Abide In Me
John 15:4-7
After the Crusades, Western Europe received a number of supposed holy relics, including a tooth of Goliath, Wood from Christ Cross, and a bottle that held the breath of Christ.
Of course, no one today takes such relics seriously. If we did have the breath of Christ in a bottle, what would it mean? Nothing.
It is the spiritual presence of Christ that abides in the life of a believer that counts.
John 15:4-7 KJV
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
The word "abide" expresses the meaning of "continuing, dwelling, enduring, remaining, standing and tarrying." "Abiding" simply means that we continue to trust in Him.
Jesus is using an ordinary illustration of a vine and branches to reveal both our privileges and our responsibilities.
1. As branches, we have the privilege of sharing His life, and the responsibility of abiding in his life.
2. As friends, we have the privilege of knowing His will, and the responsibility of obeying.
The importance of our scripture is this
1. When you have you been working and struggling hard for years to do something, and have achieved nothing?
2. When there is no fruitfulness in your life?
3. When your are you still irritable?
4. When your are provoked by your children?
5. When your are attacked by your temper?
6. When your are defeated by moments of loneliness?
7. When another week goes by and you can’t say with joy, Thank God, I have been an instrument of bringing yet another soul to Christ. The life of Jesus is in me, flowing through me by the Holy Spirit.
8. If you cannot say that, but instead, you are filled a sense of futility, and defeat. Then you don’t knows what it means to abide in Christ. "Without me, ’declared Christ, ’ye can do nothing.’"
Jesus calls us to abide in him to avoid spiritual vagrancy, against intermittent consecration, against a spasmodic religious life.
To Abide in the Word of Christ to be set free - John 8:31
To Abide in the Light of Christ to be released from darkness - John 12:46
To Abide in the Spirit of Christ to be comforted - John 14:16
To Abide in the Love of Christ to be loved - John 15:9
These are some people who visit Christ, and others who abide in Him.
1. To many Jesus is only a temporary fix in times of trouble
2. To others He is a permanent principle of life.
Applying Jesus illustration into our lives
1. Stay attached to the vine,
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.
Life is in the Vine:
Life is in God’s Love,
Life is in God’s Word,
Life is in Our Relationship with Jesus.
2. Be disciplined and have structured life in your devotions
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.
Illus. (Marriage problems develop because of a lack of communication)
a) Be honest with your self, when you find yourself in trouble, it’s because we are so busy we have lost contact with Jesus.
b) We lose contact with Jesus and start losing fruit.
3. Arrange your life in such a way to stay in contact
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.
Maintain your relationship with Jesus
We are not creatures of habit we are creatures of choice
4. We can’t do it by ourselves
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.
a) (Not mechanics but a relationship.)
b) (Walk with Jesus and Fruit will flow from our lives)
c) (Productive relationship)
d) (Fruitlessness of self sufficiency) Compared to Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me remain me and you will bear fruit
5. Preserving in our relationship.
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.
a) Jesus knew we would face trials set backs in our lives. Their would times we are tempted and tried, tested, and have doubts and uncertainties.
b) If we don’t stay we will wither Vs 6 Casual cold relationship. The result is Spiritual worthlessness. We become useless instead of useful to God.
If salt loses its savor its good for nothing.
We will not have a fruitful relationship.
Summery
A. God is offering himself to us and when you feel withered like you just can¡¦t go on. Remember He is offering the solution to all anxieties and fears.
1. Abiding in Jesus keeps us close to God and in His constant care.
2. Abiding in Jesus means putting ourselves under His authority. If you live in Canada, you are under Canadian law; if you live in England, you are under English law; if you live in Christ, you are under His governance.
3. Abiding in Jesus means that we disallow anything or anyone to separate us from Him.
4. Abiding in Jesus means that we do not simply enjoy an interview now and then, but that we can always enjoy His company. Jesus is not just us a friend who calls upon us now and then, but one with Whom we walk, and talk, and live forever.
B. Abiding in Jesus allows us to draw constantly from the grace, mercy, strength, power, wisdom and peace He alone can give.
1. Renounce all self-sufficiency.
2. Abide in Jesus whatever the Cost. (make up your mind)
a) Be steadfast / Isa 26:3 NIV
b) Stand fast / Gal 5:1 KJV
c) Hold fast / 1 Thess 5:18-23 KJV
