I want to spend my life
00:00:01.50\00:00:07.34
Mending broken people
00:00:07.37\00:00:12.34
I want to spend
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My life
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Removing pain Lord,
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let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and Happy Sabbath
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and welcome to
another 3ABN Family Worship.
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We're glad that
you're pulling up
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the chair drawn into our table.
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We've got the rest
of the family around
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the table tonight.
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And we're excited to
be bringing in the Sabbath
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with our topic,
Abiding in Christ.
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I'm Shelley Quinn. I'm JD Quinn.
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It's a joy to have
our guests tonight,
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and not just our
guests but our family.
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Amen. You want to
introduce the family?
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I most certainly can.
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You get to see them every day.
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You get to visit
with them every day.
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We got Don and
Janelle down here on this end.
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We've seen them many times.
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We have Brian, Brian Dickens.
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And Brian has
been here for a while,
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but he's just so busy.
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It's hard to get you
to jump in here with us.
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So this is a
real gift to us. Yes.
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Well, it's
definitely a privilege
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and an honor to definitely
be on the Family Worship
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and to be with
everybody at home,
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and especially everyone here.
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I mean, we are definitely
a family here at 3ABN.
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It's just a
wonderful blessing to be here.
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Yes. Indeed, it is.
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Well, Shelley, you
want to kick this off?
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This is...
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Well, before we
pray, let me just explain
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what we're going to talk
about tonight then we'll pray,
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and if you have...
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I hope you've got
a Bible, and a pen,
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and a paper to write on
because we will look tonight
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at how the Bible
describes the relationship
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of believers in Christ.
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You know, God calls
us into relationship.
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Jesus said in John 17:3,
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"This is eternal life
that they would know God
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the Father and Christ, His Son."
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So He calls us
into relationship,
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but if we're going
to be in relationship
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with Him, we
have to abide in Him.
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So tonight
we're going to look at
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what does it mean
to abide in Christ?
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How do we abide?
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How do we know that we abide?
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What is fruit?
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And what is the
blessing of abiding?
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So if you have an interest
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in knowing that
love relationship
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with Jesus on a continual basis.
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I know you're going
to enjoy tonight's study.
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We're going to get
deep into Scripture.
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Honey, do you want to pray?
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Most certainly.
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Father, as we come to
You in the name of Jesus,
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we want to thank You,
Lord, for the Sabbath.
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Father, thank You,
Lord that we can already
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feel that we begin to
relax because, Father,
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we're turning
this time over to You.
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Father, let us indeed
purpose in our hearts that today
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will be special.
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Father, thank You for
this particular topic,
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Abiding in You.
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And, Father, as we
go through this, Lord,
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that we will just reach
out in hunger to be satisfied.
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Father, we will
look into Your Word,
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the Word that came
from Your lips, Lord,
00:04:08.84\00:04:11.21
so that we can
indeed be satisfied.
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We love You. We thank You.
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Be with each one of
us, Lord, empty us of us,
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fill us with You, Lord.
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Many times, we really
don't know what direction
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we're going to go in,
but, Father, through the aid
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of the Holy Spirit it
seems like it makes sense.
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Thank You, Lord.
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Thank You.
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We give You praise
and glory in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Well, if you have your Bibles,
00:04:36.94\00:04:38.44
you want to open
to John Chapter 15.
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And this is one of the most
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beautiful passages on
what the relationships
00:04:45.28\00:04:49.88
of believers in
Christ, what it's like.
00:04:49.92\00:04:53.32
So what we're going to
do is just read through
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John 15:1-14.
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And I think you're
going to see right here,
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we've got all
five of our questions
00:05:02.06\00:05:04.07
answered that we just posed.
00:05:04.10\00:05:06.03
But Don, why don't you...
00:05:06.07\00:05:07.40
We're going to read
from the Amplified because
00:05:07.44\00:05:09.54
you know what the Amplify does.
00:05:09.57\00:05:11.01
If you see
something in parentheses,
00:05:11.04\00:05:14.08
that means they're
amplifying the Greek language.
00:05:14.11\00:05:19.01
So if they say a
word, and then you see two
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or three other words,
this is kind of helping you
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understand the
full great meaning.
00:05:24.72\00:05:27.06
When you see
something in brackets,
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it's actually a
comment of the translator.
00:05:29.99\00:05:34.40
But I love the Amplified
Version because sometimes
00:05:34.43\00:05:38.37
it helps us understand better.
00:05:38.40\00:05:41.60
So, Don, why don't you read
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John 15:1-3 from the Amplified?
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Sure.
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It says, "I am the true Vine..."
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And who's
speaking? This is Jesus.
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Okay.
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"I am the True Vine, and
My Father is the Vinedresser.
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Any branch in Me
that does not bear fruit,
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or that stops bearing,
He cuts away, trims off,"
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to bear fruit, I'm
sorry, "trims off, takes away.
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And He cleanses
and repeatedly prunes."
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I like that.
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"He cleanses and
repeatedly prunes
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every branch that
continues to bear fruit..."
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That's an important statement.
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"To make it bear
more and richer and more
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excellent fruit.
00:06:20.64\00:06:21.98
You are cleansed and pruned
already, because of the word
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which I have given you,
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the teachings I
have discussed with you."
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I just have to
make this one comment.
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That reminds me of
something my precious friend,
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Mollie Sue Steenson said once
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as we were
reading this and she said,
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"Hmm, you're pruned if you do
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and you're pruned if you don't."
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I remember her saying that.
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I remember her
saying and that's so funny.
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But that is, you
know, so Jesus is saying,
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"I am the Vine,"
we are the branches.
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So, Janelle, how
about verses 4 and 5?
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Okay.
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"Dwell in Me, and I will
dwell in you, live in Me,
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and I will live in you.
00:07:00.25\00:07:02.08
Just as no branch
can bear fruit of itself
00:07:02.12\00:07:04.75
without abiding in, being
vitally united to the vine,
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neither can you bear
fruit unless you abide in Me.
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I am the Vine,
you are the branches.
00:07:13.63\00:07:16.26
Whoever lives in Me
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and I in him bears
much abundant fruit.
00:07:17.77\00:07:23.24
However, apart from Me cut
off from vital union with Me,
00:07:23.27\00:07:27.84
you can do nothing."
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Oh, we've got to mention,
stop and comment on that.
00:07:29.24\00:07:33.52
What does Jesus mean?
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He says, "I'm the
Vine, you're the branches."
00:07:35.35\00:07:39.65
And, you know,
00:07:39.69\00:07:41.02
I think of the
vine being connected,
00:07:41.06\00:07:45.76
or the branch being
connected to the vine,
00:07:45.79\00:07:48.30
what supports the branch?
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It's the sap.
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I think of sap, S-A-P
00:07:53.54\00:07:56.54
as the Spirit's Anointing Power.
00:07:56.57\00:08:00.11
It's like a life.
00:08:00.14\00:08:01.74
So as we are united
to Christ as our Vine,
00:08:01.78\00:08:06.25
the Holy Spirit is flowing
into us and bringing us this.
00:08:06.28\00:08:11.09
But what does he mean,
00:08:11.12\00:08:13.29
"Apart from Me,
you can do nothing?"
00:08:13.32\00:08:15.62
Yeah.
00:08:15.66\00:08:16.99
It says, "They're cut
off from vital union."
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I like the word vital union,
00:08:20.83\00:08:23.47
it's a really
powerful thought that, yeah,
00:08:23.50\00:08:24.83
if we're not
connected or linked up with...
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And I was reading the...
00:08:27.50\00:08:28.84
There's a little blue box,
I don't go too deep into it,
00:08:28.87\00:08:30.24
but it said, "Communication
between men and God,
00:08:30.27\00:08:34.48
there's a constant
need to communicate."
00:08:34.51\00:08:36.71
So you have to in
order to buy this,
00:08:36.75\00:08:38.18
you've got to communicate
otherwise there is no point.
00:08:38.21\00:08:40.22
We're going to get
into that in just a minute.
00:08:40.25\00:08:42.08
But the point here is that,
00:08:42.12\00:08:44.95
hey, there are
some people that...
00:08:44.99\00:08:48.06
wealthy people
who are philanthropic
00:08:48.09\00:08:52.29
and they seem to accomplish
a lot while they're on earth.
00:08:52.33\00:08:57.27
But apart from Christ,
00:08:57.30\00:08:59.60
you can do nothing
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of eternal lasting value.
00:09:01.97\00:09:06.44
I think the key
word there is eternal.
00:09:06.47\00:09:08.08
Yeah.
00:09:08.11\00:09:09.44
I know they might
temporarily have some successes,
00:09:09.48\00:09:12.98
but you're going to run
out of gas sooner or later.
00:09:13.01\00:09:15.28
And not fulfilled.
00:09:15.32\00:09:16.85
Yeah.
00:09:16.89\00:09:18.22
Okay, Brian how
about verses 6-8?
00:09:18.25\00:09:21.42
Okay, verse number 6,
00:09:21.46\00:09:23.32
"If a person
does not dwell in Me,
00:09:23.36\00:09:25.53
he is thrown out
like a broken-off branch,
00:09:25.56\00:09:28.30
and withers.
00:09:28.33\00:09:29.66
Such branches are gathered
up and thrown into the fire,
00:09:29.70\00:09:33.30
and they are burned.
00:09:33.34\00:09:34.74
If you live in Me,
abide vitally united to Me,
00:09:34.77\00:09:38.87
and My words remain in you
00:09:38.91\00:09:40.81
and continue to
live in your hearts,
00:09:40.84\00:09:43.24
ask whatever you will,
and it shall be done for you.
00:09:43.28\00:09:47.52
When you bear,
produce much fruit,
00:09:47.55\00:09:50.69
My Father is
honored and glorified,
00:09:50.72\00:09:53.22
and you show
00:09:53.25\00:09:54.59
and prove yourselves to
be true followers of Mine."
00:09:54.62\00:09:58.03
Okay, so we already see that we
00:09:58.06\00:09:59.79
got to be connected
to Him to have the sap,
00:09:59.83\00:10:02.96
the Spirit flowing into us.
00:10:03.00\00:10:05.43
But here we see the
abiding in the Word.
00:10:05.47\00:10:09.70
Jesus is the Word, is He not?
00:10:09.74\00:10:12.27
And if the Word
is in our hearts,
00:10:12.31\00:10:15.84
where it helps
us abide in Christ.
00:10:15.88\00:10:17.51
And we're going to break all
00:10:17.55\00:10:18.88
of this down just
in second for you.
00:10:18.91\00:10:20.68
Honey, why don't you
read verses 9 and 10?
00:10:20.72\00:10:24.29
Nine and 10,
00:10:24.32\00:10:26.15
"I have loved you just
as the Father has loved Me.
00:10:26.19\00:10:30.43
Abide in My love,
continue in His love with me.
00:10:30.46\00:10:34.73
And if you keep My commandments,
00:10:34.76\00:10:36.80
if you continue to
obey My instructions,
00:10:36.83\00:10:40.07
you will abide in My
love and live on in it,
00:10:40.10\00:10:44.67
just as I have obeyed
My Father's commandments
00:10:44.71\00:10:48.08
and live on in His love."
00:10:48.11\00:10:50.31
So what is the condition
we see here of abiding?
00:10:50.35\00:10:54.88
Obedience. Yeah, living in it.
00:10:54.92\00:10:56.65
Isn't it? So let's recap.
00:10:56.69\00:10:59.59
What does it mean
to abide in Christ?
00:10:59.62\00:11:04.03
We've got to remain
vitally connected to him.
00:11:04.06\00:11:08.56
We've got to walk in
His Word, His doctrines,
00:11:08.60\00:11:12.57
His teachings.
00:11:12.60\00:11:14.14
We've got to walk in obedience.
00:11:14.17\00:11:16.14
And I just have to say we don't
believe obedience saves us.
00:11:16.17\00:11:19.94
This is after we've
been saved by grace.
00:11:19.97\00:11:23.31
But this is one of the signs
that we are walking in covenant
00:11:23.35\00:11:27.55
loyalty in love for Him,
is that we walk in obedience.
00:11:27.58\00:11:32.42
But how do we abide?
00:11:32.45\00:11:34.49
What did we just read?
00:11:34.52\00:11:35.86
How do we abide? Yeah.
00:11:35.89\00:11:38.13
We're talking about
the idea of the Spirit,
00:11:38.16\00:11:40.56
by the power of the Spirit.
00:11:40.60\00:11:42.93
Of course, we're talking
also staying in the Word.
00:11:42.96\00:11:44.43
If you don't...
00:11:44.47\00:11:45.80
The Word's not in there,
and also walking in obedience.
00:11:45.83\00:11:48.17
We just mentioned that.
00:11:48.20\00:11:49.54
But something that
opened my mind this morning,
00:11:49.57\00:11:51.47
yeah, He says, "Something has
to be abandoned for something
00:11:51.51\00:11:54.08
else to abide."
00:11:54.11\00:11:55.74
So something
has to be abandoned,
00:11:55.78\00:11:57.11
something in us
has to be abandoned...
00:11:57.15\00:11:58.61
Oh, amen.
00:11:58.65\00:11:59.98
That's all about yielding
and surrendering, isn't it?
00:12:00.02\00:12:01.72
Right, you've to
abandon for Him to abide.
00:12:01.75\00:12:03.72
Well, you were
saying about obedience.
00:12:03.75\00:12:06.59
You know, what came to my mind
00:12:06.62\00:12:07.96
is that it's a
response of your heart.
00:12:07.99\00:12:10.86
It's not like
you're altering behavior.
00:12:10.89\00:12:14.26
Yeah, you're motivated by love
00:12:14.30\00:12:16.67
and your heart
wants to do what he wants.
00:12:16.70\00:12:20.34
And so that's what motivates.
00:12:20.37\00:12:23.07
Amen. All right.
00:12:23.10\00:12:24.51
So, Brian, the
third question is,
00:12:24.54\00:12:28.61
how do we know we abide?
What did John 15:1-14 tell us?
00:12:28.64\00:12:34.05
How can we know that we abide?
00:12:34.08\00:12:36.99
Well, it says even here on
verse number 7 that I read,
00:12:37.02\00:12:41.36
"When you abide, you
vitally are united with Christ."
00:12:41.39\00:12:46.09
You know, whenever you spend
your days connected with Him,
00:12:46.13\00:12:50.17
whether it be in the
Word, whether it be in prayer,
00:12:50.20\00:12:52.93
and your actions...
00:12:52.97\00:12:54.54
So the evidence is the fruit.
00:12:54.57\00:12:57.81
The fruit that you bear.
00:12:57.84\00:12:59.17
If the branch is abiding
in the vine, it's the fruit.
00:12:59.21\00:13:03.81
Correct.
00:13:03.85\00:13:05.18
So what do you think the fruit
00:13:05.21\00:13:06.55
is that he's speaking of, honey?
00:13:06.58\00:13:08.45
Well, the fruit is the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:08.48\00:13:12.62
And the fruit of the
Spirit, yeah, I think,
00:13:12.65\00:13:15.22
and we'll get to all of this.
00:13:15.26\00:13:17.16
But, Janelle, let
me ask you, what is...
00:13:17.19\00:13:21.03
Why do we want to abide?
00:13:21.06\00:13:22.40
What's the blessing of abiding?
00:13:22.43\00:13:25.73
Well, it's really...
00:13:25.77\00:13:28.50
It's that relationship
00:13:28.54\00:13:30.71
and the reciprocal love
that we can share with Him.
00:13:30.74\00:13:34.98
And when we see and
we have a small glimpse
00:13:35.01\00:13:38.15
of how much He loves us,
and how much He's done for us,
00:13:38.18\00:13:41.88
then we just can't help it.
00:13:41.92\00:13:43.99
It's just a
natural thing that comes
00:13:44.02\00:13:46.09
when we want to love
Him because it's just...
00:13:46.12\00:13:48.99
It's amazing when
you think about how much,
00:13:49.02\00:13:52.23
you know, how
personal He is to each of us.
00:13:52.26\00:13:55.90
And when we can know
that He's a relatable savior
00:13:55.93\00:13:59.60
and not just someone
that came, died for our sins.
00:13:59.63\00:14:03.57
He actually can relate to
whatever I'm going through
00:14:03.61\00:14:06.71
and that, to me
that's just an amazing thing.
00:14:06.74\00:14:10.48
So the blessing of
abiding, if we're not abiding,
00:14:10.51\00:14:14.92
if we're dead
branch, we're broken off,
00:14:14.95\00:14:17.45
we're not going to
have the abundant life.
00:14:17.49\00:14:19.19
He said in John 10:10,
00:14:19.22\00:14:21.22
"I came to give you
life and life abundant."
00:14:21.26\00:14:24.63
So the blessing of abiding
00:14:24.66\00:14:27.50
is that we've got the
abundant life now, you know.
00:14:27.53\00:14:32.07
Go ahead.
00:14:32.10\00:14:33.44
No, I've got two, I say
I've got, we've got five,
00:14:33.47\00:14:37.84
now we have five peach trees.
00:14:37.87\00:14:41.24
And whenever, I was so excited
00:14:41.28\00:14:43.24
when I got this
because I can see what abiding
00:14:43.28\00:14:46.72
and what taking care of,
what pruning is all about,
00:14:46.75\00:14:51.05
what sweet peaches taste like,
00:14:51.09\00:14:53.59
and also how the
squirrels get all the others.
00:14:53.62\00:14:58.33
You got to protect
your fruit. Most certainly.
00:14:58.36\00:15:01.86
But I have also known
well, the first number of years,
00:15:01.90\00:15:05.77
I didn't really have
enough sense to know that.
00:15:05.80\00:15:08.97
Either I did have enough sense,
00:15:09.00\00:15:10.51
and I didn't want to
hurt my trees by pruning them,
00:15:10.54\00:15:13.38
or I didn't have
enough sense to prune them,
00:15:13.41\00:15:15.78
but I got lamps everywhere.
00:15:15.81\00:15:17.21
Boy, it's so beautiful.
00:15:17.25\00:15:19.25
I was counting my
peaches before they hatched.
00:15:19.28\00:15:22.88
Well, it was so full of leaves.
00:15:22.92\00:15:26.79
Let's just say the sap.
00:15:26.82\00:15:28.16
That sap is like
blood within us, you know?
00:15:28.19\00:15:30.89
It's the
vitality that runs through
00:15:30.93\00:15:33.50
with all these tributaries
that are going out here
00:15:33.53\00:15:35.83
and everything.
00:15:35.86\00:15:37.20
But if you've got too many
tributaries, you don't get,
00:15:37.23\00:15:40.34
the fruit doesn't have
a chance to really grow.
00:15:40.37\00:15:43.41
Oh, yeah.
00:15:43.44\00:15:44.77
So I finally
00:15:44.81\00:15:46.14
learned that if you go
into these little pruning,
00:15:46.17\00:15:49.58
chop, chop, chop,
your heartbreaks each time,
00:15:49.61\00:15:53.31
and you question
every time you sawing.
00:15:53.35\00:15:55.78
But then the next year,
00:15:55.82\00:15:57.59
wow, there were
some nice big peaches.
00:15:57.62\00:15:59.55
If you know somebody,
like you're talking about,
00:15:59.59\00:16:02.46
there's a certain time of year
when you do that pruning too,
00:16:02.49\00:16:05.56
so there's a
timing involved in it.
00:16:05.59\00:16:07.76
And God knows the
right time to prune
00:16:07.80\00:16:10.63
and when it's going to
be more effective because
00:16:10.67\00:16:12.77
when you prune something,
it leaks that sapling out.
00:16:12.80\00:16:16.50
And if you do it
the right/wrong season,
00:16:16.54\00:16:18.41
it's going to lose it all.
00:16:18.44\00:16:20.08
See, that's a woman that
knows what she talks about.
00:16:20.11\00:16:21.88
So the blessing of abiding
00:16:21.91\00:16:25.28
is not just abundant life now,
00:16:25.31\00:16:28.12
but it's eternal life forever.
00:16:28.15\00:16:31.35
So let's look,
let's break this down.
00:16:31.39\00:16:35.36
How do we abide in Christ?
00:16:35.39\00:16:38.79
We abide, I'm going
to read the first one,
00:16:38.83\00:16:41.86
and this is John 14:15-18.
00:16:41.90\00:16:46.17
Jesus said, "If you love Me,
00:16:51.27\00:16:54.88
keep My commandments."
00:16:54.91\00:16:58.41
And that's a statement that
00:16:58.45\00:17:03.28
it's related to this.
00:17:03.32\00:17:05.89
It is dependent upon this.
00:17:05.92\00:17:08.12
"If you're walking in
obedience to My commandments,
00:17:08.16\00:17:11.39
motivated by love,
I will pray the Father
00:17:11.43\00:17:15.33
and He will give you
another Helper that He may
00:17:15.36\00:17:18.43
abide with you forever."
00:17:18.47\00:17:20.97
So Jesus is saying, you know,
00:17:21.00\00:17:24.11
Acts 5:32 says,
00:17:24.14\00:17:25.57
"The Holy Spirit is
given to those who obey."
00:17:25.61\00:17:28.54
So as we yield and say,
"Yes, Lord, I want Your way,"
00:17:28.58\00:17:32.85
and you're abiding in Him,
00:17:32.88\00:17:35.18
walking in
obedience to His commandments,
00:17:35.22\00:17:37.45
motivated by love, then He sends
00:17:37.49\00:17:42.16
the Holy Spirit.
00:17:42.19\00:17:43.53
And that's the only way
we can abide in the Lord
00:17:43.56\00:17:47.30
is when the Holy Spirit
00:17:47.33\00:17:48.83
is abiding and living within us.
00:17:48.86\00:17:51.23
He says, "He will
abide with you forever,
00:17:51.27\00:17:53.23
the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive,
00:17:53.27\00:17:57.41
because it neither
sees him nor knows him.
00:17:57.44\00:18:00.38
But you know him,
for he dwells with you.
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.21
He will be in you.
00:18:03.24\00:18:04.65
I will not leave you as orphans.
00:18:04.68\00:18:07.12
I will come to you."
00:18:07.15\00:18:09.38
In Romans Chapter 8 Paul says,
00:18:09.42\00:18:11.42
"Oh, you didn't
receive the spirit of fear.
00:18:11.45\00:18:15.46
You have received the
Spirit by which we cry
00:18:15.49\00:18:19.93
out Abba Father, Papa, Daddy."
00:18:19.96\00:18:24.20
So this is that relational
component that you were
00:18:24.23\00:18:28.00
talking about is that God
00:18:28.04\00:18:31.54
wants to be our Father.
00:18:31.57\00:18:34.31
Now, Don, why don't you read
00:18:34.34\00:18:36.54
1 John 4:12-19?
00:18:36.58\00:18:40.62
Okay.
00:18:40.65\00:18:42.02
It says, "No one has
seen God at any time."
00:18:42.05\00:18:44.55
I love that scripture.
00:18:44.59\00:18:46.42
"If we love one
another, God abides in us
00:18:46.45\00:18:49.86
and His love has
been perfected in us.
00:18:49.89\00:18:53.60
By this, we know
that we abide in Him
00:18:53.63\00:18:56.20
and He in us
because He has given us
00:18:56.23\00:18:59.57
of His Spirit."
00:18:59.60\00:19:00.94
Pause.
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.30
So can we abide in Christ
00:19:02.34\00:19:05.84
without the Holy Spirit?
00:19:05.87\00:19:07.21
No. We have to have Him.
00:19:07.24\00:19:09.41
I mean, that...
00:19:09.44\00:19:10.78
It's a conditional thing.
00:19:10.81\00:19:12.31
If you don't have
the Holy Spirit if God,
00:19:12.35\00:19:15.55
you're not abiding in Christ.
00:19:15.58\00:19:18.09
And, you know,
sometimes I have people
00:19:18.12\00:19:20.26
who criticize because I said,
00:19:20.29\00:19:22.32
"The first thing you
ought to do every morning
00:19:22.36\00:19:24.43
is wake up, pray
for the Holy Spirit."
00:19:24.46\00:19:27.90
Because and you see,
00:19:27.93\00:19:30.97
even in the Bible, that
there were different times
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.94
when they were
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:19:33.97\00:19:36.24
then they go on,
we're leaky vessels.
00:19:36.27\00:19:39.27
So we've got to day
by day depend on God
00:19:39.31\00:19:43.58
and on His Holy Spirit.
00:19:43.61\00:19:44.95
So if He's going to
abide in us and us in Him.
00:19:44.98\00:19:48.98
He's already used
abide twice there.
00:19:49.02\00:19:50.89
So go on with verse 14.
00:19:50.92\00:19:52.65
I was just gonna add
something real quick,
00:19:52.69\00:19:54.12
the Holy Spirit, from
what I'm looking at I see
00:19:54.16\00:19:57.26
it as the Holy
Spirit actually acts
00:19:57.29\00:19:58.93
as the earthly administrator.
00:19:58.96\00:20:01.70
Oh, absolutely.
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.06
In that ways easy
earthly administrator when,
00:20:03.10\00:20:04.43
of course, you got
Christ and God up in heaven.
00:20:04.47\00:20:06.40
But the Holy Spirit is the one
00:20:06.43\00:20:07.77
who's our earthly administrator,
00:20:07.80\00:20:09.14
taking whatever
we're going through
00:20:09.17\00:20:10.51
and relaying that back to Him.
00:20:10.54\00:20:11.91
So it's kind of corny, so
I just thought about that.
00:20:11.94\00:20:14.34
If you will, if you
have that relationship,
00:20:14.38\00:20:18.65
it's exactly right.
00:20:18.68\00:20:20.28
I think we were on verse 15.
00:20:20.32\00:20:22.48
Fourteen.
00:20:22.52\00:20:23.85
Fourteen, "And we have seen
00:20:23.89\00:20:25.99
and testify that
the Father has sent
00:20:26.02\00:20:27.92
the Son as Savior of the world.
00:20:27.96\00:20:31.26
Whoever confesses that
Jesus is the Son of God..."
00:20:31.29\00:20:34.06
That was all deep in that.
00:20:34.10\00:20:35.56
"God abides in
him and he in God.
00:20:35.60\00:20:39.47
And we have known and
believe that the love that God
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.44
has for us, God is love.
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.97
And he who abides in love
abides in God and God in him.
00:20:45.01\00:20:49.18
Love has been perfected among
us in this that we may have
00:20:49.21\00:20:53.25
boldness in the
Day of Judgment."
00:20:53.28\00:20:54.95
Praise Lord.
00:20:54.98\00:20:56.32
"Because as he is,
so are we in this world.
00:20:56.35\00:20:59.72
There is no fear in
love, but perfect love casts
00:20:59.75\00:21:03.39
out fear because
fear involves torment.
00:21:03.43\00:21:06.39
But he who fears has not
been made perfect in love.
00:21:06.43\00:21:09.70
We love Him
because He first loved us."
00:21:09.73\00:21:12.23
And I thought
about that perfect love.
00:21:12.27\00:21:14.17
It's interesting because
if you go back to verse 12,
00:21:14.20\00:21:16.04
it actually explains what it is.
00:21:16.07\00:21:18.41
It says there, "If
we love one another,
00:21:18.44\00:21:20.38
God abides in us and His
love has been perfected in us.
00:21:20.41\00:21:24.58
So we're talking
about not just...
00:21:24.61\00:21:28.15
There are people, you
know, some people will say,
00:21:28.18\00:21:31.85
"Well, I love, I'm madly
in love with my husband."
00:21:31.89\00:21:36.73
So that means I'm okay with God.
00:21:36.76\00:21:38.63
No, that's not what He's saying.
00:21:38.66\00:21:40.63
You know, we can never
take something out of context.
00:21:40.66\00:21:45.60
Look at this context,
"God is love and His love..."
00:21:45.63\00:21:50.07
You know what His love does?
00:21:50.11\00:21:53.54
It totally
separates him from sin.
00:21:53.58\00:21:57.15
There is no sin in love.
00:21:57.18\00:22:01.02
I mean, that's
why God cannot sin.
00:22:01.05\00:22:04.22
His government
is operated by love.
00:22:04.25\00:22:08.56
Is it not? Right.
00:22:08.59\00:22:09.92
And if you think
about the Ten Commandments,
00:22:09.96\00:22:12.29
the first four are love for God.
00:22:12.33\00:22:14.96
The other six are
love for mankind, right?
00:22:15.00\00:22:17.53
Yeah.
00:22:17.57\00:22:18.90
I was going to add to that
too what you're talking about...
00:22:18.93\00:22:20.57
The first thing that my eye
00:22:20.60\00:22:22.87
went to is in
verse 12 that we read.
00:22:22.90\00:22:25.57
It says, "If we
love one another,
00:22:25.61\00:22:26.94
God abides in us."
00:22:26.98\00:22:28.31
We can't love each other
if we don't love God first,
00:22:28.34\00:22:31.75
the true love that
God puts in us for other
00:22:31.78\00:22:34.75
people because it's hard to...
00:22:34.78\00:22:36.58
Sometimes it's hard
to love people, you know.
00:22:36.62\00:22:39.05
Some people are easy to
love, some people are not.
00:22:39.09\00:22:41.59
Right.
00:22:41.62\00:22:42.96
So we really don't know
true love unless we know God,
00:22:42.99\00:22:45.86
unless He abides in us.
00:22:45.89\00:22:47.96
And we can't even
know true love without,
00:22:48.00\00:22:49.70
I mean, the holy kind
of, the essence of God.
00:22:49.73\00:22:54.07
Romans 5:5 says that God pours
00:22:54.10\00:22:57.07
His love into our
hearts by the power
00:22:57.11\00:23:00.88
of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:00.91\00:23:02.24
So without the Holy Spirit,
00:23:02.28\00:23:04.91
we can't have this love
that He's talking about.
00:23:04.95\00:23:08.25
But I think that's interesting,
because one, two, three,
00:23:08.28\00:23:11.52
four, five...
00:23:11.55\00:23:13.09
I see five, there may be more.
00:23:13.12\00:23:15.16
But in just 1 John 4:12-19,
00:23:15.19\00:23:20.46
we see five
references to abiding.
00:23:20.50\00:23:23.67
And it is all about the
fruit of the Holy Spirit
00:23:23.70\00:23:27.47
of this love.
00:23:27.50\00:23:29.20
And not just loving
God, but loving one another.
00:23:29.24\00:23:33.91
So bottom line, to abide in God,
00:23:33.94\00:23:39.61
we have to have the Holy
Spirit abiding in us, right?
00:23:39.65\00:23:43.08
And I might mention
about how do we get there?
00:23:43.12\00:23:46.59
By surrendering to
Him, allowing God to be God
00:23:46.62\00:23:50.79
and we're going to
be bringing all this...
00:23:50.83\00:23:52.49
And what does it
mean to surrender?
00:23:52.53\00:23:55.43
If somebody...
00:23:55.46\00:23:57.33
I'll get ready for
the sermon on this.
00:23:57.37\00:24:00.00
Well, then you
know this topic written.
00:24:00.04\00:24:02.30
So I'll just set in.
00:24:02.34\00:24:03.87
You know, remember
00:24:03.91\00:24:06.07
when you first were
asking me for a year,
00:24:06.11\00:24:10.21
I'm trying to
explain surrender to him.
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.41
And I'm going through
all of these different
00:24:12.45\00:24:14.05
scriptures to explain surrender.
00:24:14.08\00:24:16.52
So not too long
ago, I asked the Lord,
00:24:16.55\00:24:19.79
"You got to give me a better
way to explain surrender."
00:24:19.82\00:24:23.69
And God gave me
three steps to surrender,
00:24:23.73\00:24:25.99
just ping, ping, ping.
00:24:26.03\00:24:27.93
The first is know God.
00:24:27.96\00:24:30.90
If you don't know Him, you
can never surrender to Him.
00:24:30.93\00:24:35.04
We love Him
because He first loved us.
00:24:35.07\00:24:37.81
When you understand
how much He loves you,
00:24:37.84\00:24:40.51
when you understand
His power, His plan,
00:24:40.54\00:24:44.51
what He wants to
do, you're ready to...
00:24:44.55\00:24:48.08
You're getting
close to surrender.
00:24:48.12\00:24:49.65
The second step is that
you have to stop and submit.
00:24:49.68\00:24:54.16
Stop resisting His love.
00:24:54.19\00:24:57.33
Stop resisting His plan for you.
00:24:57.36\00:24:59.79
Submit to His authority.
00:24:59.83\00:25:01.76
He is the sovereign.
00:25:01.80\00:25:03.97
And the third step is
simply yield to the Holy Spirit.
00:25:04.00\00:25:09.00
Yield to His leading because God
00:25:09.04\00:25:11.81
tells us in His Word that
He will work in us to will
00:25:11.84\00:25:17.05
and to do His good purpose.
00:25:17.08\00:25:19.88
So you're right.
It's all about surrender.
00:25:19.91\00:25:22.68
It's about day by day,
00:25:22.72\00:25:25.45
asking to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:25:25.49\00:25:28.49
But, Janelle, let's look at...
00:25:28.52\00:25:30.06
Okay, we've got to
bide by the Holy Spirit
00:25:30.09\00:25:35.03
living within us.
00:25:35.06\00:25:37.00
But Jesus had
already said in John 15,
00:25:37.03\00:25:40.47
"You've got to
abide in My Word."
00:25:40.50\00:25:42.10
So would you take John 8:31-32?
00:25:42.14\00:25:45.74
Sure.
00:25:45.77\00:25:47.24
"Then Jesus said to
those Jews who believed Him,
00:25:47.28\00:25:50.35
'If you abide in My Word,
you are My disciples, indeed.
00:25:50.38\00:25:54.68
And you shall know the truth
00:25:54.72\00:25:56.22
and the truth
shall make you free.'"
00:25:56.25\00:25:59.72
I know you all have said...
00:25:59.75\00:26:01.19
I know you've got
something to say about that.
00:26:01.22\00:26:04.23
Oh, yeah, free indeed.
00:26:04.26\00:26:05.59
Well, I mean, it's...
00:26:05.63\00:26:07.96
Whenever I first looked up
the first definition of abide,
00:26:08.00\00:26:12.63
the word that came,
00:26:12.67\00:26:14.00
or the definition that
came to me was something
00:26:14.04\00:26:15.74
lasting or enduring, you know.
00:26:15.77\00:26:19.31
As in our walk with Christ,
00:26:19.34\00:26:21.11
we want to have an
enduring walk with Christ.
00:26:21.14\00:26:24.85
You know, we want
everlasting walk with Him.
00:26:24.88\00:26:27.52
We don't want to
just give our will
00:26:27.55\00:26:30.29
and allow Him into our hearts
00:26:30.32\00:26:32.45
and then the next week
be back to the same way
00:26:32.49\00:26:35.49
we were.
00:26:35.52\00:26:36.86
We are looking for a true
Christian change, you know.
00:26:36.89\00:26:39.46
So whenever we have that
enduring walk with Christ,
00:26:39.49\00:26:42.86
He is with us
throughout everything.
00:26:42.90\00:26:45.13
We give up everything to
God and let Him take control.
00:26:45.17\00:26:49.44
You know, as in
Philippians 4:13,
00:26:49.47\00:26:52.07
"I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:26:52.11\00:26:54.78
Amen.
00:26:54.81\00:26:56.14
You know, it's
when we're abiding
00:26:56.18\00:26:57.51
with Him that He takes us
00:26:57.55\00:26:59.28
and He creates this new creature
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.18
and allows us to bear
fruit with people, you know.
00:27:02.22\00:27:05.95
And as you're abiding,
you know, you get to...
00:27:05.99\00:27:08.82
You were talking
earlier about the person,
00:27:08.86\00:27:12.63
I can't remember
exactly what you said.
00:27:12.66\00:27:14.23
But you were talking
about the person that had the...
00:27:14.26\00:27:16.46
It's right on
the tip of my tongue.
00:27:16.50\00:27:21.37
Yeah, you'll get there.
00:27:21.40\00:27:23.00
But just being able to walk
00:27:23.04\00:27:25.74
with Christ for the
meekness in people that's
00:27:25.77\00:27:29.98
where I was going
to, the sick people.
00:27:30.01\00:27:32.91
The ones that live in fear,
00:27:32.95\00:27:34.92
those are the ones that
truly need to abide in Christ.
00:27:34.95\00:27:37.79
But it's abiding in Christ.
00:27:37.82\00:27:39.25
What she just read
is abiding in His Word.
00:27:39.29\00:27:41.99
What did it do when...
00:27:42.02\00:27:44.19
I know you've
had a conversation.
00:27:44.23\00:27:45.69
Janelle, you've
had a conversation.
00:27:45.73\00:27:47.96
Learning the Word, how
did the Word set you free?
00:27:48.00\00:27:51.77
You all have a great
relationship with the Word.
00:27:51.80\00:27:57.01
You're in the Word all the time.
00:27:57.04\00:27:58.57
Tell us what the
Word did for you?
00:27:58.61\00:28:00.58
Love.
00:28:00.61\00:28:02.24
Okay, explain that?
00:28:02.28\00:28:03.61
That's exactly what
I was talking about.
00:28:03.65\00:28:04.98
That friend that
you were talking about
00:28:05.01\00:28:06.35
who loved her husband.
00:28:06.38\00:28:07.72
Okay. Okay.
00:28:07.75\00:28:09.08
It's easy to love your husband,
00:28:09.12\00:28:10.45
or the person that you're with,
00:28:10.49\00:28:12.02
you know,
whenever you marry them.
00:28:12.05\00:28:13.39
It's easy to love
somebody that you live
00:28:13.42\00:28:15.59
with for such a long time,
00:28:15.62\00:28:17.33
and is there for
you all the time.
00:28:17.36\00:28:19.19
But to love other people,
00:28:19.23\00:28:20.76
to love the people that aren't
there to do something for you,
00:28:20.80\00:28:26.63
but to also just to be
able to show love for people
00:28:26.67\00:28:29.27
who are weak in nature,
00:28:29.30\00:28:32.61
who are the meek of the earth
that will inherit the earth,
00:28:32.64\00:28:35.58
of course.
00:28:35.61\00:28:36.95
But the ones that are sick,
00:28:36.98\00:28:38.31
the ones that
are living in fear,
00:28:38.35\00:28:40.08
you know, when you
can show them love,
00:28:40.12\00:28:42.98
you know, to help
wash away their fears
00:28:43.02\00:28:45.82
and to help wash
away their worries,
00:28:45.85\00:28:47.82
to be able to
always look to Christ
00:28:47.86\00:28:50.06
whenever you feel
weak in this world.
00:28:50.09\00:28:52.59
And this world really
does make people feel weak.
00:28:52.63\00:28:55.30
It made me feel weak for many,
00:28:55.33\00:28:56.67
many decades
until I found Christ.
00:28:56.70\00:28:59.10
So once you live
in the Word and abide.
00:28:59.13\00:29:02.00
But how did you find Christ?
00:29:02.04\00:29:03.37
I think I'm trying to come back
to John 8:31 where Jesus said,
00:29:03.41\00:29:07.11
"If you abide in My
Word, you will be My disciples.
00:29:07.14\00:29:11.55
You will know the truth
00:29:11.58\00:29:12.91
and the truth
will set you free."
00:29:12.95\00:29:14.42
The truth, when
you learn the truth...
00:29:14.45\00:29:16.62
Yeah.
00:29:16.65\00:29:17.99
It wasn't easy when you
first learned the truth,
00:29:18.02\00:29:20.92
but what did it do to you?
00:29:20.96\00:29:22.52
It made me believe.
00:29:22.56\00:29:24.03
And you totally changed, did it?
00:29:24.06\00:29:26.16
And it set you free.
00:29:26.19\00:29:27.63
Let me bring
something out right here.
00:29:27.66\00:29:29.53
And I got to share this
yesterday because it was
00:29:29.56\00:29:31.77
shared to me yesterday.
00:29:31.80\00:29:33.84
And this is just,
kind of, interesting.
00:29:33.87\00:29:35.64
2 Corinthians 1:20.
00:29:39.87\00:29:44.88
Truth, what is truth
because we're used to dealing
00:29:44.91\00:29:47.92
with mankind?
00:29:47.95\00:29:49.58
Mankind's very good
in giving half truths
00:29:49.62\00:29:52.19
and half wrongs.
00:29:52.22\00:29:53.69
And so we get, "Who
are we going to believe?"
00:29:53.72\00:29:57.03
But then you go in
here to 2 Corinthians 1:20,
00:29:57.06\00:30:00.13
it brings some sense into this.
00:30:00.16\00:30:02.43
"For all the promises
of God in Him are Yes,
00:30:02.46\00:30:06.60
and in Him Amen, to the
glory of God through us."
00:30:06.63\00:30:10.67
Paul was sitting there
saying, "Hey, I know that..."
00:30:10.71\00:30:14.21
He's talking to
the Corinthians is,
00:30:14.24\00:30:16.34
"I'm presenting this to you.
00:30:16.38\00:30:18.71
We're used to hearing man
00:30:18.75\00:30:20.25
and so we don't know
what's really truth."
00:30:20.28\00:30:22.72
But there is
something that's totally
00:30:22.75\00:30:25.95
separate truth.
00:30:25.99\00:30:29.22
We all want truth.
00:30:29.26\00:30:31.76
And here he's making,
00:30:31.79\00:30:33.13
"For all the
promises of God in Him."
00:30:33.16\00:30:36.13
In Christ because Jesus said,
00:30:36.16\00:30:38.27
"I am the way, the
truth, and the life."
00:30:38.30\00:30:41.34
You see, "If you
abide in My Word,
00:30:41.37\00:30:44.27
then you My
disciples are, but then you
00:30:44.31\00:30:47.31
shall know the
truth," because He has said
00:30:47.34\00:30:49.34
it and He's saying
Himself, there is no Yes or No.
00:30:49.38\00:30:54.08
There's no complexity here.
00:30:54.12\00:30:57.69
Red is red, as you're reading
it in Matthew, Mark, Luke,
00:30:57.72\00:31:01.96
and John and
then in Revelations.
00:31:01.99\00:31:03.66
You know what I love
about 2 Corinthians 1:20
00:31:03.69\00:31:06.63
is because Christ
in Hebrews 7, it says
00:31:06.66\00:31:10.87
"He is the surety, the
guarantor of the covenant."
00:31:10.90\00:31:16.24
And when He says,
00:31:16.27\00:31:17.61
"All of God's
promises are yes and amen."
00:31:17.64\00:31:20.81
He is our
guarantee from God to us.
00:31:20.84\00:31:24.85
But then He's also
00:31:24.88\00:31:26.21
the guarantor from us to God
00:31:26.25\00:31:27.95
because He's going
to work in us to will
00:31:27.98\00:31:29.82
and to do His good pleasure.
00:31:29.85\00:31:31.22
As it says with
the Word, it says,
00:31:31.25\00:31:33.76
"If you abide in my Word..."
00:31:33.79\00:31:35.12
And for me personally,
when I abided in that word,
00:31:35.16\00:31:38.39
I founded my value.
00:31:38.43\00:31:40.46
That was the key for me.
00:31:40.50\00:31:41.83
When I found out I
was a son of God that just
00:31:41.86\00:31:44.17
totally changed my life,
00:31:44.20\00:31:46.13
that just totally
changed everything else.
00:31:46.17\00:31:48.10
It took so long, so many
people beat you down with words
00:31:48.14\00:31:50.74
and say things out to
you and say these things.
00:31:50.77\00:31:53.01
And the enemy is just
really working on you to not
00:31:53.04\00:31:54.91
find truth.
00:31:54.94\00:31:56.28
So you found your true identity.
00:31:56.31\00:31:57.65
Right, through the Word.
00:31:57.68\00:31:59.01
Yeah, so...
00:31:59.05\00:32:00.38
What I was going to add
to that when we're talking
00:32:00.42\00:32:01.75
about that verse, John 8:32,
00:32:01.78\00:32:03.39
"The truth shall make
you free" is free of shame.
00:32:03.42\00:32:06.09
Yeah, right.
00:32:06.12\00:32:07.46
You know, because the enemy,
he just uses shame to make us,
00:32:07.49\00:32:11.03
to push us down.
00:32:11.06\00:32:12.79
And when we know the
truth, and that God loves us,
00:32:12.83\00:32:16.13
and that He...
00:32:16.16\00:32:17.93
We mean so much to
Him, then we can know that
00:32:17.97\00:32:23.14
and that He wants to adopt us,
as we read earlier by adoption.
00:32:23.17\00:32:27.78
We were free from
shame because He loves us
00:32:27.81\00:32:30.05
no matter what.
00:32:30.08\00:32:31.41
We can come to Him. Right.
00:32:31.45\00:32:32.81
That's powerful
because there's a lot of people
00:32:32.85\00:32:34.62
out there that are fighting
that junk of yesteryear.
00:32:34.65\00:32:37.52
And that has
become their identity
00:32:37.55\00:32:39.25
because they were
there for so long.
00:32:39.29\00:32:41.16
And there is a way out.
00:32:41.19\00:32:42.56
That's what the Word
does. The Word sets you free.
00:32:42.59\00:32:44.33
Amen.
00:32:44.36\00:32:45.69
And then we understand
what he was saying in Romans
00:32:45.73\00:32:48.30
when he said,
"There is therefore now
00:32:48.33\00:32:50.00
no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus."
00:32:50.03\00:32:55.10
Right. Yeah.
00:32:55.14\00:32:56.47
Because it's right
after that, Romans 7
00:32:56.50\00:32:57.84
is where the
Christians struggle.
00:32:57.87\00:33:00.24
Why do I do what I
shouldn't be doing?
00:33:00.28\00:33:02.24
And why am I not doing
what I should be doing?
00:33:02.28\00:33:03.85
You know, it's like this
back and forth this battle,
00:33:03.88\00:33:06.01
and then
there's no condemnation.
00:33:06.05\00:33:08.15
Yeah.
00:33:08.18\00:33:09.52
If you're in Christ
Jesus. See, how the Word does.
00:33:09.55\00:33:10.89
So see, that's
the value of abiding.
00:33:10.92\00:33:13.66
When you abide in Christ,
when you're vitally connected,
00:33:13.69\00:33:17.33
there's no condemnation.
00:33:17.36\00:33:18.76
So here this just
kind of shows us an example
00:33:18.79\00:33:22.80
of how important it is.
00:33:22.83\00:33:24.17
Once in a while,
we've got to be pruned...
00:33:24.20\00:33:26.13
Right. Yeah.
00:33:26.17\00:33:27.50
Because we...
00:33:27.54\00:33:28.87
This is who we
were, and that's not
00:33:28.90\00:33:30.51
who I choose to be any longer
but then we run into a friend.
00:33:30.54\00:33:34.48
How about those good old days?
00:33:34.51\00:33:39.01
And so it prunes
us out, you know?
00:33:39.05\00:33:41.45
So as we grow, well,
someday, we'll be nice and clean
00:33:41.48\00:33:46.09
and my goodness, well,
that peach is this big.
00:33:46.12\00:33:48.22
Amen.
00:33:48.26\00:33:49.59
And the enemy can make
you think that those were
00:33:49.62\00:33:51.19
good days to you.
00:33:51.23\00:33:52.66
But then if you think
about the other side of things
00:33:52.69\00:33:57.33
and how it wasn't so
good, you can remember,
00:33:57.37\00:33:59.97
"Okay, this is not
as good as the enemy
00:34:00.00\00:34:02.20
would like me
to believe it was."
00:34:02.24\00:34:04.74
So I think that's
where God has shown me,
00:34:04.77\00:34:06.47
you know, where you're
talking about pruning it,
00:34:06.51\00:34:08.58
you know, it wasn't
as good as I thought.
00:34:08.61\00:34:10.11
That's right. Yeah.
00:34:10.15\00:34:11.48
Yeah. Okay.
00:34:11.51\00:34:13.01
Brian, you want
to take 2 John 1:9
00:34:13.05\00:34:18.45
because we're still talking
about abiding in the Word.
00:34:18.49\00:34:22.36
If you're going
to abide in Christ,
00:34:22.39\00:34:24.36
you need to abide in the Word.
00:34:24.39\00:34:26.63
Okay, verse 9,
00:34:26.66\00:34:28.16
"Whoever transgresses
00:34:28.20\00:34:29.56
and does not
abide in the doctrine
00:34:29.60\00:34:31.57
of Christ does not have God.
00:34:31.60\00:34:34.54
He who abides in the doctrine
of Christ has both the Father
00:34:34.57\00:34:38.57
and the Son."
00:34:38.61\00:34:39.94
Wow!
00:34:39.97\00:34:41.31
So to abide in the doctrine
is to abide in the teachings,
00:34:41.34\00:34:44.01
which is to abide
in the Word, isn't it?
00:34:44.05\00:34:47.25
And when we do,
what is our promise?
00:34:47.28\00:34:51.25
We have both the
Father and the Son.
00:34:51.29\00:34:56.52
And the reason being is
because if you've seen Me,
00:34:56.56\00:34:59.03
you've seen the
Father, is that right?
00:34:59.06\00:35:00.50
Amen.
00:35:00.53\00:35:01.86
I'm thinking that when you guys
are talking about 1 John 3:1
00:35:01.90\00:35:04.13
just came out to my mind.
00:35:04.17\00:35:05.63
Oh, man, 1 John 3:1-2.
00:35:05.67\00:35:07.40
It says, "Behold, what manner
of love the Father bestowed
00:35:07.44\00:35:09.70
upon us that we should
be called the sons of God.
00:35:09.74\00:35:12.71
Therefore the world knoweth us
not because they knew Him not.
00:35:12.74\00:35:16.34
Beloved, now are
we the sons of God,
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.25
and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be.
00:35:18.28\00:35:20.45
But we know that,
when he shall appear,
00:35:20.48\00:35:22.98
we shall be like Him, for
we shall see Him as He is."
00:35:23.02\00:35:25.32
And that's just, the Word
gives you that assurance that,
00:35:25.35\00:35:28.46
yeah, look what the
Word says about you,
00:35:28.49\00:35:30.79
what the condition you
into or think or whatever,
00:35:30.83\00:35:33.86
that that's not who you are.
00:35:33.90\00:35:35.23
God says
something totally different
00:35:35.26\00:35:36.60
about you in the Word.
00:35:36.63\00:35:37.97
So that you can
ride on those promises,
00:35:38.00\00:35:39.33
it just like, just lifts you up,
00:35:39.37\00:35:40.70
it's just incredible.
00:35:40.74\00:35:42.07
You know, one thing I
appreciate so much about you,
00:35:42.10\00:35:43.77
Don, is that you have
so much Word in your heart.
00:35:43.81\00:35:46.64
And like you,
you know, we all...
00:35:46.68\00:35:50.68
People perceive
us in a certain way.
00:35:50.71\00:35:53.65
And I grew up in a very
dysfunctional environment,
00:35:53.68\00:35:56.52
but I was like a
little mouse at home.
00:35:56.55\00:35:59.49
But then when I went out
00:35:59.52\00:36:00.86
the way I covered up for it
00:36:00.89\00:36:02.46
was to be really
outgoing, blah-blah.
00:36:02.49\00:36:07.46
But I was buying into what other
00:36:07.50\00:36:13.13
people were
telling me, who I was.
00:36:13.17\00:36:16.17
And when I
really got into the Word
00:36:16.20\00:36:18.27
and started
accepting God's promises
00:36:18.31\00:36:22.64
and applying them in my life
and praying them back to Him,
00:36:22.68\00:36:27.05
because His Word
does not return void.
00:36:27.08\00:36:29.18
He's watching over
His Word to perform it.
00:36:29.22\00:36:32.19
But when I started
speaking that Word like you,
00:36:32.22\00:36:37.33
I had a new identity and
I realized, you know what?
00:36:37.36\00:36:40.23
And I'm just going
to tell you at home.
00:36:40.26\00:36:42.33
You aren't who
you think you are.
00:36:42.36\00:36:44.83
Some of you think you are
more special than you are.
00:36:44.87\00:36:48.37
But what I'm saying is some of
you think that you're nothing.
00:36:48.40\00:36:52.27
You are not who
others say you are.
00:36:52.31\00:36:56.61
You are who God says you are.
00:36:56.64\00:36:58.95
And I guarantee you
there's so many beautiful
00:36:58.98\00:37:01.52
promises in here of who you are.
00:37:01.55\00:37:03.95
You just hit on one of them.
00:37:03.99\00:37:05.62
The thing that we will
be called the children.
00:37:05.65\00:37:08.36
Amen.
00:37:08.39\00:37:09.72
And that's constant to you.
00:37:09.76\00:37:11.09
That doesn't
change because you know
00:37:11.13\00:37:12.49
our identity on earth can shift.
00:37:12.53\00:37:16.16
It can shift in
different ways, but the identity
00:37:16.20\00:37:20.97
you're talking
about it never changes.
00:37:21.00\00:37:23.37
Amen.
00:37:23.41\00:37:24.74
I mean, this is
one of the reasons
00:37:24.77\00:37:27.64
why we abide in Christ is
because we stay in His Word.
00:37:27.68\00:37:31.98
And just because you read
from Genesis to Revelation once,
00:37:32.01\00:37:36.65
doesn't mean
that you've made 100.
00:37:36.69\00:37:40.46
You just go right back,
00:37:40.49\00:37:42.36
let's go back and go through
it again because you will get
00:37:42.39\00:37:45.16
more because you
got past the hard words,
00:37:45.19\00:37:50.07
you know, that
takes a different meaning.
00:37:50.10\00:37:52.83
And that's what settled sin.
00:37:52.87\00:37:54.40
And then I believe through
the aid of the Holy Spirit,
00:37:54.44\00:37:56.94
now we've got a
little bit better
00:37:56.97\00:37:58.31
cultivated soil
to plant seed in.
00:37:58.34\00:38:00.98
We're not on that
little hard ground
00:38:01.01\00:38:02.68
out there on those rocks.
00:38:02.71\00:38:04.58
We've got past that.
00:38:04.61\00:38:06.51
I grew up farm in Central Texas.
00:38:06.55\00:38:08.78
Man, it was rock city.
00:38:08.82\00:38:11.05
My grandfather picked
up rocks all day long,
00:38:11.09\00:38:14.89
only to bring the plow
along to turn more rocks up.
00:38:14.92\00:38:18.89
My dad picked up
rocks all day long.
00:38:18.93\00:38:21.76
My brother picked
up rocks all day long.
00:38:21.80\00:38:24.40
I picked up rocks...
00:38:24.43\00:38:25.77
And it's still got as many
or more than we started with,
00:38:25.80\00:38:29.50
but at least
we're making progress.
00:38:29.54\00:38:31.44
Now at least, we get
a crop once in a while.
00:38:31.47\00:38:34.31
So it's just that
constant cultivation,
00:38:34.34\00:38:36.91
going back to the
Word, continue tending.
00:38:36.95\00:38:40.75
Okay, so we've
covered two points.
00:38:40.78\00:38:42.88
How do we abide
in Christ, so far?
00:38:42.92\00:38:44.99
The Spirit and the Word.
00:38:45.02\00:38:46.79
JD, why don't you
take abide through prayer?
00:38:46.82\00:38:49.39
Through prayer, okay.
00:38:49.42\00:38:51.46
Another way to abide in
Christ is through our prayer.
00:38:51.49\00:38:55.56
I love this scripture.
00:38:55.60\00:38:57.80
I get to use this scripture
a lot talking to different
00:38:57.83\00:38:59.93
people because we're
living in a day of anxiety.
00:38:59.97\00:39:04.11
Philippians 4:6-7,
00:39:04.14\00:39:07.51
"Be anxious for nothing,
00:39:07.54\00:39:10.01
but in everything by
prayer and supplication,
00:39:10.05\00:39:13.01
with thanksgiving, wow,
00:39:13.05\00:39:15.92
let your requests
be made known to God.
00:39:15.95\00:39:17.95
And the peace of God,
00:39:17.99\00:39:19.32
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:39:19.35\00:39:21.56
will guard your heart and
mind through Christ Jesus."
00:39:21.59\00:39:25.86
This is not brain
surgery right here.
00:39:25.89\00:39:29.46
He's saying, "Hey,
00:39:29.50\00:39:30.83
you don't have to
have high anxiety.
00:39:30.87\00:39:34.87
Why don't we just sit down over
here, find a prayer partner?
00:39:34.90\00:39:38.27
If you're going to have
to pray by yourself do it."
00:39:38.31\00:39:40.98
God is very unique
and He's got ears to hear
00:39:41.01\00:39:44.75
and He's got eyes to see.
00:39:44.78\00:39:46.92
He cares about each
and every one of us.
00:39:46.95\00:39:48.88
He knows the hairs on you,
so He multitasks all the time.
00:39:48.92\00:39:53.56
And so if Janelle's got
a problem, she can pray.
00:39:53.59\00:39:57.19
Don might be across
to her house praying too.
00:39:57.23\00:40:01.10
Just get that
stuff out of there.
00:40:01.13\00:40:03.10
But you know, if we
got the ability to prune,
00:40:03.13\00:40:07.67
we can thank Jesus.
00:40:07.70\00:40:09.07
Thank you Jesus that I've
gone through this because now
00:40:09.10\00:40:11.54
I know that's
going to be trimmed
00:40:11.57\00:40:13.81
and I'm ready for the next day.
00:40:13.84\00:40:15.98
So there's eager expectation
because there's hope.
00:40:16.01\00:40:19.48
We're waiting for Ma¤ana.
00:40:19.51\00:40:22.35
And then the peace of God,
00:40:22.38\00:40:23.72
that thing we're all
looking for, peace, comfort,
00:40:23.75\00:40:28.79
which surpasses
all understanding.
00:40:28.82\00:40:30.46
"Oh man, I never
knew it'd be this good.
00:40:30.49\00:40:32.43
Thank you, Jesus.
00:40:32.46\00:40:33.80
Will guard our heart and
our mind through Christ Jesus.
00:40:33.83\00:40:36.06
Absolutely,
fantastic scripture right here.
00:40:36.10\00:40:39.10
And when you think about that,
I can't read this scripture
00:40:39.13\00:40:42.30
without thinking
about Isaiah 26:3,
00:40:42.34\00:40:45.91
where He says He will
keep him in perfect peace
00:40:45.94\00:40:49.21
whose mind is
stayed on the Lord,
00:40:49.24\00:40:53.18
who's trusting in the Lord.
00:40:53.21\00:40:55.28
And He will give
you perfect peace.
00:40:55.32\00:40:57.75
So sometimes, I
don't know about you all,
00:40:57.79\00:41:01.99
but it still happens.
00:41:02.02\00:41:04.69
Sometimes I can just have
00:41:04.73\00:41:06.96
something happen in my peace.
00:41:07.00\00:41:08.76
It's like somebody
just spilled the pitcher.
00:41:08.80\00:41:14.40
There it goes, and it's like...
00:41:14.44\00:41:17.47
for a little bit,
and then all of a sudden,
00:41:17.51\00:41:20.38
it's like, "Oh,
where's my mind focused?
00:41:20.41\00:41:23.71
Am I focused on the problem
00:41:23.75\00:41:26.15
or am I going to focus
on the problem solver?"
00:41:26.18\00:41:29.05
And as soon as
I pray about it...
00:41:29.08\00:41:32.02
And you know you can cast
00:41:32.05\00:41:33.59
your cares on the Lord
because He cares for you.
00:41:33.62\00:41:36.93
And He restores
that perfect peace.
00:41:36.96\00:41:40.13
It's amazing.
00:41:40.16\00:41:41.50
I don't know if we have time
to share a little story. Share.
00:41:41.53\00:41:44.63
Okay, just speaking
00:41:44.67\00:41:46.13
of that peace that
you lost for a moment.
00:41:46.17\00:41:48.24
We had something
that happened recently.
00:41:48.27\00:41:50.47
A car that we're borrowing the
window got busted out by rock.
00:41:50.51\00:41:55.58
And it was just that
moment that we realized
00:41:55.61\00:41:59.31
that the window was busted,
we looked at it and we're like,
00:41:59.35\00:42:02.78
"Oh, no."
00:42:02.82\00:42:05.75
And it was just
ironic because of all
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.39
so many different details.
00:42:08.42\00:42:09.79
But my first
thought was just anxiety,
00:42:09.82\00:42:13.40
all kinds of stuff, you
know, and just like, these,
00:42:13.43\00:42:15.83
you know, bad thoughts.
00:42:15.86\00:42:17.20
And few minutes later...
00:42:17.23\00:42:19.17
You're watching several hundred
dollars fly up that window.
00:42:19.20\00:42:22.10
Yeah, but God
totally worked it out and,
00:42:22.14\00:42:25.17
you know, after a few minutes,
00:42:25.21\00:42:26.84
I kind of just, you know,
00:42:26.88\00:42:28.21
I'm like, "Well, you
weren't in the vehicle
00:42:28.24\00:42:29.71
when it happened.
00:42:29.74\00:42:31.08
We didn't get hit by the rock."
00:42:31.11\00:42:33.38
It wasn't an accident,
like we weren't in an accident.
00:42:33.42\00:42:35.78
We didn't drive.
00:42:35.82\00:42:37.79
So all these things God
was giving me reassurance that,
00:42:37.82\00:42:40.56
you know, like, look what could
have happened or even worse.
00:42:40.59\00:42:44.59
But it's just
amazing because, you know,
00:42:44.63\00:42:47.03
in that moment, it was like
the worst thing in the world.
00:42:47.06\00:42:50.43
But then, you know, God gave me
00:42:50.47\00:42:52.63
some reasoning and they're like,
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.00
"Well, this could have
happened but it didn't,"
00:42:54.04\00:42:55.37
and He's worked it out.
00:42:55.40\00:42:57.11
To add to that
because you just don't know
00:42:57.14\00:42:58.87
how God will work
through these things.
00:42:58.91\00:43:00.24
What they meant for
evil, God meant for good.
00:43:00.28\00:43:03.11
So, you know, as I took the
car to this particular place
00:43:03.14\00:43:06.55
and fixed its windows, I gave
the young lady a GLOW tract.
00:43:06.58\00:43:09.08
So I told her it's
called what the world needs now.
00:43:09.12\00:43:11.72
It's a really good one and she
was really delighted to get it.
00:43:11.75\00:43:13.79
So you just don't know
where God needs to lead you
00:43:13.82\00:43:16.49
through these circumstances
so sometimes that's...
00:43:16.52\00:43:18.46
It's a good way to look at that.
00:43:18.49\00:43:19.83
Other things too that, you know,
00:43:19.86\00:43:21.20
through that happened,
it's just amazing that...
00:43:21.23\00:43:23.53
Some strong relationships.
00:43:23.57\00:43:24.90
You know, it's
like if we could just...
00:43:24.93\00:43:26.27
Like you said, "Let God be God."
00:43:26.30\00:43:27.64
And just like,
"Okay, take a step back
00:43:27.67\00:43:29.37
and what's God doing here?"
00:43:29.40\00:43:31.44
Amen. I was gonna say...
00:43:31.47\00:43:32.81
Okay, but you mentioned earlier
00:43:32.84\00:43:34.18
when we were in
John 15 about the prayer.
00:43:34.21\00:43:37.75
Here it's saying, "If
we're going to abide in God,
00:43:37.78\00:43:41.18
why is prayer so important?"
00:43:41.22\00:43:45.05
To me, it's communication.
00:43:45.09\00:43:46.76
You're communicating to God.
00:43:46.79\00:43:48.12
And this is kind of
what came to my mind,
00:43:48.16\00:43:49.49
so abiding is
more like a lifestyle.
00:43:49.52\00:43:52.69
It's a lifestyle we adopt
or it's a habit that we form.
00:43:52.73\00:43:55.80
It's like what JD
said, "It's continuous."
00:43:55.83\00:43:57.60
It's not
something that's just...
00:43:57.63\00:43:58.97
The relationship.
00:43:59.00\00:44:00.34
It's not like this,
it's more kind of like this.
00:44:00.37\00:44:02.07
Yeah, when we first
come over, it's like, oh-oh,
00:44:02.10\00:44:03.97
you know, but here you, kind of,
00:44:04.01\00:44:05.71
you start mellowing out.
00:44:05.74\00:44:07.51
It's like they get
smoother. More consistent.
00:44:07.54\00:44:09.48
Yeah, it's consistent.
00:44:09.51\00:44:10.85
So I think
prayer that's the way...
00:44:10.88\00:44:12.95
We can't see who we're fighting.
00:44:12.98\00:44:14.82
We can't see
anything that we're fighting
00:44:14.85\00:44:16.25
because the
enemy is all around us.
00:44:16.28\00:44:17.92
And the only way
to fight is by asking
00:44:17.95\00:44:19.65
the Lord to come in
00:44:19.69\00:44:21.02
and the only way to ask
Him to come in is by prayer.
00:44:21.06\00:44:23.63
You know, there has to be...
00:44:23.66\00:44:25.43
If there's in,
there's got to be an out.
00:44:25.46\00:44:27.26
Okay?
00:44:27.30\00:44:28.86
And I would like to think
that if you get into the Word,
00:44:28.90\00:44:32.10
if you abide
through the Holy Spirit,
00:44:32.13\00:44:34.24
and et cetera, to
me what prayer does,
00:44:34.27\00:44:37.91
prayer is my way of
escaping because Lord increased
00:44:37.94\00:44:41.21
my faith.
00:44:41.24\00:44:42.58
And if I
praise, I kind of think,
00:44:42.61\00:44:43.95
"Oh, thank you Jesus.
00:44:43.98\00:44:45.31
I've just got to pass."
00:44:45.35\00:44:47.42
It at least gets me
down the road a little bit
00:44:47.45\00:44:49.48
because I choose to
believe that if I'm in the will
00:44:49.52\00:44:52.72
of God, the
ocean's going to part.
00:44:52.75\00:44:57.59
At least I can get
down the road, okay,
00:44:57.63\00:45:00.30
and that way of communication,
to me is through prayer.
00:45:00.33\00:45:03.77
Right. Amen.
00:45:03.80\00:45:05.13
So consequently, a
lot of mature as well
00:45:05.17\00:45:08.04
as immature
Christians pray all day long.
00:45:08.07\00:45:11.61
Thanks, Lord increased my
faith just because I'm praying.
00:45:11.64\00:45:14.64
Am I praying for the prayer
00:45:14.68\00:45:17.15
or am I praying because I know
00:45:17.18\00:45:18.51
that you're working on my behalf
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.52
because you do
that for us to hear.
00:45:20.55\00:45:22.52
And, you know,
it's that perfect peace
00:45:22.55\00:45:25.29
that God promises in Isaiah 26:3
00:45:25.32\00:45:28.22
as we keep our eyes
fixed on Him that peace
00:45:28.26\00:45:31.43
that transcends
all understanding.
00:45:31.46\00:45:33.70
Okay.
00:45:33.73\00:45:35.06
Brian, why don't you
take 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18?
00:45:35.10\00:45:38.63
Okay, verse...
00:45:38.67\00:45:41.07
All right, 16-18,
16, "Rejoice always,
00:45:41.10\00:45:44.27
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks,
00:45:44.31\00:45:47.48
for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you."
00:45:47.51\00:45:51.01
All right.
00:45:51.05\00:45:52.38
If the will of God is
for us to be rejoicing always
00:45:52.41\00:45:55.38
and praying without ceasing...
00:45:55.42\00:45:56.75
How do you pray without ceasing?
00:45:56.79\00:45:59.72
I mean, does this mean
you got to be on your knees
00:45:59.75\00:46:02.02
all day long?
00:46:02.06\00:46:03.39
Of course not
while you're driving.
00:46:03.43\00:46:05.99
It's a state of mind
really, sorry, Brian.
00:46:06.03\00:46:08.40
I was about to say that,
00:46:08.43\00:46:09.76
you know,
praying without ceasing,
00:46:09.80\00:46:11.13
whenever we pray that's our
connection to the Father just
00:46:11.17\00:46:14.40
as Christ whenever He
would leave the disciples
00:46:14.44\00:46:17.27
and go pray by Himself.
00:46:17.31\00:46:18.67
He would always
have that connection.
00:46:18.71\00:46:20.94
Our connection with Christ
00:46:20.98\00:46:24.78
is through that prayer.
00:46:24.81\00:46:26.28
And once we have a connection,
we keep a connection with Him.
00:46:26.31\00:46:29.35
In a way, we're kind of
like constantly praying.
00:46:29.38\00:46:31.92
You know, whenever
you're constantly in connection
00:46:31.95\00:46:33.79
with something, you are always
doing that so you're praying
00:46:33.82\00:46:36.79
without ceasing.
00:46:36.83\00:46:38.16
That's good.
00:46:38.19\00:46:39.53
Typically, when I do a
prayer line and always before
00:46:39.56\00:46:41.16
I pick up the phone
because you don't know
00:46:41.20\00:46:42.53
who's going to be on that phone.
00:46:42.56\00:46:43.90
Maybe some interesting
characters you get but
00:46:43.93\00:46:45.57
so I say, "God give me wisdom.
00:46:45.60\00:46:47.60
Please, give me
wisdom for this phone call."
00:46:47.64\00:46:49.20
So I usually try to
pray that because you just
00:46:49.24\00:46:50.84
don't know what
you're going to run into.
00:46:50.87\00:46:52.21
So always praying
when you don't know
00:46:52.24\00:46:53.58
what you're going
to come up against,
00:46:53.61\00:46:54.94
you really need to pray.
00:46:54.98\00:46:56.31
You know, the Lord
taught me something
00:46:56.34\00:46:57.68
when I was going through
my recovery for my surgeries
00:46:57.71\00:47:01.18
recently that I always
pray that God will give
00:47:01.22\00:47:07.19
somebody who's going
through a difficult time
00:47:07.22\00:47:09.06
a divine
awareness of His presence.
00:47:09.09\00:47:12.16
You know, I
always say, "Oh, Lord,
00:47:12.19\00:47:14.06
give them a divine awareness.
00:47:14.10\00:47:15.43
May they be where they feel you
00:47:15.46\00:47:17.23
right there because He
said He's always with us.
00:47:17.27\00:47:19.53
He never leaves
us or forsakes us."
00:47:19.57\00:47:21.97
And all of a sudden
it was, kind of, like,
00:47:22.00\00:47:24.34
"Lord I need that
divine awareness."
00:47:24.37\00:47:26.27
And when I really
started practicing His presence
00:47:26.31\00:47:31.65
all through the
day, I mean, it was like,
00:47:31.68\00:47:33.52
you know He's in you.
00:47:33.55\00:47:35.08
But it was like He's
sitting right next to me.
00:47:35.12\00:47:37.85
Suddenly, it was
like my every thought,
00:47:37.89\00:47:40.26
everything I'm
doing, I'm just, kind of,
00:47:40.29\00:47:41.89
talking to the Lord.
00:47:41.92\00:47:43.26
I was praying without
ceasing. Oh, thank God.
00:47:43.29\00:47:46.80
All right, so we've
seen, we abide through
00:47:46.83\00:47:49.50
the Holy Spirit abiding in us.
00:47:49.53\00:47:52.63
We abide in Christ
by abiding in the Word.
00:47:52.67\00:47:56.10
We abide through prayer
00:47:56.14\00:47:58.11
because we're
keeping that communication
00:47:58.14\00:48:01.64
that relationship flourishing.
00:48:01.68\00:48:04.68
So, Don, why don't you take...
00:48:04.71\00:48:07.28
We're going to talk about...
00:48:07.32\00:48:09.38
It's interesting,
00:48:09.42\00:48:11.45
you ask most people
about abiding in Christ,
00:48:11.49\00:48:14.99
and many will mention the Holy
Spirit or the Word or prayer,
00:48:15.02\00:48:19.96
but very few talk
about to abide in Christ
00:48:20.00\00:48:24.63
means that we are
walking in obedience
00:48:24.67\00:48:28.27
as we follow His example.
00:48:28.30\00:48:30.64
1 John 2:6, Don?
00:48:30.67\00:48:33.14
It says, "He who says
00:48:33.17\00:48:34.98
he abides in Him ought
himself also to walk just as He,
00:48:35.01\00:48:40.05
capital H on He walked."
00:48:40.08\00:48:41.62
So walk as Jesus walked.
00:48:41.65\00:48:44.32
And again, it makes me
think of that 1 John 3:3,
00:48:44.35\00:48:47.29
"We purify
ourselves even as He is pure."
00:48:47.32\00:48:50.46
Kind of same kind
of language again,
00:48:50.49\00:48:51.83
the idea that we're
to allow Him to purify us
00:48:51.86\00:48:55.20
and so abide in us, like,
00:48:55.23\00:48:56.63
you're saying
commandments through obedience.
00:48:56.67\00:48:58.80
So we follow Him in obedience.
00:48:58.83\00:49:00.84
And that He is our example to
follow in His footsteps, right?
00:49:00.87\00:49:05.74
Brian, John 15:9-10?
00:49:05.77\00:49:10.08
"As the Father loved
me, I also have loved you.
00:49:10.11\00:49:13.21
Abide in My love.
00:49:13.25\00:49:14.62
If you keep My commandments,
you will abide in My love,
00:49:14.65\00:49:18.45
just as I have kept
00:49:18.49\00:49:19.82
My Father's commandments
and abide in His love."
00:49:19.85\00:49:24.86
So abiding in His love
00:49:24.89\00:49:30.53
requires what?
00:49:30.57\00:49:33.94
Keeping something. Keeping what?
00:49:33.97\00:49:37.91
Commandments, oh, that
is to keep my commandments.
00:49:37.94\00:49:40.18
Yeah, if you love
Me, keep My commandments.
00:49:40.21\00:49:42.18
You know, if you think
00:49:42.21\00:49:43.61
of God's government
00:49:43.65\00:49:48.62
is by the power of love,
00:49:48.65\00:49:50.89
everything that He is
legislated is for love.
00:49:50.92\00:49:55.36
We are to abide in His love.
00:49:55.39\00:49:59.53
We've got to walk
according to His instructions.
00:49:59.56\00:50:04.07
And that verse that we read,
that's 1 John 2:6 at the end
00:50:04.10\00:50:08.64
of it, it talks
about walking as He walked.
00:50:08.67\00:50:11.07
So when you mentioned that
it just brought that to my mind,
00:50:11.11\00:50:14.34
you know, walking as He
walked and what that looks like.
00:50:14.38\00:50:18.41
And He walked in obedience
to God's sovereign will,
00:50:18.45\00:50:23.45
didn't He?
00:50:23.49\00:50:24.82
I was going to mention too
the idea that commandments.
00:50:24.85\00:50:26.19
And I know a lot
of people see it,
00:50:26.22\00:50:27.56
like it's a burden to keep
but, actually, it's a benefit.
00:50:27.59\00:50:30.43
The commandments
of God are a benefit.
00:50:30.46\00:50:31.99
They are there to help us
00:50:32.03\00:50:33.36
and a lot people
see it differently.
00:50:33.40\00:50:34.73
They see it, kind of, twisted.
00:50:34.76\00:50:36.10
It's like, "Do I
really have to do this?"
00:50:36.13\00:50:37.50
And the promise is true.
00:50:37.53\00:50:39.40
You know, that's
what's so exciting.
00:50:39.43\00:50:40.84
It's promises of
what God will do in us.
00:50:40.87\00:50:43.91
So, Janelle, do you
want to take 1 John 3:24?
00:50:43.94\00:50:48.34
"Now, he who keeps His
commandments abides in him,
00:50:48.38\00:50:53.95
and He in him.
00:50:53.98\00:50:55.62
And by this we know that
He abides in us by the Spirit
00:50:55.65\00:50:59.39
whom He has given us."
00:50:59.42\00:51:02.69
That is the end. How
much clearer can you get?
00:51:02.72\00:51:05.33
As you abide in Him,
00:51:08.96\00:51:12.03
you're going to be
walking as He walked,
00:51:12.07\00:51:14.44
walking in His
commandments, in His doctrine,
00:51:14.47\00:51:19.31
in His Word when
you abide in the Word.
00:51:19.34\00:51:23.11
You know 1 John,
00:51:23.14\00:51:25.68
we'd read that earlier
and I meant to come in.
00:51:25.71\00:51:27.72
But when it says,
"Anyone who says that Jesus
00:51:27.75\00:51:31.49
is the Son of God..."
00:51:31.52\00:51:32.99
The demons said,
"Jesus is the Son of God."
00:51:33.02\00:51:35.99
So you can't pull that out
00:51:36.02\00:51:37.36
of context because
within the context it's saying,
00:51:37.39\00:51:40.76
"If you believe, if
you are living in Him,
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.90
if you are abiding in Him,
00:51:43.93\00:51:46.90
if you are vitally united
to Him, you're going to..."
00:51:46.94\00:51:51.44
That's your confession,
but let me show you something.
00:51:51.47\00:51:54.44
1 John, I mean, right here,
00:51:54.48\00:51:56.95
we've just got four
passages from 1 John 2:6.
00:51:56.98\00:52:02.78
One was John 15:9-10
but by the Apostle John,
00:52:02.82\00:52:06.79
1 John 3:24.
00:52:06.82\00:52:08.22
Listen to this one.
00:52:08.26\00:52:09.99
1 John 3:6-8,
00:52:10.03\00:52:14.76
"Whoever abides,
00:52:14.80\00:52:17.63
whoever is remaining in Christ,
00:52:17.67\00:52:21.34
vitally connected
to Him does not sin."
00:52:21.37\00:52:25.84
Oops! Oh-oh!
00:52:25.87\00:52:28.61
Does that mean that
I'm not abiding if I sin.
00:52:28.64\00:52:33.31
What he's saying here?
00:52:33.35\00:52:36.18
If you look at it in
the Greek and the tense,
00:52:36.22\00:52:39.12
it's whoever abides
in Him doesn't make sin
00:52:39.15\00:52:44.26
habitual practice.
00:52:44.29\00:52:46.16
Yes, you're right.
He doesn't desire it.
00:52:46.19\00:52:47.53
Yeah, you're not, so you go
through that pruning process
00:52:47.56\00:52:52.97
and He says,
00:52:53.00\00:52:54.34
"Whoever sins has
neither seen Him nor known Him."
00:52:54.37\00:52:57.21
So if you're desiring sin,
00:52:57.24\00:52:59.61
if you are walking in
the habitual pattern...
00:52:59.64\00:53:03.88
And don't be
discouraged because, you know,
00:53:03.91\00:53:06.98
I know a man who gave
his heart to the Lord.
00:53:07.02\00:53:09.22
I believe he was
saved and he had the hardest
00:53:09.25\00:53:11.69
time in giving up smoking.
00:53:11.72\00:53:13.05
And then he said,
"Oh, I'm not saved."
00:53:13.09\00:53:14.59
And I said, "Jesus didn't say,
00:53:14.62\00:53:17.43
if you didn't smoke,
you were going to be saved.
00:53:17.46\00:53:19.79
He said, if you
accepted Him as your savior,
00:53:19.83\00:53:22.50
you will be saved by
grace through faith."
00:53:22.53\00:53:24.63
God needed to do some pruning.
00:53:24.67\00:53:26.77
Now, we do have...
00:53:26.80\00:53:30.14
We have standards
for fellowship to join
00:53:30.17\00:53:32.97
the Church but God,
00:53:33.01\00:53:36.81
I believe, had taken
and He finally gave it up.
00:53:36.85\00:53:39.61
It was this pruning process,
00:53:39.65\00:53:41.68
you know, give it
up and then come back
00:53:41.72\00:53:43.59
and you'd have to
pull out the weeds.
00:53:43.62\00:53:45.45
But listen to this, verse 7,
00:53:45.49\00:53:48.32
I teach righteousness by faith
all the time, but get this one.
00:53:48.36\00:53:52.76
"Little children
let no one deceive you.
00:53:52.79\00:53:56.30
He who practices
righteousness is righteous,
00:53:56.33\00:54:01.37
just as He is righteous."
00:54:01.40\00:54:03.81
What?
00:54:03.84\00:54:05.17
I thought it was
righteousness by faith.
00:54:05.21\00:54:07.04
Well, righteousness by faith
doesn't just mean you'll say,
00:54:07.08\00:54:09.84
"Oh, thank you,
Lord for crediting
00:54:09.88\00:54:11.45
Your account to mine.
00:54:11.48\00:54:13.08
Thank You, Lord, for putting
the robe of righteous on me."
00:54:13.11\00:54:15.98
It is, "Thank you, Lord
that You work in me to will
00:54:16.02\00:54:18.55
and to do Your good purpose."
00:54:18.59\00:54:20.49
So when God makes
us righteous by faith,
00:54:20.52\00:54:24.36
we will walk in righteousness
and practice righteousness
00:54:24.39\00:54:29.16
just as He is righteous.
00:54:29.20\00:54:31.43
And then in verse 8, it says,
00:54:31.47\00:54:32.80
"He who sins is of
the devil for the devil
00:54:32.83\00:54:35.27
had sinned from the beginning.
00:54:35.30\00:54:37.17
And for this purpose the
Son of God was manifested,
00:54:37.21\00:54:41.21
that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
00:54:41.24\00:54:45.91
So salvation by
grace through faith
00:54:45.95\00:54:48.32
isn't license to keep
on watching pornography.
00:54:48.35\00:54:53.25
Salvation by grace
through faith means that God
00:54:53.29\00:54:58.69
is going to save you
and He's going to keep
00:54:58.73\00:55:02.96
pruning you in this
process to sanctify you,
00:55:03.00\00:55:06.87
destroying the
works of the devil.
00:55:06.90\00:55:08.90
He came to save His
people from their sins,
00:55:08.94\00:55:12.87
not in their sins.
00:55:12.91\00:55:14.24
Now, Brian, we've got to
get just a couple of minutes.
00:55:14.28\00:55:17.05
I can't believe it.
00:55:17.08\00:55:18.78
Proof of abiding
is bearing fruit,
00:55:18.81\00:55:21.48
so what does John 15:5 say?
00:55:21.52\00:55:24.45
John 15:5, "I am the
Vine, you are the branches.
00:55:24.49\00:55:27.89
He who abides in Me and
I in him bears much fruit,
00:55:27.92\00:55:32.03
for without Me
you can do nothing."
00:55:32.06\00:55:35.03
So would you say
that's a fair test?
00:55:35.06\00:55:39.20
We got to be fruit
inspectors, don't we?
00:55:39.23\00:55:42.54
We get to see, are we? Yeah.
00:55:42.57\00:55:44.24
And I think that's
the reason that you had
00:55:44.27\00:55:46.17
the vinedresser there,
who took care of the garden.
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.01
He is there to
assist us, you know,
00:55:49.04\00:55:51.51
so we don't have to
do this by ourselves.
00:55:51.55\00:55:53.88
You know, those amber lights
come on, come on, come on,
00:55:53.92\00:55:56.79
danger approaching
and know we can back off.
00:55:56.82\00:55:59.75
Amen.
00:55:59.79\00:56:01.12
So, honey, tell
us what the fruits
00:56:01.16\00:56:02.49
of the Spirit are?
00:56:02.52\00:56:03.86
Love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
00:56:03.89\00:56:07.36
faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control, my goodness
00:56:07.40\00:56:11.13
and that is the fruit.
00:56:11.17\00:56:12.77
So if you purpose in your heart
00:56:12.80\00:56:15.04
and you turn it all over to him,
00:56:15.07\00:56:17.57
and pay attention through
who's in charge of that garden,
00:56:17.61\00:56:21.38
your garden, you know.
00:56:21.41\00:56:22.98
Well, then, as you
extend your hand...
00:56:23.01\00:56:25.21
I love this, boy.
00:56:25.25\00:56:26.58
You know, you
extend your hand up
00:56:26.61\00:56:28.48
and God's got
His hand coming down
00:56:28.52\00:56:30.75
and you grab hold of each other.
00:56:30.79\00:56:33.09
And that's just
thank you, Jesus.
00:56:33.12\00:56:35.22
Is abiding always easy?
00:56:35.26\00:56:36.93
No, 'cause the flesh is...
00:56:36.96\00:56:39.93
If the Spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak,
00:56:39.96\00:56:41.56
and you just say that, yeah.
00:56:41.60\00:56:42.93
Amen.
00:56:42.96\00:56:44.37
But abiding in Him is
really something He promises
00:56:44.40\00:56:48.30
if we will just yield.
00:56:48.34\00:56:51.27
Amen.
00:56:51.31\00:56:52.64
If we'll say,
"Lord, I want to know You,
00:56:52.67\00:56:54.58
I want to submit
to Your authority.
00:56:54.61\00:56:58.01
I want to yield to the leading
of Your Holy Spirit today,
00:56:58.05\00:57:01.35
fill me."
00:57:01.38\00:57:02.72
That's God's plan
is that you are fully
00:57:02.75\00:57:05.65
dependent upon Him.
00:57:05.69\00:57:07.16
I can't believe
our time went so fast
00:57:07.19\00:57:09.02
and we didn't get to all
the stories but we gave people,
00:57:09.06\00:57:12.23
I hope, a little bit
better idea of what abiding is.
00:57:12.26\00:57:16.30
Thank you so much each
one of you for being here.
00:57:16.33\00:57:19.53
And our prayer for you is
that the grace of our Lord
00:57:19.57\00:57:22.47
and Savior Jesus
Christ, the love of the Father
00:57:22.50\00:57:25.04
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:25.07\00:57:27.21
will be with you always.
00:57:27.24\00:57:29.84
Happy Sabbath.
00:57:29.88\00:57:31.21