Abide in me
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Jesus speaks in a metaphor, saying that he is the true vine. He is the real vine, in every respect. My Father is the husbandman, the one who tills the soil, and the one who prunes the branches; the vine dresser. We are to be connected to Jesus, the truth, the real Son of God. The Father works on our hearts to till, to loosen the hardness of the soil, the hardness of our heart and to make it more receptive to the seed of God's word. A hardened heart cannot receive the things of God. When we are connected to Jesus, the Father corrects us and removes what is not good. The purpose for this is to have us produce spiritual fruit. So, not all the hard things of life are from the devil. God will always give us a way out or through the difficulty. If the devil harasses, we are given power and authority over him through our connection to Jesus.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
If the branch is no good, unfruitful, it is taken up, lifted up, taken away. A person who continues to walk in sin and will not repent, will be taken up; every branch in Christ that does not produce fruit, he takes away. Jesus earlier used the example of the unfruitful fig tree:
Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Paul adds to this theme, concerning an unrepentant sinner being taken by death.
1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Note, that the destruction was the flesh, not the soul. This helps us see that it is Jesus' blood that saves; this one at one time had received the Lord, and only by God's grace in Jesus was he not totally consumed.
...and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
No one likes to have difficulties in life, but out of these we grow to rely on God and we become more like Jesus. The Father disciplines us. He purifies or prunes these branches.
He 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Now you are purified and clean through the water of the word, the spoken word of Jesus. We are clean on the inside, our hearts are clean and our sins are forgiven. Contrast this to what Jesus said to the religious leaders.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Our hearts connected to Jesus by the Holy Spirit, keeps us pure. This is better than an anti virus program on a computer. Being connected to holiness, we must seek things that are above.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Abide, dwell and remain in me, and I in you. This is through God's Spirit that we are one with Jesus, as he is one with the Father. We are not Jesus, but we are one together with him, with our own identities. I see the concept of the trinity or triune God in this way. Each are unique in their purpose, yet all are one God. We are one with God ,we are not God, but adopted into God's family through His Holy Spirit. Spiritual fruit is through our connection to Jesus, in his Spirit. How can we produce spiritual fruit if we are not connected through the Holy Spirit to the source of all good, to the Father God and His Son, Jesus? Who we are connected to, will produce the fruit thereof.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh (sin nature, the fruit of the devil) are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jesus is the source, the vine supplying to the branches all good things.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
We all have seen separated branches, flowers picked that look good for a while, but that soon wither. So it is with the flesh. We are connected by the Spirit, the flesh does not last. We cannot trust in flesh.
Job 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
Job 8:12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
Job 8:14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
Job 8:15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
The result of our connection to the Christ, is life everlasting in his presence, with all the goodness of God. Heaven is not a place of lust, as the heaven of Islam, but a place of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Lust, killing, hatred are of the devil and all who continue in this way shall be destroyed. The call of Jesus, is to seek and to save those who are lost and separated from God and to connect them to the vine that is Christ Jesus, who is one with God the Father. There is Spiritual fruit, the nature of God being brought forth in our life and there is eternal fruit; souls brought into God's kingdom through the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Fruit Bearers
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Do you want your prayers answered? Then you must abide in Jesus and his words abide in you. The word of God must dwell in you and you must put it there, then you shall ask and shall receive of God. You pray in his promises and he is faithful do keep His word.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
This is the fruit resulting from, being connected to Jesus Christ and his word in you. The fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance and the fruit of new born again believers, eternal fruit. The vine dresser, God the Father, expects you to bear good fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 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.
We abide in his love when we keep his commandments, when we obey His will. Do you want the Father to say, well done good and faithful servant? Then you must be faithful and obedient. Too much is spoken of grace with no works. We must do good works after salvation grace. We cannot continue the same as we were, before our sins were forgiven. A new life must show new behavior and he gives us grace to do His will. Our faith will increase as we increase in His word. This is not a dead faith, but a faith that follows the Holy Spirit.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Every human being needs to love and be loved in return. The gospel of Jesus Christ is God's love for us. He wanted to save us from sin and death. This love sent his son to atone for our sins. God loves us and wants to fellowship with us as He did with Adam in the garden before their fall into sin and death. God brings love and eternal life to us through Jesus, removing the death sentence we had through our connection to Adam.
Jesus removes our sin and shame.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus was about to do this for us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
A servant obeys the masters commands. He does not question why or argue about it, he does it with fear and respect.
Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luke 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luke 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
We are to serve the Lord as he served others, but he does not call us servants or slaves, but friends, because he shares all things that he has heard with us. Friends share and confide in one another. What kind of friend is Jesus? He willingly suffered and gave his life for us. We are to be like him, but we cannot be our own atonement or save another's soul by our death, only Jesus was without sins. He is our friend, Savior and Master, God the Son.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
We do not save another, but the process requires the Father selecting and sending the Holy Spirit to prepare the heart. Jesus must also be involved in the choosing, as we respond by choosing to trust in him. The end purpose is heaven, not just eternal life, but a new fruitful life serving him. We are to bring forth fruit from hearts filled with his word: then we may ask anything in Jesus name, to the Father and we will receive from him. We ask in the authority we have, being identified with God's only begotten son.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jesus commands us to love one another, and we should not expect or look to the world for love and acceptance. Love is from God and God's spiritual children. If an unsaved parent does not love you, it is because the love of God does not dwell in him or her. Not only should we not expect the world to love us, but Jesus said they will hate you, as they hated him. Are you afraid of not being accepted by friends in the world? Choose who you will serve, if we are chosen out of the world, do not seek the world's approval but the approval of God. Witness as the apostles did when they were forbidden by the religious leaders to preach Jesus.
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Jesus wants us to know as his friends and servants that we are not greater or more privileged than he. People will respond in two ways to our witness, our bearing fruit. They will persecute you or they will receive your words.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
The reason they hate you and persecute you, is because your light hurts their eyes, your spiritual fruit makes them see their own sin and lack. In the world anything goes, but God has standards of right and wrong, they cannot cloak there sin or hide it when you are around. May choose evolution, so that they will not have to be accountable to God. They say they want tolerance, but they have no tolerance for Jesus. They want tolerance for sin and their evil choices. They may say they serve a god, but if they hate Jesus, they hate the Living and true God.
2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
What mighty works? Jesus healed all manner of infirmities, cast out devils, had power over the elements, calmed the wind and the sea; he died for our sins and has risen and is at the right hand of God; that is just part of his ministry.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Speaking to his loyal disciples, he reminds them of the promised comforter. When he comes and he came at Pentecost, he is the Spirit of truth, he will testify and bear witness of Jesus. He is God's power to bring forth fruit and to be witnesses in a hostile world. He will give us boldness, a gentle Spirit and the truth of God.
God the Father expects us to bear fruit. We cannot bear fruit apart from our connection to the living vine, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the power of God to witness and to bring forth truth. He needs us to study the word, so that he can bring it to remembrance. If we ask anything as a connected disciple of Jesus Christ, in his promises, we will receive what we ask. Jesus is Lord and we serve him by serving others. He called us friend and God the father calls us sons and daughters. Walk worthy of your title. We have authority to cast out devils and to bring people into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.Haleluia to the Lord.
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