Weekly Protein (06/04/22)

 

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“O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?” (Psa. 15:1, NASB 1978)

These are not questions concerning rushed, pop-in visits with God; rather, these are questions about a relationship (with God) marked by consistency and closeness. The question is not “who may visit once a week for an hour” but “who may abide” and “who may dwell.” Thank God that the answer (to both questions) is not “no one”! When you start to realize Who God is and what He is like, isn't it amazing that He entertains the idea of relationship with any person?

God wants more from you than being religious. He wants more from you than being respectful. He wants you to have, nurture and enjoy a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Here is your weekly protein.

1. Answer these questions:

   • Do you really want to have a close(r), personal relationship with God?

   • Do you believe God would agree with your answer? Why?

2. Read Psalm 15.

3. Communicate with your pastor. Ask him or her, “What does it mean to 'abide'?”

Verse of The Week (09/08/17)

Heart Cry: Keep Me Dependent (Jn. 15:5) (Part 5)

As we begin to wrap up this message, we must engage today's heart cry.  Our heart cry is, or at least it should be, “Lord, keep me dependent.”

Is your relationship with Jesus personal, vibrant, thrilling and productive or is it impersonal, dead, boring and unproductive?  If it is the latter, why do you settle for that?

You know the good work that Jesus did for you; what good work have you been doing for Him?

Remember, you are not saved by works, but you are saved for works.  Gently I prompt you, “Get to work.”

Remember . . . abiding leads to action, staying leads to serving, remaining in leads to reaching out, dwelling leads to doing, and mutuality (You abide in Jesus and He abides in you) leads to ministry.

Verse of The Week (02/26/16)

Heart Cry: Keep Me Dependent (Jn. 15:5) (Part 4)

Second, what happens when you don't abide in Jesus?  “ . . . for apart from Me you can do nothing.” In context, this means you can't and won't bear fruit.  In other words, you won't be profitable in the Lord's service; instead, you will be helplessly frustrated and fearful in your purpose and pursuits. You will be like the servant who had zero increase to present when it was time for accounting.

Heart Cry: Keep Me Dependent (Jn. 15:5) (Part 3)

Do you see that the idea of abiding includes satisfaction, enjoyment and intimacy?  In the “Westminster Shorter Catechism¹,” question number one reads “What is the chief end of man?”  The answer is, “To glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”

The opposite of “abiding” is self-dependence or independence.  In football terms, a player doesn't want to stay with his current team, thinking he can get a better deal, so he files for free agency.  In John 15:5, Jesus warns against the free agency mentality that tempts His disciples.

What is the result of abiding in Jesus?  “ . . . he bears much fruit.”  What is meant by “fruit”?

• The inward fruit is Christian character (Gal. 5:22-23).
• The outward fruit is good works (Psa. 1:3; Mt. 5:16 cf. Jn. 15:8; Tit. 3:14).  
• You were created for good works (Eph. 2:10).
• Jesus expects you to do good works (Jn. 15:16).

1 http://www.reformed.org/documents/wsc/index.html?_top=http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC.html (accessed 02.18.16)

My Prayer (02/24/16)

Lord, I depend on You for breath and blessing, but I want You to be able to depend on me. Stir me to follow through with acts of service, the good works You have prepared for me to do. It is not right for me to ask You to do what You have called me to do. Lord, keep me dependent on You for both sustenance and service.

Heart Cry: Keep Me Dependent (Jn. 15:5) (Part 2)

Today's verse highlights two things.  First, what happens when you abide (remain) in Jesus?  “ . . . he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit . . .”

What does it mean to “abide” in Jesus?

• To abide means “to remain in”, “to continue in”, “to stay in.”
• To abide means “to draw life and support from.”  (This applies only to your abiding in Jesus, not His abiding in you.)
• To abide means “to maintain a living communion with.”¹
• To abide means “to stay united with.”²
• To abide means “to share the life.”³
• To abide means “to hold an unbroken fellowship and personal communion with Him.”⁴
• To abide means “to remain vitally connected . . . , sustaining a spiritual union through the Holy Spirit.”⁵

1 Wuest, Kenneth S. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1961 (reprinted 2002). p. 251.

2 Stern, David H. Jewish New Testament: A Translation of The New Testament That Expresses Its Jewishness. Jerusalem, Israel: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1989. p. 142.

3 Phillips, J. B. New Testament In Modern English. London, England: Harper Collins Publishers, 2000. p. 179.

4 Tourville, Robert E. The Gospel of John: A Verse-By-Verse Commentary From The Classical Pentecostal Point of View. New Wilmington, PA: House of Bon Giovanni, 1986. p. 315.

5 Kostenberger, Andreas J. A Theology of John's Gospel And Letters: Biblical Theology of The New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. p. 241.

Heart Cry: Keep Me Dependent (Jn. 15:5) (Part 1)

February 14, we started a new series called “Heart Cry.”  I asked the question, “What is on God's heart?”  Do you remember the candy hearts?  On each was written a saying, expressing the giver's desire.  In part one, this is what was on God's heart: “Be true.”  We looked into 3 John 3-4, considering the meaning of “walking in the truth.”  In response to this, our heart cry was, “Keep me true, Lord Jesus.”

We're going to move from the letters of John to the Gospel of John.  Yesterday's Bible verse was John 15:5.  “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing”

God's heart is that you would want what He wants for you.  What does God want for you?  God wants for you to remain in His Son, Jesus, and depend on Him for everything.

Fruit (Jn 15:1-8)

1. Fruit is important. The word "fruit" appears six times in eight verses.
   
2. Fruit is expected. John mentions fruit, more fruit, much fruit and fruit that remains.


3. Fruit is defined. In general it is Christ-likeness or Christian character (Gal 5:22-23). In context it is love (Jn 13:35; 15:8, 16-17).


4. Fruit is possible. The key idea is abiding (remaining, staying) in Christ and His word (teaching, commandments, words). Don't be a tourist who checks in and checks out at random. That's not abiding. Instead sign an eternal lease with Jesus. Move in and unpack. Stay forever. Remain obligated to Him.