In John 15 Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branch to describe what it means to be in a relationship with Him. Christianity is about a personal relationship not about doing a checklist of things and not being a bad person. In John 15 Jesus is stressing the importance of this relationship using this picture we see in nature everyday.
John 15:1-11 ESV - “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [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. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [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. [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. [6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Many mornings I would go to the church parking lot and pray. Behind the church there is 5 large trees that separate the church property from the cemetery. There was a time when a branch had broken off from one of the trees and fell to the ground. For several days this broken branch remained green and for several days looked alive however it was as good as dead.
The branch gets its life, its sap, its nutrients from the tree trunk. The life of the tree is found inside the trunk of the tree. The branch cannot survive on its own, it is not connected to a source of life.
After about 7 days the branch finally began to turn brown and it finally began to look like it had no life in the meantime the trees and their connected branches were still just as green as ever. Even during a time of drought, the branches connected to the tree trunk still remain green and full of life because they are connected to their life source.
When Jesus said “abide in me” this is exactly what He had in mind for us and our spiritual life. Our life comes from abiding in the vine. Our life comes from abiding in the vine. Jesus is saying that even in times of drought and hardship it is the vine that provides spiritual life for us.
Does your spiritual life feel dry and disconnected? Does your relationship with God seem distant? Are you in a drought or in a hard time in life right now? If your answer to any of these questions is yes then I would encourage you to abide with Jesus. It is through our constant connection with Jesus that we get life. Read these verses in Romans 8 as it describes that spiritual life that is alive in us when we walk by the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-11 ESV - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
When we get saved God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit and He places Him inside of us. He is living in us. He is the life source for us spiritually. Romans 8 says that it is through the Spirit living in us that we have life.
How powerful is this life source in us? The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us. That is real life.
Paul goes on to tell us that by living by the Spirit (letting the Spirit control our life not the flesh) that we have the power to kill sin in our life. Our power over sin is through the Spirit and walking by the Spirit.
Romans 8:13 ESV - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
When we walk in the flesh we are not abiding. Walking in the flesh means that we walk or live in the same manner as an unbeliever would. It means to live our life as though God does not exist. Now most of us would never admit that we live life this way but the truth is that we compartmentalize our life. We may say a prayer in the morning and go to church on Sundays but the rest of our week we live separated from God. We live as though He does not exist. We walk or live a good portion of our life in the flesh.
Jesus says abide / remain in me. Romans 8 says to live life led by the Spirit. This means to live our whole life connected to Jesus through prayer and His word. It means we should live our whole life as though God exists and loves us and loves others. This is what it means to abide in Jesus.
Over this next week we will continue to look at this passage and how we can practically apply this to our lives. We will give some practical application points to help us live a connected life.
Through this challenge I want us today to pray for our church family. Pray that they would be people who would abide in Jesus and bear much fruit. Pray that they would spend time in prayer and in God’s word this week. Pray that God would transform us by His word. Pray that God’s Spirit would work in our lives. Pray that we would become focused on the lost in our community. Pray that we would desire to spend more time with our heavenly Father. Remember that you are part of Refuge church as well so pray this prayer for yourself personally as well.
