Abide in the Word

Message in Print
Scripture: Jn 8:31-32
Abide in the Word – Jn 8:31-32
 
Our 7th msg in the ABIDE series
        Our 2nd PRACTICAL (how to) Message
 
Last week we looked at Abiding in Prayer
This week we look at Abiding in the Word
Next week we’ll look at Abiding in Fellowship
 
These messages ALL come out of that critical text in Jn Ch 15
        which I pray you’re spending some time with on your own
 
Jn 15:1-11 – PLEASE – Abide in THAT portion of God’s Word
        So that these Msg’s will make sense to you
 
We start off today – in our KEY Vs
 
John 8:31 – 32 (ESV)
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
 
In these Vs’s we see TWO incredibly important reasons
        WHY we should DESIRE to be ABIDING in God’s Word
 
1) because Abiding in God’s Word - PROVES we are truly Disciples
2) because Abiding in God’s Word – is what SETS us FREE
 
Let’s deal with these 2 TRUTHS – 1 at a time
 
FIRST - - If we are ABIDING in The Word
        it PROVES we are True Disciples
 
Actually – the PROOF is what COMES from Abiding in the Word
 
The Bible is really clear – the only True Proof of salvation
        is the miracle of a changed life (Life of Christ in us)
 
If someone SAYS they’re a Christian
 
But in their ONGOING lifestyle
        they’re not THINKING like a Christian - &
        they’re not ACTING like a Christian
 
Then that person may very well NOT BE - what they THINK they are
 
SALVATION comes by Faith Alone
        But the proof of our Salvation – is in how we live
 
& how we live – is what True Discipleship is all about
 
John MacArthur;
Faith that saves produces discipleship. Discipleship depends upon the permanent application of Christ’s teaching to oneself. Passing impulses do not make disciples.
 
A Disciple is a “Follower” who makes
        “Permanent Application” of Christ’s teaching to their lives
 
& that “Permanent Application” of Christ’s Teaching
        comes from Abiding in the Word
 
If you ABIDE in my Word, you are truly my disciples
 
SECOND - in V.32 – we have the incredible promise
. . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
 
ABIDING in the Word
        Not only because it PROVES we are Disciples
 
But it also LEADS to us being SET FREE
        from the bondage of SIN & the bondage of this WORLD
 
ABIDING in God’s Word is what causes us to KNOW the Truth
 
& it is this Certain KIND of KNOWING of the truth
        that sets us FREE
 
But  Dave . . . What Certain KIND of “Knowing” is this ??
 
The GREEK word for “Know” is - GINOSKO
 
Ginosko is the
        “Intimate, Personal, Experiential, Ever Increasing Knowledge”
 
Jesus says – IF you ABIDE in My Word,
        then you are Truly My Disciples
 
& THRU that Abiding - you will have – an Intimate, Personal,
        Experiential, Ever Increasing Knowledge of the TRUTH
 
& it is THAT knowledge of The Truth will SET you FREE
 
This is the same word Paul uses in Phil 3:10
        That I may KNOW Him . . .
 
Intimate, Personal, Experiential, Ever Increasing - KNOWLEDGE
 
& KNOWING God’s Word LIKE THAT - will SET US FREE
        from Any SIN, Any BONDAGE, Any MERE RELIGION
 
Knowing God’s Word in this way – is an Ever-Increasing Freedom
 
Every truth we Receive from God’s Word
        prepares us for the Next Truth
 
& as we continually Receive God’s Truth in this way
        our lives CONTINUE to be Radically, & Permanently Changed
 
Do you see it ??   - (HUGE vs’s on Abiding in the Word)
 
HOWEVER – There is Actually also a WARNING in these vs’s
 
The truth does NOT  AUTOMATICALLY  Set us free.
 
I think most of us can relate – to KNOWING the Truth “Intellectually”
        But NOT Experiencing its Life Changing POWER
 
THAT’S Why Jesus DID NOT say FIRST
        . . . you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
 
FIRST He said “IF” – & We MUST see the “IF”
 
Jn 8:31 . . . “IF you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and [then] you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
 
There are actually TWO conditions in V.31
        in order for God’s Truth to SET US FREE
 
#1) We must ABIDE in God’s WORD
 
We’ve made it clear in this series . . .
 
ABIDE means - to continue in a permanent state
                         - It is a continuous “Living in Union”
 
So – Just as we say to ABIDE in Christ
        is “a continuous Living in Union” with Christ
 
in just the same way – to ABIDE in His Word
                is “a continuous Living in Union” with His Word
 
That must be the FIRST Condition - for the TRUTH to SET us FREE
        we must be “Living in Continuous Union” with God’s Word

Then the Second Condition is 
 
2) We must be DISCIPLES
 
DISCIPLE Literally means – A Learner, or Follower
 
Our Favorite Definition is – “One who follows his Master so  
        closely that he becomes like Him”
 
God’s ways are OPPOSITE of Our Ways – so when we
        set OUR ways ASIDE - & Learn to Follow – HIS ways
 
THAT – is what makes us a Disciple !!
 
& we LEARN to FOLLOW God’s Ways
        by Abiding in God’s Word (Living in Union)
 
So if we want to be SET FREE
        from the life of SIN & this WORLD
 
We must (1) ABIDE in God’s Word - & (2) Become Disciples
 
Which is pretty COOL
 
Because THAT is our Total, Complete, 100% FOCUS around here
 
So - How DOES Knowing the Truth (like this)set us Free ?
 
First we’ve got to understand – that for a Christian,
        behind the truth of the Scriptures is the Power of the living God
 
The SAME POWER that Raised Christ from the Dead
Is The SAME POWER that Saved YOU
Is The SAME POWER that is in the Living Word of God
 
When you Believe (& Apply) God’s Word to your everyday obstacles,
        This SAME POWER works in your life
 
Whatever we face
        Whatever Bondage, Trial, Situation, Circumstance
 
It cannot withstand the power of the Word of God !!
 
The power of God is IN His WORD - & it will work in your life
        IF you will ABIDE in His Word
       IF you will BECOME a Disciple
        IF you will GAIN an Intimate, Personal Knowledge of His Truth
        & IF – You have FAITH in it !!
 
We’ve got to have FAITH
        in the Supernatural power of God’s LIVING WORD
 
Heb 11:1 says
        Faith is the CONVICTION (evidence) of things not seen
 
& we have got to get
        to where we BELIEVE God’s Word - like THAT
 
Our Faith MUST be in GOD above our own circumstances
 
Our Faith MUST be in WHO God is & WHAT God says
        above what we see
 
& it is ABIDING in His Word – that brings us into this
        FAITH in WHO HE is - & WHAT He says
 
& it is that Faithful KNOWLEDGE of the Truth
        that  WILL Set us FREE
 
Ohhhh That’s GOOD !!
 
So - - We KNOW we are CALLED to ABIDE in God’s Word
                  We KNOW the TRUTH of God’s Word WILL Set us FREE
 
So what are some PRACTICAL STEPS we can take
        to LAY THE FOUNDATION – to BEGIN Abiding in the Word ??
 
In JAS Ch 1 there is a great teaching on HOW we can do this
 
Let’s turn over to JAS Ch 1 & look at the Foundation
        of HOW to ABIDE in God’s Word
 
(Thx to John MacArthur for helping w/ the outline)
 
(1) - RECEIVE God’s Word
 
James 1:21 (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and RECEIVE with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
Webster’s Dictionary - receive - “to take in, to permit to enter; to come into possession of.”
 
To RECEIVE God’s Word – is to “Take it in” –
        to Permit it to enter your life – to come into Possession of it
 
Truth CAN be - simply INTELLECTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED
        but that is NOT - RECEIVING God’s Word
 
We must receive God’s Word into our lives
        In a Similar way to how we RECEIVE Christ
 
We BRING Christ into our Lives – We give Him Rule & Reign
        We Receive His life into our life (even in place of our life)
 
& THAT – is what we need to do with the Word of God !!
 
RECEIVING the Word of God is Far More than OWNING a Bible
 
It’s Far more than even ACKNOWLEDGING
        that there are some good truths about God in there
 
RECEIVING God’s Word is “Bringing it into your Life”
        “Making it your own”
 
It’s BELIEVING God’s Word – TRUSTING God’s Word
It’s RELYING on God’s Word – in every area of your life
& Finally (the BIG one)
        RECEIVING God’s Word means - - OBEYING God’s Word
 
Guys – WHEN you begin to truly BELIEVE & RECEIVE
        God’s Word into your life
 
you will have entered the doorway to freedom
 
James 1:21 (ESV)
21 . . . RECEIVE with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
Next – JAS 1:21 calls us to
 
(2) - RECEIVE God’s Word without SIN
 
James 1:21  (ESV)
21 Therefore PUT AWAY all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
Here’s the deal – You cannot RECEIVE God’s Word into your life
        & still be HARBORING Conscious SIN
 
These two things just don’t go together
 
I’m always AMAZED at the amount of Sin Christians can HARBOR
        & still ASK God to do Great things for them . . .
 
Honestly guys – It’s NOT going to happen
 
Psalm 119:101  (ESV)
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.
 
Psalm 119:11  (ESV)
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
 
This one should be pretty easy
 
We Cannot RECEIVE God’s Word into our Lives
        & continue to HARBOR (protect, live in) SIN
 
(again) James 1:21  (ESV)
21 Therefore PUT AWAY all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
(1) - RECEIVE God’s Word
(2) - RECEIVE God’s Word without SIN
 
(3) - RECEIVE God’s Word with HUMILITY
 
James 1:21  (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
This is a BIG ONE – Cause I’ve seen so many Christians
        approach God’s Word with So much PRIDE –
 
With so much - “This is what I THINK” – “This is How I do things”
 
& then I show them a Life-Changing Truth in God’s Word - & they say          WELL THIS IS HOW I SEE IT – or This is how I DO IT
 
OK . . . that would be THE OPPOSITE of
        Receiving God’s Word with HUMILITY – With MEEKNESS
 
This word in the GREEK can be translated Meekness or Humility
        but either way it means – Being Emptied of SELF
 
it’s being absent of EGO & PRIDE
        & RECEIVING the Word in Humility
 
John Macarthur says it’s – TEACHABILITY
 
Are you willing to have God’s Word tell you that you’re WRONG
 
& are you willing to REPENT & CHANGE your life
        in order to ALIGN your life - with God’s Word
 
THAT is Teachability - & THAT is receiving God’s Word
        with HUMILTY, or MEEKNESS
 
(again) James 1:21  (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
 
Next – After we - (1) - RECEIVE God’s Word
(2) - RECEIVE God’s Word without SIN
(3) - RECEIVE God’s Word with HUMILITY - THEN
 
(4) – Be a DOER of God’s Word
 
(next vs) James 1:22 (ESV)
22 But BE DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
 
The GREEK Word for “DOER”
        Implies A LIFESTYLE . . . a WAY of LIFE
 
It is not a CASUAL or OCCASIONAL Doing
        - It’s what CHARACTERIZES  our lives
 
As we learn to ABIDE in God’s Word
        we learn to always be asking ourselves THREE questions ;
 
WHAT does the Bible SAY ?
WHAT does the Bible MEAN ?
HOW does that APPLY to my life ?
 
The First two questions are important
        but ONLY if they lead to IMPLEMENTING the Third Question
 
The HIGHEST Goal of ABIDING in God’s Word
        is APPLYING it – to our lives
 
In fact – JUST Knowing what the Bible Says
        & JUST knowing what the Bible Means . . .
 
Puts us in the exact same position as the DEMONS
 
The Demons know what the Bible SAYS
The Demons know what the Bible MEANS
BUT they have NO OPPORTUNITY to APPLY it to their lives
& it’s that Opportunity
        to actually APPLY God’s Word to our lives
 
That enables us to be SET–FREE by the God’s TRUTH
 
When we become a DOER of the Word - & NOT a Hearer only
        the POWER of God - Absolutely WILL CHANGE our lives
 
On the verge of Leading God’s people into the Promised Land
 
the LORD spoke to JOSHUA
        about being a DOER, and NOT a Hearer only
 
Joshua 1:8  (ESV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful TO DO according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
 
If God’s Word will NOT DEPART from our Mouth
If we will MEDITATE on it Day & Night
So that we will be careful TO DO all that is written in it
Then will we make our way PROSPEROUS
Then will we have good SUCCESS
 
MAN – THAT is GOOD STUFF !!
 
& By the Way – Jas 1:22 makes it clear
 
it’s the DOERS of God’s Word
        that are NOT Deceiving themselves
 
Look closely again at James 1:22 (ESV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
 
The GREEK Word for “HEARER”
        speaks of someone who is AUDITING a Class
 
They’re here, they’re sitting in the seat
        But they’re not Enrolled in the class
 
It’s not REAL for them – they’re just “Spectators”
 
& James says – these HEARERS ONLY
        Are actually - Deceiving themselves
 
You get NO CREDIT for auditing the class
        You’ve got to be FULLY Enrolled
        You’ve got to put what you Learn – INTO PRACTICE
 
Becoming a DOER of the Word
        Is what Leads - to being SET-FREE by the TRUTH of the Word
 
Now - In Vs’s 22-23
        James describes what a HEARER ONLY looks like
                & then he wraps up this teaching in V.25
 
James 1:25  (ESV)
25 But the one who looks into (Lit “looks intently” or “gazes”) the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
 
The word translated “Looks Into”
        is the Picture of someone STOOPING DOWN
                to examine something very carefully
 
Most versions translate it – “Look Carefully, or “Gaze Intently”
 
It implies a strong desire to see what God’s Word has in it for you
        so that you can DO IT
 
Those who will DO THAT - & notice,
        the Vs says and who persevere in doing in doing it
 
THOSE - will be BLESSED in their doing
 
& THAT – is Abiding in the WORD !!!
 
We RECEIVE it into our lives
We Receive it WITHOUT SIN
We Receive it WITH HUMILITY
We Become a DOER of the Word
& then we PERSEVERE – in being a DOER of the Word
 
THAT – is ABIDING in God’s Word - &
THAT – is when God’s Truth – will TRULY Set Us Free
 
Man ! – there is so much MORE I could (& would like to) say
But I still HAVEN’T told you HOW to do begin DOING this !!
        & these are Supposed to be PRACTICAL Messages
 
So Let’s Take out the insert in your Bulletin - & go over it
 
Studying the Bible for personal application is NOT hard
 
Especially when you have someone to guide you,
        & answer some questions
 
That’s called Discipleship - & I really encourage you
        to HAVE (or GET) that person in your life
 
FOUR STEPS TO STUDY THE BIBLE
 
1. Pray: Pray before and throughout your study of the Bible.
        Take some time. Slow down. Praise & Thank God.
                Confess your sin, & ask for forgiveness
        Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into the truth of God’s Word
 
2. Say: What does the text say ?
        Take on just a paragraph or two. Dig in. Read it over a # of times
        Write down words or phrases that jump out. Ask Questions
 
3. Mean: What does the text mean in its context ?
        Have someone teach you WHAT context means,
                & how to determine what the context is
        Then write down what the clearest meaning is in the context
                what was the author trying to convey to the first audience
 
4. Apply: How will I apply this text to my life today ?
        This is the GOAL.
        How does God’s Living Word APPLY to your life, today?
        WHAT does God want you to do in RESPONSE to His Word ?
                write it down so you can review it later
 
That seems pretty easy – doesn’t it ??
 
ok – I’m going to try to make it even EASIER !!
 
Turn your insert over, where we’ve actually made a Journal Page,
        with this Classic Approach on it
 
All you have to do is work thru this Journal Page
        & I promise you – God WILL Speak to you
 
REVIEW DAILY DISC JOURNAL PAGE
 
To ABIDE in the Word MEANS
        to be “Living in Union” with God’s Word - (in constant union)
 
It’s God’s Love Letter to you !!
        It has in it the Power of God to TRANSFORM your life
 
It is the MOST POWERFUL WEAPON in your life
        to set you FREE from the Bondage & Destruction of this world
 
& Most of us VERY, VERY Seldom – even CRACK the cover !!!
 
You CAN Read & Understand God’s Word
You CAN Apply it to your Life
You CAN Experience the FREEDOM it Promises
 
But you MUST begin – to ABIDE in it
 
ABIDE in God’s Word
        & your Life will NEVER be the SAME
 

Let’s Pray