Abiding In The Son

Summary Scripture:

1 John 2:24-25 - Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Notice here that the Lord informs us through the prophet John that we can only remain in the Son and in the Father if we allow the Word to abide in us. If we abide in the Word of God, we will inherit eternal life. If not, we forfeit our salvation. Though this principle has been expressed in Scripture many times before, it is amazing how most Christians do not believe it. Many in the Body of Christ live as if there is no consequence for disobedience. We live as if the Father is a promiscuous God who accepts our disobedience to His Word. This mindset exists although there are many Scriptures to the contrary.

I John 2:26-28

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Now John goes on to say that those in the Body of Christ have an anointing or an unction that teaches them right from wrong, or the difference between good and evil. Thus, he implies we have no excuse for the evil we do or think. The Holy Ghost abiding in us counsels our heart.

HAUGHTY AND HIGH-MINDED

St. Mark 7:20-23

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Oftentimes members of the Body of Christ tell themselves and others that their hearts are pure when in fact they walk in pride, wickedness and evil thinking. According to the Scriptures above these are manifestations of the contents of the heart.

HAUGHTY is to “show oneself above others” though often denoting preeminent, is always used in the NT in the evil sense of “arrogant,

HIGH-MINDED is defined in 1 Tim 3:6, “puffed up,” “lifted up with pride”; so 6:4, KJV, “proud,” and 2 Tim 3:4,

Haughtiness and high-mindedness are often displayed in counsel when one denies or rejects the truth about their spiritual location. People witness our wickedness, pride and a manifestation of our evil thinking during these counseling sessions. People we interact with can conclude that we walk in pride, haughtiness, high-mindedness and that we constantly think evil of others. People entertain our dispositions and our attitudes. Many who are not of the Body and certainly those who are in the Body are not ignorant of that which is Christ and that which is not. The warning is in I Timothy 3:6, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,maliciousness;full of envy, murder,debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The saints of God indeed know the judgments of God. We are taught the awesome wrath of the Lord that will befall those who disobey Him. However, we refuse to accept that judgment as individual punishment for our disobedience. Why? Well, the Word of God declares that in sin is deceivableness. It is the deceivableness of sin that causes us to become blind to the punishment that awaits us as disobedient sons. We simply refuse to accept that God the Father will “cast us away,” (reprobate). We have adopted the promiscuous God of our imagination. This causes us not to see God as less than holy but rather willing to accept less than holiness from us. He is a God who will deny Himself of

the precious fruits of His own attributes from the Body of Christ. This line of thinking is erroneous; for the Lord knows the power of His Spirit to overcome the sin of this world. He will not accept failure as the legacy of His redemption plan; for all who sin will surely be alienated from God and will surely die.

Some will live, walk in the Spirit and deny themselves the pleasures

of the flesh. They will obey the Word of God and thus glorify the Father. The decision is a personal and individual one. You must decide to destroy your pride and submit to the counsel of the Holy Ghost as He speaks to your heart.

Romans 2:1-9

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the

goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

You would think those who walk in the high-mindedness of judgmentalism would be satisfied in their disposition, seeing as how they are so critical and contentious concerning the disposition of others. But the truth is, they are not satisfied at all. Their soul encounters much anguish and tribulation, which is a by-product of their pride. They are not happy because they spend much time seeking out justification for their actions by pointing out the faults or sin in others. Nevertheless, after having spent so much energy probing in the darkness of others, their very own conscience constantly reminds them of the evil of their own heart. You see, one can say (with their mouth), “My heart is pure.” However, the mere fact that they stand in judgment of others is evidence in itself of the evil that lies within.

It is amazing to see how one can be full of pride manifesting itself as judgmentalism and unforgiveness,

and still see themselves as better than the people they judge. Satan has also seen that this might become a crack that the prideful heart may crawl through to repentance. Therefore, he encourages another mindset that will protect and fortify their disposition. The mindset sounds something like this: “I know I am not in the place I should be with God, but I sure don’t understand how some people can say that they are so holy and do some of the things they do.”

DECEPTION IN THE HEART

The acknowledging of the truth about one’s disposition is supposed to establish a righteousness that says “at least I am honest about my spiritual location. I do not pretend to be something I am not.” Supposedly this acknowledgment of the truth gives one the right to judge others. When in essence it merely

confirms the Word of God.

Romans 2:1

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another,

thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

The heart can be deceived into believing that acknowledging sin establishes the righteousness of God when in reality it is the repentance of sin, (the turning away from sin), that establishes righteousness. But the enemy remains at the place of “quickly acknowledging” their wayward disposition so that they can comfortably point the finger at others.

To strengthen and maintain their disposition, they hold in their memory the failures of others. They do this, not even considering their victim’s relationship with God. Many times, saints have moved on through repentance and submission, but the god of this world and the darkness of the heart will not accept this as fact. One becomes as the Scripture says “blind” to the truth.

The heart becomes hardened not allowing the true nature of others to be considered, to view righteousness in those we have judged would shatter our own disposition. One must not accept that God is working with and through the victims of our judgment, even if we see Him working. This fact must not be equally addressed because then there would be no satisfactory explanation for such divine presence. Therefore, the fact that God is working with and through those whom we have judged in our hearts must be dismissed and simply given no credible thought. Nevertheless, the fact remains that God is not going to consider the disposition of others when He renders His judgment of us.

Another thing that must be considered is when we acknowledge a negative spiritual location but refuse to move. It is a direct affront to the Holy Ghost. In essence, we are saying to God, “I have decided to do, and be, whatever it is I want to do and be.” This is pride personified. Beloved, do not allow the god of this world to deceive you. God is not mocked, and He will deal to everyone a just recompense of reward for our deeds in the flesh.

I Timothy 6:3-6

3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,

strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

I think the above scripture really describes the disposition of the proud, judgmental and unforgiving soul. The proud knows nothing: It is possible to have knowledge of the scriptures, be able to minister them to others, but never allow oneself to experience the nature and power of the Word. Thus, one is ignorant of even that which they minister to others.

but doting questions and strifes of words: It is characteristic for the soul that walks in pride to seek to dishonor the personage of others as well as discredit the God who dwells in them. I want you to look closely at the definitions for some of the terminology used in the verses above.

Doting means to dispute -strive about words. To look for something other than the truth in a matter. To strive with words, disputing known and proven truths.

Envy: ill-will. jealousy (spite):

Strife is a quarrel, contention, debate, strife, variance.

Railings means blasphemy, vilification (especially against God): - blasphemy, evil speaking. To make blasphemous accusations against the sons of God either

verbally or in the heart.

Evil surmising; suspicion: To come to an evil conclusion or a conclusion that is either against or denies Christ.

It is very strange how the prideful will never admit that they are indeed envious and jealous of the ones they judge so harshly. One cannot refute the Word of God. These are indeed the products of pride, judgmentalism and unforgiveness. We all need to examine ourselves thoroughly to see where we stand concerning these truths. That which is in our hearts is revealed by our interactions with people. We cannot hide behind words and rehearsed disposition. The truth is in our natural and spiritual responses to confrontation with others, within and without the Body.

The question is “How can one deliver himself from such a disposition?” The answer is simple. As we have taught for many years, ninety-nine percent of deliverance is identification. One must first admit to the pride, judgmental nature and unforgiveness. Until we come to a place of complete brokenness regarding these elements of our character, we will never experience walking in the Spirit. This means we will never experience the righteousness, peace and joy in the Kingdom of God.

But we are not of those who will draw back unto perdition. We will honor the great love the Father has bestowed upon us. We will denounce all the hidden things of dishonesty. Our hearts will glow with the light that shines in the face of our Lord Jesus. We are not saddened, nor grieved, at the chastening of the Lord; for we know that this too is working together for our good.