I am fully aware that anytime God’s word goes forth… the ‘enemy comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.’ (Mark 4:15) That verse was referring to the ones who have hard hearts and don’t even understand what they are hearing, as Jesus explained there in that parable of the sower. But he (the enemy) is also right there when professing believers are feeding on the word, or maybe hearing new truths…and will do what he can to combat, confuse, or twist and distort what people are hearing. Often times he’ll provide ‘controversial questions’ to assist the process of casting doubt and speculation. He has…after all, been doing this from the very beginning of time- “Has God really said…?” (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-5; Matt. 22:27-30)

So when we are studying and examining this topic of what it means to ‘abide in Jesus’…and to ‘go and sin no more’, let me assure you that he (Satan and his minions) works overtime to get you to ‘back off’ and want to assure you that all is well with your soul. So allow me today to address some of the finer points to help better explain what this abiding in Jesus ‘looks like’…in real time. And if you will allow me, I will include some points that I have learned personally in recent years, along with, of course, plenty of scripture to back up what I am sharing.

Let me begin by making it clear- abiding in Jesus does not exempt you from being tempted, tested, and tried. But there is a difference in the final results for those who are… abiding in Him…and He in them - they don’t get burned up in the 'fiery furnace'. Daniel 3, anyone?

Listen to the words found in Isaiah 43:1-3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When (not ‘if’) you pass through the (flood) waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. And when (not ‘if’) you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned nor shall the flame scorch you for I am the Lord your God…”.

Did you catch the inference there stating ‘when’ these things happen to you (and not 'if')?

The illustration Jesus used to wrap up His ‘sermon on the mount’ (Matt. 5-7), is one where two men are building two separate houses on different foundations. It’s important to note what distinguishes one builder from the other- both ‘hear’ the sayings of Jesus, but only one puts into practice what they hear. And both houses…are subject to the same storm and ‘floods’ that beat against the house…with completely different results (7:24-27)

We read in Acts 14 how Paul and Barnabas circled back to various churches to encourage and “strengthen the souls of the disciples…exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying ‘we must through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God” (22)

And let’s not forget Peter’s familiar admonition where he writes: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice…” as he goes on to explain how God’s glory is about to be revealed in you… (1 Pet. 4:12-13).

Then there’s James’s reminder to ‘count it all joy 'when' you encounter various trials’, as he says pretty much the same thing and how this process is making us ‘perfect and complete’ (1:2-4).

Yeah…I remember early on in this life-changing journey I experienced nearly 6 years ago, where I was walking in this place of lasting peace and joy and calm, despite all the chaos that was happening around us then (2020 pandemic). And I had some particular ‘tests’ that exposed both pride and impatience in ‘within me’, along with some other areas later on that I was not even aware I had ‘in’ me; which is why we are ‘deceived to say we “have” no sin’ (1 John 1:8).

But I had more understanding what was happening then, and I ‘passed’ those tests, and began to experience even more freedom in my life. I also falsely concluded that I probably would not have any more ‘testings’ in those particular areas. Yeah…God and I both had a good chuckle over that one. I believe Jesus refers to the ongoing ‘tests’ as a ‘pruning process’ that takes place on branches that already have some fruit…but He’s making room for even more fruit (John 15:1-2), if that makes sense?

Is there some ‘suffering’ that we experience when we face these ‘tests’? Yep…pretty much, but this is part of the ‘suffering’ we endure when we are putting to death that ‘old man’ or that ‘sinful nature’ which is what the Holy Spirit is leading true ‘children of God’ to do (Rom. 8:13-14; John 12:24)... IF…they are abiding in Him. And I always like to throw in Gal. 5:24 here as a reminder as to who are the ones who actually ‘belong to Christ’.

Which then makes something else Peter wrote that much more relevant: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

What have those who are undergoing this process…’ceased’ from doing, according to vs. 1? And how does 1 John 2:6 and 3:6 suggest those who are truly ‘abiding’ in Jesus are walking like? I hope you don’t think this is possible to do outside of abiding in Christ, because it is not.

So what about all those ‘babes in Christ’ who were ‘carnal’ that Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 3:1-3? We’ll talk about them tomorrow; but for now, let me leave you with this thought:

Most of us know what it means to ‘fall asleep at the wheel’, which usually can lead to unfortunate, if not catastrophic results. We also know that the parable of the Ten Virgins as recorded in Matt. 25:1-13 is a picture of what happens to many in the ‘church’ just prior to the return of the ‘bridegroom’. It’s one thing to get drowsy driving down a desolate interstate in the middle of nowhere at night, or even during a sunny afternoon. Long, mundane drives can numb us, agreed? But how many folks who we hear about that escaped deadly forest fires and had to drive through smoky, flame filled roads…did so with just one hand on the wheel with a nonchalant attitude? How would you describe your mindset if it was YOU…driving through those fires? Maybe it’s time for many in the church to sit up, and get both hands on the wheel…before it’s too late.