See if this thing works.
There we go!
You guys hear me pretty good.
Alright, cool.
Alrighty, so.
Thank you guys for all showing out in the rain. I know it's.
Pouring pretty bad out there, so.
Appreciate for checking out here.
To come. Listen to me. Um, but most importantly, listen to the Bible has to say for us tonight.
So.
So when I was.
Sitting in family Bible hour this morning is actually really funny, because when Mr.
Um. Dan was preaching, he said. Open to John 15. I was like there's no way.
I was like. There's no way I was. I'm doing the same exact thing. But you know what I think.
Have for a reason.
Isn't through with us, you know, going through.
This part of Scripture, and I won't be being in John 15 the whole time. But I think I'm actually really happy. He spoke on it this morning.
Because there's a lot.
To learn about this aspect of our Christian walks with God.
Um.
So the theme of.
What I'm going to be talking about today is abiding in Jesus.
Um.
And the reason I've been really interested in abiding specifically.
Is just because of.
Um.
You know, as our believers in Christ.
Our spiritual walks don't end with. When we give our life to Christ, they actually continue to keep going and abiding is something that I've been.
Just thinking a lot about and actually.
Trying more to do in my life as well. Um.
In my walk with Christ.
So.
Um in general. As humans, I think we tend to forget lots of things that we don't constantly practice.
As humans, we tend to forget a lot of things actually.
For example, I would like to take a little poll here.
Who would think they could pass a high school test.
See a raise of hands.
See Mr. Daniel over here, smart little smart boy, but.
Besides that, there's no one raising their hands right.
So um.
The reason for that is probably because we haven't been practicing our math equations every day like we should be. But.
Um.
No, I'm kidding, but um.
Well comparing this to our spiritual walks with God. If we're not constantly nourishing ourselves with the things from the Lord.
And how are we going to remember how to live as true followers of Christ?
Um.
And how are we going to put that into practice?
Constantly.
So I think, as followers of Christ. You can be truly hard to abide.
And remain in Christ at all times.
And.
I did a little background research, and the word abide specifically. John, the disciple, John.
And is.
Few books he's written, John the Gospel, first, st second, 3, rd John in Revelation.
He uses the word abide 68 times.
So I don't think he, you know.
Did that for.
No reason. I think there's actually.
Something we can really, truly learn from.
The word itself abide in Greek is mano, which means to remain, stay, or reside with.
And I just think it's how ironic, how John uses this word.
Specifically when he's writing, because a lot of his audiences actually believers.
It's not only for believers, but a lot of it is 2 believers. Um.
And John Stresses, abiding in remaining Christ to people who have already accepted Christ.
Which I think it's very fitting for us as a church to.
You know, be focusing on abiding because.
You know we can all be strengthened, no matter where we are, in our walks with.
Um.
So I actually want to start with John 15, where Mr. Dan was speaking this morning.
Um.
Cause. That's.
You know, that's just like the main theme of abiding. You can see really well in these few passages.
So I'm just gonna read verse one through 8 of John 15. You guys can turn there. I'm reading an Esv just so you know.
So.
Only starting verse or chapter 15, verse one. It says, I'm the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit. He takes away.
And every branch that does bear fruit. He prunes.
That it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abiding me in imu.
As the branch cannot bear through by itself, unless it abides in the vine.
Neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I'm the vine, you are! The branches.
Whoever abides in me and I and him he is that bears much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me, he's thrown away like branch and withers.
And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you, abiding me in my words abiding, you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.
So.
You know, when we read this, we obviously know that we are believers are the branches, and Jesus are vine.
But I wanna look at verse 4 specifically, it says.
Abiding me, and I knew, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in me.
Um.
And I think it's just really essential. Basically, what it's saying is.
How important is to stay connected to Jesus throughout our life.
And I think the word abide really tends to be undervalued.
A lot, and it's not just simply remaining or living in Christ at various moments of your day, moments of your life.
Um. It's a constant word. It's a word that is continuous all the time.
And just like the buying and branch analogy, you know.
The branch doesn't just utilize the vine when it wants to, you know, when it's cut off, it's.
Um.
It utilizes the vine for everything.
It's a constant and continuous source of nutrients, energy, and life for the branch.
So, you know, that's why it's so important to abide, because.
You know it's our connection with Christ to keep strengthening ourselves.
But then, why should we even abiding Christ? In the 1st place.
Well, I think versus 5, through 8.
Really show you why you want to abide in Christ.
But I'm not going to read 5 through 8 again. But.
Throughout that whole.
Um.
Part of Scripture. It's talking about the connection between abiding in Christ and also bearing fruit.
Which.
Big key here, um.
And even verse 5, says.
We cannot bear fruit unless we are abiding in Christ. Um!
Specifically. Oh, it says, apart from me, you can do nothing.
So if we're not, you know, abiding in Christ.
We.
Are not going to be bearing fruit in our everyday lives.
Um.
Any in verse 6. It even says, if anyone does not invited me, he's thrown away like branching withers.
And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
So this verse specifically, verse 6, um can be very.
Taking different ways, you know, in.
We believe in our church that you know, once you're saved you, you do not lose your salvation, and that and that's true.
Um.
However.
You know when it says.
The branches we gather thrown into the fire and burned.
I don't think that's talking about hell, and I.
I I think. Um the Believers Bible commentary I got from. I think it's William Mcdonald.
Um in that commentary. It says that.
Being thrown away. It's taught.
I don't think it means, you know, guys throwing us away, guys not gonna give us give up on us.
If you know we we struggle in a certain part of our life. Um!
I think that's talking about other believers around us.
They are going to throw out our testimony of being a believer if we are not bearing the fruit.
That um!
Like.
Believers should be barren.
You know, as believers in Christ, we are a walking testimony.
To everyone around us.
And.
You know, if unbeliever is seeing the way we.
And it's not bearing any fruit at all.
You know, that's their perception of who Jesus is. We are that.
You know people who don't know Jesus at all. We are.
We are living for Christ. We are living.
Um for him, and we are trying to exemplify everything he does.
And if we are not, you know, abiding in Christ, and bearing those fruits.
And people around us won't.
You know.
We'll we'll think we're hypocrites like we're. We're nothing.
So. Um! That's why it's so important to abide. And verse 8 even just shows us why we want to abide. In the 1st place. Um. It says, verse 8.
By this my Father's glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so proved to be my disciples.
Um.
So.
Bearing fruit is to ultimately ultimately go to glorify our Father in heaven, and.
Prove to others around us that we are disciples.
Um. But I don't think Baron fruit is only important for others around us, and of course that's very important.
Um for people to see our fruits, and you know.
Reap the benefits off of us, showing, you know, that love and kindness to other people, but I think um.
You know, abiding.
In Christ and bearing fruit is important for us as Christians as well.
For ourselves, for our own spiritual health.
Um.
And of course, like I said before, barring fruit, isn't a means of salvation by any means.
But if we move down to verse 11, it says.
These things I've spoken to you that your joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.
And so thou were. Joy is the key here. Um!
Why, it's beneficial to ourselves.
You know, when we abide in Christ, and when we remain Christ, joy will remain in us, and our joy will be full.
Um, and there's nothing better than the joy of Christ.
It. I I can definitely say that even though I haven't been, you know, living as much as some of you guys have.
Uh. The joy of Christ is the best joy you can get.
Um. And actually, in a Bible study I've been in with my grandma actually.
We were talking about this, and you know, as believers like.
If you're living a.
If you're a believer in Christ, and you're living a crummy life.
Although we are saved.
You know you can be doing all these things behind, like.
In your week that you know the body of Christ doesn't even know about. But if we're not, you know, bearing the fruit and abiding in Christ on a daily basis.
We're not experiencing all the blessings that just come along with walking their.
Um, and I can say for myself.
That.
We miss out on so much joy when we're not abiding in Christ.
And I can speak on my behalf as well like, even in high school.
Um I was. I'll be honest. I was not bearing much fruit at all, and of course that was because I wasn't abiding.
As I should have been. Um.
Uh like life is just was just so much better, so much more meaningful, so much purposeful, when we're producing those fruits.
Um. And actually, in a book I got from my graduation party. I think the Myers might have given it to me, but.
It talks about challenging believers to be hundredfold Christians.
Um, as it says in Matthew 13. We don't have to turn there, but.
It just talks about um.
How you know there's 34 Christian, 64 Christians, 100 fold.
Doesn't mean that, you know certain believers are better than others, but.
Um as believers. We can always try to further our relationship with Christ, and we shouldn't stay.
You know.
We shouldn't.
Feel, like.
Okay with just being.
Moderate Christians like we should be living for Christ on fire.
Um.
So now that we know like.
How important it is to abiding Christ.
We should move on to how we abide in price. In the 1st place, which is what I'm going to be talking about specifically today.
And what is abiding in Christ even looks like.
So for the remainder of this time. Um, I'm gonna be reading from first.st John.
Uh chapter 2. You could turn there if you'd like.
1st drawn to and um.
I know.
So my helpers, Preston Tray and um. Wesley handed out some sheets for you guys.
That's just for you guys to follow along.
Feel free to take notes on there. Um! If you'd like.
Definitely help me organize my thoughts as I was.
So um.
So first, st John, 2.
Um.
And I'm going to be starting in verse 6. And so we're trying to ask a question, how do we truly abiding Christ.
So in verse 6, it says.
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Key meaning Jesus, of course.
Um.
So if if we truly want to believe in Christ, we need to walk in the same way. Jesus walked.
So um there were.
In in Jesus' time on earth there was many ways in which even he abided.
Um. Of course we abide in him, but he also abiding in his father.
Um, and in the word of God, and in many things Jesus abided in.
Um. So there's many examples of Jesus that we can learn from and ways we.
Abide.
Um, which resulted in Jesus bearing many fruits of the spirit.
Um.
So the 1st way we can abide like Jesus did. Which is that 1st bubble you guys can see on your papers.
Is 1st abiding in the light.
So I'm going to be looking at specifically on 2 versus.
Um 10.
For this part.
Um.
I'm gonna just start verse 9. Actually, it says, whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is filling darkness.
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there's no cause for stumbling.
Um.
So the context in this part of the Scripture is talking about loving your brother.
Um.
And it says.
Inverse uh 10.
Whoever loved his brother abides in the light meaning when we're abiding in the light. We're going to be showing our love to our brothers and sisters.
Um.
And what even is abiding in the light in general, like, how.
If someone tells you by in light what is well, what is light.
Well, we know um from first, st John or not from first, st John from John 8, verse 12. It says.
Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me.
We'll never walk in darkness, but we'll have the light of life.
So here it's saying that the that light is Jesus. So.
The 1st point is abiding in Jesus himself.
Um.
And.
You know, a body just doesn't have to look one certain way.
Like when we, as believers, simply just meditate on, you know the person of Jesus and his actions.
The things he did.
Um.
Instead of just, you know, mindlessly scrolling on your phone.
Like, you know, when you're going for a run, even just like thinking about.
Jesus, or in different scenarios in your worker school. You know. What would Jesus do in this situation? And I know.
We like. We all know that popular acronym that was popular in like the nineties and 2 thousands. What would you do.
Um.
No, some people think it's a little Corny to, you know. Wear it on your wrist, or whatever.
But uh, I think it definitely.
It's very true, I think, through our daily lives, in different situations.
Thinking on how Jesus lived, and even imitating our decisions and.
Actions from him will lead us to produce that fruit of love that he's talking about.
Um to others around us.
And I think that's something the world definitely needs these days. Um.
Is, you know, that love of Christ. You know there's many forms of love that this world has to offer.
Um, but those those forms of love, I think.
Somebody was talking about it this morning, I forget who it was, but.
Um.
Or yeah, it was just the it might have been the piece, actually, but.
Um.
It's a it's an internal sense, I think. Mr. Miller was. He was talking about how that love that he was shown in Uh Maryland.
It was. It wasn't an eternal sense of love. It was just um like a temporary sense of love. But this love that he's talking about. That's an eternal.
Um form of love that you know, abiding in Jesus and imitating his actions.
Trying to be like him. Um will bring.
And.
You know, when we're trying to make the comparison to Jesus here, how Jesus Biden well.
Abiding in himself. I don't know if that really makes much sense, but.
Jesus. His life is the epit, the epitome of showing love to others around you.
Um.
And I just think of the kind of love that Jesus showed.
While he was here on this earth. Um! I.
Specifically think of the leper in the lame, and even like the woman caught in adultery.
You know, these were people that were rejected by society, and, like many people, look down upon.
Um.
Nobody showed them love at all, and despite all that Jesus.
You know, humble himself, and.
Set himself with the people who are, you know, the dust of the earth. You could call them.
And he I mean he showed them love.
So um.
For for abiding in the light, we can.
We can truly just look to the way Jesus lived. Um. And truly.
Seek to live like him.
And when we remain, when we abide.
In um.
Those actions, then we can truly.
Uh show.
The fruit of love, and a type of love that.
Um is eternal.
So.
That's the 1st um way we we can abide abiding in the light that deals with a lot of our actions. Specifically.
Um. The second way we can abide like Jesus did was abiding in God's word, which is the second point. Um on that sheet.
Um abiding in God's word. So.
Um. I'm gonna jump a little bit to verse.
14 of 1st Sean. Chapter 2.
Um.
1st round, 14.
It reads. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you.
And you have overcome the Evil One.
So in this specific part of Scripture. Um, John goes to address. You know it talks about little children, young men.
Even fathers.
Um.
And, in my opinion, this symbolizes, you know, the stages of spiritual maturity.
That we have in in our Christian lives.
Um.
And although this specific section.
I, I want a specific, specifically focus on the latter half.
Um when it's talking to young men. And I know there's a lot of young men in the audience today, but I think this can apply to everyone in general.
Um. It says, I write to you, young man, because you are strong in the Word of God, abides in you.
And you have overcome the Evil One.
Um.
And I think, inverse this part of theverse. He's worrying us specifically young men, but just everyone um.
To truly remain in the Word of God, like what he has to say in this Bible.
Um, and through that you may overcome the Evil One.
Um.
And I think.
You know.
Overcoming the Evil One. Our temptations are struggles.
Is.
Common the Christian life, you mean even more so, I'd say the.
No, even one likes to prey on, you know.
Followers of Christ specifically, very much.
So the only way we can truly overcome.
Those blows is through the Word of God and um when we remain, and the Word of God at all times.
Um.
And so like, I said in the 1st point, you know.
Abiding in God's light, produces love. Well.
For this um specific abiding in God's word.
We see the fruit of self-control that can be produced by abiding in God's Word.
When it says, overcoming the Evil One. Uh. The only way to overcome the Evil One is, you know, having.
Sort of self control that you know God's Word can provide for us.
So um, and even.
Even though it doesn't say specifically self control. We can prove this by just looking at again how Jesus walked while He was on this earth.
So um! I would like to turn.
Uh. For this specific example to Matthew 4.
You can um put a bookmark on first, st John, for now. But.
You can turn a Matthew. 4.
Um. And this is when Jesus is being tempted by the devil in the wilderness.
Um.
Nest.
Matthew 4 um. And I'm just gonna read verses one through 11.
Um.
Actually, I'm just gonna I'm gonna start at verse 3. Um, it says the tempter came and said to him.
Him being Jesus. If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.
But he answered, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Then the devil took him to the Holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple.
And said to him.
If you were the Son of God, throw yourself down for Israel.
Your command is angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up lest you strike your foot against phone.
Jesus said to him again, it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.
Again the devil took him to a very high mountain.
And they showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
And he said to them, all these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.
Then Jesus said to him, be gone, saying, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God.
And you shall only.
And him only. You shall serve.
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Um.
So.
Here we just see Jesus doing exactly what John is urging in first, st John, um, he, Jesus, is abiding in the word of His.
In the Word of God, specifically from the Old Testament.
Um.
To fight off the temptations from Satan, and of course Jesus was sinless.
Uh, and.
He!
Never come in as soon as life. That's why he was able to die on the cross, and fully, you know.
Take those things.
On on him, but.
Um! That didn't mean he was never experienced with temptations like we see here.
Um. He was fully human and fully got so he still experienced that temptations yet.
Um. He didn't. Uh! He didn't fall from those temptations that were thrown his way, and.
Here we see the way that Jesus was able to.
Make the devil leave was through abiding the word of God. Um! And he exemplified this.
By showing the fruit of self control.
Um by not, you know, throwing himself off the temple.
Jesus was stronger than the devil, and he used the word of God to.
Um fight him off.
So um.
Like.
Uh, so practically we should, abiding God's Word continuously and um, like like Hebrew, says, I'm not sure what the specific uh chapter is, but it says, the word of God is sharper than any 2 edged sword.
So in this example.
Jesus, literally, metaphorically, and I think even literally cut down. Satan.
Uh attempts with the Word of God. Um like just like a sword um! And his attempts to make him falter.
And another thing I wanted to mention was that.
She just wasn't, you know, when Satan was tempting him. He didn't.
The Word of God open and just reading it.
From it, and then, you know, speaking it to the devil. He had those words in his heart like he knew them.
Um when he was being tempted.
Um.
So you know, for us simply just reading the Word of God is one thing.
I just need, you know, just skim over it.
Um, and I see for myself even, you know, when I just am reading the Word of God, not fully like chewing on it, and.
Really meditating on it.
Um. I don't really get much out of it unless I'm truly focusing and trying to meditate on it.
Um.
And so when we abid it, and when we're constantly in the Word of God.
Day in, day out.
Um, those things will stick with us, and when the time comes when you know the devil tries to attack us, we will have those already equipped with us in our hearts.
We will be more equipped to overcome that temptation.
Uh when the time comes.
Um.
And specifically a verse.
That I wanted to mention with this one was some 119 versus 10 to 11. It says.
Ah!
I can actually turn there. You guys don't have to. But um.
Just want to make sure I read it right.
Alright sounds 1, 19 versus 10. Through 11. It says.
Um.
With my whole heart I see to you. Let me not wonder from your commandments. I've stored up your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.
And then somewhere versions. It says.
Uh! Your word is hidden in my heart.
Um and.
You know, when we abiding the Word of God, and when we're truly, you know, reading His word.
Day in and day out, um.
Just like meditating even on like a few.
Versus. It doesn't even need to be a full chapter like.
You know.
Um. I'd much rather, I think, would much rather want you.
Have one thing really stick to you. Then just read a whole like.
2, 3 chapters and not get anything out of it, you know.
So um, when we hide God's word in our hearts.
Um, we can fully abide in him, and we can, you know, pull it out like a sword just like it says in Hebrews.
When we need to.
Um. So that was just an example of.
You know Jesus abiding in the Word of God.
Um to produce the fruit of self control, which we can all do as ourselves.
Um.
So that was my second point.
Um. And now on for my 3rd point, we can turn back to 1st drawn versus 2.
Restaurant, tea.
Um.
So the 3rd way we can abide in in Jesus is through abiding in the will of God.
Um, which can be might be confusing for some people. But I'm gonna explain.
So. Um, looking in verse 17 of 1st John, verse uh chapter 2.
Verse 17.
Um.
It says.
And the world is passing away along with its desires. But whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Um, and I think I really like this portion of uh the passage in my Bible. The heading of it is, Do not love the world.
Um, and it goes on to talk about. You know temporary things in this world.
Um! That.
You know.
Aren't the will of God.
Um. And I think this is really fitting, because.
The world is, I think, what keeps us from.
Truly abiding in the will of God. A lot of the times.
And I think, as believers, it's really easy to get caught up in the way.
The world wants our life to go, instead of looking at the will of God.
And even the expectations this world.
You know, puts on us, especially our young people.
Um like you need a.
You need to go to this college. Um, do this, do it in this way. But um! You know that's not always a will of God, and even for myself.
Like.
Um.
You know, I I originally wasn't thinking I was gonna go to Bible college originally, but.
You know, after a lot of prayer and like.
Just thinking about it. Um! I believe the will of God was for me to for me to go to Mace, and that's not for everyone, obviously, but.
Um.
I think.
Doing. The will of God brings about a piece in you.
That surpasses all other pieces.
Um.
And when we are abiding in.
You know the way the world wants us to do. And I'm talking about the negative end of things.
That's when things like anxiety can even creep into our our lives, which is something.
Even detrimental for us as Christians. Um.
So.
I was actually watching a video that Juanus had sent me. Um from Nate Branson. I know.
Some of you guys might know he is, but.
Uh, he talked about in one of his Youtube videos, how.
Um. If we let ourselves be pressured by the way, by the world and the pressures that the world has to offer. That's when anxiety is produced.
Um. But instead, if.
We let ourselves be pressured by the Word of God.
Righteousness will be produced.
Um, and the then the will of God be will become more evident.
So I think when you know.
When we're abiding the will of God, we wanna.
The.
We want to follow what the word has to say, not what the world has to say.
Um.
And then another way, you know.
I think the best way to.
To prove.
Prove this is looking at Jesus again.
Um.
In which he definitely abided in God's will, His Father's will. He is God, but.
He abided in the will of his father, in the garden of.
So um.
I'd like to read uh in Matthew 26.
Um.
You guys can turn. There's like.
Matthew, 26.
And this is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani.
Um.
Right before he is about to be.
Hand it over.
And.
Um.
I'm going to start in verse 36 of verse.
Or chapter Matthew, 26. Starting in verse 36.
Um. It says.
Then she just went with them to a place called Yosemite, and he said to his disciples.
Stay here while I go over there and pray.
And talking with him. Peter and the 2 sons of Zebed.
He began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, My soul is very sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and watch with me.
And going a little farther, he fell on his knees and prayed, saying.
My father, if it'd be possible.
Let this cut past for me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.
Um.
And specifically in verse 39.
You know, it's saying.
Uh! He's talking to his father, he said. If it's possible, let this call pass for me, nevertheless, as not as I will, but as you will.
Um.
And there's no denying that in this moment Jesus heart was very heavy.
Um. It even, says he even says my soul is very sorrowful even to death.
Um.
His heart was very heavy, and even through all of that it says he.
Not as I will, but as you will, he remains in the will of his father, even though you know.
His heart was super heavy.
Um.
And Jesus did not cave from the earthly pressures that were surrounding him.
Um. You know.
He!
He was feeling precious from a lot of sides, from the religious leaders.
You know, you know, it probably wasn't easy.
Seeing, all those.
Big tough guys like.
Calling him a blasphemer. And all this.
Even you know the pressure from His disciples. Some of them who.
You know, still.
We're trying to understand.
Who.
Jesus.
What like was coming to be like the the true Messiah, and not the Messiah.
You know Israel wanted him to be the Messiah, that.
Um.
Did the eternal work of saving mankind.
Um.
And he could have easily ran away. Jesus could have, but instead he abided in the will of his Father.
And he allowed his father's will.
To surpass any other pressures he felt uh around him.
And once again abiding in God. Specifically His will. Um leads to another fruit. And this time it's peace.
Um.
And obviously this piece.
Isn't like on the surface here of.
Um this specific passage, but.
And dying wasn't easy for Jesus by any means. Um, however, in the will of his father.
Produced a piece in Jesus. Um, that he was able to go to that cross without any hesitation.
Even though he's powerful.
He. He went full head um to pay the penalty for all of us.
And I think.
Um the way he was able to do that.
Was through prayer.
Um, which is.
That we can truly abide in the will of God.
Um.
Which is exactly what he did.
Um.
And feeling the pressures.
Of this world is inevitable. As human beings.
But we shouldn't let those pressures dictate our decisions.
And ultimately going to the Lord and Prayer, and asking him for guidance.
And all we do, whether it's something very small.
Um! That's the will of God.
And you know the will of God might seem very unclear. Um.
I've even thought about this recently, like.
How do we determine if something is the will of God?
Well, if it follows his word and it and it.
Follows what he says, it will produce a piece in us that.
Um again surpasses all understanding.
Um.
And you know many things in this world can provide us peace.
And not all the time that we get peace. That doesn't always mean it's the will of God. But.
It's an it's an ultimate piece. It's not a piece that is temporary. It's a piece that lasts forever.
Um in Philippines, 4 versus 6, through 7. It says.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving.
Let your request be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understandings, will guard your hearts and mind in Jesus Christ.
And I think.
This specific way of abiding abiding in the will of God is something that I.
Definitely struggle with the most out of these 3, abiding in.
The light and the word and His will. I think.
Um.
The other 2 are things that I think all of us.
Might try to be conscious of sometimes for some, maybe not, but.
Um, I think abiding in the will of God is.
Something that is very hard.
Um.
And it can even hold you back from experiencing the full joy that.
Christ has to offer us.
And it's very harder than it looks. Um, abiding in the will of God.
Uh, you know our flesh might want us to.
Go somewhere, do our own thing, and if that's not the will of God, then.
We're not gonna guess. Get that piece um.
That God has to offer.
Um.
So Jesus was, of course, here, facing an excruciating death, and it definitely wasn't easy. By any means. However, God's will.
Um.
Always, and it ends up, bringing peace from God.
Um.
That passes all understanding.
Um.
And so those are just 3 ways, I think.
You know, we, as believers, can really abide in Christ. There's many other ways.
We can abide.
Um.
But I think these 3 are.
Pretty big staples that 1st John to message.
Mentions, 1st abiding in the light.
Which is Jesus.
Um, just, you know, in our everyday lot, just trying to be more like him, exemplifying.
The way he walked in this earth.
Um.
Second abiding in the Word of God, just opening up that Bible.
Um.
I.
I don't know. I just.
The Bible is just something that.
Um.
Has encouraged me so much specifically in the past.
Few months just opening up, and truly.
Opening your heart to it, leaving yourself perceptible.
To what it has to say, and not, you know, closing your heart to it because.
Um, you know, when we're younger, you know, we always sit in the.
Um the services, or even as adults, we can sometimes just.
Gloss over what this has to say. But there's so much in here that you know, abiding in.
Can bring us um.
And all these fruits, and the will of God, as well.
And these are 3 ways in which Jesus abided in his time on earth, as well.
And I think there are ways that we should.
And each example produced a specific fruit, if not multiple.
Um fruits of the spirit, and going back to uh John.
15. You know those fruits of the spirit are very important, and the only way.
We can, um, you know, strengthen others around us, and also strengthen ourselves, is by abiding in.
In Jesus as a whole.
Um, and if we don't remain, if we don't.
Stay there. Um, you know we can always wake up for a quiet time in the morning.
Um, and even just go to the breaking of bread on Sunday morning.
You know these things are good. These things are good things.
But um.
I want to challenge all of us, including myself, to abide at all times throughout our day.
Um stay connected to that vine.
Uh, which is Jesus.
Always, whether that's prayer, um, exemplifying Christ to our actions, or even just dwelling.
On the things that truly matter. I've I've even learned that.
You know, even just dwelling on things that are above is abiding.
Um, instead of just filling our minds with things, are useless.
Um, and I.
Speaking of that specific verse, I'd like to end on a verse in Colossians.
Um. Colions. 3. Verse 2.
Uh.
Sometimes I have to like.
Seeing the Bible.
Uh chapter song in my head to like figure out where clashing.
Libby's goodbye.
Flashes. 3, verse 2.
It says.
Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
So you're saying, when we individually give our whole lives to Christ, when we.
When we um.
Put our faith in Him and our trust in Him. I'm sure many of us remember the moments when we 1st came to Christ.
Um! We, when in that moment we are hiding our whole lives with him, not just bits and pieces, but our whole lives.
Um. So my question for all of us is, if we're hiding our whole lives with him.
Why are we not abiding in Him with our whole life?
You know when.
Um.
Abiding in him is.
Our way of being with God. It's the word itself means to remain, and.
To to stay with. When I think of a binding I even think of like a house.
Um. Our house should be Jesus. We should be living there constantly.
Um. And when we walk out of that door into the world.
We should be bringing um.
The things that we learn with us. You know the way Jesus.
Uh what it says in His word, and even the will of God.
Um.
And so that's in my encouragement to all of us.
Especially as brothers and sisters in Christ.
That we take our relationship with Christ, that next level and not.
Stay comfortable with, you know, passive faith with lukewarm faith.
Um.
So that we can truly experience that joy.
That comes through Christ.
There's no greater joy. I keep saying it, but.
Um. That joy of Christ is.
Something that.
Um is so worth it, and it's something.
You know, even if we believe in Christ.
Uh, we might not.
Fully experience that joy if we're not abiding in him.
So um.
That's just my encouragement to all of us. Um.
And yeah.
So I can end prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are. Um, thank you for.
How you lived on this earth.
There's so much we can learn from.
Even just your actions.
Um, and how you are light in this world.
Thank you for um.
Even your word, Lord, that teaches us.
Ah! How to live!
Like you.
And please help us.
In our everyday lives, to.
Truly, see huge.
Truly seek to abiding you.
Even though it can be pretty hard sometimes, with all the distractions this world has to offer.
Please help us to.
Um realize that there's no greater importance than.
Um.
Abiding in you and remaining in you.
So I just pray that for all of us here in this chapel.
Um for us that are saved, or even some of us who may not be saved.
I pray that for.
The ones who are not. Say, Please show them.
Um.
That you.
Are the only saving work in that this world has to offer. There's no other things that can save us.
Um. Besides you and for everyone here that has given their life to Christ. Please help us to be strengthened.
Um, and even strengthening each other like we heard about this morning.
Um.
I just want to thank you for.
This time. Thank you for.
Um this travel family that is so encouraging.
Um, and please.
Help us to.
Um truly abiding you in these next.
In this rest, our rest of our summer and.
You know. Take it seriously, take it.
Take it seriously, then we will even were before we can always take it more seriously. So.
I just thank you, Lord, for this day.
Um please.
Keep us safe on our.
Um.
Rides back home.
And your name, I pray. Amen.
So.