Ruth 4:8-12. Final chapter – Our home with Christ in the word “abide” – Jesus describes our home.

Sunday June 17, 2018

 

Title: Ruth 4:8-12. Final chapter - Our home with Christ in the word “abide” - Jesus describes our home.

 

Jesus used the word abide identically.

 

JOH 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.”

 

His home is filled with peace, …

 

JOH 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

 

produces a wonderful crop (fruit), …

 

JOH 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

Think of an agricultural society.

 

is in open communication with his Lord (prayer without barriers of selfishness or fear), …

 

JOH 15:7"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

 

a testimony to the greatness of the homemaker, …

 

JOH 15:8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

 

filled with love, …

 

JOH 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

 

JOH 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

 

filled with joy, …

 

JOH 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

 

We could keep going. A home is a place of peace, honest and open communication, love, joy, and fruitful production. When it comes to fruit, think of a home situated on farmland and being the source of abundant crops.

 

And, as the Lord was sure to warn the men in the room, such a home will be attacked by those who do not have one.

 

JOH 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

 

JOH 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

 

JOH 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

 

The warning prepares us, and as He instructed us, as His disciples we love them in return. They will hurt us. We must recognize that we are powerless to retaliate or to overcome them. And at the same time, we must recognize that the Lord will sustain us and bless us as we wait upon Him and delight ourselves in Him.

 

PSA 23:5

Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

 

It all comes down to believing in Him, loving Him, and keeping His word in trust that the Holy Spirit will fill you.

 

Only those who are “in Him” can keep His word. John uses this designation so that his listeners will know how to differentiate the false teachers. They do not keep His word and therefore they should be ignored. You do keep His word and only teachers who do so are credible to teach.

 

While John enables them to differentiate the true from the false teacher, he also conveys the truth of the believer’s home. Those who abide in Christ walk in the same manner has He did. There is no watering that down. There are no differences of opinion argued by others that would alter in our minds the way of Christ. His way is clearly revealed in the scripture. It cannot be distorted other than by shear ignorance or purposely for the sake of deceiving others.

 

We find ourselves in a war of faith against that which lacks faith.

 

For some crazy reason Satan decided to rebel. He gave a vote of no confidence in the Creator. Puny creatures like us, with faith, walk in blessed joy and peace in the midst of the world that Satan is trying to fill up with people who rely on his system. Satan calls our faith false and it aggravates him that we could “be so stupid.”

 

We are more than equipped to overcome the devil’s lies and our own flesh that tempts and lives in fear. Hold on to your faith and fight for its continuation in every moment of every day.

 

Grab hold of eternal life. Do not cede one inch of ground to lies, doubt, fear, worry, or persecution.

 

PSA 68:1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered;

And let those who hate Him flee before Him.

 

PSA 68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;

As wax melts before the fire,

So let the wicked perish before God.

 

PSA 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God;

Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.

 

PSA 68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;

Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts,

Whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him.

 

PSA 68:5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,

Is God in His holy habitation.

 

PSA 68:6 God makes a home for the lonely;

He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,

Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.