John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for with Me you can do nothing."
*Jesus wants us to live in an abiding relationship with Him* :)
prayer: Lord Jesus, during the coming days and weeks, help me come to understand how I can have an abiding relationship w/ You that produces spiritual fruit.
o His death & resurrection brought one new relationship; union between vine & branch => deep, intimate relationship Jesus calls us to live w/ Him
o abide: to continue in, to dwell, to remains/ to stand
- parable of the Vine shows x just this, but He wants us to solidly connect to Him
o illustration of vine & its branches reveal these truths & more:
- vine & branch- same substance, same wood
- branch grafted into vine sends fibers down into vine
- vine send fibers into branch until they become one
- branch needs vine in order to love, can not survive w/o sap from vine
- vine needs branch in order to bear fruit, w/o branch vine x can produce fruit by itself
o vine & its branches experience oneness
o only hope for life found in true Vine; we as branches must choose to abide in the true Vine
o It's up to us! He will x force us- just gives us the choice
- 2 experience relationship Jesus came to give you => choose 2 sink your life in Him & Him alone
o to abide in Him- means letting go of everything else & choosing to make Him your permanent dwelling place (home sweet home:}<3)
Abiding in Christ
1. Receiving Christ as Savior & Lord
2. Surrendering to Him
3. Living united w/ Him
4. Knowing Him
5. Being transformed
6. Knowing His commands & obeying Him
7. Loving Him & others
8. Relating to Him through prayer & His Word
9. Bearing much fruit
? Which action is most difficult or challenging for you? #___
? Believing that Jesus is the One who is working in you to bring these to pass, which action would you most like to experience fully & why? #___
prayer-
Lord, thank You for offering me such a relationship. Open my eyes to what can be if I choose to abide in You. Make me an abiding branch of the true Vine for Your glory.
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