Christian Living

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Abiding in Christ.
By Robert Falconer.
(At Gateway Gospel Fellowship. 1/4/01)

Last week I talked about testing ourselves which brings us closer to God. Today I want to just give a glimpse of Abiding in Christ. Testing helps us to Abide.
Bible Reading John 15:1-17.

Greek word for Abide is "men-o" meaning to stay (in a given place, relation or expectancy). Continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry.

For interest sake the Hebrew word is "yashab" meaning by implication to dwell, remain, to settle, to marry, establish.

This shows us that abiding takes or is a total commitment. Like a relationship between a husband and a wife who abide together as one; without commitment to each other, their marriage would not (dwell, remain, continue etc) for long. Or worse they would have a relationship that is one sided. In our Christian walk we need a total commitment to Christ as he has made with us. Or we will not continue in the things of God for long. We call this backsliding. Remember that abiding is a two way commitment. Verse 4 Jesus abides in us.
Some Results in Abiding.
· Jesus will abide in us also. verse 4.
· Bring forth much fruit. verse 5.
· Prayer answered. verse 7.
· Heavenly Father will be glorified. verse 8.
· Our Joy might be full. verse 11.
· New Intimacy with God. verses 15-17.
· Confidence. 1 John 2:28.
Now remember that in verse 1 we read that it's the Heavenly Father who is the husbandman; it is He who planted the vine (Jesus Christ) in the best soil, the best place so it can bear the most fruit. He is the one who looks after His vine for even the fruit is His.
How we are to Abide.
Clean through the Word. Verse 3. This is a daily commitment when we read His word and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9. John 1:1 /14 States that Jesus Christ is the Word.

Without Christ we can do nothing. verse 5. This is not putting us down; it's showing a two fold. (1) We can't be engrafted into the vine unless we have Christ. (2) That Christ desires us to do all with Him and through Him.
Read Philippians 4:13 and Galatians 2:20.

We are to pray. Verse 7. When we come to God with our problems our needs our praises and worship. Communicating to God because we have faith in Him, the confidence and assurance that only comes by abiding in Him. The intimacy with a loving God who cares because he loves us and He is our Heavenly Father. When we share our innermost fears and desires; humbling ourselves before Him shaking off our proud ideas; by sharing with Him our need of Him in every area of our lives. Lord I put you first. Our relationship with God is Like a marriage when communication stops, the relationship is in trouble.

Continue in Love. Verse 9. We are to show love to people always through our actions and speech, even our enemies. This is a heart thing. Read 1 John 4:8.


Keep Christ's commandments. Verse 10-12. This our daily walk, the way we live unto God. 2 John v9. Every Christian must do this there is no exceptions.
The Fruit

Last time we looked at abiding in Christ, just to summarize let me read: John 15:1-17.
· Jesus will abide in us also. verse 4.
· Bring forth much fruit. verse 5.
· Prayer answered. verse 7.
· Heavenly Father will be glorified. verse 8.
· Our Joy might be full. verse 11.
· New Intimacy with God. verses 15-17.
· Confidence. 1 John 2:28.
It is the fruit in our lives I want to talk about today!
Now remember that in verse 1 we read that it's the Heavenly Father who is the husbandman; it is He who planted the vine (Jesus Christ) in the best soil, the best place so it can bear the most fruit. He is the one who looks after His vine for even the fruit is His.
You may notice here; Jesus talks about three conditions for a fruitful life: (1) Cleansing,
(2) Abiding, (3) Obedience. He also shows us of four degrees of fruit bearing; (1) no fruit verse 2, (2) fruit verse 2, (3) more fruit verse 2, (4) much fruit verses 5,8. There is a big difference between the four. What are these fruit: are they the fruit of the spirit; are they fruits of righteousness. I believe it's all these plus more, Does a apple tree produce grapes? No; it produces apples; we abide in Christ as He is the true vine and we will bear His fruit.
Turn with me to: John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

We are ordained to bear fruit.
What a blessing and privilege God has given us. God has chosen you to go and bring forth fruit: This wording "bring forth" in the Greek is: Be, bear. Your fruit is imperative because, with it prayers are answered.
How do you know when you have fruit! John 15:18,19. The world hates you.

Fruit brings blessing. God wants to bless us. Turn to Matthew 5:1-11 here we have what we call the beatitudes of Christ. Here I want to point out 8 steps which are vital in our Christian life for a fruitful and blessed life.There are many blessings in the Bible for us all, but I have chosen these blessings because they are the ones we forget about the most. Step 1. Humility (conscious need). Verse 3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." If you are poor in spirit, be of good cheer, for your blessing is the kingdom of heaven. Step 2. Mourn (a process) Verse 4. "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." God is so interested in our needs, our whole being that even when we mourn we shall be comforted, even when we mourning through our sinning. Step 3. Meekness (Humble). Verse 5. "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Step 4. Hunger. (Growth)
Verse 6. "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." When we hunger and thirst after the things of God, this hunger is a sure sign that the Spirit of God is within us. This spiritual appetite will show growth (growing stage if you like). It will bring a blessing of being filled. Step 5. Mercy. (compassion). Verse 7. "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." This is an interesting statement, if you want people to be merciful to you, you first must be merciful. Also you could look at it like this. When you show mercy to others, God will be merciful to you. This also shows more spiritual growth, and this is also an attribute of God the Father. Step 6. Pure heart. (One mind).
Verse 8. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." This really brings a great privileged blessing. When we have a pure heart, a Godly attitude from the heart, not the head we shall receive the vision of God. When we are with God through death, or when Christ returns we will surely see Him. This is growing further in God daily.


Step 7. Peace. Verse 9. "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God." this is the Christ like influence, a fruit of the Spirit. We are to bring peace into every situation we can, or allow Christ into every situation. Step 8. Total Commitment.
Verses 10-11. "Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We see here that those who are persecuted for righteousness and those who are poor in spirit verse 3. Both shall have the kingdom of heaven as their blessing. This is total commitment, even unto death. People will come up against you because you have Jesus Christ, they will make fun, say lies etc. In John 15:18-19. We see that the world hates us because it hated Christ first. These steps are the character of a Christian. Why do so many Christians have so little fruit and blessing in their lives? Listen brothers and sisters I have been in many churches and I have noticed one thing that robs people of God's blessing, it doesn't matter what denomination you look at; it's the same problem.
Turn to Matthew 15:1-9.
Tradition; this word means to: hand down beliefs. We need to be careful as Christian parents what we teach our children. Jesus and His disciples broke tradition; Praise God! Tradition can be broken and it must. When our Grandparents and Parents teach us their beliefs don't just accept it as the final authority. How do you know they are right; Do you really know if they are really Godly people. What about your Pastor! Remember we are all human and we can get it wrong at times. We need to search the scriptures ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us the Truth. We must test all things not throw it out because my parents or pastor doesn't believe it; so I shouldn't. You can't live a Christian life like your parents or pastor; you need a personal relationship with Christ. I have meet many believers who their Grandparents and Parents were members of so and so denomination, so they feel they should be members of the same denomination; and they have no life. Because they are living their ancestors christian walk; not theirs.
Look what tradition does! Verse 6b. "Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of tradition." Tradition is religion, it binds the mind, it stops the fruit coming forth, it stops the blessings of God flowing in our lives. Let us break the bondage of tradition in Jesus name.
We need to stop nullifying the word of God; when you use the word of God and add tradition you have a word that has no effect, it has become contaminated. This is why believers are still bound and fruitless. We need God's word to be uncontaminated flowing freely without any tradition attached. Then you will see believers really healed and set free and not carry baggage from past lives but run the race to win without weights.
The word of God says " The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword piercing and dividing the soul and spirit." Don't blunt God's sword with Tradition!
Lets pray: If anyone wants to renounce tradition please pray with me: Father in the name of Jesus Christ we come against tradition a spirit of religion and we renounce you now; we break your power over our lives, Father please forgive us cleanse us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We release the fruits of the Father in our lives and allow the blessings of God to flow freely. Thank you father for your word for your word is Truth.

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