A LOT OF DECISIONS, AND PRECIOUS EXPERIENCES WITH CHRIST HAVE BEEN OURS - BUT HOW TO PRESERVE JOY?

1. if you haven't made any decisions -don't miss out! there is room at the Cross for YOU!
2. If God has touched you- it's a great blessing-but how can you keep it? Can you stick?
3. The real secret of sustained blessing. - is found in the Secret of Abiding!

I.- IT IS A COMMAND AND A PROMISE John 15:4-6

There is no matter of personal choice- you either abide in Christ- or else!

A.- JESUS ISSUES US AN INVITATION, AND A COMMAND - NO OTHER WAY OF FRUITBEARING - vs. 4-6

B.- IF YOU ABIDE IN CHRIST, SOME GREAT AND WONDERFUL PROMISES ARE YOURS - ASK WHAT YOU WILL! v.7

C.- IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, WE SHALL ABIDE IN HIS LOVE! NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT! v. 10-12

II.- BUT HOW CAN WE ABIDE ? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? I John 2-3

A.- v.6 WALK AS CHRIST WALKED

B.- v.10, 3:14,15 LOVE THE BRETHREN, AND LET THAT LOVE BE PRACTICAL!

C.- v. 14 TO BE STONG YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE WORD OF GOD ABIDING IN YOU

D.- v.17 TO ABIDE YOU MUST DO THE WILL OF GOD.

E.- v. 24,25 KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING - first faith-- first joy

F.- v. 27 THE HOLY SPIRIT ABIDES WITHIN YOU, LISTEN TO HIM AS HE TEACHES YOU

G.- v. 3:6 WHOSOEVER ABIDES IN CHRIST DOES NOT ABIDE IN SIN - If there, get out!

H.- v. 3:24 WE KNOW WE ABIDE IN HIM BY THE SPIRIT THAT HE HAS GIVEN US- SO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

III.- THE GREAT AND PRESCIOUS PROMISE –

A.- YOU CAN OVERCOME THE WORLD, BECAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS WITHIN YOU- v. 4:4

B.- IF WE ABIDE IN HIM- WE WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE, AND NOT BE ASHAMBED WHEN HE COMES- 2:28

ARE YOU ABIDING IN CHRIST? WILL YOU ONE STEP AT A TIME WALK WITH HIM, ABIDING?