Russellville Christian Center

ABIDING part 4 Abiding Strength 8/11/24 susan allen God does not tell us things to scare us but to prepare us. Are you a believer or an ABIDER? John 15:1-12 NKJV some notes have been added in ( )  "I am the true vine, (if there is a true vine there are false vines) and My Father is the vinedresser. (Gardener, husbandman-God doesn’t mind the process, this is not an angry process) 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 (NOW-kjv) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (Eph 5:26 we are cleansed by the Word) 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. (REMAIN) As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not abide in Me, (disconnects) he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (read in the Passion Translation) 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (This is abiding FAITH)  8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 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. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  (Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance)   What He was preparing them for required an ABIDING STRENGTH This is not the time for weak connection. The world does not need us in a weakened- compromised state IT is the TRUTH that sets us FREE (John 8:31 kjv  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)  (1 John 2:20-niv  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist — he denies the Father and the Son. )   What weakens and compromises us? When we tap into other sources Bc if you weaken truth, it is no longer the truth! It is deception. Trap. Not freedom.     WE NEED TO LOVE EACH OTHER ENOUGH TO REMAIN in the TRUTH John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.  14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.  24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.' 26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.  27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. chpt 16:1 "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.   ? HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?