The Vine (8 of 8)
Series: I Am
Stephen Whitney
John 15:4-6
One of the new handy tools that has been invented is a cordless screwdriver. It is one of the new generation of power tools that renders obsolete the old-fashioned, wrist wrenching labor of turning a screw by hand. You just have to put the right bit into the screw head, push a button and the job is done.
There is one drawback to this handy device, however. It is totally dependent on an outside power source and must be charged regularly or it will not work. Without a charger, it is just a clumsy, unusable tool.
The same is true of believers. We need and outside power source if we are going to serve God effectively where he has placed us.
Using the analogy of a vine and branches, Jesus told his disciples that without continual contact with him, they would not be effective in producing any kind of fruit either in their own lives
or in the lives of others.
SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE :4
Abide (NIV remain) - Gk. to stay in a certain condition or state. It is in the aorist active tense which means that when we accept Christ as our Savior at that moment we are connected to him and we are to continue to be connected to him for spiritual life.
Note: abide is used 3 times in :4; 1 time in :5; and 1 time in :6 and 15 times in 1-10 which is the key word in the passage.
1. Physically it is to stay in the house where you currently are. John 1:39 Peter and Andrew saw where Jesus was staying and stayed with him that day for it was 4 pm.
John 4:40 When the Samaritans came to Jesus they asked him to stay with them and he stayed there two days.
2. Spiritually it is to have a continual relationship with God. John 14:10 Jesus said, ''The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me.''
3. Personally it is to have a relationship with God which comes through Jesus Christ and results in the Holy Spirit indwelling us.
John 14:16-17 Jesus told his disciples, ...
Series: I Am
Stephen Whitney
John 15:4-6
One of the new handy tools that has been invented is a cordless screwdriver. It is one of the new generation of power tools that renders obsolete the old-fashioned, wrist wrenching labor of turning a screw by hand. You just have to put the right bit into the screw head, push a button and the job is done.
There is one drawback to this handy device, however. It is totally dependent on an outside power source and must be charged regularly or it will not work. Without a charger, it is just a clumsy, unusable tool.
The same is true of believers. We need and outside power source if we are going to serve God effectively where he has placed us.
Using the analogy of a vine and branches, Jesus told his disciples that without continual contact with him, they would not be effective in producing any kind of fruit either in their own lives
or in the lives of others.
SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE :4
Abide (NIV remain) - Gk. to stay in a certain condition or state. It is in the aorist active tense which means that when we accept Christ as our Savior at that moment we are connected to him and we are to continue to be connected to him for spiritual life.
Note: abide is used 3 times in :4; 1 time in :5; and 1 time in :6 and 15 times in 1-10 which is the key word in the passage.
1. Physically it is to stay in the house where you currently are. John 1:39 Peter and Andrew saw where Jesus was staying and stayed with him that day for it was 4 pm.
John 4:40 When the Samaritans came to Jesus they asked him to stay with them and he stayed there two days.
2. Spiritually it is to have a continual relationship with God. John 14:10 Jesus said, ''The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me.''
3. Personally it is to have a relationship with God which comes through Jesus Christ and results in the Holy Spirit indwelling us.
John 14:16-17 Jesus told his disciples, ...
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