Palm Sunday; Abiding in Christ... by Kevin Harvey

OPENING PRAYER
O God, our resurrection and life, the promise of Your new life in Christ is like a breath of fresh air in a dry and thirsty land. We have gathered as believers, and as those who are honestly seeking the truth. Guide our worship this hour.
O God who makes all things new, speak to us as whole people today. May Your truth touch not just our intellects, but also our deeper yearnings of heart and soul. We bring with us our daily concerns, as well as our more eternal questions.
Let us take a moment to silently pray our personal prayers….
May Your new creation in us shed light upon our everyday walk.
We Thank you Lord.  Amen
 
 Shall we now pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray:
 
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. 
Thy will be done on earth, 
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. 
Lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, 
The power, and the glory, 
For ever and ever. 
Amen. 
 
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of grace,
it is our delight and our devotion
to give these gifts to you.
All we are and all we have
are yours alone.
Accept this joyful offering
as a token of our abiding love:
use it to bring peace, justice
and comfort to all the world, Amen.

Abiding in Christ.

The purpose. ...

That we may see the need for us to "abide in Christ" and to know that there is. Joy , Peace and eternal life that can never be shaken! And it's there For all who will "abide in Christ"

Introduction...

Here in these 5 chapters in John, 13 through 17, our Lord Jesus Christ is preparing his disciples for The very next thing that is coming. Jesus is about to be betrayed and crucified, and he gives clear instruction on,
1 Who he is.
2 Where He is going.
3 That even though He is going we are not "orphaned" we are not left alone.
4 The Ministry of the holy spirit, our helper and teacher.
And He promises to his disciples and indeed to us that there is a supernatural, "peace"

John chapter 14 verse 27, 

John 14: 27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

A supernatural "Joy" John chapter 16 verse 22 to 24,

John 16:22-24 New American Standard Bible NASB)
22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
Prayer Promises 23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

And "Eternal life" John chapter 17 verse 1 to 3 that can not be shaken.

John 17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The High Priestly Prayer
17 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said,“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

And as we look into these passages we will hear our Lord, telling , no commanding His disciples and all of us to. "Abide in Him" John chapter 15 verse 1-8.
It is a conditional promise, for anyone to truly experience, peace, joy, eternal life, that is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then we have to " Abide in Christ"
And interwoven like the backing of a tapestry that holds everything together throughout all of these chapters is this command repeated over and over. To "love one another".

Let's set the scene, Jesus has just finished washing the disciples feet.

John Ch 13 vs 1-7.

The Lord’s Supper 
13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [a]to the end.2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.

Jesus tell his disciples of where he's going they cannot follow, Ch 13 vs 33,
John 13:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 

and He gives his disciples a new command. To love one another. Ch 13 vs 34
John 13:34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Our Lord has declared to them. "I am the way the truth and the life" John Ch 14 vs 6
John 14:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus then promises, "another Helper" The Holy Spirit. John chapter 14 verse 15 to 18.

John 14:15-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Role of the Spirit
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Jesus here gives His first condition. If anyone loves me and wants to experience the love of the Father , he will keep My word, John chapter 14 vs 23-24.

John 14:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

***********
The disciples think they are about to take over the nation of Israel, Jesus be their king, make all things "right " but the Lord has much to accomplish before that, that's why He tells them, that they can't go where He is going.The last thing the disciples want is for, Jesus to leave now.
So He encourages them with truth...
So the Lord knows that they are uneasy, And don't understand what He is talking about.
John chapter 16 vs 17-18.

John 16:17-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

And it's in light of this that it gives clear instruction on.

The work of the Holy Spirit, John chapter 16 verse 5 to 11 ,

John 16:5-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Holy Spirit Promised
5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the [a]Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.


To convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement of sin.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit.

1 . Peace, John chapter 14 verse 25 to 27

John 14:25-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful..
Application ,
Is your peace being challenged?, ,,,...Go to Him who gives Peace, abundantly!

2 . Joy, John chapter 16 verse 22 and 24. Asking in Jesus name? Jn chapter 16 vs 23 and 24.

John 16:22-24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises
23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Application,
Are you filled with sorrow? , .... Let your sorrow be turned to Joy!


3 . Eternal life, Jn Ch 17 verse 3.

John 17:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

There is only one source, "only one". And it is conditional,, Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but by me"

Application.
This is the most important decision anyone can make. It is this. Are you in Christ? Because if you are not "In Christ" if you have not received Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Then all of this is a
moot point!

Other conditions that are mentioned, are , "To abide in Christ". Hear our Lord gives us a beautiful picture of Him being the True Vine.
John chapter 15 verse 1-8-12. And it is in this "abiding" that we experience, true peace, and Joy..
Jesus is the true vine, ch 15. Vs 1, vs 5

John 15:1-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.



The Heavenly Father is the vinedresser. Vs 1,
He prunes us, that is every branch that bears fruit. Vs 2a
We are the branches. vs 5.

John 15:6-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [a]prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 

Branches that bear no fruit He takes away. Thrown into the fire. Vs 2, vs 6. Take warning!
The only way we can bear fruit, do anything for Christ, is if we..
Abide in Him! Vs 7
Abide in His word! Vs 7
Abide in His love! Vs 9
How do you , Abide in His love? keep His Commandments. John chapter 15 verse 10.
And then of course by reason. Spend time in his word. Abiding,and then of course by reason. Spending time in prayer.
​
The gifts He gives are, peace, ch 14 vs 7.

John 14:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Oneness with the Father
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

A supernatural peace that the world can never know.
They are there for any who will abide in Christ.
The gifts of joy,


Of joy ,ch 16 vs 22-23
John 16:22-23New American Standard Bible (NASB)
22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you
Prayer Promises
23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.
.that can never be taken from you. Are there for all who
abide in Christ. 
And finally, eternal life is there for those who abide in Christ.
What is it to have eternal life?

According to chapter 17 of John vs 1-5 

John 17:1-5New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The High Priestly Prayer
17 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 

Jesus is glorifying God
and praying for Himself, and in this prayer He prays this.
It reads like this...
Vs 3 . And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom
you have sent.
Let's close in prayer… Amen.

JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM
All but one person is standing together, palm branches in hand, waiting to see Jesus coming into Jerusalem)
Person 1: (walks up to others, speaking to whole group he says:) What is everyone doing? Person 2: We're waiting for Jesus to come by.
Person 1: Who is Jesus?
Person 2: You don't know who Jesus is?
Person 3: They say he is going to be our King. He is the son of God and he will free is from the Romans.
Person 1: Boy, that would be great. He must be a big and powerful man.
Person 4: Get a branch and you can wave it at him when he comes. He is coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
Person 2:                   I can't see anything. I can't see Jesus, but I hear people shouting.
'Jerson 3: What are the shouting?
Person 5: They are shouting Hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna means save us.
Person 4:                I can see him, I can see him. He's riding on a donkey.
Person 1: Why is he riding on a donkey? Don't kings usually ride on a horse? Person 4: Here he comes! Here he comes!
(everyone acts like Jesus is right in front of them, while waving their palm branches)
Person 3:
All:
Serson 4: Person 1:
Jesus is so kind and happy, but today he looks so sad. (everyone puts their branches down)
Hail to our King! Jesus! Jesus!
(then everyone acts like Jesus has passed by) There he goes. Bye Jesus.
When do you think Jesus will be made King? Where are his soldiers? All kings have soldiers.
​

 
Benediction
New life beckons,
peace holds out its arms!
Begin your week
knowing that you are walking
straight into the embrace of God.