SEVEN BLESSINGS OF ABIDING IN JESUS

Jesus told His disciples the key to living a fruitful and fulfilling life. What does such a life look like and how do you receive it? Jesus said, “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” (John 15:4).

His answer was simple and profound. Abide in Him!  

As a church that maintains as its mission to see people discover life in all its fullness, John 15 offers the way to that life. Abide in Him! 

Abiding is the only task we have. Abiding means resting and remaining in Christ alone. He becomes our sole source for all things. This is a good thing because scripture tells us Jesus “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3). He is all you need.

Jesus then shares seven things that happen when we abide in Him. 

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HE ABIDES IN YOU!

 “Abide in me, and I in you” (vs 4).

Whatever a person abides in will naturally and consequently abide in them. Abide in sin, and sin abides in you. Abide in compromise, and compromise abides in you. Abide in guilt, condemnation, shame, and those things abide in you. If you want to change the things you see within, change what you are resting and remaining in. Choose to remain in Jesus, and He remains in you!

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS FRUIT ABIDES IN YOU!

“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” (vs 5).

Fruit is the point. He desires that you would bear fruit. And not just a little fruit. He wants you to increase in every area of your life. When He sees fruit, He prunes to produce more. When He sees no fruit, He cuts away the fruitless things. He desires fruit. When things are removed from your life, know He’s not setting you back, He’s setting you up!  

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS WORD ABIDES IN YOU!

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you” (vs 7).

Every Word of His is sure and true. Every promise of His is perfect and guaranteed. You can trust what He says to you and what He says about you. His Word is light in dark times. His Word is a path in uncertain times. His Word is absolute in chaotic times. Abide in His Word on a daily basis because… 

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS POWER ABIDES IN YOU 

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” ( v7).

When we abide in Him and in His Word, we will mature as believers. We come to know Him and His nature. Our faith is built because faith comes by hearing and hearing by His Word. This is where our prayers are answered, and we will see His power at work.

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS GLORY ABIDES IN YOU

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (vs 8). 

When we bear fruit, we are glorifying the Father. I love the way John Piper writes it, “God is most glorified when our satisfaction is in Him.” This is living your life to the fullest. This is finding your purpose in life and fulfilling it every day. It is here that what we do becomes worship before the Lord and glorifies our God!

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS CALL ABIDES IN YOU

“and so prove to be my disciples” (vs 8).

We didn’t choose Him; He chose us! He grafted us into Himself so that we would become an expression of Himself to the world around us. This is the call to discipleship. And it is a call that never ends. You will never graduate from the school of Christ as we are constantly being shaped daily to look more like him.  

WHEN YOU ABIDE IN HIM, HIS JOY ABIDES IN YOU

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (vs 11).

Joy means finding a reason for great gladness. It is a reason to live. When you finally find the one thing you are looking for and are fully satisfied there, you discover joy. This is life in all its fullness. Joy is more than an emotion; it is a state of rest. It is not conditional on the environment around us because His joy dwells within us. This is why He faced the cross because there was JOY SET BEFORE HIM. That joy was seeing you connected to Him, bearing fruit and glorifying the Father.

What powerful blessings! And all when we choose to abide in Him. My friend, make the decision today to get connected to the vine and let Him abide in you!

Pastor