Thriving in 2026 - Abiding and Purging

Temple Baptist Church - 2-15-2026

John 15:1-5

 

Introduction: 

A.  Are we “Thriving or Surviving?”  God wants us to thrive in these last days!  To thrive, we must abide. 

 

B.  John 15 mentions both pruning and purging of the branches.  The commentators make these two words virtually the same.  THEY are different!  If they had the same meaning, they would be spelled alike!

 

1. By pruning, God breaks off the unfruitful branches.  Bad branches!  Over the years, we have had families and individuals who just never got into the church. I call them “Out lyers.”  You either abideth (notice the eth ending: present perfect tense.  Faithful to God.) in Christ or you do not.  If you never get faithful, you will eventually get out!  Do not make God break your branch off, as Satan and the world will devour you, that the spirit might be saved.

 

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

2.  By purging, God trims the branch. Good branches!  Though the branch has brought forth fruit, God trims off that which is not productive, allowing more of the sap that comes from the Vine to invigorate and grow more and much fruit.

 

a)  By purging the branches, removing the shoots and suckers that are not fruit-bearing, thus directing the sap to the part of the branches that bear.  It not only increases the quantity of the fruit, but it also increases the quality of the fruit.

 

b) In our humanity, we often have things in our lives that hinder spiritual fruit-bearing that must be removed.

 

C.  I want to look at two pairs of verses that will explain what purging is.  Here are two of the most quoted verses that explain our abiding and flourishing. 

 

1.  Purging has to do with removing weights (anything that hinders us from loving and serving the Lord) and besetting sins (sins that we constantly have to avoid that are particular to us individually).

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

2.  When we put those two verses to work in our lives, we can fulfill these two by presenting our bodies to Christ, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.

 

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

D.  Now, how does God purge His branches?  With the Word of God.  Dive into the Word of God, the Truth of God that makes us free.  Free from sin, discouragement, disappointment, doctrinal confusion, failure, and falling.

 

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

E.  Here we find the importance of God’s Word in our lives.

 

1.  Reading the Word of God.

 

2.  Studying the Word of God.

 

3.  Hearing the Word of God.

 

4.  Applying the Word of God.

 

F.  The Word of God is essential for the spiritual welfare of the believer.  We all tend to get “a little out of sorts” at times.  This is because, though saved, we are still human.  The problem is not the condition; the problem is to remain in that condition.

 

G. Physical growth is something God does, and we can help.  Spiritual growth is something we do, and God helps with!  Two of the things that will stunt both physical and spiritual growth:

 

1.  A lack of appetite. Healthy children and adults will have a healthy appetite. When a person becomes sick or old, they will often lose their appetite, and it is virtually impossible to get them to eat. They do not eat because they do not feel like eating. How often, at the end of a loved one's life, do people tell them they have to eat for strength, but they refuse food? Thus, the physical man and the spiritual man will lose strength.

 

2.  An appetite for the wrong things.  I love buying cakes at Walmart.  You know, the ones with an inch of icing and all the flowers and designs, all made of pure sugar.  I love ice cream, which I am sure is not the healthiest of foods.  Meat, bread, and vegetables build strong bones and muscles.  Cake and ice cream build big bellies and fat.  Physically and spiritually, we must eat a proper diet.

 

H.  Abiding in Christ finds the Word of God an imperative.  Therefore:

 

1. The Bible Teaches me.  The importance of the teaching of God’s Word.  Taught by the Spirit of God; taught by personal reading and study; taught by being faithful to the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

A believer will never spiritually grow as they should until they become learners. A person can go to college, spend a fortune, goof off and party, and never get an education.  One must apply themselves to learn properly.

 

Isaiah 54:13  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

 

John 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

 

2.  The Bible Enlightens me.  Help me to understand God’s Word.  Learning can be a set of facts memorized, but enlightenment gives the learner the wisdom and knowledge it takes to excel.  The Enlightener is the precious Holy Spirit

 

Proverbs 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

Psalms 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 

3.  The Bible Leads me.  To follow God’s lead, we need to learn to trust the Lord in His guidance.  “Make me go!”  Asking the Lord to remove all our ways and force us to do His will. 

 

Psalms 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

Give me no options! Believers are free moral agents.  God has given to each of us the right of choice, but the serious child of God does not want to unknowingly make the wrong choice. 

 

I often ask God to close all other doors so that I have only the right door to choose.  I personally wanted out of the Bible Belt.  My desire was to go to New Hampshire and start a church but each night I would say, “Dear Lord, if New Hampshire is not your will for my life, close the door.”  He did and I am here!

 

James 1:22-25  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  (23)  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  (24)  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  (25)  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

4.  The Bible Draws me.  Draw us near in heart through the Scriptures.  That we may spend quality time with the Lord.  Relationships are established with conversion.  You speak to God in prayer and allow God to speak to you through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  One of the greatest enemies of the believer in these days of plenty is the sin of covetousness.  Can’t help it and got to have it.  Through the lure of the world, so many believers have lost their excitement and desire for God’s Word. 

 

Romans 8:6-8  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

5.  The Bible Turns me.  One of the three areas of sin concerns the eyes.  Eve saw and took; Lot vexed his righteous soul by hearing and seeing.  In today’s society, we see more by accident than people in years gone by saw on purpose. 

 

Turn my eyes from: Things that are not good, things that are temporal instead of eternal, things that tear down instead of buildup, things that are ungodly or worthless.

 

We cannot help what we see but we need the help of the Lord to turn our eyes from the sinful sights.  Ask God for “spiritual blinders.”

 

Proverbs 4:25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

 

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

2 Peter 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

 

6.  The Bible Stabilizes me.  Establishment in the unshakable Word.  Help us to be stable-minded instead of double-minded.    The world and churches are full of unstable people.

 

One of the most important aspects of spiritual growth, stability, and having a firm foundation is found in the Word of God. 

 

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

7.  The Bible Encourages me.  In the Word, in the Lord, and in the church.  Every child of God needs encouragement.  This is why the Bible commands us to faithfully assemble.  Faithfulness and communion bring about encouragement. 

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

8.  The Bible Quickens me.  Biblical spiritual growth makes the child alive in righteousness. 

 

Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Thriving in 2026 - Abiding and Rejoicing

Temple Baptist Church - 2-8-2026

John 15:11

 

Introduction: 

A.  In 2026, God wants His people to thrive, not just survive!  Thriving in Christ is abiding in Christ, and abiding in Christ is fullness of joy!  One of the essential characteristics of “fullness of Joy” is found in rejoicing.  Here are two verses that express what John is telling us in John 15:11.

 

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16  Rejoice evermore.

 

B.  Last week, we saw that abiding in Christ brings about the joy of the Lord in the life of the Christian.  How can one walk in fellowship and harmony with Christ Jesus and not have that inner joy and peace that comes through being with Him?

 

C.  Rejoicing is an outward expression of an inner joy!  When your joy becomes “full” it overflows in tears and praise.  There is an old saying, “When your cup gets full, the saucer gets the blessing!”

 

D.  The word “rejoice” in its various forms is found 258x in your King James Bible.

 

1.  The First Mention - Exodus 18:8-9  And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.  (9)  And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

 

2.  The Last Mention - Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

 

E.  “Alway” is an interesting word.  It is a word not found in this computer's spell checker.  Every time I type “alway”, the word processor corrects it to “always.”  “Always” is found 62 times in the Bible while “alway” is found only 23 times.  When the Bible makes a spelling distinction, it behooves us to take a closer look at the wording.

 

F.  Both words come from the same two root words which mean “every” and “when.”  Therefore, to the casual observer, the two words are the same but this is not the case.  The “s” on “always” makes the word plural while the lack of the “s” makes “alway” singular.  This difference is an important one to the believer as our text verse will bear out.

 

1.  The word “always” refers to an expanse of time more than just an instance of time.

 

2.  The seemingly opposite is true in the context of the word “alway.” It seems that “alway” refers to a specific instance of time and encompasses many instances of time, but one at a time.

 

G.  Whether one agrees fully with that distinction or not, the truth it points us to is unmistakable: our joy is not tied to long stretches of ease, but to Christ’s presence in every moment.  I enjoy reading Philippians 4:4 and am glad that the Holy Ghost said, “Alway!”  It has been and is a joy during the hard times of my life.

H.  Let me give you another instance where the Bible uses the “alway” instead of “always.”  We know that the Lord said that He would never leave nor forsake us in Hebrews 13.  Though the word “always” is not used, the sense of the word is there.  I am glad that the Lord will be there with me and for me until the day He calls me home!  But, in Matthew 18:20, He said, “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”  I believe that the difference is that, now, our Lord said that He would be with in every place, in every instance, and in every circumstance of life as we carry the gospel to a lost world.  Every situation and circumstance, He is there with us while having the power to deliver and sustain us.  “Even unto the end of the world” tells us that he will be with us in every circumstance all of the way home!

 

J.  I want to look at the latter part of this verse again this morning.  “That your joy might be full!”  “Fulness of joy.”

 

John 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 

1.  Our Joy Comes Through Fellowship, not circumstances - Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

2.  Our Joy Comes Through Faith, not circumstances - Philippians 1:25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

 

3.  Our Joy Comes Through Faithfulness, not circumstances - Psalms 84:4  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

 

K.  Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”  Notice with me that the verse says to “rejoice in the Lord alway.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Rejoice evermore.”

 

1.  To rejoice in all times and all seasons.  In season and out of season!

 

2.  To rejoice in all conditions and all circumstances.  Good times and bad times, times of plenty and times of little, times of health and times of sickness, times when you are up and times when you are down.

 

L.  It is easy to rejoice when you are up on the mountain, but how can we rejoice in the bad times?  By being full of the joy of the Lord.  Keeping our hearts and minds stayed upon Him, not on our surroundings and circumstances.

 

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

 

1.  Normally, “Rejoice in the Lord” would have sufficed, but Paul reinforced the word by beginning and ending the sentence with “rejoice.”  It shows us the importance of having the right attitude and a trusting one.

 

2.  Our mental state has as much to do with our general outlook on life as our circumstances do.  As a “merry heart” doeth good like a medicine, a positive state of mind makes our outlook on life positive.  God controls, and He loves His children!

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16  Rejoice evermore.  (From now throughout our lives and all of the instances thereof.)

 

1.  Rejoice in the Lord during the good times of life.

 

a.  It is easy to forget God when things go well.

 

Deuteronomy 8:12-14  Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;  (13)  And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;  (14)  Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

 

b.  We need to rejoice in the Lord because He has been so good to us.

 

Psalms 106:1  Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

c.  We need to rejoice when our health is good. 

 

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 

d.  We need to rejoice when our power is still on and our cupboards are full.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:7  Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

 

 

2.  Rejoice in the Lord during the hard times of life.

 

a.  We can rejoice because God’s providence controls our circumstances.

 

Job 23:10, 13  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold … But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

 

b.  We can rejoice because it is then that God provides our needs in hard times.

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

c.  We can rejoice because God protects our lives in desperate situations.

 

2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

d.  We can rejoice because We can count our many blessings in the valleys.

 

Psalms 145:8-10  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  (9)  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.  (10)  All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

 

 

e.  We can rejoice because God will bring about a right end when the trial is past.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Abiding And Joy

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-1-2026

John 15:11; Nehemiah 8:10

 

Introduction: 

 

John 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 

Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 

Joy and Happiness are not the same: 

 

Happiness is circumstantial. The word itself is tied to what happens to us. It rises and falls with conditions.  Based on outward circumstances, Temporary and changeable; dependent on comfort, success, health, money, people, etc.

 

Joy is spiritual and internal.  Joy is rooted in God, truth, and relationship with Him—not in what is happening around us.  Based on inward assurance. Enduring and stable.  Can exist alongside sorrow, trials, and suffering

 

A.  I have been preaching on “Thriving in 2026.”  We thrive when we abide in the True Vine, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Two verses for this morning give us insight into the joy of the Lord.

 

1.  I often use this sentence when preaching: “I have said all of that to say this.”  A conclusion is now reached.  John 15 speaks of many perks that come automatically when we abide in the True Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

2.  Our Lord summed up His discourse on abiding with one word, “Joy.”  Two “joys” are mentioned in verse 11: “My joy” and “your joy.” 

 

John 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

 

a) “That my joy might remain in you.”  “My Joy” is the joy that our Lord finds in our abiding in Him, walking in Truth.     

 

3 John 4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

 

b)  “And that your joy might be full. “Your Joy” is the fullness of joy in both the Lord and things of the Lord. 

 

Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 

1)  Supply – joy in the things of life that God has given to us.  We can either endure life or we can enjoy life.  “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord:”

 

2)  Strength – is found in the joy of the Lord.  “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

 

B.  What was the joy of Christ?  I want to look at the best definition that I have ever seen, and it comes from your Bible.  Many years ago, I preached from the following verses, and what great joy they brought to our people.

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  (18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

1.  In these verses, we find both the “Cause” and “Effect” of the Christian’s Joy.

 

2.  As is the case many times in the Bible, we find the order reversed.  Rejoicing, the Effect, before Joy, the Cause.

 

3.  In Verses 18-19, we find the Cause of Joy:

 

a)  The God of my Salvation.  True Christian Joy comes from God in the form of Eternal Salvation.

 

b)  The LORD God, my Strength.  True Christian Joy is maintained in the spiritual Strength that comes from God, not circumstances.

 

4.  In Verses 17-18, we find the Effect of Joy:

 

a)  Though things go wrong, and they do; though life is hard and it is:

 

b)  Rejoicing comes from our inner fountain of Joy.

 

5.  There was a day when praise and rejoicing were spontaneous, not “worked up.”  “Popcorn Testimonies” have become a thing of the past.  We need to get our Joy back, and rejoicing will follow without being stirred.

 

6.  We live in days when pastors feel the necessity to stir our emotions with fleshly music and preaching to produce rejoicing.  Thus, they become Entertainers, not Preachers.  Rejoicing should be a spontaneous result of Joy, not the cause of Joy.

 

7.  The hymns of the Faith no longer cause Rejoicing, so the modern-day “church” is now in the “Entertainment Business” instead of reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.  Modern-day preaching and music reflect the world because most professing “Christians” are more worldly than spiritual.

 

C.  Both rejoicing and joy are to be despite our circumstances, not because of them!  Most Christians live in a state of discouragement, with little joy.  Why?  The answer is simple.

 

1.  Because of Our Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

 

God’s people are not drunks and harlots, but sin creeps in, and we now walk at a guilty distance from God, and the joy is gone.

 

2.  Because of Our Situations - Matthew 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 

 

God’s people have their eyes upon the “wind and waves” of circumstance and not upon Christ.  When Peter looked up instead of looking down, he saw the Lord of the “wind and waves” and once again walked on the water.

 

D.  Many Christians live in defeat with no joy at all.

 

1.  For The World, Joy Is Found In Circumstances – Luke 12:16-21  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

2.  For The Christian, Joy Is Found Despite Circumstances - 2 Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

 

2 Corinthians 8:2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

 

Colossians 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

 

1 Thessalonians 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

 

E.  Loss of joy comes through:

 

1.  Losing the freshness of our salvation.

 

2.  Losing the burning love for our Saviour.

 

3.  Losing the excitement of our service.

 

WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FINDS HIS JOY

 

1.  Christian Joy Is Found In Salvation - Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

Psalms 35:9  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

 

Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 

Psalms 132:16  I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

 

Isaiah 12:3  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

 

2.  Christian Joy Is Found In The Holy Ghost - Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

Joy Is Not Found In The Things Of The World - Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

3.  Christian Joy Is Found In God’s Word - Nehemiah 8:9-12  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.  And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

 

4.  Christian Joy Is Found In Church - Psalms 42:4  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

 

 

a.  The Joy Of Singing - Psalms 95:1  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

 

Psalms 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 

Psalms 98:4  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

 

b.  The Joy Of Praise - Psalms 27:6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

 

5.  Christian Joy Is Found In Worship - Nehemiah 12:43  Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. 

 

6.  Christian Joy Is Found In Hope - Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

7.  Christian Joy Is Found In Eternity - Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

8.  Christian Joy Is Found In Sinners Saved - Luke 15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 

9.  Christian Joy Is Found In A Finished Course - Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

10.  Christian Joy Is Found In The Saviour - 1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Abiding In Christ - Abiding In His Presence

Temple Baptist Church - 1-25-2026

Luke 10:38-42

 

Introduction: 

A.  I have been preaching for a couple of weeks on the subject of “Thriving In 2026” by “Abiding In Christ.”  Too many of God’s children choose to survive when God wants them to thrive!  How does the child of God thrive?  By abiding in Christ Jesus!  In John chapter 15, verses 1-10, the word “abide” is mentioned eight times.

 

B.  Being saved and abiding in Christ are two separate things. 

 

1.  Salvation is in an unconditional covenant where a person comes to Christ in repentance and faith, and then is the recipient of Eternal Life!  Nothing in this world can change that relationship.

 

Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

2.  Abiding in Christ is a conditional covenant whereby a saved man or woman remains constant in Christ.  One of the greatest examples is the Apostle Paul.

 

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

Colossians 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 

2 Timothy 4:6-7  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

Though our Lord Jesus Christ is always present with us. Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

We are not always present with Him.  What a contrast we find in Demas.  2 Timothy 4:10a  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world …

 

C.  In our text, we find the Lord comfortably sitting in the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.  This home and family were very special to our Lord.  Not that the Lord loves some more than others, but some just love the Lord more than others.  Our Lord frequented this home.

 

D.  What a testimony the Lord’s friend, Lazarus, had.  Many Jews came to see the one whom Jesus raised from the dead in John, chapter 12. The religious crowd conspired to put Lazarus to death because many believed in Christ because of him.

 

E.  In our text, Lazarus is not mentioned, though I am sure that he was at home.  Only Martha and Mary are mentioned. 

 

1.  TWO VERY IMPORTANT things are mentioned here: One Serving and one Sitting, One Cumbered and one present: Communing, Continuing, and Contented.  These three conditions are equally important and should go hand in hand!

 

2.  Martha is cumbered in her serving while Mary is content in her sitting!  Thus, we find the children of God in our day.

 

3.  The message is more about Martha than Mary, though Mary was the epitome of what the message is about.

 

F.  Are we cumbered in our serving or content in our sitting?  I want to look at these two wonderful women and contrast them.

 

G.  In verse 38, Martha “received him into her house.” 

 

1.  Let us look at Martha first.

 

a.  Martha was a Good woman!  Martha was a Godly woman!  Martha Loved the Lord! 

 

b.  As with Peter, we often look at Martha the wrong way or in a bad light.  She made sure that the Lord had every comfort when He came into her home.  She made sure that His every need was met when He came for a visit. 

 

c.  But Martha was “cumbered ABOUT much serving.”  Notice with me the wording: “Cumbered ABOUT much serving,” not “Cumbered WITH much serving!”  Martha was complaining about Mary’s lack of service!

 

1)  The same thing is expressed in John 21 as the Lord is restoring Peter to a place of service, and Peter questioned John’s relationship with the Lord.

 

John 21:21-22  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

 

2)  Martha’s serving was no doubt based on love.  She made sure that the Lord had everything that He needed and provided it with joy.  But Martha had stopped serving and started observing. She was worried about what the Lord needed, but not necessarily what He longed for.

 

3)  I thank God for those who serve.  I preached a few weeks ago on a servant’s heart.  God knows we need those who are willing to serve rather than be served.  Martha was a worker!

 

4)  But Martha allowed her service to separate her from her presence with Christ.

 

5)  I imagine that Martha was tired and more than a little more than just frustrated.  Here, she was HAVING TO DO all the work while Mary sat in the living room and enjoyed listening to the Lord talk. 

 

1a)  Ladies, does that remind you of how it is when company comes, you are left alone in the kitchen to both cook and clean while the other ladies sit and talk?

 

2a)  Cumbered – a so-called archaic (old, outdated) word for burdened, hindered, troubled.    I hate it when people say the Word of God is outdated!  “Cumbered with heavy clothing” means that too much clothing hinders the task ahead.  So many are trying to serve Christ but find service a burden instead of a blessing. 

 

3a)  Too many children of God are spending their time in service FOR Christ without spending time WITH Christ!

 

d.  Verse 41, we find a loving rebuke as the Lord describes Martha as careful and troubled about many things.  Three things in verse 41 divide her from the “best” that Mary had:

 

1)  The double address “Martha, Martha” expresses affection, not irritation.  Martha’s priorities were misplaced.  Often, our priorities are out of order, and such was Martha’s.

 

2)  The text uses the word “careful” – full of care; anxiousness that brings about distraction. A verse we use on our prayer list includes the word “careful.” 

 

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

3)  Troubled – disturbed or agitation; the only mention in the Bible.  Her worry agitated Martha to the point of rebuking Mary. 

 

4)  Many things – Martha’s problem was not immoral; it was the crowdedness of her soul.  “Too many minds” is an expression I have heard that means distraction from a point that needs to be addressed.  It contrasts “one thing is needful.”

 

5)  Again, I am not dissing service or duties, but Martha allowed her duties to eclipse her devotion to Christ Himself.

 

6)  We find Martha’s occupation for Christ, while contrasted with Mary’s occupation with Christ.

 

2.  Mary had the same spiritual attributes that Martha had:  Mary was a Good woman!  Mary was a Godly woman!  Mary Loved the Lord!  But the similarities stop there.  While Martha was cumbered, Mary was contented.  Mary was content to sit at the Lord’s feet.

 

a.  We See That Mary Longed To Be Present With Christ. 

 

b.  Mary was Continuing, Communing, and Contented  – vs. 39  While Martha wanted Christ in her home, Mary wanted to be with Christ!

 

Luke 8:35  Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

 

Proverbs 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

 

c.  Mary was Worshipping – vs. 39  “sat at Jesus’ feet”  Here, we find that place of obeisance and humility.  Servants sat at the feet of their masters, showing both obedience and affection.  Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus' feet.

 

Luke 7:44-45  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

 

John 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (Tell me that you love me, Peter!  Tell me that you love me more than anything else in the world, Peter!!)

 

d.  We See That Mary Hearing Christ – vs. 39

 

1)  Martha was burdened in verse 41: “careful and troubled about many things.”  Serving our Lord had lost its blessing and became a burden to Martha.  She was not serving because she wanted to serve.  She was serving because, as the woman of the house, she had to serve.  How many times has the work of the Lord become a burden to God’s people?  We do what we are expected to do just because we are expected to do so!  The service of the “bond slave” becomes a thing of the past as we labor, seemingly unrewarded, in these last days.

 

2)  But Mary was Blessed – vs. 42  “good part, which shall not be taken away”  I also have no doubt that Mary spent many hours laboring beside Martha.  Her sitting at the feet of our Lord had nothing to do with laziness.  It had to do with her fervent desire to both be with Him and hear His gracious words.

 

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

 

Job 23:12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

 

e.  We See That Mary Lingered With Christ – vs. 40  Mary was abiding – vs. 40  “my sister hath left me”  Mary sought that “good part, which shall not be taken away from her!”  Time spent with Christ is not time wasted for Christ!  Yes, we could be doing a multitude of other things that are both needed and profitable, but that time spent with Him is sublime!

 

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

Psalms 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

 

Psalms 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 

Psalms 140:13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

 

Conclusion:  There is a song I love to hear, especially the chorus, which fits this message perfectly. It is titled “When I’m With Him,” and the chorus goes like this:

 

When I’m with Him;

When I’m with Him;

The fairest pleasures of the world grow dim;

And in him heart, I feel the thrill of glory;

When I’m with Him, when I’m with Him.