30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 13 22-30 The narrow door 10 Abiding in Christ
📖 Luke 13:22-30
23Oct19 - *Abiding in Christ* - _Luke 13:22-30_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 7:21-23_
_Luke 13:25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'_
Just because we say, “Lord, Lord”, will not give us entry into a relationship with Jesus. _Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'_
Being part of the few who are chosen is dependent on us being prepared in the three areas that we have discussed earlier. As a reminder, here are the three areas of preparation. Trusting God and not the material is the first preparation. Faith in Jesus demonstrated by doing His will, is the second preparation. By faith, enabled by His Spirit but not trying to please God by the flesh is the third preparation. If we are not prepared in these areas, we will be thrown out. This is why many are called but few are chosen.
Having that relationship with Jesus is about doing His will. _Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?_
It is in doing His will, which is abiding in Him, that fruit bearing or ministry will happen out of our lives. Ministry is a natural outcome of us abiding in Christ. All that the branch does is to remain in the vine. Fruiting is the natural outcome. _John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me._
If we are not abiding in Christ but producing much activities, even in the name of Jesus, He will look at us and say that our lives have not produced the results that came out of abiding in Him. He will, in fact, call us as evil doers, whereas, we had evaluated our lives based on the success indicators of ministry. Ministry before God is nothing but abiding in Him. _Joh 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned._
It in doing His will that we enter into His kingdom, right here on earth, even though, one day, we will enter into the fullness of His kingdom. _Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city._
*Thought to ponder*
What is your evaluation of your ministry? Is it just that the success indicators are looking good or are you doing His will?