Abide, Walk, Reward

Abide in Christ

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [a]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so 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, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [b]prove to be My disciples.

Abiding in Christ simply means spending time with Him. We do this through Bible Study, Prayer, and Worship. AS we do this consistently we begin to take on the attributes of Christ. This is important because the things of the flesh begin to dissipate and the elements of the Spirit begin to manifest themselves in our lives. This is why Paul says in to walk in the Spirit not in the flesh.

Have you ever noticed that you tend to become the people you hang around with. For example, I am sure you have some of the same parenting philosophies that your parents had. You say some of the things to your kids that your parents said to you. The friends you hang around with typically have the same interests as you. You go to the same places and do the same things. You tend to become what you spend your time doing.

If you want to look more like Christ, spend more time with Him. AS you spend time with Jesus you will learn from him and be filled with His Spirit. It is through this that you are able to bear fruit.

Jesus says that apart from Him you can do nothing. Isn’t it crazy how people try to do spiritual things without first spending time with Jesus. I can guarantee that you will not accomplish anything of kingdom value if you don’t abide in Christ.

When we do abide in Christ and discern His will, then we can ask for anything and it will be done for you. There are things that we can do and things that we can’t do. It is those things that we can’t do, that we can ask for and they will be done for us. For example, we cannot change the heart of anyone, but God can.

Abiding in Christ prepares you to walk in Christ.

Walk In Christ

1 [a]Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same [b]kind as ours, [c]by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us [d]by His own glory and [e]excellence. 4 [f]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral [g]excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Abiding in Christ gives us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. He transforms our hearts so that we can be partakers of the divine nature and experience the magnificent promises of God. Jesus transforms us to take on the list of qualities that make us fruitful.

Moral excellence is replacing the flesh with the Spirit. It is those strongholds in our lives being broken down. It is the pursuit of conquering that recurring sin in your life.

Knowledge is not only knowing the difference between right and wrong but the why. If a person knows the why, then they will be less likely to do the wrong thing. For example: lying, drunkenness, adultery, coveting, unforgiving.

Self- Control is not only not ding what is wrong ,but doing what is right. Let’s face it, we know some things are wrong but we still do it. Why? Because we lack self control

Perseverance is the continuation of self-control. It is easy to resist temptation when you are spiritually strong and well rested. It is much more difficult when you are weak and tired. 28 “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Godliness is respect for God. When you begin to walk in the ways of God, you learn to know Him personally. The more you know Him the more you respect Him.

Brotherly Kindness is simply being kind to one another. This is easy to do when we see the best in people instead of the worst.

Love is seeking the best for the object of your love. This is what God is constantly doing for us.

Peter says that if these qualities are increasing in your life then you will not be fruitless. You will be accomplishing the will of God.

Enter the Kingdom of God

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Jesus cautions people that not everyone that thinks they are saved will enter the kingdom of God. Only the people who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of God.

There will be many that believe because they did religious things here on earth that they will go to heaven. Doing apart from Christ is empty and leads to deception. Only believing in Jesus and following Him will get a person into heaven.

It is about knowing Jesus and Him knowing you. So how can you tell if you are saved? Are you spending time with Jesus (or have a desire to)? Are the characteristics that Peter speaks about increasing in your life? Are you bearing kingdom fruit? Are you doing the will of the Father? Does Jesus know you?