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)
"I" lies cause us to disconnect and isolate from others.
By the grace given to me, I say to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled; the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down… Isaiah 2:11,17
Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:5-6
• Comparison - no matter how much you have/do, someone always has/does more (causing envy and jealousy), and someone always has/does less (leading to superiority/pride). It goes both ways. Satan can trap you on either side. Satan wants us to think we need more to be happy and secure.
• Busy-ness — Do you often feel overwhelmed? Sometimes our lives are filled with so many activities (often good activities), we don’t have time for God or connections with others. Satan tells us we have to do more to have value. God says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
The list of Satan’s traps goes on, but the pattern persists. Satan's influence begins with a lie and causes us to withdraw or push others away and isolate ourselves. If you struggle loving someone (often a type of person), Satan is at work. It may mean your work together would be a MIGHTY work for God. #1 reason missionaries leave the mission field — They can’t get along with people on their ministry team.
• Why do Satan’s lies lead to isolation?
o Because we thrive in connection and relationships.
o Because we accomplish more for God’s kingdom together. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls because he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9
o Because there is a hopelessness in feeling alone. Hopelessness is a trap within a trap, stronghold.
o Because Satan’s lies are exposed and torn down through connection, and we find healing. James 5:16 (see below also)
III. God’s solution – Confront the source of the lie with the source of truth.
• His Word is the Truth that sets you Free.
o “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” John 8:31
o Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17
o “Truth is true freedom, a life without truth is not alive, it is a living death.”
— Socrates
• God renews the mind to set the captive free.
o Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
o Recognize and Responsibility
o Reject the lies of the devil, Resist the devil and he will flee;
o Reform/Replace – Train your brain. A process of changing your thoughts, replacing these with the truth of God’s word, affirmations
o Regenerate/Restored – The process is complete, mind renewed. You automatically think the truth instead of the lie. Restored back to the way your thoughts were before this lie.
Note: Our solution is often to focus on actions for change. We try to change a behavior. I need to quit ___, I need to start ____. I need to love more, judge less. But we must start these changes by changing the root cause, the thought (the lie) that caused it. But we need to Look for the lie.
• Love and Obey
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. John 14:23 God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey him. Acts 5:3
• Healing involves connecting/reconnecting in supportive relationships. Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16
• Evidence that we are abiding – “Love one another, by this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another.” John 13:34-35 “Love One Another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
