John 15 Study: Abiding In Christ, 7of10, Evans Olang

John 15:18-19, “18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”

In the early verses of this chapter, Jesus talked to His disciples of the nature of His relationship to them. Towards the end, He turns to address the disciples’ relationship to the world. His relationship to His disciples was that of love and of friendship. In addressing them in vs 18, He would have them understand that the world’s relationship to them will be the opposite of His. He uses a strong word “hate” which means a deep and emotional extreme dislike. It is often associated with feelings of anger, disgust and a disposition towards hostility. Hate by biblical definition is murder at heart something we are not to have as His friends.

Pouring Your Heart To The Lord, Evans Olang

1Samuel 1:8-18, “But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured my soul before the Lord”

People do struggle to pray. You may have struggled numerous times to pray and still got nowhere. And if you prayed, your prayers felt so dry, not effective, and did not even enjoy it. I remember years back when I had the same kind of struggle and God had to teach me to pray effectively changing my whole perspective on prayers and how to approach the throne of grace. Yes I still struggle to pray, the will to is there, the strength and the effectiveness sometimes fail.

Far From Where I Started, Evans Olang

Hebrews 12:1&2, “1…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; …” (KJV)

I recently shared on the subject of “patience”, it is vital for me to share more as there are some folks battling. Our patience is tested while on traffic; check out lines at the stores, at an entrance gate to a game etc. We struggle with patience because we would rather be the ones in front of everyone else, which makes us selfish if you think about it. In as much as you would like to be the one the front, the person on the front also deserves a chance. Is it about me? (just an input but not the direction for the message today).

When The Going Gets Tough…, Part 4of5, Evans Olang

2Timothy 2:1-13, vs. “2 ..You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”

We looked at the life of a Christian as a SOLDIER, to continue I will share on a life of a Christian as an ATHLETE.

Vs. 5, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules”. In Kenya we have a tribe the Kalenjin’s mostly known for their long distance running.

When The Going Gets Tough…, Part 5of5, Evans Olang

2Timothy 2:1-13, vs. “2 ..You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

We have looked at a journey of a Christian life’s as SOLDIER and as an ATHLETE, to reflect, they all have hardships tied to their journey. To finish, let’s look at the journey of a Christian as a FARMER.

Biblical Manhood, 3of4, Evans Olang

2Timothy 3:10-17, “10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me”

Under endurance, I group “faith, longsuffering (patience), love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions” together because they bond or are under the umbrella on this word endurance . What is endurance?- the capacity of something to last or withstand wear and tear, 2Timothy 2:3, Matthew 24:13, Jude 1:24 (PRESERVATION), Luke 22:31-32 (Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would endure through preservation), 1Corinthians 13:4-7 (love chapter).

When Paul talks to Timothy about his “faith”, he is talking more than belief. He is referring to the evidence of faith, enduring faith. He knows he is justified by faith apart from works, the evidence of that faith is the presence of works. He is echoing James message, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”, James 2:26.