ICS Daily Devotions
Abiding in the True Vine
John 15:1-8 (NKJV) “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, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
God desires for us to bear more fruit in life. When we walk with the Lord, our lives will definitely be changed and naturally will bear the fruit of righteousness.
If you want to know a person then look at the fruit that he bears in his life.
We are cleansed by His Word. God uses His Word as a means to prune us to bear fruit. God does not deal with us physically, our earthly Father does.
As we abide in Him, we will be sensitive to Him speaking to us and speaking into our lives. He already abides in us once we have received Christ into our lives.
We cannot change on our own therefore we need His strength to help us. As we abide in Him, we draw strength from Him which enables us to be an overcomer. This is made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. God has put His law in us so It is possible for each and every one of us to know God personally.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
There is a prerequisite in this verse before our prayers can be answered, that is, we need to abide in Him and His Words abide in us. More often than not, we tend to do our own thing, in our own way and never seek the Lord and expect God to bless our plans.
Abiding in God will not cause our fellowship to be broken and there will not be anything that will hinder our relationship. God wants and requires our obedience.
It is when we walk in His way and allow His Word to take root in our lives then we will walk in His blessings.
Sermon Series: Walking with God
