Believed – Page 5 – Praying Pint

Abide in Me

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,”

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,”

“whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

John 15:4 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. 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.

Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Acts 11:23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard,

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

1 John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Complacency, neglect and lacking fruit in our lives is a direct result of us not abiding in Christ. Coming to the knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sin through Christ is the beginning of our new life. This new life is to continually bear much good fruit. This fruit ought to be seen by others as a testimony to what Christ has done in our life. Jesus said for us to abide in Him and we will bear fruit. We can not bear fruit on our own. It may seem like we can and do but it is clear from scripture that apart from abiding in Christ this fruit is not good. Paul says we ought to examine and test ourselves. Examine and test against what? The only way is to spend time in scripture. God’s word is able to discern thoughts and intents of our heart and mind. Apart from His word how can this happen. Just because we don’t read and have Holy Spirit speak conviction into our heart and mind, does not mean we are not responsible or accountable. In fact many times we are reminded that being lukewarm is a very bad bad state of living to be in. What are the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I am sure there are those who have what they consider all of these but apart from Christ we will never understand them in the proper context. In His word we understand these and they come alive. They are whispered into our life and we find them honoring God and not us. We find it is through His steadfast love we and leading we experience these in a whole new way. We find our life has purpose beyond that which we can see and touch. We see this fruit have an impact not only in our lives but in the lives of others as the Holy Spirit leads us. I am convinced that abiding requires staying in His word and a heart deep desire to humbly serve, honer, follow, and obey.

Love one another

“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Acts 4:32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

1 John 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him

1 John 2:10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Reread this again. What is God revealing to your heart? If this is what love looks like lived out where do I fall short? How do I recognize these shortcomings? How do I put them into practice? What are those triggers in my life that seem to take me down paths contrary to the principles of love? Pride, selfishness, greed, self honor, impatience, lack of sympathy, self centeredness, “ME” – “MYSELF” – “I”……. I am instructed to keep my eyes focused on Christ and His example, sharing the burdens of others, allowing myself to be wronged, seeking to keep unity, and doing this for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. This is very contrary to the sinful nature. When my focus is on me I soon lose sight of Christ’s love. Even if I stay in His word and seek to honor Him, if I’m not continuously conscious of demonstrating love it is easy to let that sinful nature of me, myself and I to hinder any effect I might have to honor and glorify Jesus. Practice the love of Christ each day. Ask Jesus to fill you with His love and lead you down paths giving opportunity to demonstrate it.

Walk in My ways

“Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

““As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.”

Psalms 81:11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

Psalms 106:12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,

Isaiah 30:1 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

Note the choices being made in these scriptures and they all have eternal consequences: “they have forsaken me,” – “we will not listen to you.” – “my people did not listen to my voice” – “would not submit to me” – “follow their own counsels.” -“they refused to pay attention” -“turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears ” -“they did not obey or incline their ear” – “went backward and not forward.” – “they soon forgot his works” – “they did not wait for his counsel” – “they refused to love the truth ” – “who carry out a plan, but not mine”. We need to be mindful of our sinful nature and it’s inherent desire to be all about self and self accomplishments. Walking down the path of life we make choices. If we choose to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey God the path we follow is God directed. If we choose to be complacent and neglect His word we are soon finding ourselves unable to discern His leading and are blind to the path of destruction we are on. Spend time in His word. Learn to hear His whispers of leading. Choose to follow and obey Him.

We are witnesses

“ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,”

John 12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Psalms 145:6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 7:39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Proverbs 1:23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;

When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem and people were lining the road and waving palm branches saying Hosanna King of Israel the disciples were with Him. It says they did not understand until after He was glorified (raised from the dead), then they remembered that these things were written of Him. It is like this in our lives when the Holy Spirit calls to mind scripture and reveals something new to us. We do well to keep habit of reading scripture and studying it to continue to grow and understand. We hear these whispers of God when our eyes, ears, heart and mind are open with desire to hear and know. The Holy Spirit is a promise to all who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Yet complacency and neglect are always standing at our door. To busy, to tire, to much other stuff to do clouds our purpose this side of eternity. Keep focus on humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him. Be a witness to His saving grace, mercy, and power.

Strength of His might

“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

John 11:38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Romans 4:20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Some things are hard for us to understand when concerning the power and might of God. A small child would say God can do anything, but as we grow older and become established in life we seem to lose this child like faith. God has not changed. He can do all things. Our thoughts change, life happens and we sometimes limit what God can do. There are examples of faith that I love to think about. In Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Their faith statement “God can and is able – but even if He doesn’t” Leaves room for God’s sovereign plan and purpose. The same was true the night Jesus was betrayed when He said – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Our faith is not a magic wand we shake out actions of God at our command. I don’t know why some faith prayers God answers and others He does not. Leaving it in His loving hands takes faith. Leaning not onto our own understanding takes faith. Trusting the outcome is in His plan and purpose takes faith. Our Creator has plans and purposes beyond out ability to know and we do well to trust in, rely on, and cling to His promises of love, grace, and mercy.

Believe the works

John 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

John 8:30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

John 11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

John 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

There are many accounts of people believing. Some that believed and told others. Some that believed and said nothing because of what it may mean to their way of life. In Romans it says; “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” In Matthew it says; “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” In James it says; “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believed that, and shudder. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?” There is more to living for God than just believing. Believing is the first step and requires a heart that is open and seeking to receiving the Word of God. God’s word and call is to all mankind. He is the one who draws us to Himself and loved us and showed grace and mercy through His son Jesus Christ. Our walk of faith in Him is more than believing. Our lives should reflect the light of Christ through humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying Him.

Abide in His word

“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

“being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing”

“Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.”

“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven,

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

How do you translate this verse “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”??? How do you continue in faith and God’s leading??? How do you remain steadfast and stable??? How do you survive tribulations and trials of this world???? How do you strengthen your soul???? How are you set free???? How are you made blameless??? How are your steps remained steady??? What keeps you from shrinking back???? How do you know of God’s kindness??? How are you encouraged to keep on the path of God??? ABIDE IN HIS WORD

Cast out fear, God is Greater

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

John 7:13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

John 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Galatians 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

Fear is something common to all man. Deep down or on the surface it is there. Fear takes root in the place where there is unknown outcomes. In our heart and mind we formulate what the possible future outcomes could be based on connecting the dots from past experiences or things we have heard or seen. From an early age we learn either to respect or fear natural affects of fire, gravity, snakes, bees, wild animals, water currents, speed, etc…. Some of these we have experienced and others we have heard of their affects on others. Sometimes we apply this same thought process to serving God and have fear based on only what is in our mind. When it comes to serving God, fear should be blanketed in trust and faith in Him. Trusting God is in control, He is more powerful than whatever I’m facing, He has promised to be our refuge, strength, and power. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He can do more than we ask and much more than be can imagine. Replace fear with Trust and Faith in Him alone who can overcome whatever is or is thought to be before us.

And they turned back

“ If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!”

John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

2 Timothy 1:15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

Hebrews 10:38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Many of His disciples turned away and no longer walked with Him. Scripture today gives examples of those who once had the appearance of walking with Jesus but deserted Him. How would you like to go down in history with your name in the bible for turning away. Worse than this is hearing “Depart from me for I never knew you”. Being complacent and negligent in humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying God does not end well. There is too much distraction if we don’t place Him first in our life. When I say first I am not saying the first you come to when in a trial or situation but rather the first one you think of when you awake and your heart, soul and mind are seeking to know Him deeper every moment. Your heart seeks to see His hand at work in your life and your ears are open seeking to hear His leading for you each day. Open His word and feast on it. What is God speaking to your heart about through what you have read. Think about it through out the day.

Bread of Life

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,”

John 6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Hebrews 5:11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing

2 Peter 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

Jesus had just told them that He was the bread of life and to eat of this would give them life. For this many walked away. I wonder if we are like this when we choose to stay away from His word. If God’s word is not permeating our life what is feeding our spiritual soul? Apart from His word, nothing. We will waste away, drift away, and lack that which gives us joy, hope, faith, love, kindness, strength, power, grace and mercy. These are seeds that need spiritual watering from His word. If we don’t see His word essential for living, what does that say about our belief. His word will continue to grow us. Fruit of the spirit will be produced and we will be a light shining for Him to use for His glory and honor.