Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP000044
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00:00 >> COMING UP NEXT
00:09 ON AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS: >> THERE ARE TWO CHOICES. 00:14 WE'VE GOTTA LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO ABIDE IN CHRIST, TO HAVE 00:16 A VITAL, LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS OR PERISH. 00:25 >> FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN DEDICATED 00:28 TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:31 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR 00:33 BEST TELEVISION BROADCASTS. 00:37 WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION OF 00:40 "AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS." 00:44 TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS AN EXCERPT FROM 00:45 "THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL" VIDEO SERIES. 00:53 >> CHRIST SAYS, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. 00:56 I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 00:58 I AM THE DOOR. 00:59 I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 01:01 I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. 01:03 I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. 01:06 I AM THE TRUE VINE." 01:07 THIS IS THE LAST ONE OF THE GREAT "I AM" STATEMENTS. 01:10 AND KEEP IN MIND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. 01:11 IN THE MINDS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE WHEN SOMEONE SAID, 01:15 "I AM." 01:17 ONE TIME THEY ALMOST STONED JESUS BECAUSE HE SAID, 01:19 "BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM." 01:23 WHEN MOSES SAID, "WHOM SHALL I SAY SENT ME?" 01:26 THE LORD AT THE BURNING BUSH SAID, "I AM THAT I AM." 01:31 SO WHEN JESUS SAYS, "I AM THE VINE," THAT'S 01:35 A VERY PROFOUND STATEMENT. 01:37 YOU READ IN PSALMS 80. 01:40 DON'T LOSE YOUR PLACE IN JOHN, BUT IF YOU COULD TAKE ONE 01:42 FINGER AND TURN OVER TO PSALMS 80:8, HERE'S WHAT 01:45 THE LORD SAYS THERE. 01:47 "THOU HAS BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT. 01:51 THOU HAS CAST OUT THE HEATHEN AND PLANTED IT. 01:54 THOU PREPARETH A ROOM BEFORE IT AND DID CAUSE IT TO TAKE DEEP 01:57 ROOT, AND IT FILLED THE LAND." 02:00 THIS IS TELLING US IN THE BIBLE WHEN GOD BROUGHT THE CHILDREN 02:03 OF ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT AND HE PLANTED THEM LIKE A VINE, 02:07 THAT VINE IS JESUS. 02:09 BECAUSE KEEP IN MIND, WHAT IS THE CHURCH? 02:11 WHAT IS THE BODY OF CHRIST? 02:13 IT'S THE CHURCH. 02:14 SO, WHEN THE LORD TALKS ABOUT PLANTING HIS PEOPLE IN THIS 02:19 LAND, PLANTING HIS BODY IN THIS LAND, THAT'S SYNONYMOUS 02:23 WITH JESUS, WHO IS THE BODY, THE CHURCH. 02:26 NOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE SAYS, "WITHOUT 02:29 THAT ABIDING RELATIONSHIP, YOU CAN DO NOTHING. 02:33 YOU BECOME NOTHING. 02:34 YOU'LL ULTIMATELY JUST BE BURNED LIKE BRUSH." 02:37 SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABIDE IN CHRIST, 02:42 TO ABIDE IN THE VINE. 02:44 AMEN? 02:45 VERY IMPORTANT STUDY. 02:47 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES HERE. 02:49 SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL PERK UP AND TUNE IN. 02:52 THE WORD "ABIDE" OF COURSE IT'S GREEK HERE 02:54 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. 02:55 IT COMES FROM THE WORD "MENO." 02:57 THIS IS WHAT THE MEANING OF THAT WORD IS, 03:00 IT'S SO IMPORTANT. 03:01 "TO STAY IN A GIVEN PLACE, A STATE, A RELATION 03:04 OR EXPECTANCY. 03:07 TO ABIDE, TO CONTINUE, TO DWELL, TO ENDURE, 03:11 TO BE PRESENT, REMAIN, TO STAND, TO TARRY FOR." 03:17 SO WHEN JESUS SAYS, "ABIDE IN ME," THERE'S THAT 03:19 SENSE OF STAYING, TARRYING, EXPECTANCY, RESTING. 03:26 THAT'S ALL ENCOMPASSED IN THAT WORD THAT HE'S USING THERE. 03:30 NOW TO UNDERSTAND A WORD IN THE BIBLE, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA 03:33 TO GO TO ONE OF THE FIRST USES OF THE WORD. 03:36 AND SINCE WE'RE READING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, WE'RE GOING 03:39 TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF JOHN. 03:42 GO THERE WITH ME. 03:43 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE FIRST WAYS GOD USES 03:45 THAT WORD, "ABIDE." 03:47 JOHN 1:37. 03:51 AFTER JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTED TO JESUS AND SAID, "THIS IS THE 03:54 LAMB THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD," THE DISCIPLES 03:57 OVERHEARD THAT AND THEY BEGIN TO STALK JESUS, YOU COULD SAY. 04:01 THEY HEARD HIM SPEAK AND THEY FOLLOWED JESUS. 04:04 THEN JESUS TURNED AND HE SAW THESE TWO DISCIPLES FOLLOWING 04:07 HIM. 04:08 AND THEY SAID TO HIM, "WHAT DO YOU SEEK?" 04:12 THEY SAID, "RABBI," WHICH IS THEIR WAY OF SAYING TEACHER. 04:16 "WHERE ARE YOU STAYING? 04:18 WHERE DO YOU DWELL?" 04:19 HE SAID TO THEM, "COME AND SEE." 04:23 THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PHRASE, COME AND SEE. 04:25 BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU COME TO JESUS YOU DO SEE. 04:29 YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO JESUS TO SEE. 04:32 SO IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE WHERE CHRIST DWELLS HE SAYS, 04:35 "COME AND SEE." 04:35 ULTIMATELY, WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO FIND OUT WHERE HE 04:38 ABIDES IN HEAVEN AND ABIDE WITH HIM THERE. 04:42 AMEN? 04:43 COME AND SEE. 04:44 THEY CAME, THEY FOLLOWED HIM TO, I DON'T KNOW IF HE MADE 04:46 A BOOTH OR HE HAD A PUB TENT OR WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS. 04:49 IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OUTDOOR CAMP, BUT HE HAD A PLACE WHERE 04:51 HE WAS CAMPING. 04:52 AND THEY CAME AND THEY SAW WHERE HE DWELT. 04:55 NOW CATCH THIS, "AND THEY ABODE WITH HIM THAT DAY FOR IT WAS 05:00 ABOUT THE 10TH HOUR. 05:01 IT WAS TWILIGHT. 05:02 THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN. 05:03 IT WAS LATE." 05:05 AND EVIDENTLY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE FORCED THEMSELVES ON HIM. 05:08 THEY WANTED TO COME AND JUST TALK TO HIM A LITTLE BIT. 05:09 AND AS THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN, HE INVITED THEM, HE SAID LOOK, 05:12 "STAY WITH ME. 05:13 IT'S LATE. 05:14 ABIDE WITH ME WHERE I AM." 05:17 HE INVITED THEM TO ABIDE WITH HIM. 05:20 THE GOSPEL BEGINS WITH JESUS INVITING HIS FOLLOWERS. 05:26 THEY WERE FOLLOWING HIM TO NOT JUST FOLLOW BUT TO ABIDE. 05:31 NOW THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE I WANT. 05:34 THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE JESUS WANTS YOU TO WANT. 05:38 IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT EXPERIENCE, PRAY THAT HE'LL 05:39 WANT YOU, THAT YOU'LL WANT IT. 05:42 THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE OF REAL CHRISTIANITY. 05:45 IT'S NOT JUST AN OCCASIONAL ONCE-A-WEEK RENDEZVOUS WITH 05:48 JESUS THAT MANY OF US HAVE. 05:50 BUT ALL WEEK LONG ABIDING IN HIM. 05:56 ABIDING MEANS CHRIST IN US. 05:59 YOU NOTICE THAT JESUS SAYS, "AS THE BRANCHES ABIDE IN THE VINE, 06:06 SO YOU MUST ABIDE IN ME." 06:08 THAT'S TALKING ABOUT CHRIST IN US. 06:11 ULTIMATELY, WE ALL WANT TO HAVE OTHERS ACCUSE US OF BEING 06:15 CHRISTIANS. 06:17 WE WANT TO REFLECT JESUS. 06:19 SOMEONE SAID ONE TIME, "IF YOU WERE BROUGHT TO COURT AND 06:21 ACCUSED OF BEING A CHRISTIAN, COULD YOU BE CONVICTED?" 06:27 IF YOU WERE BROUGHT TO COURT AND ACCUSED OF BEING 06:29 A CHRISTIAN, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU? 06:33 WE'RE HOPING THE ANSWER'S YES, RIGHT? 06:35 THAT COMES FROM HAVING CHRIST IN US. 06:38 YOU WANT OTHERS TO LOOK AT YOU AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, THAT PERSON 06:42 IS PROBABLY LIKE WHAT JESUS USED TO BE LIKE." 06:46 HOW DO YOU KNOW IF JESUS--ARE YOU AWARE OF IT ALL THE TIME 06:51 WHEN CHRIST IS IN YOU AND YOU ARE IN HIM AND YOU'VE GOT 06:54 THAT ABIDING RELATIONSHIP? 06:55 YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO JESUS AND YOU'RE 06:58 WALKING WITH THE LORD, SOMETIMES YOU'RE CONSCIOUS 07:00 OF IT, SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT. 07:02 THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT ABIDING 07:04 IN CHRIST. 07:06 ONE TIME SOMEBODY ASKED A GREAT MISSIONARY HUDSON TAYLOR, 07:08 HE HAD SPENT THE NIGHT AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND HE SAID, 07:11 "YOU KNOW, HOW CAN I KNOW? 07:12 AM I ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF WHEN I'M ABIDING IN CHRIST?" 07:15 AND TAYLOR SAID, "WELL, I SPENT THE NIGHT AT YOUR HOUSE 07:18 LAST NIGHT." 07:19 AND HE SAID, "WHEN I FIRST WENT TO SLEEP, I KNEW I WAS IN YOUR 07:21 HOUSE BUT SOMEWHERE DURING THE NIGHT I LOST THAT CONSCIOUSNESS, 07:24 BUT I WAS STILL THERE." 07:26 WHEN YOU FALL ASLEEP, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, 07:29 BUT IT DOESN'T MOVE YOU. 07:30 YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? 07:31 AND SO YOU MAY BE ABIDING IN CHRIST AND NOT ALWAYS BE 07:34 AWARE OF THAT. 07:36 BUT WHAT TROUBLES US IS THE TIMES WE KNOW WE ARE CONSCIOUS 07:40 THAT WE ARE NOT ABIDING IN CHRIST. 07:42 IF YOU'RE ABIDING IN CHRIST, IF THE VINE IS ABIDING IN THE 07:46 BRANCH, WILL THERE BE EVIDENCE? 07:52 THERE'LL BE FRUIT, ISN'T THAT RIGHT? 07:55 CAN THAT SPRIG OR THAT GRAPEVINE BEAR FRUIT IF IT'S 08:00 NOT ATTACHED TO THE MAIN VINE? 08:04 NO, IT'LL BE FRUITLESS. 08:05 IF THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT ARE IN OUR LIVES, THEN WE KNOW WE'RE 08:08 ABIDING IN CHRIST. 08:10 HE SAYS THAT WE MUST ABIDE IN HIM--I'M IN VERSE 2 NOW. 08:13 JOHN 15:2, THIS IS OUR PASSAGE OF STUDY. 08:17 EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT, HE TAKES AWAY. 08:24 NOW FOR THOSE WHO ARE MIXED UP WITH WHAT THEY CALL, 08:26 "ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED," THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH THAT 08:29 JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE IN CHRIST ONE DAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE 08:33 SAVED NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CHOICES ARE. 08:35 YOU DO NOT LOSE YOUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE AFTER YOU BECOME 08:37 A CHRISTIAN. 08:38 GOD DOES NOT TAKE YOUR WILL. 08:40 IF YOU CHOOSE, AT SOME POINT, NOT TO FOLLOW HIM, NOT TO LOVE 08:43 HIM, NOT TO SERVE HIM, THEN YOU'RE NO LONGER SAVED. 08:47 DID YOU HEAR THAT? 08:48 IT'S A FREE CHOICE. 08:49 YOU CANNOT FORCE LOVE. 08:51 IF YOU DO NOT LOVE THE LORD, YOU'RE NOT SAVED. 08:53 THERE'LL BE PEOPLE IN HEAVEN THAT DIDN'T KNOW A LOT 08:55 OF THINGS. 08:57 THERE'LL BE PEOPLE IN HEAVEN THAT MAYBE DID NOT EAT 08:58 A BIBLICAL DIET. 09:00 BUT THERE WON'T BE ANYONE IN HEAVEN THAT DOESN'T LOVE GOD. 09:03 THAT'S BASIC. 09:05 AND SO IF A PERSON CHOOSES, YOU CAN'T FORCE LOVE OR IT STOPS 09:09 BEING LOVE. 09:10 DID THAT MAKE SENSE? 09:11 I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN. 09:13 THE IDEA THAT SOME OF MY PREDESTINATION FRIENDS EMBRACE 09:17 THAT ONCE YOU'RE SAVED, YOU CAN'T BE LOST. 09:21 IT SMACKS OF THE IDEA THAT GOD FORCES YOU TO LOVE HIM AGAINST 09:25 YOUR WILL. 09:27 IF YOU LOVE THE LORD, YOU'LL OBEY HIM. 09:29 NOT EVERYBODY WHO SAYS THEY LOVE GOD IS OBEYING HIM. 09:32 YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. 09:35 ARE YOU WITH ME? 09:36 AND IF THE FRUIT IS REBELLION, THEY DON'T LOVE 'EM. 09:42 RIGHT? 09:44 AND SO JUST BECAUSE THEY SAID A PRAYER AT SOME POINT IN THEIR 09:46 LIFE AND GAVE THEIR HEART TO THE LORD AND THEY'RE OUT LIVING 09:49 FOR THE DEVIL DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY'RE STILL IN CHRIST. 09:53 HE SAYS, "ANY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT FRUIT 09:58 IS TAKEN AWAY." 10:01 SO HOW IMPORTANT IS FRUIT TO JESUS? 10:03 IT'S CRUCIAL. 10:06 IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THESE FRUITS. 10:08 HE SAYS, "EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT, 10:11 HE TAKES IT AWAY." 10:12 I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT. 10:14 EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT, HE PRUNES IT. 10:18 PRUNING IS LIKE THE TRIALS. 10:20 EVEN IF YOU LOVE THE LORD, EVEN IF THERE IS FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE 10:24 DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH TRIALS. 10:27 MATTER OF FACT, WELL, LET ME READ IT TO YOU FROM THE BIBLE. 10:30 HE SAYS IN PETER, "EVERY SON WHO THE FATHER LOVES 10:35 EXPERIENCES CHASTENING." 10:37 JAMES 1:2-4, "MY BRETHREN COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL 10:45 INTO VARIOUS TRIALS KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH 10:48 PRODUCES PATIENCE. 10:50 BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK." 10:54 LET THE GARDENER PRUNE. 10:57 TRUST HIM. 10:58 HAS THE LORD DONE ANY PRUNING IN YOUR LIFE? 11:01 SOMETIMES THE PRUNING MEANS HE'S CUTTING AWAY THOSE THINGS 11:03 THAT ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE. 11:05 SOMETIMES IT'S RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE DISTRACTING AND 11:07 TAKING US DOWN THE WRONG ROAD. 11:09 I MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THE LORD PRUNES US. 11:11 SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE SOME PHYSICAL AILMENT OR TRIAL 11:13 BECAUSE IT'S TEACHING YOU TO DEPEND MORE ON HIM. 11:16 AND ULTIMATELY WHAT HE WANTS IS IT MAKES YOU MORE FRUITFUL 11:19 AS A CHRISTIAN. 11:22 CHRISTIAN FRUIT IS NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'VE GOT 11:24 IN THE BANK. 11:26 THAT'S NOT THE CURRENCY GOD'S TALKING ABOUT. 11:28 CHRISTIAN FRUIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE. 11:33 YOU'LL FIND THAT LIST IN GALATIANS 5:22. 11:34 YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? 11:36 THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS. 11:37 SO HE ALLOWS TRIALS TO COME THAT WE MIGHT BE MORE 11:40 PRODUCTIVE. 11:41 ROMANS 8:18, "FOR I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS 11:45 PRESENT TIME ARE NOT EVEN WORTHY TO BE COMPARED WITH 11:48 THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE REVEALED IN US." 11:51 GOD SOMETIMES ALLOWS US TO GO THROUGH TRIALS. 11:54 SOMETIMES YOU GO THROUGH SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL SUFFERING, 11:57 PHYSICAL SUFFERING. 11:58 THINGS THAT MAY STAY WITH YOU YOUR WHOLE LIFE. 12:01 BUT THEY HAVE HELPED YOU. 12:03 THEY'VE BALANCED YOU. 12:04 THEY'VE PREPARED YOU TO BE MORE FRUITFUL. 12:08 THERE IS NO FRUIT WITHOUT JESUS. 12:12 YOU MUST ABIDE IN HIM IF YOU WANT FRUIT. 12:15 JOHN 15, WE'RE BACK TO OUR PASSAGE VERSE 4 AND 5. 12:18 CHRIST SAID, "ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU." 12:23 NOW YOU NOTICE IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH. 12:25 WE ARE. 12:26 TO BE FRUITFUL, IT'S BOTH OF US. 12:29 IT'S WE'RE ABIDING IN CHRIST. 12:32 WE'RE RESTING IN HIM. 12:33 AND HE SAYS, "AND I WANT TO BE IN YOU." 12:36 THAT'S TALKING ABOUT A REAL LOVE RELATIONSHIP WHERE YOU'RE 12:39 ABIDING IN HIM AND HE'S ABIDING IN YOU. 12:41 NOTICE WHY. 12:42 "AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF UNLESS IT 12:45 ABIDES IN THE VINE. 12:46 NEITHER CAN YOU UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. 12:49 I AM THE VINE. 12:51 YOU ARE THE BRANCHES." 12:52 WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE VINE IN THIS OLD ENGLISH TERMINOLOGY 12:56 IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE THICK, GRAPE, STALK VINE. 12:59 THE PART THAT EVERYTHING SPRINGS OUT OF. 13:01 "I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. 13:05 HE WHO ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM THE SAP IS FLOWING BETWEEN 13:09 THEM, BEARS MUCH FRUIT. 13:13 FOR WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING." 13:16 YOU CANNOT HAVE THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN 13:19 ABIDING RELATIONSHIP IN JESUS. 13:22 THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, AGAIN, GALATIANS 5:22, 13:25 WHAT'S THE FIRST FRUIT? 13:27 LOVE. 13:28 IF GO TO 1 CORINTHIANS 13, "NOW ABIDES THESE THREE, FAITH, 13:34 HOPE, LOVE." 13:36 BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS WHAT? 13:38 LOVE. 13:39 MOST IMPORTANT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE. 13:42 JESUS SAID, "BY YOUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL ALL MEN KNOW 13:46 THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES." 13:48 JOHN ALWAYS AND CONSTANTLY WAS SAYING, "LOVE EACH OTHER. 13:53 LOVE EACH OTHER." 13:54 THIS IS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW. 13:56 AND YOU'LL PRODUCE THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT WHEN YOU HAVE 13:59 THAT LOVE RELATIONSHIP. 14:01 NOW, I TOLD YOU THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT. 14:04 IT'S BECAUSE IT'S LIFE AND DEATH. 14:07 IF WE FAIL TO ABIDE IN JESUS, WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY 14:10 IN JOHN 15:6? 14:12 "IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME, HE IS CAST OUT AS A BRANCH 14:18 AND IS WITHERED." 14:20 YOU NOTICE THAT FIRST IT'S CAST OUT THEN IT WITHERS? 14:24 THERE IS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN A BRANCH IS CUT OFF THAT IT CAN 14:27 STILL BE GRAFTED BACK IN. 14:29 ONCE ITS DRIES, IT DIES, LIKE AN OLIVE TREE. 14:38 JESUS TALKS ABOUT OR PAUL TALKS ABOUT IN CHAPTER 9 OF ROMANS, 14:41 THE GENTILES ARE GRAFTED INTO THE STALK OF ISRAEL. 14:44 WHEN YOU CUT IT, CUT IT FROM ONE AND YOU PUT IT 14:47 IN THE OTHER. 14:48 IF YOU DON'T WAIT TOO LONG AND YOU KEEP IT MOIST, IT CAN TAKE 14:51 ROOT AND IT CAN SURVIVE. 14:52 BUT IF IT'S WITHERED, IF IT DRIES, IT DIES. 14:55 AND WHAT'S THE FATE THEN? 14:57 THEY GATHER THEM, THEY THROW THEM IN THE FIRE, THEY ARE 15:01 BURNED. 15:02 THEY ARE WITHERED, DRY, SPIRITLESS FUEL FOR THE FIRE. 15:07 THERE ARE TWO CHOICES. 15:09 WE'VE GOTTA LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO ABIDE IN CHRIST, TO HAVE 15:12 A VITAL, LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS OR PERISH. 15:17 DIDN'T JESUS TELL US THAT, TWO CHOICES? 15:19 WHOEVER BELIEVES, ETERNAL LIFE. 15:21 THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE, PERISH. 15:23 ABIDE IN HIM, LIVE, FRUIT. 15:26 NO FRUIT, CUT AWAY, BRUSH PILE FIRE. 15:31 NOW I'VE SAID ALL THAT TO TELL YOU HOW CAN WE DO IT. 15:34 HOW CAN WE ABIDE IN HIM? 15:36 ABIDE IN HIS WORD. 15:38 THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I CAN SHARE 15:40 WITH YOU. 15:41 JOHN 15:7 JESUS SAID, "IF YOU ABIDE IN ME--" AND HE EXPLAINS 15:45 IT NOW MORE THOROUGHLY. 15:47 "AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YOU WILL ASK WHAT YOU DESIRE 15:52 AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU. 15:54 OKAY, NOW WE'VE HEARD THE PROBLEM, NOW WE'RE GETTING 15:57 THE ANSWER. 15:58 HOW DO WE PRACTICALLY ABIDE IN CHRIST? 16:00 HE SAYS, "LET MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU." 16:05 HOW DO YOU GET THE WORD OF GOD TO ABIDE IN YOU? 16:09 WELL, LET'S START WITH READING. 16:11 READ YOUR BIBLES. 16:13 I SAY IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 16:16 GET USED TO IT. 16:16 I'LL KEEP SAYING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER. 16:18 WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF THE BIBLE. 16:19 AND THE MORE YOU READ THE BIBLE, IT'S A SUPERNATURAL 16:21 BOOK. 16:22 THE WORDS THAT JESUS SPEAKS, THEY ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE AND AS 16:25 YOU READ THEM AND YOU MEDITATE ON THEM--HAVING THE WORD ABIDE 16:29 IN YOU MEANS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT. 16:31 YOU'RE ANALYZING IT. 16:32 THE DEVIL CAME TO JESUS WITH TEMPTATION. 16:34 HOW DID JESUS FIGHT IT? 16:36 THE WORD WAS ABIDING IN CHRIST. 16:38 HE MET EVERY TEMPTATION WITH THE WORD OF GOD. 16:40 "THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET." 16:42 IT'S ABIDING IN US AND IT'S GIVING US CONTINUAL GUIDANCE 16:47 FROM HIS WORD. 16:49 "IF MY WORD ABIDES IN YOU, IT GIVES YOU THE PRINCIPLES 16:51 TO HELP GOVERN YOUR LIFE." 16:54 THY WORD GIVES LIGHT. 16:56 IT GIVES UNDERSTANDING. 16:58 IT HELPS US HAVE A WORLDVIEW AND A PHILOSOPHY BY WHICH WE 17:00 CAN LIVE. 17:01 "LET MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU." 17:04 2 JOHN, SAME AUTHOR OF GOSPEL OF JOHN. 17:08 2 JOHN 1:1-2. 17:10 LISTEN, THE ELDER--OF COURSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHAPTER 17:14 THERE. 17:15 "THE ELDER TO THE ELECT LADY AND HER CHILDREN WHOM I LOVE 17:19 IN THE TRUTH AND NOT I ONLY, BUT ALSO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE KNOWN 17:22 THE TRUTH BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH THAT ABIDES IN US AND WILL BE 17:29 WITH US FOREVER." 17:30 WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE TRUTH ABIDING IN US? 17:33 CHRIST IN US? 17:35 WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR JESUS? 17:38 HE'S THE WORD. 17:39 WHAT IS ANOTHER NAME FOR JESUS? 17:41 HE'S THE TRUTH. 17:42 SO AS YOU HAVE THE WORD AND YOU'VE GOT THE TRUTH 17:45 OF THE WORD ABIDING IN YOU, YOU IN VERITY HAVE JESUS IN YOU. 17:50 WE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW, HOW DO I DRINK HIS BLOOD AND EAT HIS 17:53 FLESH THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE? 17:54 HIS WORD. 17:56 THAT'S HOW WE GET HIM IN US. 17:59 CANNOT OVER EMPHASIZE AND THAT WOULD BE BIBLE STUDY, FAMILY 18:02 DEVOTIONS, PERSONAL DEVOTIONS, READING, DRIVING IN YOUR CAR. 18:07 SATURATE YOURSELF WITH THE WORD. 18:10 THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE LIVING WATER. 18:15 THIS WORLD IS CONSTANTLY DEHYDRATING US SPIRITUALLY. 18:20 JESUS IS CONSTANTLY EVAPORATING OUT OF US. 18:24 UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING TO CONSTANTLY REHYDRATE YOUR SOUL 18:28 WITH THE WORD, YOU DRY OUT. 18:32 AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO JUST TRY AND SURROUND YOURSELF 18:34 WITH IT. 18:37 ABIDING ALSO MEANS OBEYING. 18:40 JOHN 15:10, WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME CHAPTER. 18:43 LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF EMPHASIS CHRIST PUTS ON THAT. 18:45 "REAL LOVE WILL ABIDE AND OBEY. 18:49 IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, AND YOU WILL 18:53 ABIDE IN MY LOVE." 18:56 NOTICE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LOVE AND ABIDING. 18:59 CHAPTER 15:14, "YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATEVER I 19:03 COMMAND YOU." 19:05 THERE'S THAT CONNECTION THERE IN THE SAME CHAPTER BETWEEN 19:07 OBEYING. 19:08 JOHN 14:15, IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." 19:13 SO SOME OF THE FRUIT, THE EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS LOVE 19:17 THERE THAT WE ARE ABIDING IS OBEDIENCE. 19:21 IF A PERSON SAYS, "YES, I'M ABIDING IN JESUS," AND THEY'RE 19:24 LIVING A LIFE OF REBELLION, THEY'RE NOT ABIDING. 19:29 THERE WILL BE A COOPERATION. 19:31 HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BRANCH JUMP UP OFF THE VINE AND RUN 19:36 AROUND AND DO ITS OWN THING AND COME BACK? 19:39 NO. 19:40 THERE'S THIS PERMANENCE THERE. 19:42 THERE'S THIS CONNECTION THERE. 19:45 IT'S REGULAR. 19:46 1 JOHN 2:6 NOTICE AGAIN, "HE THAT SAYS HE ABIDETH IN HIM 19:51 OUGHT HIMSELF TO WALK AS HE WALKED." 19:54 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABIDE IN CHRIST? 19:56 GO TO CHURCH. 19:58 READ YOUR BIBLE. 19:59 BE LIKE JESUS. 20:01 IT SAYS YOU OUGHT TO WALK THE WAY HE WALKED. 20:03 WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW HE WALKED? 20:04 IT'S IN THE BIBLE. 20:05 READ THE GOSPELS. 20:06 LOOK AT HOW HE ACTS. 20:07 SAY, "LORD, I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU." 20:09 WALK LIKE HE WALKED. 20:11 1 JOHN 2:17, "AND THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY IN THE LUST 20:15 THEREOF BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD WILL ABIDE 20:19 FOREVER." 20:20 HOW MANY HERE WANT TO ABIDE FOREVER? 20:23 WHO IS GONNA ABIDE FOREVER? 20:24 THE ONES WHO ARE ABIDING NOW. 20:26 HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO'S ABIDING NOW? 20:27 THEY DO THE WILL OF GOD. 20:29 WHEN THEY KNOW THE WILL OF GOD, THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THE WILL 20:31 OF GOD. 20:32 1 JOHN 3:6, THIS ONE REALLY TROUBLES PEOPLE. 20:37 WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABIDING, "WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM 20:42 DOES NOT SIN." 20:44 NOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN, AS PEOPLE SOMETIMES HAVE TRIED 20:48 TO USE THIS TO TEACH A BRAND OF PERFECTIONISM. 20:52 THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A PERSON WHO IS ABIDING IN CHRIST IS 20:56 SINLESS. 20:58 THAT MEANS THERE IS NOT A PATTERN OR PRACTICE. 21:01 THERE'S NO DOMINION OF SIN. 21:03 THEY'RE NOT ADDICTED TO ANY HABITS. 21:05 THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE VICTORY. 21:07 THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT LIVING A LIFE OF PRACTICING SIN. 21:11 AND YOU'VE HEARD ME QUOTE MANY TIMES THAT PASSAGE FROM 21:14 THE BOOK "STEPS TO CHRIST" THAT TELLS US IT'S NOT 21:16 THE OCCASIONAL GOOD DEED OR OCCASIONAL MISDEED THAT 21:19 DETERMINES WHOSE SIDE WE'RE ON. 21:21 BUT IT IS THE HABITUAL. 21:23 WHAT IS THE HABIT IN YOUR LIFE? 21:24 IS IT ONE OF ABIDING? 21:25 IS IT ONE OF OBEYING? 21:27 WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN. 21:30 CAN YOU HEAR JESUS SAYING TO YOU TODAY, INSERT YOUR NAME. 21:35 "DOUG, I REALLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU. 21:38 BELIEVE IT. 21:38 I REALLY DO. 21:40 YES, EVEN YOU. 21:41 EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LIKE." 21:44 THAT'S WHY SOME OF YOU ARE STRUGGLING. 21:46 HE'S SAYING, "EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS WHAT I'M REALLY LIKE, 21:49 HE STILL LOVES ME AND HE STILL WANTS TO BE AROUND ME. 21:52 WHY, MOST OF MY FRIENDS DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND ME VERY LONG. 21:55 HE WANTS TO BE AROUND ME FOREVER?" 21:57 YES. 21:59 I KNOW THAT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE'S 22:00 TELLING US TODAY. 22:02 YOU KNOW I WAS THINKING ABOUT KANGAROOS. 22:04 AS I TURNED OFF MY COMPUTER LAST NIGHT, I WENT UPSTAIRS. 22:06 I WAS THINKING ABOUT ABIDING. 22:08 KANGAROOS POPPED INTO MY MIND. 22:10 AND LET ME EXPLAIN. 22:12 WHEN A KANGAROO IS BORN, IT'S JUST A LITTLE--IT'S ABOUT 22:16 AS BIG AS A PEANUT. 22:18 AND IT'S A MIRACLE OF GOD HOW THAT PEANUT MANAGES TO FIND HIS 22:21 WAY FROM THE BIRTH CANAL UP TO THE POUCH. 22:25 HE'S GOTTA CRAWL THROUGH THIS FOREST OF MOM'S FUR TO GET UP 22:28 AND FIND ITS WAY INTO THE POUCH. 22:30 AND ONCE IN THE POUCH, IT LATCHES ITSELF ON TO A LITTLE 22:32 NIPPLE, AND IT LOCKS DOWN ON THAT NIPPLE. 22:36 SO MUCH SO THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT AT THAT STAGE IN ITS LIFE, 22:38 IF YOU TRY TO DETACH THAT LITTLE BABY JOEY, IT'LL DIE. 22:44 IT IS ABSOLUTELY LOCKED IN. 22:46 AS IT MATURES, LITTLE BY LITTLE, YOU SEE IT STICKING 22:50 ITS HEAD OUT. 22:51 IT WILL GRAZE A LITTLE BIT FROM MOM'S POUCH AND THEN IT GOES 22:53 BACK AND THEN IT NURSES. 22:55 THEN IT STICKS ITS HEADS OUT AND IT MIGHT GRAZE AS 22:56 MOM'S GRAZING. 22:57 AND SHE LEANS OVER SO IT CAN GRAZE FROM HER POUCH. 22:59 AND THEN AS IT GETS EVEN OLDER STILL, IT HOPS OUT 23:01 OF THE POUCH. 23:02 IT'LL BOUNCE AROUND. 23:03 IT COMES BACK. 23:04 IT'LL NURSE. 23:05 IT'LL JUMP BACK IN AGAIN. 23:06 AND WHEN IT'S FINALLY MATURE MOM SAYS, "NO MORE. 23:08 YOU'RE OUT." 23:10 OKAY, WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS I WANT YOU TO THINK OF 23:12 CHRISTIANITY KIND OF LIKE A KANGAROO EXCEPT BACKWARDS. 23:17 WE START OUT LIKE A GROWN KANGAROO HOPPING AROUND DOING 23:19 OUR OWN THING. 23:21 AND EVERY NOW AND THEN WE POKE OUR HEAD IN THE CHURCH, WE GET 23:23 A DRINK AND WE GO BACK OUR OWN WAY. 23:25 REAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH IS LIKE KANGAROO LIFE IN REVERSE. 23:30 WE WANT TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT IN THE VERY 23:33 BOSOM OF CHRIST NURSING ON THE MILK OF HIS WORD 23:37 AND WE DON'T EVER LET GO. 23:40 THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN SO THAT YOU'VE 23:42 GOT THAT RELATIONSHIP. 23:44 NOW BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'M GONNA END SORT OF LIKE 23:47 I STARTED. 23:49 YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE DISCIPLES ON THE ROAD 23:50 TO EMMAUS? 23:52 JESUS HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD. 23:53 THIS IS AT THE END OF THE GOSPEL STORY. 23:56 HE MEETS TWO DISCIPLES. 23:57 HE'S TALKING TO THEM ON THE ROAD DOWN TO EMMAUS 23:59 FROM JERUSALEM. 24:01 THEY DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS RIGHT AWAY. 24:03 HE TELLS THEM FROM MOSES TO MALACHI HOW THEY SHOULD BELIEVE 24:07 THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH AND THEIR HEATS ARE BURNING WITHIN 24:10 THEM BY THE THINGS THAT HE'S SAYING. 24:12 FINALLY THEY GET TO A FORK IN THE ROAD AND THERE YOU CAN SEE 24:14 THE LITTLE SIGN THAT SAYS, "EMMAUS." 24:16 AND THE SUN IS BEGINNING TO GO DOWN. 24:17 THEY CAN SEE THE GLOW OF SOME OF THE LAMPS IN THE WINDOWS. 24:20 AND JESUS MAKES LIKE HE'S GONNA KEEP GOING DOWN THE ROAD 24:23 TOWARDS JERICHO. 24:25 AND THEY SAY, "COME IN AND ABIDE WITH US BECAUSE IT'S 24:31 LATE." 24:34 AND MATTER OF FACT, IT SAYS THEY URGED HIM. 24:38 THAT WORD THERE IS THEY COMPELLED HIM. 24:40 THEY CONSTRAINED HIM. 24:42 THEY PLED WITH HIM. 24:43 THEY MIGHT HAVE EVEN TAKEN AHOLD OF HIS SHOULDER AND SAID, 24:45 "COME, COME, YOU STAY WITH US." 24:48 AND HE DID. 24:51 AND IT WAS IN ABIDING WITH THEM AT THEIR HOUSE HE REVEALED 24:55 HIMSELF TO THEM. 24:57 IT WAS IN ABIDING WITH THEM THAT HE REVEALED WHO HE WAS 25:02 AND THEY SUDDENLY KNEW HIM, AND THEN THEY HAD TO GO TELL 25:06 OTHERS. 25:07 NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME PREPARING FOR THIS MESSAGE, 25:09 A TRUTH CAME TO ME. 25:11 THE GOSPEL STORY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH TWO DISCIPLES. 25:17 THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE FOLLOWING JESUS AND THEY SAY, 25:21 "WHERE DO YOU STAY?" 25:21 AND HE SAYS, "YOU COME AND ABIDE WITH ME." 25:24 THEY GET TO KNOW HIM AND THEN THEY GO TELL OTHERS BECAUSE 25:25 THE SUN IS GOING DOWN. 25:27 THE GOSPEL STORY ENDS WITH A VERY SIMILAR SCENARIO. 25:31 TWO DISCIPLES EXCEPT JESUS IS NOW FOLLOWING THEM. 25:33 HE CATCHES UP WITH THEM. 25:34 THEY SAY, "YOU ABIDE WITH US." 25:36 FIRST JESUS SAYS, "YOU ABIDE WITH ME." 25:37 THEN THE DISCIPLES SAY, "YOU ABIDE WITH US." 25:41 THEY'RE BOTH ABOUT SUNDOWN. 25:43 TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. 25:45 OUR LIVES ARE SHORT LIKE A SHADOW. 25:48 AFTER HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO THEM, THEY THEN GO TELL OTHERS. 25:52 OUR JOB AS CHRISTIANS IS SUMMARIZED IN WE COME TO 25:56 CHRIST. 25:57 WE ABIDE IN CHRIST, THEN WE GO TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIM THAT THEY 25:59 CAN KNOW HIM TOO. 26:01 >> STAY TUNED. 26:02 PASTOR DOUG WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL 26:05 FREE OFFER. 26:08 >> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE? 26:13 >> IS ANYONE IN HEAVEN NOW? 26:18 >> WHAT IS A SOUL? 26:23 >> IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH CREMATION? 26:29 >> WHAT WAS THE FIRST LIE THE DEVIL EVER TOLD? 26:36 >> YOU WON'T REALLY DIE, YOU'RE IMMORTAL. 26:38 >> IF YOU'VE MISSED ANY OF OUR AMAZING FACTS PROGRAMS, 26:40 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT AMAZINGFACTS.ORG. 26:43 THERE YOU'LL FIND AN ARCHIVE OF ALL OUR TELEVISION AND RADIO 26:45 PROGRAMS INCLUDING "AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS." 26:48 ONE LOCATION, SO MANY POSSIBILITIES. 26:51 AMAZINGFACTS.ORG. 26:58 >> FRIENDS, FOR OVER 40 YEARS NOW AMAZING FACTS HAS CREATED 27:02 AND PUBLISHED THOUSANDS OF BOOKS AND BIBLE LESSONS 27:04 AND HUNDREDS OF TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS. 27:07 IT'S ALL BEEN DONE WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND, TO SHARE 27:11 THE WONDERFUL NEWS OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. 27:14 WE FOUND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS IN THIS LIFE EXCEPT A GENUINE 27:17 RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. 27:19 THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO OFFER YOU A POWERFUL BOOK ENTITLED 27:23 "STEPS TO CHRIST." 27:25 THIS BOOK HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO OVER A HUNDRED LANGUAGES 27:28 AND HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO MILLIONS. 27:30 GENERATIONS OF BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS ALIKE HAVE 27:33 TESTIFIED TO THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK. 27:37 PLEASE CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER NOW AND ASK FOR 27:40 OFFER NUMBER 736. 27:43 OR IF YOU PREFER, WRITES US AT AMAZING FACTS, 27:45 OFFER NUMBER 736, P.O. 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Revised 2015-02-05