If you are truly a born-again-believing child of God, ... why would you NOT...want to abide in Him... As in all the time? 

 Would you pause and consider that one for a moment please? 

 Can we just lay aside all the religious jargon and pretentious talk today and have an honest heart ‘discussion’ as to what is the biggest hinderance for ‘believers’ when it comes to truly abiding in Jesus as He strongly suggest, advises, and requires- that we do abide in Him? (John 15:1-8) 

 Over the past year, I’ve heard a few interesting comments made by people that I could so identify with and relate to, as I’m sure you will as well. It was almost an admission of sorts, or a confession when they simply stated: “I don’t always want ...to abide in Him.” 

 I get that. I mean, I totally understand what is being said here, as do you I am guessing. 

 Which then leads me back to my original question...of “Why? Why would we not want to abide in and with Jesus all the time?” ( I would submit to you that it has to do with un-surrendered sin in our hearts)

 We are told in scripture that “in His presence, there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). 

 Do you think it’s possible that the absence of joy in our lives, and I mean true, genuine joy, is an indicator of an absence of His presence in our lives? Or is that just poetic language which offers more symbolism than it does substance? 

 And are you ready for this ‘connecting of dots’? That passage in John 15, where Jesus lays out the case for, and the importance of, abiding in Him, explains fully as to why it is imperative that we believers abide in Him. (1-7). First of all, if we don’t, no fruit gets produced. Period. I mean, it is as simple as that; and if you have been reading here for any length of time, you should already be reminding yourself that ‘fruit matters’! (Matt. 3:10; 7:19-20; Luke 13:6-9) And our fruit it supposed to 'remain'. (John 15:16)

 He seems to underscore the fact that bearing ‘much fruit’ is how the Father is glorified and is the evidence of whether we are a true disciple or not. (15:8). Please note He did not say ‘believer' or 'church member' either. He said ‘My disciples’ which means ‘follower’ of Jesus. 

 Then He goes on to compare the love the Father has for Him and that He loves us (disciples) in the same manner and plainly instructs us to “Abide in My love.” (9).  Ever asked yourself just 'how' we actually do that?

 Well look here: it gets even better! He tells us exactly HOW we do that: “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.”(10) 

 Remember what Mary told the servants at the wedding who were desperately needing a miracle as they had run out of wine? It is unclear as to whether she brought the servants to Jesus or if she took Jesus to them, (there’s a sermon in that though, is there not?) but it is what she told the servants that was the key to the miracle they needed: “Whatever He says to you, Do it! (John 2:5) 

 They did it. And the miracle of transformation played out before their very eyes. Anyone reading here needing a similar miracle of transformation in their lives today? Mary’s advice is still good advice for us today. Now back to John 15.... 

 Jesus tells us there that if we truly want to abide in His love, and His love to abide in us, then ‘do what He says’, as in keep His commandments (10). And can I just tell you now that when you are truly abiding in Him, empowered by His grace (that is only offered to the humble) that His commandments are not grievous or burdensome. (1 John 5:3). They really aren’t. Never have been. Why He said the same thing to the Israelites back in the wilderness just prior to them going in to possess and inherit the land God had for them. These are not hard commands to keep, doing what I tell you. (Deut. 30:11) 

 Who told you it was really hard, if not impossible, to obey God? 

Now for the promise that Jesus shares after this very simple and short explanation on what it means to abide in Him in John 15 – “These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (11) 

You know what is so wonderful about the joy God gives us? Nobody can take it away. (John 16:22) 

 Another benefit to the joy God gives us? It induces or provides strength to us. “The joy of the Lord is my .....strength”. (Nehemiah 8:10). You think it’s possible the reason so many today are barely holding on by a thread in their spiritual walks...is they’ve been weakened by sin? I mean, everyone seems to believe and be taught that ‘saints are gonna keep on sinning’, which means they ain’t abiding (1 John 3:6). And if you are not abiding, then you are lacking joy...and strength, given what we just read there in John 15:11. 

 Oh, and let’s just connect some more dots here while we are at it ;-) - How many of you have been ‘fighting some battles’ out there recently? Been a spiritual war for you? Lots of attacks from the enemy? Struggling with fear or depression or anxiety, etc? We know it is not ‘flesh and blood’ we are contending with; rather spiritual forces of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realms’. (Eph. 6:12). Paul tells us there to “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (6:11). So...just ‘how’ do we do that, ‘be strong in the Lord’? 

 Would you do me (and yourself) a favor and turn back now to Deut. 11:8 and go underline that verse and put a big star next to it as well. But let me also type it out here for you as well, (just in case you are in a hurry or a tad lazy *wink-&-grin*) 

God spoke this to those who were about to go in and possess the land: “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may ...be strong...and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess.” (Deut. 11:8) 

 How about that? When did God change? 

 So strength comes from joy which comes from doing what He says which is how we abide in Him. Strength > Joy > Obedience > Abiding 

 Again, ... Why would we not want ...to abide in Him all the time? 

 Do you know what the Psalmist declared in 40:8? “I delight...to do Your will, O my God...” Sounds like he wanted...to do what God instructed. As opposed to what we often feel and express: “I need to...or I should...or ought to” be doing this. Or what about “have to”. I have...to read my bible...I have to go fellowship with other believers...I ‘can’t’ participate in that sin anymore. 

 Do you see the difference here? And do you know what the difference was for the Psalmist that we just read there? He explains at the end of that verse: “And your law is written within my heart.” Isn’t that what God said He was going to do in this dispensation of time to those who became a new creation and were fed up and tired of having a ‘form of Godliness’...honoring Him with their lips but their hearts were far from Him? 

 He was going to write His law upon our hearts, removing the hearts of stone that had hardened because of sin. (2 Cor. 3:3; Ezek. 11:19; Jer. 31:33; Heb.8:10; Rom. 2:12-16) 

 Now we need to look at another passage here that can be troublesome, nevertheless...it’s in our bibles. Jesus was talking to some people who were quite religious, knowledgeable in the word, and convinced they were children of God given they were descendants of Abraham. 

 Jesus told them: “IF...God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God...” (John 8:42). Those who love Jesus do what? They keep His commands. But now look at vs. 44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you .... WANT to do.” You ‘want’ to satisfy the lusts of your sinful flesh nature. You want...to serve pride and lust and greed and selfishness. You ‘want’ the approval of men...more than...the approval of God. (John 12:43) 

 John would later write that we could easily distinguish the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil. (1 John 3:10). God’s children WANT...to please the Father. 

 And you cannot do that when your carnal mind is still in control. (Rom. 8:8). And the only way true change can be experienced is through a total surrender to His Lordship. 90% won’t cut it; just ask the rich, young ruler who turned and walked away...grieved in his heart. (Matt. 19:22) 

 So let me ask you today...if that ‘Want2Abide-Meter’ could be connected to your heart, how would it read? You do know what a voltage meter does when we hook it up to our batteries? It tells us when it’s time to replace the battery and get a new one. 

And before you want to offer up Paul's statement in Rom. 7 about this internal conflict he struggled with in 'wanting' to do what the law commands but was limited and hindered by his sinful nature, remember this:  He cries out 'who will deliver me from this body of death?" (24). Then he answers it in the next verse before launching off into chapter 8 that teaches us exactly how we do this.  The 'old man' has to be put to death. (Rom. 8:13-14)

Have a blessed day :- )