ABIDING IN CHRIST (4)

FORSAKING ALL

(John 15:4–5 | Philippians 3:7-9)

INTRODUCTION

In the last few weeks, we have learned:

what abiding is

How it is maintained

How it is lived

But now we must ask a deeper question:

What is abiding worth to you?

In other words:

What are you willing to give up to abide?

Because abiding is not just connection. -

It is consecration.

It is not just staying close. -

It is letting go.

Jesus never invited anyone to add Him to their life.

He invited them to give Him their life.

In John 15, Jesus says, “Abide in me.”

But He also says in verse 2, “Every branch in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth it…” which means he:

He cuts.

He prunes.

He removes.

why? So it can bring forth more fruit

So we must ask: What must be released for us to be fully connected?

Paul answers that in Philippians 3.

I. Abiding Demands a Change in Values

Philippians 3:7 — “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”

Before Christ, Paul had everything his world celebrated.

He had education — trained under the best teachers.

He had reputation — respected, feared, admired.

He had religious status — a Pharisee of Pharisees.

He had influence — a man with power and authority.

He had security — a future that looked bright and stable.

He had what people chase after

And yet, when he met Jesus, something radical happened:“I counted it all… loss.”

What once was important

Now was counted as loss.

Not “less important.” Not “still useful.” Not “I’ll keep it on the side.”

but Loss. Which means: Trash. Refuse. Not worth comparing.

Why?

Because Christ rewrote his value system.

Paul’s use of “Gain” and “loss.” shows us what he valued now that he was attached to the vine.

Before Christ: These things were assets. (gain)

After Christ: They became liabilities. (loss)

When Christ entered Paul’s life, He didn’t just forgive his sins.

He took over his priorities.

He recalibrated his heart.

He redefined success.

He reset what “winning” looked like.

When you truly live connected to Christ, He changes your measuring stick.

Jesus Is Not One of many Options — He Is the Only option

Jesus said,

“I am the vine.”

Not: “I am a vine.”

Not: “I am one branch among many.”

Not: “Add me to your life.”

He said, “I am the source of life.”

Everything flows from Him.

So abiding is not about balance. It’s about dependence.

It’s not: “Jesus plus my career.” “Jesus plus my dreams.” “Jesus plus my plans.”

It’s: Jesus first. Jesus central. Jesus supreme.

Everything else finds its place after Him.

When Christ is central, everything else becomes secondary.

Not neccesarly unimportant. Just not the ultimate thing

Because Abiding Requires total surrender

If we are not willing to surrender everything to God, we will never fully abide in Christ

Surrendering self to God is all He requires, giving ourselves to Him to be employed as He sees fit. Until we come to this point of surrender, we shall not work happily, usefully, or successfully anywhere.

Eli Stanly Jones said this: to compromise surrender …is the same as looking at a display in a shop window. You look through the window but do not go in and buy. You will not pay the price—surrender. Eli Stanley Jones (Missionary Statesman)

William booth reminds us that; The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.

and the more you surrender the closer you get to Jesus

and the closer you get to Him the more sensitive you become to what doesn’t belong.

Things you once tolerated, you now release.

Things you once protected, you now crucify.

Why?

Because you want uninterrupted fellowship.

You don’t want anything between you and Him.

Abiding produces holy dissatisfaction with divided loyalty.

But there is a great Danger in the Church today, Many are Wanting Christ Without Change

They want:

His forgiveness. Without His Lordship

His Blessings with out His rearrangment

His comfort with out His pruning

They want heaven, but they still love the world.

They want spiritual life, but they refuse spiritual death.

But Scripture is clear:

You cannot abide in Christ and still live for the world.

You cannot stay connected to the Vine while feeding on another root.

You cannot serve two masters.

If you want to truly abide in Him it will demand a transfer of ownership.

“My life is no longer mine.”

“My dreams are no longer mine.”

“My priorities are no longer mine.”

“I belong to Christ.”

Application:

“What do you still call ‘gain’ that Jesus calls ‘loss’?”

Abiding always asks: “Will you trust Me enough to let go?”

II. ABIDING INVOLVES A WILLING LOSS

(Phil. 3:8a)

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss…”

This is a repeat and we know what it means when things get repeated in the Bible means:

So Paul wanted His readers to understand that he did not lose things by accident.

He gave them up on purpose.

“I count” means, “I chose.”

He decided:

Christ is worth more than comfort, convenience or control.

He didnt care what it cost him.

He didnt care how he would feel

Because Abiding is more than just a feeling.

It is a daily choice.

Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.”

You cannot follow Christ and still sit on the throne of your life.

You Can’t Hold Everything and Hold Christ too

God said: I am a jelous God and my glory I will share with none

Paul understood:

You cannot cling to the world and cling to Christ.

Abiding requires empty hands.

and to have empty hands, you must choose to let go of what is keeping you from fully abiding in Him

Application

What are you holding that is weakening your walk?

What is God asking you to release?

Abiding is choosing Christ over everything else.

III. ABIDING IS FUELED BY SUPERIOR TREASURE

(Philippians 3:8 “… for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Paul tells us why he was willing to lose everything.

Not because life became bitter.

Not because he was forced.

Not because he was extreme.

Because he found something better.

“The excellency of the knowledge of Christ.”

That word “excellency” means: surpassing worth. having supreme value.

Paul is saying:

“Knowing Jesus is better than everything I gave up.”

Christ was not his consolation prize.

Christ was his treasure.

“Dung” Compared to Christ

Paul uses a strong word: “dung.”

Garbage. Refuse. Waste.

He is not saying life is meaningless.

He is saying:

“Compared to Christ, everything else is is.”

When you see Jesus clearly, your comparison changes.

Earthly treasure fades. Eternal treasure shines.

Application

Do you treasure Christ, or just tolerate Him?

Is He your delight, or just your discipline?

Is He your passion, or just your practice?

Do you seek Him because you love Him, or because you feel obligated?

Abiding is fueled by affection.

You stay close to what you value most.

IV. ABIDING PRODUCES A NEW IDENTITY

(Phil. 3:9 | John 15:4)

“And be found in him…”

That is Paul’s desire.

Not “be known.” Not “be admired.” Not “be successful.”

Be found in Him.

His righteousness. His life. His strength.

Jesus said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself…”

Your identity is no longer in performance.

It is in position.

In Him.

Abiding is Christ living in you, through you, and for you.

You will never truly abide until you stop living for you and start dying to yourself.

Remember We are just a vessel in the masters house ready for the masters use.

CONCLUSION

So here is the truth:

True Abiding will cost you

But it gives more than it takes.

Paul lost religion— and gained relationship. Lost status— and gained salvation. Lost control—and gained Christ.

Jesus is not asking you to give up life.

He is offering you life.

“Abide in me.”

That invitation requires surrender.

Not partial. Not seasonal. Not selective.

All.

If you’ve never surrendered—come. If you’re divided between the world and Christ—decide. If you’re abiding in Him — protect it.

Let go. of what is keeping you from abiding.

Let go So you can hold Him.