Abide in Truth

Good morning and welcome to CCC. We are so glad you are with us this morning both here in person and watching on the internet or later on Rightnow media or our youtube page.

Before we get going this morning we have a few announcements that need to be made.

First I have updated the communion, tech booth and greeter schedule. It is hanging on the East board as you enter the sanctuary from the fellowship hall

There are also copies for you to take on the table outside the new classroom

Notice we are missing greeters. Please be prayerful about serving in that capacity. If you would like to serve as a greeter, husbands and wives would be perfect one in the back of the sanctuary and one in the fellowship hall just write your names on the sheet

I have also added a tab to our website cccnevadamo.org that is called A Place To Serve and it has the schedule there as well. I also posted the schedule to groupme and facebook yesterday.

Now for an opportunity. As you know Eli has been with us for a few months as he attends welding school. Eli is scheduled to complete school this week. Eli has been praying about what is after welding school and feels God calling him back home to Nebraska

With that said tonight is Eli’s last worship night and dinner and I would like all of you to come out and honor and celebrate him.

Eli has served on the worship team and done communion and even lead the devotion at one of our men’s breakfasts. Eli has grown in Christ since being here with us and this is bittersweet

Eli and I have been meeting most Saturday mornings during his time here and I am very sad to see that season close but I am so very excited to see what God has in store for Eli and how Eli will use his gifts and talents to bring people to Christ

One of the things that I love about being a Christian is even when we are separated by hundreds of miles we still have the same Holy Spirit living inside of us so we can always be unified.

Make an excuse to be here tonight. Worship starts at 6 pm and fellowship dinner theme Chili and Soup follows where we will celebrate and honor Eli as a church body.

Let’s Pray

START OBS

This morning we continue our That You May Know sermon series in I John with I John 2:18-29 I pray during this series you realize God gave you His Word so that you may know God.....That you may know His character....that you may know His absolute truth

God is not a secret.....to the lost He is a secret and salvation is a mystery.....the Gospel is foolishness

But to you, Christians, God is no secret.....we will see today how to access spiritual knowledge because God wants you to know!

I don’t care if you have been a Christian for 30 seconds or 30 years God wants you to know!

I am going to read the entire scripture then walk through it together bringing our 5 main points to ponder this morning

1 John 2:18–29

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18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before

1. It is the last time vs 18

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God alone knows the day and time Jesus will return

No one....not even Jesus knows the hour of His 2nd coming

It could be 2000 years from now or it could be 2 seconds from now....no one knows but God

You and I are living in the last times just as these 1st century Christians were living in the last times

The last time is simply the time between Jesus’ 1st and 2nd comings

Until He returns again it has been and will continue to be the last time

Now I could spend much more time here and with the next point but I am not. That is not belittling the points or end time prophecy or revelation or those who spend lots of time there.

2. Antichrists

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Again I don’t want to take away from Revelation at all but I also don’t want to today or you during the week to get so wrapped up in last time or antichrists that we miss the point God through John is trying to make here

Jesus revealed Revelation to John so that we may know as well but I caution you not to get so wrapped up in trying to interpret where we are that we miss the bigger issue and point.

Jesus will return

When Jesus returns salvation will close that means we only have from now until Jesus returns to share the Gospel with the lost

That is the point.....go unto all the world and tell them about Jesus!

Antichrists....here John is referring to false teachers who were not strangers to them....in fact they came from the church and looked to lead people away from Christ

Jesus warned of this as well

Matthew 24:24

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“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

This isn’t just a flashy preacher or a charismatic leader. These people appear to have power....great signs and wonders…miracles

They will look the part to many

They will sound the part to many

But not to True Christians

Why?

Because of the Holy Spirit

These false teachers will stand out like sore thumbs to the true Christians

Look at Jesus’ words......if it were possible.....that means it is not possible to deceive the very elect....true Christians

If you are the very elect....true Christians you can’t be fooled by false teachers IF you listen to the Holy Spirit

There are antichrists present today...

people

leaders

pastors

worship leaders and groups

musicians

all looking the part but aren’t the part and they are leading people away from Christ

That is why guarding your heart and your families hearts is so important

Listen.......those who appear Christian lure people away

Think about luring away....think about fishing....I like to fish....actually I like to catch more than fish but when you are fishing you are using the same process these antichrists.....false teachers are using....you are presenting something that looks real to the fish.....to are trying to trick them into biting the fake thing so you can reel them in.....kill them....clean them and eat them

Antichrists are doing the same thing.....they are trying to present a Gospel close enough to the real thing you bite it....you believe it....you leave a Bible preaching church for a church with a lot of lights and smoke and flash and people because it makes you feel better

You leave a Bible teaching discipleship group or Bible study for a group centered around coffee and chat rather than the Word and discipleship

You justify by saying I wasn’t being fed

I wasn’t getting my needs met

I wasn’t growing

You were in it for the wrong reasons.......you don’t come to be fed, have needs met or grow you come to worship Jesus and serve and be open to the Holy Spirit and His teaching

The reason you weren’t being fed or having needs met or growing isn't about humans it is about your personal relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Church spiritual warfare is real....just this past week so many around the world....inside the church....this church even....welcomed satan into their families and homes with open arms

halloween is evil

it is a celebration of satan

Christians dressed up in bloody…evil costumes and showed that to the world

Most would never play with a ojigi board or hang out with witches but they welcomed satan this past Tuesday

it is real

Spiritual warfare is real

satan only wants to steal from you mainly your joy in Christ

kill you physically

destroy you spiritually

Why in the world would you expose yourself or those you love to worldly evil????????

It is not just halloween......evil movies....evil songs....evil tv......social media

this is lures to lure you away from Christ and life into the devil and death....don’t take the bait.....listen to the Holy Spirit and don’t be deceived

Be on guard 24/7....

Back to this morning....antichrists are from inside the church

antichrists lure you away from Christ

How do we then protect ourselves and our families?

3. Holy Spirit vs 20-22

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In verse 20 we see a word in the KJV unction…it means anointing

As a Christian you have been anointed with the Holy Spirit......

that means you have been set apart

You have been made holy

I want to take a few moments and look at this together

To be anointed with the Holy Spirit you must realize the truth

John 14:6

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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Jesus is the way

Jesus is the Truth

Jesus is the life

No one comes to God but by Jesus

Jesus is Truth

In Jesus because He is the truth and when you confess with your mouth Him as your Lord and Savior

Die to self

Die to sin

Die to the world

That is what confess as your Lord and Savior means

You are saved and receive the Holy Spirit

In Jesus you know all things because He knows all things because He is the Truth

This allows you to determine false teaching and identify false teachers

True Christians cannot be deceived

Here is a better look at why

John 14:15–18

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“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

This describes the unction from the Holy One in I John 2:20 anointing from the Holy Spirit

When you accept Jesus you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Period

Not might

Not if you tithe enough

not if you are good enough

Not if you join the most popular church

no the moment you accept Jesus you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

He abides....lives in you

Cool stuff!

It is through that unction or anointing that you know all things

If you are a Christian today

a true blood bought

dead to self

dead to sin

dead to the world Christian the Spirit of truth lives in you

He will protect you from false teachings and false teachers

Do you listen?

Do you Act? Do you reject anything that is not God’s Truth?

Remember Matthew 24:24 if it were possible

True Christians cannot be deceived because of the Holy Spirit

So many today get caught up in the end times debate and theories and philosophies

It is the end times

John just told us in vs 18

Jesus revealed to John in Revelation the things which must shortly come to pass

Why

To show you

It is all there

I say that to say this

End times is important

God revealed it through Jesus for us to know

Not to debate the when or how....no one knows the when and only God truly knows the how but it is important to motivate us to focus on the right things

To motivate us to die to ourselves

to motivate us to die to our sin

to motivate us to die to the world

to motivate us to live in and from Jesus and Jesus alone

to motivate us that time is short and the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few....spread the Gospel and love of Jesus to all you come in contact with! That is why it is important

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as to how to deal with false teachers and teachings

You know the truth because the truth abides in you!

4. Deneith Jesus = No Father vs 22-23

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This is the way to determine false teachers and false teachings....antichrists

What do they do and say and believe about Jesus?

This goes beyond denying Jesus is God....it is denying parts of Jesus character and truth

I struggle with social media for lots of reasons but one area I struggle with is people who deny the holiness of God and Jesus

For example at times you see posts like I am going to or I just got baptized

You look a little further on their feed and you see they live as and claim to be homosexual

Those two things don’t go together

They are willingly living in sin

But Pastor we all sin…true

But pastor we all live in sin…false

We live around sin but not in sin

Let me try to explain with an example

Someone who is homosexual....willingly living in the sin of homosexuality.....gender confusion.....etc

When they truly meet Jesus they will no longer live in sin....why because to truly meet Jesus is to repent....to realize through the Holy Spirit that you are a sinner and doomed to death and hell because of that sin

You realize Jesus died in your place.....His blood covers your sin....you realize how wretchful you are and how Holy He is and you repent.....you turn and run from your sin and former lifestyle because you die to it

You are no longer a homosexual......you may be someone who struggles with the sin of homosexuality.....you may fail and sin again in homosexuality but you refuse to live in the sin

You leave that lifestyle....you agree with the Bible that it is a sin and you fight sinning with everything in your being.

Again you may fall and sin occasionally by falling back into that lifestyle but you repent when convicted

confess when convicted and fight to not do it again

True Christians realize sin is sin and sin is deadly

Through the Holy Spirit they fight against sin because they realize the cost

There are “Christians” who deny Jesus and His holiness by living and claiming that Jesus is love and because Jesus loves them He doesn’t want them to change He just forgives them

I can still live a homosexual lifestyle because Jesus is love

I can still look at poronography

I can still be addicted to alcohol or drugs or cigarettes or vapes

I can still cheat on my wife

I can still have premarital sex with my boyfriend or girlfrined

I can still refuse forgiveness

I can still fill in the blank with your stronghold sin

all because Jesus is love and therefore I am good

Remember Matthew 24:24 if you love me keep my commandments.....Jesus expects you to live a changed life when you truly accept Him because the Holy Spirit now abides in you and changes you from the inside out

You deny Christ you have no access to the Father and are not saved

Period end of story

One of the marks of a true Christian is when God shows you your heart

When God convicts you of sin

When you realize you are standing against the Word of God

You run to the cross

You run to confess

You run to repent

You bring it to God and you ask for forgiveness and you change

Do you follow Jesus or reject and deny Him?

Finally

5. Truth Must Abide In You vs 24-29

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We have looked at Jesus is the truth

The Holy Spirit abides in you as a true Christian

You must abide in that truth

Even more

You must want to abide in that truth

Jesus died on a cross to pay your price

God is a God of mercy and grace

Who on earth would want to reject that?

You and I do all the time when we choose sin over truth

Look at vs 26-27

1 John 2:26–27

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“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

You are protected from those who seduce you

those who twist the truth....God’s truth and entice you to do the same

How are you protected?

The Holy Spirit

“You need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things”

We have wonderful, committed Bible teachers here at CCC

Sunday School

Children’s Church

Discipleship group teachers

Bible Study teachers

But you don’t learn from them

You learn from the Holy Spirit

How can man teach you something spiritual?

They can’t only God through the Holy Spirit can teach you something Spiritual

You learn from the Holy Spirit therefore it is impossible for you to be deceived as a Christian

when you abide in truth....keep Jesus commandments....live from Jesus you will have confidence and will not be ashamed when Jesus returns

Not because of who you are or what you have done but because of whose you are and what Jesus has done!

Life is hard

My heart is heavy over issues you are facing

My heart is heavy over issues your families are facing

My heart is heavy over the lost in our community

My heart is heavy over the lost inside our church and churches

My heart is heavy for those who say they love Jesus but refuse to make Him true Lord and Savior

My heart is heavy for those who skip church more than they attend

Church attendance never has nor never will save you but it will reveal your heart and priorities

You and I are evil by nature

Natural born sinners

Natural born enemies of God

We have sinned

We have rejected GOd

We hated God

Some still do

Yet while we were sinners

while we were enemies

while we hated God

God sent Jesus to be born of a virgin

to live a perfect human life....fully human…fully God

to die a perfect death as the perfect sacrifice

to pay your sin debt

to pay my sin debt

all while we were His enemies

You are forgiven and free if you have truly accepted Jesus

if you have truly made Him Lord and Savior of your life

Jesus was and is real

He really lived on earth

He really lived a perfect, sinless life

He was really beaten and rejected and killed on a cross to die for your sin and my sin

If you reject Jesus and the free salvation He offers you then when you physically die you will also face and experience a second death a spiritual death that will result in eternal separation from God in hell

That is truth

The question is what do you do with that truth?

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior but have sin in your life

You struggle with abiding in Truth.....living out the Word of God through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you

Come

Give that to Jesus

Come meet God and confess and be forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness.

We have open membership here at CCC and what that means is if you are born again, you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and have been attending and supporting CCC for a while you are a member because we are all members of the body of Christ

However if you would like to come forward and make a public declaration that you want to be a member of CCC and join together with us to serve Jesus and others then feel free to come forward and to do that as well.

Whatever God is calling you to do

Come

Come to the table and leave cleansed!

STOP OBS

Play invitation song

Come to the table