The Fruit of Abiding
Pastor Tim Dickenson
First Baptist Church, Ovid, MI.
May 15, 2024
Re 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
The Apostle John “was in the Spirit” and worshipped the LORD, like all Christians should on the “Lord’s Day” or Sunday!
John was abiding in the Lord! While he does so, he hears the distinct sound of the LORD’s voice. So clear was it, so distinct to him, that it was “as of a trumpet.” A trumpet has a very distinct and clear sound, and the Lord’s voice also did to John.
In verse 11, God tells John to write down His message for the seven Asian churches, and then for John to send it to those churches. In his book “The Rich Man’s Salvation,” Clement of Alexandria wrote: “On the death of the tyrant (Domitian) John returned to Ephesus from the island of Patmos.”
What compels a man to keep obeying the Lord’s will for his life, whom history tells us was boiled alive, and God’s Word tells us was exiled to Patmos, “…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ”? (Revelation 1:9)
The answer is love! The love of God is being shed abroad in his heart. John loved the Lord, and he knew the Lord loved the world, especially His churches. He was loving God and his neighbor as himself.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Ga 5:13 ...but by love serve one another.
Thus, in love, Revelation is given to us. I believe when we are in the Spirit like John, this Book will be crystal clear to us as well! God did not intend for Revelation to be “confusing.”
I want to challenge us all to learn the art of abiding in Christ and to be motivated by His love.
Jesus indicates that there is a way to know if we are abiding in Him.
Joh 15:9-11 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that MY JOY might remain in you, and that YOUR JOY might be full.
Consider: Are we joyful in His will and serving others by love? If so, we are abiding because love and joy are part of the fruit of the Spirit. John learned from Jesus to find joy in obeying the Father’s will and serving others by love, have we?
Smiley: What happens if I am “scared half to death” twice?
