Abide

The beliver must remain with Christ to be nurished and grown

We have not looked at this in some time

I am reminded of the importance and crucialness of keeing in step with Jesus

We must walk with Jesus and seek Him daily

Or else we wil turn away and regress

If we are in Christ we will not lose salvation but He will return us to HIm

But that does not mean that it will be easy or pain free

John 15:1-

John 15:1–4 ESV

“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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

We have an image; a picture of the relatiships between God the Father, God the Son and us

Grape vineyard

God the Fther oversees the vineyard and takes care of the plants

He trains the branches as they grow, prunes to bear fruit

Each plant is planted with a short stalk feeding the plant

Jesus is the vine that feeds all the grape bearing branches

Unless the branch is attached to the vine it will die.

The vinedresser is working the plants to produce fruit

His perpuose in working the plants is to grow production and see a quality product is given

God is bringing about fruitfulness in each believer

He has in mind that you would bear much fruit and bring Him and His son Jesus glory for He is worth all our attention and affection

Abide is the theme

Abide means to remain, to stay to well, to dwell

In other words, to abide in Christ is to make your home there, to live in Chreist, to remain in His presence

I wanna focus on the practice of reading the Bible and spending tie in His presence

But other things can be used foer the purpose

looking to Him being full of Him

John 15:5–10 ESV

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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

John 15:5-

We can do nothing apart form Him

You cannot serve the Lord without Him

You cannot obey without Him

You cannot Without Jesus