Currently, there are so many things competing for our attention, and as such, the only way we can bear fruits is through abiding. We know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him, and there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we might be saved, as illustrated in Acts 4 12. Therefore, the only way our lives can be fruitful is by abiding in Jesus because a vine’s branch fruitfulness is determined by its ability to connect to the vine
Why Should We Abide?
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- It is the only way we can be fruitful. We need to have an intimate relationship with Jesus because we cannot talk about Fruitfulness where there is no intimacy. If we do not have that intimacy with the Lord, there will be no way in which we can be fruitful.
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- According to Colossians 1:9, ‘We should be at a point where we know God’ It is out of this connection, out of this intimate relationship with God, where we will see the manifestation of a fruit.
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- Moreover, as Ephesians 1:17 states, it is through the help of the Holy Spirit that our minds and hearts are connected to God.’
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- As we get to know the Lord, this knowledge about Jesus Christ will make us fruitful.
How Does This Branch Remain Connected?
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- Death. The branch must die. When one is alive, one can’t remain connected. In this case, there must be death. Death to self. Burying the things of our own. As Galatians 2:20 posits, the “I” must die. John 12:24: a seed of a kernel remains a single seed until it has been buried. ‘ Thus, we must be subjected to the death process. The branch provides a womb for the grapevine to be fruit. In this case, we are the womb, and Jesus is looking for us, a platform, for the womb to manifest his fruit.
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- Beholding. We behold by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:1 illustrates that we have been called to set our eyes, to fix our eyes on Jesus. Our lives ought to be hidden in Christ. As Hebrews 12:1-2 states, we ought to lay aside every weight that slows us down, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. In this case, we will behold by waking up every day, before we do anything, to call upon the name of the Lord.
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- Positioning. It is important to note that where we are planted and positioned matters, as there is a kind of fruit God is looking for., we should be placed strategically and divinely.’ According to Ezekiel 47:1-12, the tree draws water from the river flowing from the sanctuary; thus, whether we are drawing our water from the sanctuary matters. The specific reasons why we should be positioned divinely included; Christ, because he is our only hope, and, our lives must remain connected to him and also because, everything we need, every purpose, is from the Lord.
The Benefits of Abiding – John 15:7
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- Jesus brings in the matter of asking, which is through praying. Thus, as we continue abiding in Him, we will ask whatever we want, and we will indeed receive. We all would love to see answers to our prayers. But it is until we abide.
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- We will not walk in darkness because Jesus Christ will illuminate our paths as we abide.
In conclusion, it is paramount to note that although so many things seek our loyalty, choosing to abide in Jesus is the only way we will remain loyal to Him and bear fruits.