“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44 KJV). The devil is a liar and murderer. Satan would kill us all, if he could. The best way for him to hurt God is to hurt us. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings” (Psalm 17:8). Deliver the world from sin and sinning is the best way to thwart the devil. The Gospel is the most efficient way to snatch sinners out of the clutches of the devil. “Through death He [Christ] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Teaching the Church to abide in Christ is the most effective means of keeping the Church out of the snares of the wicked one. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV).
Abide in Christ
How Not to Sin (Abide in Christ)
“Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come” (Matthew 18:7 NET). Sin was never a necessity. Ever since angels and humanity made their choice against the Almighty, the stumbling blocks of sin have been present in the world. For God to prevent all sin, moral agents would no longer have choice. God cannot always wisely prevent sin; however, where Jesus is, sin is not, and where sin is, Jesus is not. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6 KJV).
What a minute!
Whoever continues and abides in Him is not sinning.
Okay, that is logical and reasonable.
But, “whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6).
Isn’t that extreme?
Not really.
The Holy Spirit testifies we are not sinning, when we are abiding and continuing with Him. That is a comfort to us.
However, when we are presently sinning and in rebellion against Him, for sin is the transgressing of God’s law (1John 3:4), then why should the Holy Spirit comfort us? He instead says I never knew you.
Can you blame Him?
“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6).
Abiding in Jesus prevents sin.
And, that is only a byproduct of our need to see Jesus as the foundation and source of our faith.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
We need only to explore the vastness and importance of dwelling in Christ.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4).
Father, we desire to be like Jesus. Help us to abide in Christ. May our pursuit of Jesus yield the peaceable fruit of holiness. Cause Your Spirit to work in us to produce the character and image of Christ. Keep us from pursuing an Accidental or Incidental Christianity. May our pursuit of Jesus be stronger than even our hatred of sinning. Work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
An Unseen War
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Corinthians 4:18 KJV). Preach the Gospel, baptize disciples, build God’s kingdom, replicate. Our highest privilege is communing with Him who is invisible. Notwithstanding the incomparable gift of Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins, God’s greatest gift is His Spirit (Luke 11:13), which causes — without forcing — an obedient walk (Ezekiel 36:27). This appropriately reflects our unseen relationship with the Father. Replicating on earth the unseen struggle taking place in the heavenlies with the minions of the adversary, disciples recognize our true “citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20 NIV). Yahweh’s friends are our friends. His enemies are our enemies. Transforming into Christ’s likeness will be our unending pleasure now and throughout eternity. Prophecies yet to be fulfilled indicate tactical signposts and progress in our struggle with the enemy, but returning and continuing in our Edenic abiding with Christ is the unspeakable joy of our existence. LORD, we’ve pledged our undying loyalty to You, but we crave a greater understanding and appreciation of who You are. Magnify Your name. Show us Your glory. And, return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 