John 15:5 - Relationship With Christ.
John 15:5: Relationship With Christ.
John 15:5 (NLT) Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For
apart from me you can do nothing.
COMMENTARY PEARL
In this era of omnipresent electronic devices, we might
imagine "abiding in Christ" is similar to plugging a phone into an
outlet. We sit down for our quiet time and ask ourselves, How long do I
have to be plugged into God today to get a good spiritual charge? But
Jesus never said, "I am the power cord, and you are the cell phone."
No, He says, "I am the vine; you are the branches."
We don't get charged up in God in order to unplug and live on
our own - until it's time for the next charge. No. We never
disconnect from Him. We are living branches connected to the living Christ.
His life is our life. Abiding is living in constant awareness of
total dependence on Jesus. It involves a constant flow of life-giving
sap from the Holy Spirit - not a spiritual charge that takes us to
8o percent. Abiding in Christ is a 100 percent relationship.
Lord Jesus, I don't want to deal with life in my own wisdom
or power. I don't want to run on reserve energy. And I don't want
to go out in public with my own life on display before others -
what a futility that would be! Lord, I want people to see Your life
and Your strength in me at every turn. [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni
Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby re John 15:1-5]
COMMENTARY
What Jesus calls us to do is impossible. It's not merely
difficult. It's not simply a struggle. It's not just hard. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
"For apart from Me you can do nothing." Not a little. Not a few
things. NOTHING.
This should come as good news.... No one can live the
Christian life apart from Christ
If you do not learn to abide in Christ, you will never have a
marriage characterized by love, joy, and peace. You will never have the
self-control necessary to consistently overcome temptation. And you will
always be an emotional hostage of your circumstances. Why? Because
apart from abiding in Christ, you can do nothing.
As the branch draws its life from the vine, so we draw life
from Christ. To abide in Christ is to draw upon His life. (From The
Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley) [Inspirational SB]
The Presence is everything in the Christian life. Maybe that
seems like an overstatement. Surely obedience is important, along with
bearing fruit, being loving and compassionate, praying, growing in
faith, overcoming obstacles, dealing with relationship issues, and so
much more. That's why so many books are published and so many sermons
preached about these things. Christian living is a vast array of
disciplines, attitudes, and activities, and we have to know how to approach
them. Right?
But think about it. What happens to your attitude when you
have a palpable sense of God's Presence around you? How fruitful does
your prayer life become? How strong does your faith grow? What
obstacle seems large when you're aware that God is in the room? How hard
is it to obey when He is present to empower you? How hard do you
have to try to bear fruit if He is spilling out from within you? What
relationship issues remain unyielding when His power overwhelms? The truth is
that His Presence working within us is the key to everything, and
without Him we can do nothing.
That's why cultivating both an awareness and an ongoing
experience of His Presence is vital. When God shows up, miracles happen.
Life comes out of death, beauty comes out of ashes, dancing takes the
place of mourning, futility gives way to fruitfulness, confusion is
replaced by order, and obstacles bow to His will. Even the hard side of
His Presence - the convicting and correcting truth we don't want to
hear - eventually gives life. When God is at work in and around us,
everything changes.
Zealously, relentlessly, passionately pursue God's Presence.
Every endeavor in the Christian life is futile without that. But with
it, everything is possible.
Jesus, I need You - Your Spirit, Your life - in me and around
me. I'm not content just to know about You or to believe the right
things. I want to experience Your Presence. I know You want that too.
Please, Lord, let me sense You always. [The One Year Experiencing
Gods Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen re v. 5]
When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance"
at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is
a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels
right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is
quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies
begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a
nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance
takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and
gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word
GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i. "God,
"u" and "i" dance."! God, you, and I dance. This statement is what
guidance means to me.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would
get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God
lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be
upon you and your family on this day and everyday. May you abide in
Him as He abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to
lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
I Hope You Dance!!!!!!!!!!! [source unknown]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170915-0913.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160109-1614.html
CLOSING THOUGHT
The Christian life is a supernatural life, flowing from Jesus to
us. It can be experienced only as we live in intimate fellowship
with our LORD. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100526-1026.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
