"Evidence of the Abiding Life"
St John 15: 1-8
Bro. Charles McCaskey, writer of
December - January and February Encounter Bible Study for Adults, February 25,
2007; "Secure Connections" opened up for me a great study, and I want to use
"Evidences of the Abiding Life" as The Subject for this "Comfort Zone."
I’ve been involved in the starting
of two mission Cumberland Presbyterian Churches and my experience has been;
"You begin with a flurry of enthusiasm and excitement, but sooner or later it
comes down to just plain endurance just sticking it out.” One of the two did
just that.
Such a statement is not only true of
starting a church, but of other areas of life as well. Take marriage, for
example. For the first few weeks or months, marriage is able to function on
the fuel of romantic feelings. But sooner or later we come to the realization
that marriage is not only enjoying, but enduring. There must be the transition
from romance to routine. I do not mean that marriage is a drag to be endured
with gritted teeth, but that it is not one continual high, perpetually warm
fuzzy feeling.
Moody said he could tell when a
Christian was growing. In proportion to his/her growth in grace. He/she will
elevate their Master, talk less of what they are doing, and become smaller
and smaller in their own esteem, until, like the morning star, they fade away
before the rising sun.
When the words
of John chapter fifteen were spoken, the disciples had spent a great deal of
time with the Savior and the honeymoon period was about to come to a close.
How do we grow spiritually? According to Jesus, it's simple and straight
forward: "Abide in Me." What Jesus wants for
you is had by
"Abiding." The key word
"abide" is used nine times in John 15: 1-11, and three times in vs..
4. What does it mean to abide?
The word
"Abide" implies permance of position. It means
we sink our roots deeply into our relationship with God. It means to keep in
fellowship with Christ so that His life can work is and through us to produce
fruit. As the true vine our Lord is the source of life and strength and
fruit. There is a relationship of complete dependence between the branch and
the vine. The vine supplies life-giving nourishment to the branches. Apart
from it, the branches have neither life nor fruit.
In a real way we all owe a debt we
cannot pay to someone. Are we living a grateful life? Beloved, more than to
anyone else we are debtors to Jesus Christ, Son of God. No, we can never
pay, but we can show our appreciation by giving "Evidence of the Abiding
Life." Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father
is the gardener.... I am the true vine" ... and
we cannot bear fruit unless we remain attached to the true vine. These are
powerful words.
We are not here simply to enjoy one
another's company; we are to prepare ourselves to bear fruit in the
community. Jesus put it plain; the barren tree will be thrown into the
fire. Nothing could be clearer than this principle; "We are to bear fruit."
are you abiding in Jesus. In the 1st Epistle of John 2:6 we find this
interesting challenge. "He that saith he abided in him
ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
Walking is a steady motion; it's regular, a continuous gait. The only way to
bring forth fruit is to stick with it, do it God's way.
><))):> In
"HIS"
Service
Bro. Roy