Remain in Jesus

John 15:9-11 NIV
[9] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

What is the purpose that we need to remain in his love? Jesus is the source of our true joy and his joy to be in us.

1. If I have true joy, joy cannot be hidden.
Joy is not the absence of problem but the evidence of God present.
Psalm 4:7 NIV
[7] Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. [8] In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Joy came from God.
Joy is not equal to happiness.

James 1:2-4 NIV
[2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Proverbs 17:22 NIV
[22] A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
People who are cheerful able to heal people around them but crush spirit always dries people up, even surrounding happiness will be sucked by crushed spirit.

2. Joy cannot be fake
Joker, bad character from batman, has appear to be smiling but deep down in our heart we are hurting, crying and destroyed.

Psalm 32:3-5 NIV
[3] When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [4] For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Proverbs 28:13 NIV
[13] Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
We need to be open about our struggle, open about your life, obey the word then you will have joy as god will come to life.

Light of The World

Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
[14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Are we living in God vision and mission? Are we hiding as Christian and singles?
A lot of time we wants to be walley, to hiding and don't want other people know about us.

Shine as single:

1 stand out

Matthew 5:15 NIV
[15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Do we stand out in our spirituality, love, character?
The more quiet people around us, the better because it is easier to stand out.

Dare to different
When people do speak up and also make a difference due to Christian value, god will make a way.

2. Help out

Matthew 5:16 NIV
[16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
What good words and also works that people see in me?
Don't tell them Jesus loves them until you are ready to love them.

3. Inside out

1 Timothy 4:16 NIV
[16] Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
People will find out when did not walk the talk.
Integrity means who you really are when only God seeing you.

4. Never walk out

Galatians 6:9 NIV
[9] Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
It takes a lot of energy, love, and time to make people become disciple.
There is no grow in comfort zone. There is no comfort in grow zone.

5. Edge out

In the race running, they need to edge out to win the race.
Acts 4:31 NIV
[31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.