Vine chapter - the Importance of Abiding

(In part from Our Daily Bread)

 Fruit of Vine - John chapter 15

Jesus’ words in John 15:5, “Without Me, ye can do nothing,” are similar to Paul’s statements in Acts 17:28, “In Him we live and move and have our being,” and Col. 1:17, “by Him all things consist.” 

 

All of these verses emphasise the necessity that Christ is to our very existence.
This is the key. As John 14:5 says 
" Without Me ye can do NOTHING.".
In John 15, Jesus is speaking specifically to His followers. He’s talking about the fruit that comes from the branch connected to the vine.

When Jesus says that without Him we can do nothing, He means that without the source of life—the vine—the branch can’t even produce a leaf or a flower, let alone the fruit that brings God honour.

"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." 

John 15:5 

The key word is abiding, abiding in our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Abiding is only accomplished as we commune with our beautiful Saviour in prayer... in a busy world full of Satan's distractions its difficult to abide, rest peacefully in those everlasting arms of our Jesus.
Yes, Christ is necessary to our very existence.
This is the key, abide, rest, trust then it will be accomplished in Him. 

For as John 14:5 concludes 
"Without Me ye can do NOTHING."

John, the beloved apostle, knew what it was to abide in Jesus. On the isle of Patmos John was truly abiding, see Revelation 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was truly abiding, with minimal distractions in the Isle of Patmos. I've read Revelation innumerable times as each time I finish the bible I read it 3 to 5 times. On the first or second time I'm slowly regrasping the flow of the book. BUT one thing is clear in that book, John is truly abiding in the Spirit in an amazing way. One day we will more fully grasp it, but with our limited finite minds we can't really understand what mighty servants have experienced.

Daniel was a mighty man of prayer, he knew deep communion and abiding in the Spirit. In Daniel 9:3 his prayer begins, then in v.23 it's interrupted by  Gabriel:

 Daniel 9:23 - "At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved:..."

Another servant in deep communion, abiding in the Spirit is the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor 12:4. 

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

We could go all over the bible and see examples of faithfulness in prayer, abiding, truly resting in Jesus, those before were looking to Jesus' as the coming Messiah, we are now looking back, to the cross and Christ's Resurrection. 

We are so VERY blessed to have the indwelling Spirit to guide us, interceding for us, and we know the teachings of the Spirit through the WORD of God, teaching of the risen LORD Jesus! 

Let us remember that our prayers are in the eternal, they never die but are lifted continually as incense to heaven. We see them mentioned 3 times in tribulation - these are the references:

Revelation 5:8, 8:3, 8:4.

 Revelation 8:4
And the smoke of the incense, 

which came with the prayers

of the saints, 

ascended up before God 

out of the angel's hand.

 Isn't that wonderful?? our prayers, our urgent, fervent prayers are lifted continually in heaven. 

I often think of saints like Bro Mac who've gone before, he prayed for 8 hrs a day, he prayed for souls over maps of China, God is still hearing those prayers of that faithful saint, though he went to heaven long ago. 

BE ENCOURAGED! 

Prayer is the most important thing we can do, we are saved by it, yes - we and others are saved and kept by faithful prayers! how precious!

So let us walk in the Light

 as He is in the Light.

And continue keeping on.  

Thanks for reading this post, and especially commenting. I’m sorry I don’t post very often these days, health is the main reason, also these posts take a long time to write, and much prayer for wisdom.

May God richly bless your day, wherever you may be.🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

 

If you're not sure if you're a Christian , please read this post here Who or What is a Christian? 

 

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