Abiding In The Vine

The Liberating Power Of The Word Of Truth!

Session 2

August 3, 2025

Review: The Living Word; exact expression of God

Jesus’ view of the Scriptures (John 17:17)

The Apostles witness re the Scriptures (Philippians 2:16; 1 John 1:1;

2 Timothy 3:15, 16)

The Word: Carrier of Life! (John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12)

The Truth that sets Free!

John 8:31, 32: Abide: remain; continue; live in

Set you free (internally)

From deception; (“I can fix; I can win vs. you; I can make you see!”)

From fear (2 Timothy 1:7); shame (Hebrews 10:17); anger/bitterness (Mark 11:25,26)

If you won’t forgive, you will never feel totally clean, free; no ongoing excitement about your future (stuck in past)

Can’t really know the Forgiver and refuse to forgive!

The key to being productive (John 15:7,8)

The power and authority of the Word in overwhelming circumstances!

(Joshua 1)

✸ I release__________________ to You, Lord! They are in Your hands. I will stop trying to “make them pay!”

✸✸ I can’t be defeated if I won’t be deceived!

✸✸✸ Abiding requires acknowledging dependency, submission to source, remaining fruitful (including pruning)

THE WORD OF GOD:

HIS POWERFUL, LIFE-GIVING, SOURCE OF TRUTH AND AUTHORITY

è The Word of God

• Jesus is the Living Word! (John 1:1, 2, 14)

• Jesus is the only Perfect representative of Father God! (John 1:1,2; John 14:9; John 5:19, 20; John 12:49, 50; Hebrews 1:3) (God’s ultimate expression)

• Therefore, God’s character is Full of Grace and Truth (flowing from His Love: 1 John 4:16; John 1:14; John 14:9)

• Jesus’ opinion of the Word: John 17:17

• We do not worship the Bible, the Scripture, but the Lord is the object of the Word and Scripture is God’s written revelation of Who He is, what He is like, what He does, etc.

• The Word of God and the Spirit of God are inseparable! (John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25)

è The Scripture: written documents of God’s Word: (Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:15)

• John 17:17; 2 Peter 3:15, 16; 2 Timothy 3:16)

“My assignment is NOT to feed you spiritual “milk and cookies”, but rather to present to you, by the Holy Spirit’s enabling, the energizing, nurturing, fortifying “meat of the Word” so that you Grow and are strengthened to take on and succeed in YOUR STORY FOR HIS GLORY!”

Pastor Steve Franklin

CHARACTERISTICS OF A

GODLY FATHER/SPIRITUAL FATHER

EPHESIANS 6:2; 1 THESSALONIANS 2:11, 12

FATHER’S DAY

JUNE 15, 2025

è Character

• Consistent: Present (Show up)

• Chosen

• Commands (not demands) respect

• Leader not dictator

è Counsel

• Correction; protection

• Comfort

• Willing to speak to the “Uncomfortable”

• Life issues (i.e. sexuality, money, friends, etc.)

• Humbles himself and admits his own weaknesses, asks for forgiveness

è Covering

• Ongoing Prayer (salvation, growth, protection, wisdom in life choices)

• Affirmation, encouragement

A Time For Repentance, Realignment, And Renewal.

2 Chronicles 7:14-16 (Congregation)

14If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

16For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

“If My People …”

Psalm 139; John 1:12; Romans 8:16, 17

“Who Are Called By My Name …”

“Will Humble Themselves …”

1 Peter 5:5-7

“And Pray …”

Praise or petition dominant?

Every believer’s ministry (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13)

“Seek My Face …”

Intimacy with the Lord

Presence vs. performance

“Turn From Our Wicked Ways …”

Hebrews 12:6

First Commandment (God, His Agenda, His Kingdom) First Love! (Mark 12:30)

First Priority (Matthew 6:33)

First Fruits: of income, production: Tithe is Holy (Malachi 3:10, 11)

Poison Control: unforgiveness; bitterness; prejudice

Unbelief! (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 3:12, 19; Matthew 13:58)

Help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)

THEN …

“I Will Hear And Heal …”

Traits Of A Great Mom/Spiritual Mother

(Luke 1:5-7; Luke 1:24, 25; Luke 1:39-45; Luke 1:56, 57; Luke 1:76-79)

May 11, 2025

✽God entrusted this woman to carry, birth, and/or spiritually nurture World Changers! What attracted God?

Sarah refused to allow the “labels” to define her! (Cultural, religious, familial….) She was NOT Barren in spirit! (Luke 1:7-25)

She resisted bitterness, blame, and overcame disappointment.

Intimacy with the Lord granted her Faith, perseverance, submission to the process (conception, pregnancy, etc.)

Sarah’s humility made her attracted to God’s favor and promotion! (Luke 14:11)

✽We can and we must have and nourish life in our heart (spirit) when there is death in our circumstances.

Sarah’s provided a “safe place”, encouragement, and older model of a true “spiritual Mother” to Mary!

Sarah pronounced a Blessing on Mary in her time of great need! (Luke 1:42-45)

Sarah’s pain became the backdrop for God’s story! She birthed and mothered, John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus!

Jesus said there was no prophet greater!

Continued faith and trust will be rewarded!

In Christ: You Are More, Have More,

And Can Do More Than You Thought!

2 Corinthians 5:7-21

May 4, 2025

Walking by Faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Faith: Internal Assurance without External Evidence. (Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17)

Walk: Live out, make decisions; think, speak, behave

“Sight”: Guided by self-dependence, circumstances, feelings, others

The Believers Exit Reward (2 Corinthians 5:8) Present …. Not detached, floating, stuck in “holding cell”

The Love of Christ: His motivation. He represented us at the cross and resurrection! His identity, not ours, should compel us:

To see ourselves as His, not ours! (2 Corinthians 5:15)

To view all others through the lens of His Love, His identity in us! (How we see all people in all situations, places, positions. i.e., avoid bait of the enemy to “hero worship”, cultural or political or educational, racial, economic rejection) (2 Corinthians 5:16)

Value the New Identity in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:17) New, reborn spirit, “under renovation” soul; restrained, retrained body (comfort and pleasure are destructive masters)

Every believer’s appointment: Ambassador (legal representative of another) (2 Corinthians 5:20)

The Great Exchange! How God now sees you in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Release of My Sin’s Debt

Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 6:5-9, 11, 14; Romans 8:11; Hebrews 10:17

My Reconnection to Living Hope!

(1 Peter 1:3) Hope is that Spiritual force from God that keeps internally reaching for a result not yet externally seen!

My Relocation to my Forever Home!

John 11:25, 26; John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:8

My Re-Union with Believing Loved Ones

(There is family in Heaven) Ephesians 1:3; John 11:24

Our last images here won’t be our first views of our loved ones!

The Guarantee that for Believers, there is The Restoration of All Things Broken! (Revelation 21:3-4)

Your Purpose In Your Pain

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Session 2

April 13, 2025

REVIEW: God’s Grace, Encouragement, and comfort through your pain is your ministry opportunity!

Your prayers for God’s people who are hurting are a strategic ministry with great rewards! (2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19)

The Lord’s Invitation! (Matthew 26:36-41)

A Daily Walk With Jesus During Holy Week

Matthew 21-27; Mark 11-15; Luke 19-23; John 12-17

Day 1: Sunday

The Triumphant Entry (Matthew 21:1-11)

Night Spent in Bethany (Approximately 2 miles from Jerusalem)

Day 2: Monday

On journey back into Jerusalem, Jesus pronounced curse on fig tree. (Mark 11:12-14)

Jesus cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:15-17)

Confrontation with the religious hierarchy.

Back to Bethany for the night.

Day 3: Tuesday

Discussion about the fig tree and the power of faith (Mark 11:20-25)

Confrontation with religious leaders (Mark 11:27-33)

Discourse on the Mount of Olives (re: the destruction of the Temple, the end times and Second Coming and final judgement (Matthew 24)

Judas secretly betrays Jesus

Return to Bethany for rest

Day 4: Wednesday

SILENCE!!

Day 5: Thursday

Peter and John prepare Passover in a Jerusalem Upper Room for Jesus and disciples.

Judas betrays Jesus (Luke 22:3, 4)

Jesus washed the disciple’s feet.

The Lord’s Supper, Communion, established (Mark 14:22-25)

Jesus’ special message to Peter (Luke 22:31,32)

Gethsemane: “The Ultimate Battle” (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22)

“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”

“Take this cup …. Nevertheless”

Judas/Sanhedrin come to take Jesus

Could call 12 legions (72,000) angels

Day 6: Late Thursday/Early Friday

Mock Trials: Caiaphas; Pilate; Herod; Pilate

Peter’s denial; Judas’ remorse

Beatings, scourged, crown of thorns, crucifixion, piercing

Utterings From The Cross:

“Father, forgive them ….”

“Today you shall be with Me”

“Woman, behold your son”

“My God, my God, why ….”

“I thirst”

“It is finished”

“Father, into Thy Hands”

Matthew 26, 27; Mark 14, 15; Luke 22, 23; John 18, 19

Your Purpose In Your Pain

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

April 6, 2025

God is our source of Mercy and Comfort and Encouragement in our tribulation and suffering. (Not just physical, but also social rejection, loneliness, disappointment, distress, delays, pressure, pain, trouble.)

We should RECEIVE GOD’S mercy and comfort and encouragement that we may become vehicles of that to others He brings into our sphere of influence! (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

The Comforter, Holy Spirit, is a Person who comes along side of, with us! (Our Paracletos, Helper, Advocate, Encourager)

The Depth of our suffering, adversity, pressure, pain is an opportunity for self-centered agendas to die and new life to be released! (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

Your powerful ministry opportunity to those in pain! (2 Corinthians 1:11) (Difference makers)

Despaired: utterly at a loss; out of options; totally “bottomed out”.

Philippians 1:19

2 Corinthians 1 Takeaways:

Purpose in our pain: Not popular, not sought

There’s always those only YOU can BEST reach (encourage comfort, inspire, motivate)

Your Journey is your ticket, passport of entry into their lives!

Our ministry of comfort (encouragement) is only effective if we have received comfort, encouragement, confirmation of His Presence!