Study Materials: John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Today’s Teaching:
Some trees do not get enough water and light and so their fruit never really bloom to their fullness. Some bear fruit but they never get ripe or sweet. Sometimes they do not stay on the tree long enough. In developing countries, this is a normal phenomenon. People rush to pick the fruit so that they can sell them quickly. Before the fruit are ready, they pick them, force them to get ripe by putting them in heated dark conditions, and then they rush them to the market for sale. In developed countries, they do something different. They use all manner of chemicals to ensure that they grow fast, get ripened to a beautiful color and have a sweetness that is unreal.
Similar happens in the Kingdom as well. Some people start to grow, start to make progress in terms of developing their relationship with Christ, and they are quickly pushed into roles that they are not ready for. They are rushed to go out and go forth. They are asked to build others, start churches and win souls; but they cannot because they are not fully prepared. Some can survive only in their local congregation because they will do what others are doing. They cannot stand alone. As soon as they are out of a church setting, they backslide. Some are given a microwave approach. They are quickly identified, given some support to help them grow, and they are churned out. Sometimes they are not even truly born again. They are just doing as they have been told.
For our fruit to abide, we have to remain connected. Remaining connected means remaining in the Word of God, remaining in His church and His fellowship. Not only that, we must connect to our first love, Jesus Christ. He said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you (Jn 15:16 NIV).
Homework: Pray and ask God to help you remain in Him and abide in Him.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Today’s Teaching:
Some trees do not get enough water and light and so their fruit never really bloom to their fullness. Some bear fruit but they never get ripe or sweet. Sometimes they do not stay on the tree long enough. In developing countries, this is a normal phenomenon. People rush to pick the fruit so that they can sell them quickly. Before the fruit are ready, they pick them, force them to get ripe by putting them in heated dark conditions, and then they rush them to the market for sale. In developed countries, they do something different. They use all manner of chemicals to ensure that they grow fast, get ripened to a beautiful color and have a sweetness that is unreal.
Similar happens in the Kingdom as well. Some people start to grow, start to make progress in terms of developing their relationship with Christ, and they are quickly pushed into roles that they are not ready for. They are rushed to go out and go forth. They are asked to build others, start churches and win souls; but they cannot because they are not fully prepared. Some can survive only in their local congregation because they will do what others are doing. They cannot stand alone. As soon as they are out of a church setting, they backslide. Some are given a microwave approach. They are quickly identified, given some support to help them grow, and they are churned out. Sometimes they are not even truly born again. They are just doing as they have been told.
For our fruit to abide, we have to remain connected. Remaining connected means remaining in the Word of God, remaining in His church and His fellowship. Not only that, we must connect to our first love, Jesus Christ. He said: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you (Jn 15:16 NIV).
Homework: Pray and ask God to help you remain in Him and abide in Him.