ASK #021 - Abide in Me

 written:  March 8, 2022

Abide in Me (Christ)

John 15:7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done.

There was a Jewish tradition when boys were young and just beginning their education.  Just a side note:  Honey is the symbol of God’s favor…so…on a young boy's first day his rabbi would pass out the slate covered in honey.  The boys were then instructed to lick the honey off their slates while they recited Psalm 119 “How sweet are your words to my taste. Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”  This was their first lesson and perhaps the one that would stick with them for life.  This lesson taught them that the Bible is the land of milk and honey…the TRUE Promised Land.

The best way to get into the presence of God is to get into the Word of God.  Mark Batterson states, “If we get into God’s Word, God’s Word will get into us.”

In actuality the Bible wasn’t meant to be read; it was meant to be memorized and meditated on…to be prayed and practiced.

When God repeats a word in the Bible you should take note.  

One such word is ABIDE!

Abide is a word that indicates continual action…it isn’t something that we start and stop, as needed…

There are many words in English that have multiple meanings and abide is one such word.  Today we will look at five different meanings for ABIDE.

To stay overnight: this simply means to stay in God’s presence for a little longer.  This is when Jesus prayed “a little longer” the night before His crucifixion.  There were several events that happened the night before His crucifixion to give us the full picture of who Christ is and who we are to emulate.  

The first of which was the washing of the disciples' feet.  This was a tradition of the time because traditionally the men would arrive at the low lying table with dirty and dusty feet.  So it was a custom to wash the feet as they would be close to the table and food.  This was an act of humility and love.  Jesus humbled Himself by kneeling on the floor and gently washing His disciples feet so that they could dine and relax together in comfort.  He was willing to “get down and dirty”  to show His disciples how He cares for them and how every little detail was important to Him.  Nothing was too small or too “dirty” for Jesus.  Jesus was setting an example of what it was like to be Christ-like.  Nothing would stop Jesus from rolling up His sleeves and serving others.  Just before this action the disciples were arguing who was the greatest of all of them and this simple action that Jesus performed showed them in a hands-on way how the last shall be first and the first shall be last.  (Matthew 20:16)

The next event that evening was the last supper.  This was a significant symbol in that it was a time to be in communion with one another and Christ.  The bread and wine from the supper are to remind us of  how Christ was going to lay down His life to save all His people from their past, present and future sins.  The Last supper was a time of communion with not only Christ but other believers; both past and present.

This all leads to a time where even Christ took time to abide in His Fathers presence.  He did this by going up to the top of the mountain and stayed overnight praying in the garden of Gethsemane.  This is where Jesus took much time to pray and listen to His Father.  The garden of Gethsemane was a place that Jesus and His disciples visited on a regular basis.  So Judas was able to find Him that evening.   Jesus knew what He was to do inorder to save us all but He was still in great anguish and withdrew with three of His closest friends.  Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go with Him and stay watch as He prayed.  Jesus prayed throughout the night stopping between each one to check on the disciples and each time He found them asleep.  After the third prayer He again returned to find His friends sleeping.  He awoke them by stating that it was time and that His betrayer was arriving.  Judas arrived with crowds carrying swords and clubs.  This is when Judas betrayed Jesus with a simple kiss.  

These events lead to what would be one of the most crucial parts of our Christian lives.  Sometimes we need to press a little longer and harder just as Christ did leaning into His Father the night before He was going to save us all by His death and resurrection.  

When we press into God He will do the same and press into us.  He responds to extra effort with extra blessings.  When we spend time in God’s presence and in His Word He will be able to use us to do more for His Kingdom.     

To hold fast:  When we pray we gain position in the spiritual realm.  God’s Word is our most powerful and effective weapon against the evil one.  Holding fast and abiding in God’s Word is the best way to gain ground against satan.  When we do this it is both our best offense and defense. 

2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

To stand still:  This was evident when the Isrealites found themselves “stuck” between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea.  When we find ourselves between a rock and a hard pace sometimes we get anxious and want to move or get “unstuck” on our own.  However, this is the time when we should stand still and abide in God’s Word and trust His promises.  We don’t like being in situations where we see no way out or in a place where we can solve our own problems.  This is a time when it is especially important to stand still and allow God to be God.  It is often in times like this when we can't do anything by our own human power that God is able to do His best work in us.  It is during times when our human nature just won’t work when God does His most dramatic and powerful miracles and provinces.  It is often when these things happen so that God will get the honor and glory.  

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

To be moved:  In action is no longer an option.  We cannot abide in God and His Word and not be moved to action.  God’s Word gets into our spirit, sometimes referred to as the “spiritual womb” and new passions are conceived and birthed in us.  

Titus 3:4-7  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

To tarry:  We must linger in the study of God’s Word.  The spiritual disciples of studying scripture and engaging in prayer aren’t two separate disciplines.  You can't have one without the other…one is the key to the other…unlocking God’s truth and love…

This is power in [rayer and when we pray before reading/studying God’s Word He will open even more of His truths to us.  Often we as sooo busy trying to “do” for Christ that we don't’ take a moment to STOP and let God do something for us.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 

In summary we need to press into His presence and the best way to get into God’s presence is to get into God’s Word.  

Back in the day Jewish kings were required to write out their own personal copy of their law and carry it on them at all times.  

As good of an idea this is… It might not be so practical to write out the entire Bible however, we can still use this idea to write out and personalize scripture.  Even if writing out the verses when you read scripture is not part of your spiritual practice (you might want to add it to your routine because when you read, write and see God’s Word it sticks with you better) One simple thing you can do is to replace the word “you” in scripture with your name.  This will remind you that the Bible is for you personally.  It reminds us that our lives are unique and God has created us in a special way.  

Mark Batterson states, “We have our own unique translation of scripture.”  Now this doesn’t mean that we can change God’s Word.  It is simply a reminder that God has a specific and special individualized plan for each one of us.  

God gives us His Word to abide in it.  He longs for a relationship with each and everyone of us.  It is our job to get into God’s Word and to digest it.  

Mark Batterson likes to say that if we read scripture without meditating on God’s Word it is like eating without digesting the food.  

Now I must say…that is something to think about.  We don’t only eat to eat…we eat for nourishment so we must digest what we eat to properly fuel our bodies.  It is the same with God’s Word.  We need to meditate and fully digest His Word so that it will nourish our spirits. 

So take some time to Ask God to feed your spirit with His Words, Seek Him and His truths then take those truths to Knock on the hearts of others and share God’s Word.