Abiding in Christ

*John 15:1-8* I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman.  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. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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.

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. 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. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

The True Vine is Jesus; we are the branches. Jesus Christ's presence in us, the Holy Spirit, is the sap that our spirits need to bring forth fruit for Jesus, so God will be glorified.  We must be filled with the Spirit of God.  Yield to the Holy Spirit; ask Him to control your life; live daily in union with Jesus Christ. Everything that is good is produced by the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, the Messiah, the Atonement, the Savior of the world.  We must live in connection with God.  Our life must be Christ-centered and Spirit-filled daily. Love and enjoy the Lord Jesus Christ, abide in Him. Branches bear fruit, but branches cannot produce fruit.

Spiritual fruit is the demonstration of Christ's life within us.  Spiritual fruit reminds others of Jesus and point others to Jesus - serving others, witnessing, good works, enduring persecution, humility and compassion. Fruit is Jesus thinking, speaking and helping others through our lives. The True Vine is the only source of life for the branches.  True Christianity is all about Christ; His life must transform us daily; we have no life.  You may be moral or religious, but without Jesus, you are still lost. Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through faith in His atoning blood.  Abiding in Christ daily and practically is key.

There are three kinds of branches.  There are false branches; they will be gathered up one day and be cast into everlasting fire.  There are branches that have fallen in the dirt and not bearing fruit; Jesus lifts up these branches and puts them back in the sunlight so they can become fruitful.  Dirt comes from worldliness, bad companions, and other sinful things; let Jesus lift you up from the dirt of sin into the light of His love and strength.  Then there are fruit bearing branches. These branches must be cleansed of bugs and disease, so they will bear more fruit.  Jesus wants us to be even more fruitful, and He uses His words to cleanse, strengthen, instruct, correct, and encourage us.  We do not produce fruit; we only bear fruit.

We must abide in Jesus' words and love.  Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Jesus loved me, and gave Himself for me.  The Christian life begins, continues, and ends with us abiding in Jesus' words, presence, and love.  Prayerfully surrender and let God be God in your life.  You can't do anything in the realm of spiritual fruit and significance, and supernatural life without Jesus Christ.  You have zero ability, you bring nothing to the table of the Christian life.  Jesus brings Everything.  Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.  There is no supernatural Life without Jesus. A lamp apart from electricity can do nothing.

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, Present your bodies a living sacrifice, Put off the old man, Stand fast in your liberty, Let Christ’s mind be in you, Follow after righteousness, Walk worthy of your calling, Bear ye one another's burdens, Forgive one another as Christ forgave you, Be filled with the Spirit.

Jesus loves me unconditionally forever and ever.  Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments.  He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."  The Christian life is not easy, but it is simple.  The Christian life is a Battle with my sins, but a fellowship with Jesus.  The Christian life comes from Jesus, not from ourselves.  Without Jesus, I can do nothing.

Jesus wants you to have His joy in your daily life.  Stay connected with Jesus.  Don't let things get between you and Jesus. An iron must stay in connection with a power source in order for it to do what it was made to do.  Without Christ's power and presence, we cannot do what Jesus saved us to do in this life.  True disciples of Jesus love one another; this is a sacrifice our agendas, time, possessions, and priorities for the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Stay in touch with Jesus, He will you sweet.