Continuing
Jesus told those who believed on Him, that they had to continue in Him (John 8:
31-32) “then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him. If you continue
in My word, then are you My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free”. Many people believe on Jesus, yet many of
them don’t continue in His word.
God told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of you mouth; but
you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according
to all that is written therein; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and
then you shall have good success”. When it says “shall not depart out of you
mouth, it means we are supposed to let the word of God continually come out
of our mouth. Meditating day and night is also a continuing form of thinking
about, speaking about, and remembering His words.
David wrote in Psalms 17:15 (Amp) “as for me, I will continue beholding Your
face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be
fully satisfied, when I awake (to find myself) beholding Your form (and having
sweet communion with You”. We also see in Proverbs 23:17 (Amp) which says
“let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful
fear of the Lord Yahweh all the day long”.
Many Christians don’t take time to read or study His word; which is there for our
instructions (Proverbs 4:20-23) says “my son, attend to my words; incline your
ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst
of your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their
flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it, are the issues of life”.
James says “you believe that there is one God, you do well; the devils also
believe, and tremble”. So you see that believing on Jesus is only the
beginning. I spoke on a word which is called “don’t stop at the cross”.
Jesus tells us in John 12:26 “if any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where
I am, there shall also My servant be; if any man serve Me, him will My Father
honor”. Also in John 15:7,10 He said “if you abide in Me, and My words abide
in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. If you keep My
commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s
commandments and abide in His love”. Abide means to stay, continue in.
The apostle Paul, rebuked believers in Galatia that they had begun in faith and
should remain in faith (Galatians 2:5) “to whom we gave place by subjection,
no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you”. The
apostle Paul also speaks to the saints in Colosse in Colossians 1:23 “if you
continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister”.
The early church walked and continued in the doctrine of Christ (Acts 2:46-47)
“and they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved”. They did the things which Jesus
Himself did. It was said of them, that they turned the world upside down.
Paul tells Timothy “but continue you in the things which you have learned and
have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them. And that
from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you
wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished to all good works” (II Timothy 3:14-17).
Paul warns about the end times (II Timothy 4:1-5) “I charge you therefore
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word, be instant in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. But
watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of your ministry”. And we see these things happening in today’s world.
He also tells the Romans “for if God spared not the natural branches, take
heed less he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity
of God; on them which fell, severity, but toward you, goodness, if you continue
in His goodness; other wise you also shall be cut off” (Romans 11:21-22).
In the book of Hebrews we are told to “take heed, brethren, less there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But
exhort one another daily while it is called today, less any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we
hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:12-14).
We are told in Hebrews 13:1 to “let brotherly love continue”.
In the natural as one enters a race, only one wins the prize, but the apostle
Paul said that we all can receive a crown as we continue in the faith (II Timothy
4:7-8) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith. Hereafter there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to
all them also that love His appearing”.
The apostle John tells of those which went out from him (I John 2:19) “they
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us”. He goes on to explain that we must
continue in the doctrine of Christ (II John 6:8-9) “and this is love, that we walk
after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as you have heard
from the beginning, you should walk in it. Look to yourselves, that we lose not
those things which we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not
God, he that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the
Son”.
Jesus in the book of Revelation speaks to the churches warning them to repent
and return (Revelation 2:1-5) “to the angel of the church of Ephesus write;
these things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in
the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know your works, and your labor,
and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil; and you
have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found
them liars. And have borne, and have patience; and for My name’s sake have
labored, and have not grown weary. Nevertheless I have somewhat against
you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where
you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you
quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, except you repent”.
In Revelation 3:1-3 He says “and to the angel of church in Sardus write; these
things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know
your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful,
and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not
found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not
watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will
come upon you”.
He warns the church of Laodice that He would spew them out of His mouth
(Revelation 3:14-16). Each time He says to them “he that has an ear, let him
hear.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 10, 2010
Jesus told those who believed on Him, that they had to continue in Him (John 8:
31-32) “then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him. If you continue
in My word, then are you My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free”. Many people believe on Jesus, yet many of
them don’t continue in His word.
God told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of you mouth; but
you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according
to all that is written therein; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and
then you shall have good success”. When it says “shall not depart out of you
mouth, it means we are supposed to let the word of God continually come out
of our mouth. Meditating day and night is also a continuing form of thinking
about, speaking about, and remembering His words.
David wrote in Psalms 17:15 (Amp) “as for me, I will continue beholding Your
face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be
fully satisfied, when I awake (to find myself) beholding Your form (and having
sweet communion with You”. We also see in Proverbs 23:17 (Amp) which says
“let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful
fear of the Lord Yahweh all the day long”.
Many Christians don’t take time to read or study His word; which is there for our
instructions (Proverbs 4:20-23) says “my son, attend to my words; incline your
ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst
of your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their
flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it, are the issues of life”.
James says “you believe that there is one God, you do well; the devils also
believe, and tremble”. So you see that believing on Jesus is only the
beginning. I spoke on a word which is called “don’t stop at the cross”.
Jesus tells us in John 12:26 “if any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where
I am, there shall also My servant be; if any man serve Me, him will My Father
honor”. Also in John 15:7,10 He said “if you abide in Me, and My words abide
in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. If you keep My
commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s
commandments and abide in His love”. Abide means to stay, continue in.
The apostle Paul, rebuked believers in Galatia that they had begun in faith and
should remain in faith (Galatians 2:5) “to whom we gave place by subjection,
no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you”. The
apostle Paul also speaks to the saints in Colosse in Colossians 1:23 “if you
continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister”.
The early church walked and continued in the doctrine of Christ (Acts 2:46-47)
“and they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved”. They did the things which Jesus
Himself did. It was said of them, that they turned the world upside down.
Paul tells Timothy “but continue you in the things which you have learned and
have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them. And that
from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you
wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished to all good works” (II Timothy 3:14-17).
Paul warns about the end times (II Timothy 4:1-5) “I charge you therefore
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at His appearing and His kingdom. Preach the word, be instant in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. But
watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of your ministry”. And we see these things happening in today’s world.
He also tells the Romans “for if God spared not the natural branches, take
heed less he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity
of God; on them which fell, severity, but toward you, goodness, if you continue
in His goodness; other wise you also shall be cut off” (Romans 11:21-22).
In the book of Hebrews we are told to “take heed, brethren, less there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But
exhort one another daily while it is called today, less any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we
hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:12-14).
We are told in Hebrews 13:1 to “let brotherly love continue”.
In the natural as one enters a race, only one wins the prize, but the apostle
Paul said that we all can receive a crown as we continue in the faith (II Timothy
4:7-8) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith. Hereafter there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to
all them also that love His appearing”.
The apostle John tells of those which went out from him (I John 2:19) “they
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us”. He goes on to explain that we must
continue in the doctrine of Christ (II John 6:8-9) “and this is love, that we walk
after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as you have heard
from the beginning, you should walk in it. Look to yourselves, that we lose not
those things which we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not
God, he that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the
Son”.
Jesus in the book of Revelation speaks to the churches warning them to repent
and return (Revelation 2:1-5) “to the angel of the church of Ephesus write;
these things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in
the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know your works, and your labor,
and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil; and you
have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found
them liars. And have borne, and have patience; and for My name’s sake have
labored, and have not grown weary. Nevertheless I have somewhat against
you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where
you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you
quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, except you repent”.
In Revelation 3:1-3 He says “and to the angel of church in Sardus write; these
things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know
your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful,
and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not
found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not
watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will
come upon you”.
He warns the church of Laodice that He would spew them out of His mouth
(Revelation 3:14-16). Each time He says to them “he that has an ear, let him
hear.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 10, 2010
