now watch on the one hand you have action fruit on the other hand, you have attitude fruit not listening. If you have action fruit without attitude fruit that's legalism.

See you just cranking it out like the Pharisees and people that the attitudes are very important to say will John how to get those right attitudes, honey, have a heart full of love. How do you have a heart full of joy and peace at L heart full of long-suffering, and so forth.

Well, Galatians 5, I think really helps us to see that because it says in verse 25 if we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit is a matter of yielding the control of our life to the Holy Spirit as the branch yields to the vine the flow of right attitude coming through the nature of God and the Holy Spirit permeates our lives all the way out to the point will we reduce fruit. What we seen. We glorify God by our fruitfulness. Let's go to the sixth principle in growing maturing, unlocking the keys, as it were for the locks of spiritual growth. There's another key and that is this. We glorify God and we hit it out last time by praising him. I don't believe that a Christian can grow unless he's characterized by a life of praise praise again puts us in the flow of growth we give you a simple and wonderful verse Psalm 50 verse 23 says this Clouseau offer praise, glorify me only great statement you want to glorify God and offer praise offer praise. You see another very simple, very practical thing isn't stained-glass windows and organ music is simply fruit fullness.

It is simply the humility of faith and trusting. It is the humility of confession is the humility of bowing to the Lordship of Christ at any cost and it is the humility again of praise that puts us in the path of growth. I really believe that proud people don't praise God they're too busy praising himself humble people do people who are in awe of God's people is focuses on God and in their humility they they pour out of their hearts. Praise now this is so much a part of God's pattern for his people that he literally gave them a hymnbook filled with praise that we call the song. The Psalms were those great hymns that were really song and and said, by the people of Israel and God wanted them known and said because they are constantly offering praise to him and that is as it should be for he is worthy, for example, in some just show you a couple of examples. Psalm 86. First of all, and verse nine. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before the old Lord and show glorify thy name for thou art great and doers to wondrous things thou art God alone great state just great verse 12.

I will praise the old Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorify thy name forevermore praising him is equated with giving him glory, praising God very important and what is it mean to praise true praise involves three things biblically number one true praise means you recite God's attributes recite God's attributes. Easy praise is the expression of the character of God who he really is all. It's a great thing.

True praise recites the attributes of God. I know in my own life. This is a very important thing that these little things in your life and got some some problem you can't solve in it. Instead of saying all we want a terrible problem. How we gonna get this done. We we just don't seem to have the resources Lord we need this thing you know we don't have any money or whatever it is and then you stop and say Lord, you are bigger than history. Lord you own everything in the entire universe. God you can do anything you want to do God, you said you loved us, and you promised, we never be without the things we need that you take care of us. If you take care the grass of the field, God, you are one who is promised that your character is at our disposal. Your powers amassed in our behalf, etc. so you see how much better you don't feel in your glorify God.

That's the first element second resists glorify God and praising God is not only a matter of reciting his attributes, but reciting his works as well for his attributes are on display in his works, and true praise is that that's why you see so many times in the Psalms you you hearing a repetition of what God has done all God, you're the God who parted the Red Sea. Oh God, you're the God who brought the people out of Egypt. God, you're the God part of the river. You're the God who made the water flow from the rock you're the God who fed us with manna in the wilderness. You're the God to destroy the enemies amid the walls of Jericho fall and etc. and etc. and etc. see this is lifting up and exalting go. That's what praise is all about.

She basically we struggle a lot in our lives because we don't truly define our God and we don't record for our own edification. The record of his performance in the past and that's what crazy it so that praise is not only glorifying to God for its own value because it speaks truth about him, but it is glorifying to God because it affirms our confidence in him. Thus, we glorify God. First of by reciting his attributes.

Secondly, by reciting his works and then thirdly by saying thanks for both. I believe in the midst of praise and at the very heart of it is a thankful expression so that praise now what I'm saying is praise is not only distant is not only God, that's who you are. All praise your name God. That's what you've done.

All praise your name but thanks that you are that you've done that in my life brings praise right down to where we live, what we learn spiritual growth is a matter of glorifying God. We will grow when our lives are filled with praise. We will grow when our lives filled with fruit fruitfulness. We will grow when our lives characterized by trusting God and this is grace to you with John MacArthur.

Thanks for being with us. John's current study is titled back to basics.

It's a look at the fundamentals of Christianity. John these basic truths you're looking at every Christian can benefit from knowing them and knowing all of Scripture better this time of year. Our listeners have an opportunity to give their loved ones. Some great tools for digging deeper into God's word and I know you have some suggestions about that I do and that this is one that I'm really happy to make. It's that the book called biblical doctrine. It is 1100 pages and I just want to explain for those who might not know what biblical doctrine is. It's a systematic theology and how important is that here's how you know how important it is Scripture is teaching doctrine by Dr. we mean a principle of propositional truth in what you do when you explain the Bible as you draw out the truth. The truth out of every passage every verse, every phrase in your building. All that truth together and over the years collecting all the truth in the study of the Scripture you begin to brick by brick build a strong, systematic theology, I will talk about this the other day. The Bible is incredibly cohesive, single author God is the author. There are no contradictions in the Bible and you see that when you start to put all the bricks together from out of every single passage and it comes together to be this strong, powerful doctrine book and so when you have this book, you can look up any doctrine and it would give you a full explanation of what the passages in the Scripture teach about that doctrine. Biblical doctrine is the sum of the study of the whole of Scripture, and it collects all the doctrines that come out of that so that summation powerful powerful tool.

Every Christian should have this detailed orderly study of doctrine and then I would like to mention another book that might be a really good Christmas gift 12 unlikely heroes. Everybody likes a great story. These are drawn out of the Bible stories of John the Baptist, Joseph, Gideon, Miriam Sampson, and seven more hardcover 220 pages and then again the MacArthur study Bible always popular for Christmas gifts 25,000 footnotes every passage.

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These gifts are great options for anyone who wants to understand better the Bible and grow in his or her love for God's word to order biblical doctrine, the MacArthur study Bible, or 12 unlikely heroes. Contact us today to order online, go to GT Y.org and choose the second day shipping option to ensure delivery before Christmas, or place your order by phone you can call us at 855 race. Our staff is here to help you Monday through Friday 730 to 4 o'clock Pacific time and they will make sure you get the right shipping option on your order.

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