Abiding in Christ

[disciple]

ABIDING IN CHRIST
JN. 15:1-8

GOD DESIRES TO LIVE IN CONSTANT FELLOWSHIP WITH US
·THE VINE MUST LIVE ITS LIFE OUT THROUGH THE BRANCHES, & THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF THE BRANCHES ARE IN CONSTANT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE VINE (LIKE WITH GOD & US—V.4-5)
·GOD IS GLORIFIED AS WE REPRODUCE HIM (BEAR FRUIT), PROVING TO BE DISCIPLES OF HIS. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO 1ST BE PRACTICING 2 IMPORTANT THINGS: CONTINUAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (“ABIDE IN ME”), & CONTINUAL INTAKE OF HIS WORDS (“MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU”)(V. 7-8)
·A DAILY TIME OF FOCUSED CONVERSATION WITH GOD IS NEEDED
--EX: A MARRIED COUPLE HAS FELLOWSHIP ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT THINGS WILL NOT GO WELL IF THEY DON’T HAVE SET ASIDE TIMES TO BE TOGETHER & TALK. IT IS THE SAME WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD; WE NEED A DAILY QUIET TIME TO HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

SPEAKING TO GOD (FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM)

PRAYER
--JESUS’ INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT PRAYER: MATT. 6:5-8
--JESUS’ MODEL FOR PRAYER: MATT. 6:9-13
FOR GOD TO BE GLORIFIED,
HIS KINGDOM TO BE EXPANDED,
HIS PLANS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED,
HIS PROVISION FOR OUR SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL NEEDS,
HIS FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS,
& HIS PROTECTION FROM OUR ENEMY

--“FORMS” OF PRAYER:
PRAISE (FOR WHO HE IS)
THANKSGIVING (FOR WHAT HE DOES)
CONFESSION OF SIN
MAKING REQUESTS FOR YOURSELF & OTHERS

--IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A PRAYER NOTEBOOK IN WHICH YOU WRITE DOWN YOUR PRAYER NEEDS, OTHERS’ PRAYER NEEDS, & ANSWERS TO PRAYER
--PRAYER IS NOT AN EVENT, IT IS CONSTANT CONVERSATION AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AS YOU LIVE EVERY DAY (LIKE BREATHING)

PRAISE & SINGING
--SINGING PRAISE & WORSHIP TO GOD BRINGS JOY BOTH TO HIS HEART AND OURS (PSA. 149:1-4, 150). THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT WAY WE COMMUNICATE WITH GOD.

HEARING GOD SPEAK (INTAKE OF HIS WORDS)

BIBLE STUDY
--YOU CANNOT HAVE A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT READING, STUDYING, & PUTTING INTO ACTION THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE (PSA. 1:2-3).
--IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO COME TO CHURCH & HEAR A PASTOR TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIBLE; YOU HAVE TO STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF SO GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU DAILY & INDIVIDUALLY (PSA. 119:9-11).
--EX: JUST AS PEOPLE NEED FOOD SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD EVEN MORE (MATT. 4:4, PSA. 119:103)

SUGGESTIONS FOR PRACTICING THIS
·THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF IN STUDYING THE BIBLE:
PROMISE TO CLAIM
WARNING TO LISTEN TO
DIRECTION TO FOLLOW
ENCOURAGEMENT TO CLING TO
EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW (OR NOT FOLLOW)
PRAYER TO PRAY
ATTRIBUTE OF GOD TO UNDERSTAND

·TOOLS TO USE: BIBLE, NOTEBOOK & PEN, THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (MOST IMPORTANT). WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU LEARN SO YOU CAN OBEY IT & SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

·PROCESS TO USE (IMPORTANT):
READING/HEARING
UNDERSTANDING
APPLICATION
TRANSFORMATION
TRANSFER TO OTHERS

·SUGGESTED PLACES TO START READING:
GOSPELS
PSALMS/PROVERBS
ROMANS
GALATIANS

PERSONAL GROWTH IS A BEGINNING POINT, NOT AN END IN ITSELF. AS WE GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WE WILL BE EQUIPPED FOR EVANGELISM & DISCIPLE MAKING.