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Sep 03, 2023

Abide

Passage: John 15:1-11

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: General

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: faith, jesus, hope, life, fruit, intimacy, abide

Theme: We are relational beings who simultaneously crave and are terrified of intimacy. Jesus, our Immanuel, “God with us,” transcended time and space to Abide with us, among us, as one of us; and is now inviting us to Abide with him. But what does this actually mean? We are told that God is within all believers. Then why does He so often feel so far off, or completely absent? How can we have a true connection (and attachment) with this Transcendent/Immanent God? If He really is within me, and I am really within Him, I want to understand what this looks like, and how I can participate in this mutual-abiding, experiencing and even enjoying intimacy with the Lord.

Theme: We are relational beings who simultaneously crave and are terrified of intimacy. Jesus, our Immanuel, “God with us,” transcended time and space to Abide with us, among us, as one of us; and is now inviting us to Abide with him. But what does this actually mean? We are told that God is within all believers. Then why does He so often feel so far off, or completely absent? How can we have a true connection (and attachment) with this Transcendent/Immanent God? If He really is within me, and I am really within Him, I want to understand what this looks like, and how I can participate in this mutual-abiding, experiencing and even enjoying intimacy with the Lord.

 

CENTRAL TEXT:

John 15:1-11

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.