Abide in Truth
...The Truth Will Set You Free • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 14 viewsNotes
Transcript
The Lonely Pastor
What happens when our theology no longer matches our circumstances. What has to change?
2017 I met a pastor after a court hearing in which I was assisting a family.
In speaking to the pastor his affect was stoic, he looked so lost. He recounted the situation as his family was struggling and one of his wife’s sisters had not only assaulted his daughter but now was threatening the family with death.
I listened as he spoke between broken words and tears he stated “I have never shed so many tears, I am the one who is supposed to have all the answers, people come to me for counseling.”
He embraced me and said “pastor help I am just not sure I can go on believing”
The response I gave him was simple, “ Brother, you do not have to go through this alone. As a fellow servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, let me carry this burden for you.”
When we abide in truth it is not the word that changes, it is our worldview that needs to change
When we abide in truth it is not the word that changes, it is our worldview that needs to change
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The condition is found in a dual format
believe in Him
abide in His word
Abide means to stay, to remain in, and to live in
not just knowing
more than believing
Inverse Effect of abiding in Christ
2 John 9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
command to abide in His word
John 5:37-38 “And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.”
statements those who abide in Him, His word would abide in us
We must remain in His word, we must remain and live in His word
More Than Just Knowing
More Than Just Knowing
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
Job knew all the right things to do and all the right things to say
Job has always been looked as the righteous sufferer but when you examine the situation it may appear the Lord was extending grace to Job in the only Job would finally receive it
Job was a moralist-he knew the right things and did them out of religiosity.
Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.
Through out the entire back and forth with his friends Job is not speaking to God
Listen to how he calls out witches
Breaking With Religiosity
Breaking With Religiosity
When we read the story of the prodigal son we come to know a man that is after the pleasures of this world
When we read the story of Job we hear the story of a man that fell deep into moralism
it is easier for a hedonist to find their way back than it is for a moralist to know that have fallen into sin
Job 29 gives us an insight on the reasons why Job thought he Deserved more from God… He thought he could buy it
Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
Job had lived a life of knowing about God
He failed to abide in Him
He needed to make a break from religiosity
Abide in Truth
Abide in Truth
We would think it unfair that God would treat Job in such a way… the issue was Job knew better
Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
It used to be I thought it unfair too.. how is he supposed to know but then
You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
Job knew he needed to live in the truth
What we come to learn from his is God’s grace was big enough to save him even if he was to suffer.
Job acknowledges this in the next chapter as he states… I had heard of you from afar but now my eyes behold you… on dust and ashes I repent
Abiding in truth means we are willing to let the Word of God speak life and Truth into what we believe.
Its no longer what we are being told about God… Its not even our own perception of God… It is living in the Word of God and allowing it to speak truth in all our circumstances.
