Abiding: Staying Connected

When we read the Word of God we want to be students of the obvious.  In this passage, the word “abide” occurs quite a few times.

Abide means to stay.

“My Concern:  Without abiding we can have the appearance of life, but not the substance.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

We have learned to fake anointing.  We need to get a holy distaste for the substitute of Jesus.

Background

Jesus has gathered His disciples around Him.  He knows He is getting ready to die and He’s preparing His disciples.  He tells them that the secret sauce is to “Abide in Him”.

When we abide in Him, there are things we can expect.

Expectation #1 – Pruning

Verse 2 – Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Pruning is not a bad word.  It often hurts, but is necessary for God to be glorified in our lives.  Begin to cut away everything that tries to take you away from Him; God will cut away the distractions.  God doesn’t want you to stop at good but to move on to great!

Expectation #2 – Purity

Verse 3 – Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

The Word of God, constantly flowing in your mind, and in your ear is a purifying agent: changing your perspective, giving you new eyes.  God’s word has the ability to bring about the cleansing in your life that is needed.  As you evaluate the previous year don’t misdiagnose the year and put it in the negative category just because it was in the place of pruning and purity.

Expectation #3 – Power

Verse 4 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

We have been called to “Abide in Him”.  We are unable to bear fruit without abiding in Him.  But when we abide in Him, we are able to bear fruit.  When you abide in Him, He makes you able to deal with the faults and disappointments of the people and situations in your life.

“People go to heaven.  They don’t come from Heaven.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

Make God a priority in terms of your time.  When you abide in Him, He just rubs off on you.  And when He rubs off on you your light begins to show to others so they see God as well.

Expectation #4 – Productivity

Verse 5 – I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

God wants to get us to a place of much fruit.  God will do something in you that will cause another level of productivity to happen in you.  We will see a progression that occurs from abiding in Him: bearing no fruit, bearing fruit, bearing much fruit.  In other words, when you abide in Him, you reach another level of fruitfulness.

Expectation #5 – Prayers Answered

Verse 7 – If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Ensure that what you ask for lines up with the word of God.  This can only come by staying in His word and letting His word get into you!