We must abide in Jesus

If you know me, you know one of the main messages God has put on my heart is the need to abide in Jesus. One of the reasons, I believe we get burned out, stressed out, overwhelmed by fear and anxiety stems from a lack of abiding in Jesus. Consider this...

John 15:5

I Am the vine, you are the branches, the one who remains in ME, and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

It doesn't get much plainer than that. "Apart from Me you can do nothing."

There have been so many seasons in my life where I have tried to accomplish things on my own strength, and I fail, every single time. I am so thankful I serve the God of the universe and all creation, that cares so much for me He is willing to allow me to exchange my weakness for His strength, but what has to take place? I have to abide in Jesus. Let's read.

John 15:1-11

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

When I am not abiding in Jesus, I don't produce much fruit. I am not a great husband, not a great father, not a great friend, not a great pastor, not a great executive director, the list goes on. When I abide in Jesus, because I am connected to Him I become who God wants me to be in all of those areas because it's HIS love flowing through me. I am able to love my wife and my kids in a way that I could never do on my own because it's His love operating and flowing through me. I am able to shepherd the hearts of our team better, of congregation members better because it's His love flowing through me. Check this out y'all, I am even able to love my enemies well, because it is HIS love flowing through me.

When you marry what Jesus said about being connected to Him and bearing much fruit, what other scripture in our mind should that take us to? What kind of fruit is He talking about? Let's look.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

That very fruit that I desire to be produced in my life is the fruit that Jesus expects us to be produced as we abide in him.

This is why we can cast our cares upon Him, and exchange the very things that attempt to weigh us down because we are connected to Him. What are some ways you can practically be connected to the vine.

1. Pray - (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Spend time with our Father. Every morning, every evening, even throughout the day. There are times in my prayer closet, or "war room" I am intentionally going to my Father with specific petitions and/or requests, there are times throughout the day I am conversing with Him, either aloud or within myself.

2. Read/Meditate - (Joshua 1:8) Spend time reading God's Word, getting His Word in your heart so you can regurgitate. The enemy will often attack our thought life, and if our mind is filled with God's Word we can combat the enemy with the Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

3. Surround Yourselves with Brothers and Sisters in the Lord - (Hebrews 10:24-25) One of the purposes of the gathering of the church is to encourage one another, pray over each other and lift each other up. That only comes from a place of community. No, not just on Sunday, but the early church in Acts, met daily, in homes, in churches, broke bread with one another, shared with any who had needs. (Acts 2:44-46)

For most of you, you are already in a rhythm of these steps, my encouragement is to to stay in rhythm. Continue to abide in Jesus!

Hands to the plow, eyes on Jesus!