Abiding
Rediscovering Radical Christianity
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. 26 Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. 27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
He makes it clear that the goal is to win…. And as christians we win if:
We die believing.
Consequently, it means nothing to amass for yourselves accolades and pats on the back if at the time of death you have abandoned the faith.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
John 15:1-17
I Am the True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,
Vinedresser: a worker of the soil, farmer, farm-laborer, a person who cultivates or prunes grapevines.
Only those that are fruitful remain.
What is the fruit that comes from the spirit?
Galatians 5:22,23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
The opposite of the works of the flesh:
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, (murder) drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do (make a practice of) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
If you are bearing the fruits of the spirit….. he continues to expose the evil in you so that you may bear more.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
We have no good, and can do no good apart from him
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
3 promises if we abide:
1. If we abide in him we will bear fruit, but if we do not we will be separated and burned in the fire.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
2. If his words abide in us and we ask according to his will it will be done.
3.God gets the Glory when we abide in him.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
Obedience!
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
1 Chronicles 4:9
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!”
God Thank you for all that you have done!
Thank you for all that you are going to do!
Help us to abide in you!
Grace us to obey your commands!
And enlarge our territory!
For your Glory!
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