Nothing Without Him
Basilea Schlink emphasizes that a fruitful Christian life depends entirely on maintaining a close, loving relationship with Jesus through continual prayer and communication.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink teaches the vital importance of maintaining a close and loving relationship with Jesus Christ. She draws on the Apostle Paul's words in Romans to show that only through continual prayer and communication with Jesus can believers bear lasting spiritual fruit. Schlink encourages listeners to integrate Jesus into every aspect of their daily lives, especially during work, so that divine life flows through them. This message offers practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement for a vibrant Christian walk.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. This is much more than just a statement of faith. We can and should experience his reality in our everyday lives, in the midst of our strains and burdens.
The following program by Basilea Schlink will tell us how. My greatest joy is that I belong to Jesus and no longer to myself. Yes, Jesus belongs to me and I to him.
The Apostle Paul writes about such a relationship in the seventh chapter of Romans. Everything depends upon our maintaining and strengthening our relationship with Jesus. For only out of this relationship can our lives bear lasting fruit.
Therefore, no question in our lives is as important as the one, do I strive to be close to Jesus? Do I use every free minute to come to him in prayer? If I love a person and belong to him in marriage, the whole marriage will fall apart if there is no longer any communication between us. Love is missing and the marriage is virtually dead, destroyed. Nothing more can come of a marriage when the partners don't strive to communicate.
According to the words of the Apostle Paul, we are called to love Jesus and to bear the fruit that comes from this relationship. What a wonderful opportunity! We need only establish contact with Jesus, who is life itself. Through this unity, our lives will bear fruit and from this relationship will flow streams of divine life.
Oh, none can be loved as is Jesus. None like him is found anywhere. Therefore, if you are someone who easily becomes lost in your work or in the hectic pace of daily life, ask yourself, have I lost contact with Jesus? Actually, the more you're in danger of being rushed, the more you need to guard your relationship with him.
Otherwise, you will become absorbed in your work and your life will bear no fruit for Jesus. Therefore, when you are working, pause ever anew to speak words of love to Jesus. For example, for you, Jesus, or Jesus, please help me now so that I will do this work in love to you.
I can only say one thing. By calling upon Jesus and by keeping contact with him, all my work problems have been solved. All my decisions have been made and fruit has come.
You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099, USA.
God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God is alive and active today
- Faith is more than belief; it is experience
- We can experience God's reality in daily life
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II
- The importance of belonging to Jesus
- Paul's teaching in Romans 7 on relationship with Christ
- Fruitfulness depends on maintaining this relationship
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III
- The necessity of continual communication with Jesus
- Love and communication sustain relationships
- Without contact, spiritual life and fruitfulness fail
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IV
- Practical ways to keep contact with Jesus during daily work
- Calling on Jesus solves problems and guides decisions
- Streams of divine life flow from unity with Christ
Key Quotes
“My greatest joy is that I belong to Jesus and no longer to myself.” — Basilea Schlink
“Only out of this relationship can our lives bear lasting fruit.” — Basilea Schlink
“By calling upon Jesus and by keeping contact with him, all my work problems have been solved.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Set aside regular moments each day to pray and communicate with Jesus, even during busy work times.
- Evaluate your daily life to ensure you are not losing contact with Jesus amid distractions.
- Call on Jesus for help and guidance in all decisions and challenges you face.