Abide in Me

From John 15:7 

Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the "True Vine and His Father the vine dresser".
(4) "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.
 (5) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."

I am inspired to explore at least one view or interpretation of what Jesus is saying regarding that spiritual connection of Him abiding in us, as a branch to a vine. What is it that flows in a vine that brings life to its branches? All that is necessary for a branch to grow, and in due time produce the intended fruit of the vine. Then one can ask the question, "What is it that flows from Jesus (the vine) to us (spirit, soul, body) that causes us to grow and produce fruit?

Jesus also said: John 15:7

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

The most important of all is the Holy Spirit, who enables us to produce the fruit as intended by the vine.

John 16:7, 20 (Amplified Bible)

“However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].”

Ask and He answers. The responsibility is His and He alone is able to assume it, and to do so is His function. Our function is to refer questions to Him.  Aren't you glad that you have a Teacher who cannot make a mistake? His answers are always right! Can we say that of our answers? (I've had to really pray about this next statement; even muse over this for several days) His solutions are always for our best interest, and so much better than we could accomplish on our own. We ask Him for deliverance from a certain “thing” He has already delivered us from the adversary and his cohorts “forever”. We ask for this and that, picking and choosing, and He has already given us everything. We ask for forgiveness for our sins, He says “what sins?” It’s already done!!

There is another, very important reason in referring all our questions and decisions over to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. To follow the Holy Spirit's guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. Included also is the fact that fear disappears, after all He is always right! He is always for you, and not against you! He is truth, the light, the love of God in action… flowing through your being. Self or selfishness should wane as dependence upon the Holy Spirit increases.

This truth alone should lead us to say, "Of myself, I can do nothing."

Blessing to all

Consider the Lilies

 

My purpose for writing is always to encourage you and provide some “food for thought” in your Christian journey. I hope that these thoughts will be seed for reflection and eventually produce lasting fruit, in your life and mine.

Luke 12: 27 - 32 Jesus speaks (27) ".....Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon  in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith. (29) And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. (30) For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. (31) BUT seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. (32) Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The Gospel of Luke records the many teachings of Jesus, such as the fear(reverence) of God, confessing Christ  before men, not to worry, the faithful servant, and many more teachings. His insight into human behavior, even the religious leaders of the day was truth and very pointed. He reached down into the soul of man and exposed the nature of "self" and the need to be right; the need to live by "righteous laws" that no one could live up to; and the inevitable condition of man to depend on himself , excluding God. Yet, deep within the being of mankind  is that empty place that God himself created, that can only be filled by His Spirit. A spiritual hunger is forever burning in man that only God can satisfy. We search and we search.

In the Christian community and born out of that hunger, is man's on creation of religion, based solely on different interpretations of the Bible, or maybe even a book, or chapter, or even one verse. From that conflict comes confusion and separation, and another denomination is born. Churches pop up everywhere, because of error born in "self" exultation.

We seek external things or situations that we think will satisfy that hunger, even houses, cars, clothing, food, POWER, and even the stock market (money), and etc. Self or ego sees no need to learn more because the "need to be right" out weighs the "truth of God".  God brings light to His Word every day, and sometimes it stomps down heavy on our beliefs that we have held onto for years. The exposure is too much, and we simply refuse to accept it because, like Dudley Hall says, "we have enough light and just can't take any more." Or, even better, we're comfortable where we are in our own belief system and don't want to see anything else. Its funny how we talk about God's power, and how wonderful Jesus is, yet we still suffer in our own limiting thoughts. We have bodies that need healing; minds that need deliverance; children and family and friends that need to know Jesus, and yet by our own mouths, confessions, we have built walls and limits, which are hindrances to the very things we need or pray for.

To be clear, Jesus the Master, our Savior, our High Priest, our Mediator, the Son of God, tells us plainly without ambiguity to seek the "kingdom of God", and that it pleases God to give it to us. Jesus preached the "kingdom of God" everywhere he went. This is the place or "Spiritual Domain" where Jesus lives; where Adam and Eve lived before the fall; the Father lives.

He came to show us the way, the truth, and the life in that kingdom; and if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He shows us "the way" there, through "the truth", and "the life" we will live in love, grace, mercy, and power. One cannot get to God (in the Kingdom of God) accept through Jesus. However, getting into the kingdom is the ultimate goal.

Outside of Jesus, one cannot live there (Kingdom of God), but in Him one cannot not live there. Who will dare to live there? Who will dare to be certain of Jesus? Of God the Father? In Him there is no conflict or confusion! No unbelief! Who will be bold enough to move past self (self righteousness) and proclaim that Jesus is Lord to the world. Who is tired of shrinking back in weakness and fear (yes that's right), and is ready to step up on the platform of absolute faith in God? Who is ready to accept the truth that "its" not about us, BUT about God? Who is ready to lay self aside, and be immersed in the "Love of God" to the point where love for God and others takes the place of selfishness? Who is ready to sacrifice being right, for being the "righteousness of God"?

It is up to you. Every decision or choice you make, is your perceptions of who and what you are. Either you chose to be held hostage by the “ego” (the world’s view), or you chose to be host to God.  You choose worldly living or the Kingdom of God, which is eternal life. You choose the world’s view of who you are, or God’s truth about you…. the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!!

Love Hopes All Things

Love Hopes All Things

1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8; Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails.

Studying these verses above, one sees that love extends outward, away from self. God’s love is a supernatural energy that flows from His Spirit outward towards everyone. His love has no bounds and is not affected in any way by human thoughts or actions. It can only be hindered by man’s refusal to receive, but its characteristics cannot be altered. John 3:16: "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

We have a tendency when reading these verses, to compare ourselves with  these love characteristics, and feel unworthy or inadequate because we believe that we can’t measure up to these standards. Yet, the good news is that God the Father looks upon us with a heart of Love like described above, and also has placed that Love in our own hearts, so that we can express it to others in words and actions. How do we do it? Since we know that our own human love is lacking, by faith we receive His love and by doing so, by faith we can express His love. Fear is pushed aside and His grace and mercy abounds when we act on His Word of love.
 
The list below demonstrates how His love extends outward from Himself. When it is operational in us, it will have the same character and produce the same results.

1. Love suffers long (for everyone), and is kind (towards everyone)
2. Loves does not envy (anyone)

3. Love does not parade itself (for everyone to see & admire)
4. Love is not puffed up (for everyone to see & admire)
5. Love does not behave rudely (towards anyone)
6. Love does not seek its own (but seeks everyone else’s good)
7. Love is not provoked (by anyone)
8. Love thinks no evil (towards/of anyone)
9. Love does not rejoice in iniquity (towards anyone)
10. Love rejoices in truth (for everyone)
11. Love bears all things (for everyone)
12. Love believes all things (for everyone)

13. Love hopes all things (never gives up on anyone)
14. Love endures all things (from / for everyone)

15. Love never fails (anyone or anything)

1 John 4: 17-18 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."