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. (John 15:4)
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12,13)
Observation:
A branch cannot do what it was designed to do without having a connection to the vine.
The life-giving sap flows from the vine to the branch, resulting in the creation of fruit. The vine is the source and sustenance of life for the branches, and the branches must abide in the vine to live and bear fruit.
To be able to “do” anything as a Christian requires intimate union with Christ. True fruit--not just foliage without fruit--comes only from the life that is in close intimate union with Christ. Only as God’s grace produces fruit do we truly glorify God.
Application:
I've been studying spiritual warfare for the last month to prepare for some teaching I'm doing at the end of May. Here is what I know, our enemy(s) whole tactic is to get us not to abide in Christ. Over the last several weeks Tim and I have been plagued with opportunities to abide in ourselves and not in Christ. Old wounds being opened, financial strain, injustice, physical pain, persecution, intense feelings of failure and anger, all tempting us to remain in ourselves and ultimately become ineffective Christians. It is tough! But God is using such things to bear even more fruit in our lives if we abide in Him.
Prayer
Father, You are the only who is faithful. I need You to hold on to me. I know I would fail this test with out You Jesus, but You are greater in me and I choose to abide in You.
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