Free To Abide

Jesus said, “ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22

Free to ABide

I. Jesus Our Example

The Bible gives marriage as our image of this relationship

• Abiding - requires a union, two becoming one.

• A mutual relationship

I and my Father are one. John 10:30

I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. Solomon 6:3

• A continued connection

The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do. John 5:19

Jesus said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30

My words which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. John 14:24

• A choice — I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days… Deuteronomy 30:19-20

• Our purpose - The purpose of the branch is to bear fruit.

Bear fruits worthy of (consistent with) repentance… Matthew 3:8

— Known by our fruit — Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.Matthew 12:33

• Reproduction

— Inevitable – He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit… John 15:5

The fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself… Genesis 1:11 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things… Matthew 12:35

— Exponential – some “hundred-fold” Matthew 13:23

II. Why is ABIDING so difficult?

A detached “branch” makes a big mess – Dry, brown, shriveled leaves dropping off.

Is your life a mess? Abiding affects not only the spiritual, but all areas of your life.

Separated from Me, you can do nothing. Sin separates us from God then we accept Jesus, and we are reconciled through salvation. Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38), but after salvation Satan CAN interfere with our ABIDING.

Satan’s deceptions/lies are a hindrance to our relationship with the Vine and the other branches.

Common hindrances to ABIDING

• Worry — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Paul tells us we can LEARN to be content/ not worry. I have LEARNED to be content in whatever state I am: I know how to be abased (brought low), and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

• Unforgiveness - Wrongs and hurts. Broken relationships

You might replay an event in your mind often, even daily, often happens at night. It never changes and it never will. The past doesn’t change. You are stuck in a frustrating trap that escalates your feelings of hurt and helplessness. You are caught in one of Satan’s trap.

• Continued sin -– You know it is wrong, but you continue to do it. There is always a deception/lie behind sin. This continued sin results in shame, guilt and fear.

Isolating hindrances to ABIDING

• A lie rooted in LOW SELF-ESTEEM.

o You're not pretty enough!

o You're not smart enough!

o You’re not ______ enough! (fill in your blank)

o You're simply not enough!

o “No one could possibly love you if they get to know you!”

“Esteem” lies cause us to withdraw and distance ourselves from one another. That isolation is the opposite of the connection God wants for us. Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire and rages against all wise judgment. Proverbs 18:1

• A lie based on PRIDE.

o I am ___. (better, smarter, more organized than them)

o I would be do a better job.

o I deserve ___. (better treatment, some recognition, more pay)

o I don’t deserve ___. (to be treated this way, etc)