So That You May Be Kept from Stumbling
- How many times can you fall and rise again to your feet?
- How many times can you fall and not be seriously hurt?
- How many times can you fall and remain down, staying on the ground?
These questions race through my mind this morning as I consider the POWER of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.
- Can you stumble and fall away from walking with GOD?
- Can you stumble and fall too far for GOD to pick you up so you can walk anew?
- Can you stumble and fall too far for GOD to fully restore your heart?
These questions run through my head as I ponder my walk with JESUS.
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples—
“When the Helper comes,
(The Gospel According to John 15: 26-27 & 16: 1 NASB)
whom I will send to you from the Father,
that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
He will testify about Me,
and you will testify also,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.
These things I have spoken to you
so that you may be kept from stumbling.”
Jesus came to die!
We have heard these words, read these words, studied these words, but have we really breathed deeply in these words?
Yes, Jesus came to die—to provide The Way to know God!
Consider for a moment what it means to really die to self so that we can truly leave behind those thoughts, actions, reactions, and mis-actions that we are prone to do, so that we can
FULLY BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS!
- In this life, as a follower of Christ, we can expect tribulation.
- In this life, as a follower of Jesus, we can expect to stumble and fall.
- In this life, as a child of God, we can expect persecution.
BUT ALSO—
In this life, as a follower of Christ, we can expect adventure!
In this life, as a follower of Jesus, we can expect pure joy!
In this life, as a child of God, we can expect HIS PRESENCE!
JESUS TELLS US! &
WE CAN BELIEVE THE WORDS OF JESUS—100%!
“When the Helper comes,
(The Gospel According to John 15: 26a NASB)
whom I will send to you from the Father,
that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, . . .”
- The world sees all that we do.
- The world hears all that we say.
We have heard these statements—BUT DO WE really consider what the LORD requires of us?
MAY WE FULLY BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS!
Maybe we desire to take this high-road the Lord Jesus has called us to walk, but then we wonder: How? What must I do to make this happen?
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES WHAT THEY MUST DO!
&
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES HOW!
&
JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES WHY!
“When the Helper comes,
The Gospel According to John 15: 26-27 & 16: 1 NASB)
whom I will send to you from the Father,
that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
He will testify about Me,
and you will testify also,
because you have been with Me from the beginning.
These things I have spoken to you
so that you may be kept from stumbling.”
In this life, we can expect to be taunted for our faith.
TESTIFY ANYWAY!
&
In this life, we can expect to be ridiculed for what we believe.
CONTINUE TO BE A WITNESS FOR JESUS!
&
In this life, we can expect to be pushed and harassed for in WHOM we have trusted.
TELL THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS, EVEN STILL!
Always remember:
GOD IS WITH US—HE DWELLS WITHIN US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT!
JESUS SAID SO AS HE REASSURED HIS DISCIPLES!
- May we decide today in Whom we trust.
- May we walk forward in our faith today.
MAY WE FULLY LIVE AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS!
- Jesus spoke these words to His disciples before His death on the cross.
- Jesus spoke these words to His disciples because the world of that day thought they were “offering service to God.”
BUT THEY WERE WRONG!
THEY CRUCIFIED THE SON OF GOD!
- Jesus spoke these words to His disciples before His resurrection from the grave.
- Jesus spoke these words to His disciples because the world of today thinks Jesus is dead.
BUT THEY ARE WRONG!
THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS WITHIN HIS FOLLOWERS, HIS DISCIPLES—THE CHILDREN OF GOD!
- Jesus continues to speak these words to His disciples, even now, to strengthen us.
- Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, so we might walk & not stumble & not fall away from our faith in HIM!
“These things I have spoken to you
The Gospel According to John 16: 1-2 NASB)
so that you may be kept from stumbling.
They will make you outcasts from the synagogue,
but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you
to think that he is offering service to God.
These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.”