Abiding in Christ: The Source of True Life

Devotional

Day 1: Abiding in Christ for True Fruitfulness

Abiding in Christ is not merely a theological concept but a practical necessity for spiritual fruitfulness. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting results without remaining in Him. This truth challenges us to prioritize our relationship with Christ above all else. In a world that often values productivity and efficiency, the call to abide in Christ invites us to slow down and focus on our spiritual connection with Him. By doing so, we allow His life to flow through us, producing fruit that reflects His character and love. [03:09]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "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. 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."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prioritize your relationship with Christ and ensure you are abiding in Him?

Day 2: Dependence on Christ Illustrated by a Baby in the Womb

The metaphor of a baby abiding in the womb illustrates our dependence on Christ. Like a child nourished by its mother, we must draw our life and sustenance from Him, recognizing that apart from Him, we can do nothing. This dependence is counterintuitive in a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency. Yet, in the Kingdom of God, true strength and fruitfulness come from abiding in Him and in one another as a body of believers. Embracing this dependence allows us to experience the fullness of life that Christ offers. [08:21]

Isaiah 46:3-4 (ESV): "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength instead of depending on Christ? How can you shift towards greater dependence on Him today?

Day 3: Embracing Interdependence in a Culture of Independence

Our culture's emphasis on independence can hinder our spiritual growth. In contrast, the Kingdom of God calls us to a life of dependence on Christ and interdependence with one another as members of His body. This interdependence requires humility and a willingness to admit that we do not have all the answers. Instead, we must come together, seeking the guidance of Christ, the true Head of the Church. By embracing interdependence, we reflect the unity and love that Christ desires for His followers. [11:55]

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (ESV): "That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the interdependence of your church community? What steps can you take to foster unity and support among fellow believers?

Day 4: Valuing Connection Over Production in the Church

The pursuit of efficiency and results can lead us away from God's design for His Church. We are called to be a body, not a business, valuing connection and community over production and performance. This requires a shift in mindset from operating as CEOs of a Christian business to being members of a body, deeply connected and dependent on one another. By prioritizing relationships and community, we align ourselves with God's heart for His Church and create an environment where spiritual growth and transformation can flourish. [27:16]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from results to relationships within your church community? How can you contribute to building a culture of connection and support?

Day 5: Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Abiding

True joy and fulfillment are found in abiding in Christ. As we rest in His love, we discover that our greatest pleasure and purpose come from being one with our Creator, not from our accomplishments. This abiding relationship invites us to experience the depth of God's love and the joy that comes from being in His presence. By committing to stay connected to Christ and to each other, we trust that God will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, bringing true joy and fulfillment to our lives. [24:47]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment in your relationship with Christ today? What practices can help you remain in His presence and experience His love more fully?

Sermon Summary

Taking a moment to reflect on the profound truth of abiding in Christ, we are reminded of the essential nature of our relationship with Him. John 15 paints a vivid picture of Jesus as the Vine and us as the branches, emphasizing that apart from Him, we can do nothing. This truth is not just a theological concept but a practical reality that should shape our daily lives. The challenge is to move beyond merely knowing this truth to truly living it out. In our fast-paced world, where we consume information rapidly and move from one thought to another, the danger is that nothing truly sticks. We risk having a spiritual life that is akin to "spiritual diarrhea," where lessons are learned but not internalized, and we fail to be nourished by the Word.

The imagery of a baby abiding in the womb serves as a powerful metaphor for our relationship with Christ. Just as a baby is entirely dependent on its mother for nourishment and life, we too must recognize our complete dependence on Christ. This dependence is counterintuitive in a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency. Yet, in the Kingdom of God, true strength and fruitfulness come from abiding in Him and in one another as a body of believers.

Reflecting on past experiences, there is a realization that the pursuit of efficiency and results can sometimes lead us away from the heart of God’s design for His Church. The call is not to operate as CEOs of a Christian business but as members of a body, deeply connected and dependent on one another. This requires humility and a willingness to admit that we do not have all the answers. Instead, we must come together, seeking the guidance of Christ, the true Head of the Church.

In this journey of abiding, we discover that the greatest joy and fulfillment come not from our achievements but from being one with our Creator. It is in this place of abiding that we find true pleasure and purpose. As we commit to staying connected to Christ and to each other, we trust that God will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Key Takeaways

1. Abiding in Christ is essential for spiritual fruitfulness. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, we cannot produce lasting results without remaining in Him. This truth challenges us to prioritize our relationship with Christ above all else. [03:09]
2. The metaphor of a baby abiding in the womb illustrates our dependence on Christ. Like a child nourished by its mother, we must draw our life and sustenance from Him, recognizing that apart from Him, we can do nothing. [08:21]
3. Our culture's emphasis on independence can hinder our spiritual growth. In contrast, the Kingdom of God calls us to a life of dependence on Christ and interdependence with one another as members of His body. [11:55]
4. The pursuit of efficiency and results can lead us away from God's design for His Church. We are called to be a body, not a business, valuing connection and community over production and performance. [27:16]
5. True joy and fulfillment are found in abiding in Christ. As we rest in His love, we discover that our greatest pleasure and purpose come from being one with our Creator, not from our accomplishments. [24:47]
** [24:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Gathering for Truth
[00:42] - The Vine and the Branches
[01:47] - Importance of Connection
[03:09] - Abiding in Christ
[05:36] - Spiritual Diarrhea
[07:27] - Lessons That Stick
[08:21] - Picture of Abiding
[10:44] - Dependence on Christ
[12:37] - Independence vs. Interdependence
[14:06] - The Body of Christ
[16:13] - God's Sovereignty
[18:33] - Need for Each Other
[22:20] - Obsession with Results
[24:47] - Joy in Abiding
[29:22] - Abiding in One Another
[35:09] - Headless Body
[38:29] - God's Pleasure in Abiding
[41:39] - Prayer and Commitment

Sermon Clips

"if a man remains in me and I in him he'll bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing we all know that like you can't grab a branch from a tree and cut it off and expect it to do anything it's got to stay connected okay you've got to stay connected and and so even this morning I'm thinking okay right now it'd be very easy for me to think man I I counted the other day I've probably preached close to 10,000 times somewhere between eight to ten thousand just roughly guess you know based upon how many times a year and how many times I do a service about eight to ten thousand times a very easy for me right now to go I know what I'm doing I can do this I've done this 10 000 times and the Bible says no if you're not abiding in me this does nothing" [00:39:30]

"and so this idea of abiding in him I know is old to some of you you're like oh yeah we're in that passage forever and this is what we do we we go teach me something new and so my job today teach you something new something you didn't know because that's the way the enemy is conditioning our minds you see the other day I read the news when I grew up you had to have a newspaper and you had a delivery boy and he said you know and on and on and on um you know I find the things you want to read now like like the other day I I caught myself I'm reading the news this is how I read the news and then I thought I just spent probably less than two minutes and I consumed probably a dozen news articles just like I get the main point okay great there was a flood okay boom another one's coming oh wow an alligator a delay that's weird you know I just right that's how we consume the news" [00:52:20]

"and the idea of abiding in that's why I I really believe that this whole demonic thought of oh that's just a little blob that's attached to the woman's body rather than the beauty of no this is a person in here Abiding and yet taking all the nutrients the nourishment that if you were to cut that cord it wouldn't survive like everything is abiding so that child inside of Brienne I hope that wasn't a secret okay okay I just hit me like you know some people don't want to know and okay um so it's just that whole picture like I never thought about it that like that like that's what I want to be this morning like that's the goal abiding in Christ saying God everything I can't survive without you" [00:59:40]

"and it's so counterintuitive for us to go no actually with Christ I want to find myself more and more dependent on him I want to climb back into the womb and just go look I need to completely attach myself to you and I am sorry for my independent spirit and I mean you got to remember we live in a country built on Independence this is what we declare and so we are living in an environment that is everything is about us as individuals I was thinking about this morning just because it's Sunday and it's football day and I like watching football and someone asked me who's your team and I'm like gosh I don't even have a team anymore because of fantasy football you just you just kind of like well I like this guy from here this guy we're just we're not about teams anymore there's no loyal athletes to their team it's just where am I going to get my money where am I going to get the best for me that's all we think and it's all about independence" [01:08:43]

"and yet the scripture's so different two weeks ago I was preaching uh out of First Corinthians 12. and I was so convicted it was like the fear of God just came upon me over this passage and I realized that it's embarrassing but I've kind of looked at First Corinthians 12 like acute analogy like oh we're like a body that's cute okay who's the fingers who's the toes you know because the Bible says we're all these different parts of the body and we're supposed to come together and and it says things like the the the the parts that seem unpresentable are actually the ones that are most uh indispensable most needed and the whole idea was that we were supposed to come as a body and so I I've made jokes about this passage and not you know it was just a cute like okay okay you know who's the appendix you know that's the one that has real no function but it could explode and kill us all you know like you you just start going okay but but there you know when I was reading it this time I thought oh gosh this is the word of God there are strong commands here" [01:21:56]

"and in First Corinthians 12 he he says look the I cannot say to the hand I have no need of you I don't know it was like the first time almost maybe I've noticed it before but it's just like God just told me I can't do something you cannot so I cannot according to God you know let's make sure we're all on the same page we all believe there's a holy God on his throne right now and he actually determined so someone right now determines whether or not my pancreas is working right now I don't know what pancreases do but it I know if they go bad it's bad but I I honestly don't know what a pancreas does and that's embarrassing B Ryan what do they do you know don't what regulates insulin okay who knows what insulin is okay so uh anyways it's like that teacher that uses a big word and you're like that didn't help me any in your definition um so insulin you gotta regulate it you know um the whole idea is I have no clue what my pancreas does and there's someone on the throne right now who's in complete control of it that's so humbling" [01:26:18]

"and what if all God in heaven wanted this morning was to just watch us abide in him you know just desire of our hearts is to climb back in the womb and say sorry can we attach this cord again Lord I need everything from you and I am sorry for detaching myself from the body and even repenting of times we've left bodies of Christ and just assumed I'd be better off without you and I believe it honors the Lord when I just go Lord if I had to do it over again if you had revealed this to me 30 years ago I know now I shouldn't have left I should have done so much I should have looked at all those old people they were driving me nuts and go look I need you this isn't going to work unless we stay together so I can go oh but it was so much more efficient I don't know that what would God have done if at an early age I didn't have the CEO mentality and I just came as a member of the body and trusted the word of God and say look I am never going to touch I will never detach myself from you we'll figure it out we'll figure it out" [01:59:39]

"and I realize that's what I do in the church what's going to work what's going to produce what's going to do this and what if all God in heaven wanted this morning was to just watch us abide in him you know just desire of our hearts is to climb back in the womb and say sorry can we attach this cord again Lord I need everything from you and I am sorry for detaching myself from the body and even repenting of times we've left bodies of Christ and just assumed I'd be better off without you and I believe it honors the Lord when I just go Lord if I had to do it over again if you had revealed this to me 30 years ago I know now I shouldn't have left I should have done so much I should have looked at all those old people they were driving me nuts and go look I need you this isn't going to work unless we stay together so I can go oh but it was so much more efficient I don't know that what would God have done if at an early age I didn't have the CEO mentality and I just came as a member of the body and trusted the word of God and say look I am never going to touch I will never detach myself from you we'll figure it out we'll figure it out" [02:30:58]

"and I pray this sticks with you story Ryan told me and I'm gonna get it wrong so this is a good time to share it because then you can say okay this was off this you guys were on your honeymoon in the Amazon I got that right and you saw the Cocoa Tree you saw the Cocoa Tree and they they're in the Amazon um that's a forest not ordering stuff uh it's an actual place before it was a company so there's an Amazon forest it's like a rain forest it's like Crown kind of one of those last like raw places that's quickly getting eaten up anyways so B notices this Cocoa Tree Okay so did you know Coco comes from a tree does these beans um I knew that is it sure I looked it up actually because I don't you know it's like a pancreas it just lets these beans out and uh and so you've got this beautiful Cocoa Tree and was it Ryan that you're the one that observed that like you thought it was a waste or was it be yeah it never been touched so we're seeing these beans fall to the ground like a gorgeous Cocoa Tree and so he thought to himself man what a waste like look at all these beans for all these years it could have been harvested I mean if someone had collected those beans you know and packaged them man how many Cocoa Puffs could we have made from that tree like you just because that's the way we think production that's a waste it could have been packaged it could have manufactured it could have resulted you know in this this this and then as a bee that just says but what if God made that tree because he just loved watching those cocoa beans like fall to the ground like he intended it to and he liked watching them fall to the ground maybe get buried and died and then something else Sprouts up and he's in heaven just going oh that's so good so beautiful but we're always thinking production" [02:15:50]

"and I realize that's what I do in the church what's going to work what's going to produce what's going to do this and what if all God in heaven wanted this morning was to just watch us abide in him you know just desire of our hearts is to climb back in the womb and say sorry can we attach this cord again Lord I need everything from you and I am sorry for detaching myself from the body and even repenting of times we've left bodies of Christ and just assumed I'd be better off without you and I believe it honors the Lord when I just go Lord if I had to do it over again if you had revealed this to me 30 years ago I know now I shouldn't have left I should have done so much I should have looked at all those old people they were driving me nuts and go look I need you this isn't going to work unless we stay together so I can go oh but it was so much more efficient I don't know that what would God have done if at an early age I didn't have the CEO mentality and I just came as a member of the body and trusted the word of God and say look I am never going to touch I will never detach myself from you we'll figure it out we'll figure it out" [02:30:58]

"and I pray this sticks with you story Ryan told me and I'm gonna get it wrong so this is a good time to share it because then you can say okay this was off this you guys were on your honeymoon in the Amazon I got that right and you saw the Cocoa Tree you saw the Cocoa Tree and they they're in the Amazon um that's a forest not ordering stuff uh it's an actual place before it was a company so there's an Amazon forest it's like a rain forest it's like Crown kind of one of those last like raw places that's quickly getting eaten up anyways so B notices this Cocoa Tree Okay so did you know Coco comes from a tree does these beans um I knew that is it sure I looked it up actually because I don't you know it's like a pancreas it just lets these beans out and uh and so you've got this beautiful Cocoa Tree and was it Ryan that you're the one that observed that like you thought it was a waste or was it be yeah it never been touched so we're seeing these beans fall to the ground like a gorgeous Cocoa Tree and so he thought to himself man what a waste like look at all these beans for all these years it could have been harvested I mean if someone had collected those beans you know and packaged them man how many Cocoa Puffs could we have made from that tree like you just because that's the way we think production that's a waste it could have been packaged it could have manufactured it could have resulted you know in this this this and then as a bee that just says but what if God made that tree because he just loved watching those cocoa beans like fall to the ground like he intended it to and he liked watching them fall to the ground maybe get buried and died and then something else Sprouts up and he's in heaven just going oh that's so good so beautiful but we're always thinking production" [02:15:50]

"and I realize that's what I do in the church what's going to work what's going to produce what's going to do this and what if all God in heaven wanted this morning was to just watch us abide in him you know just desire of our hearts is to climb back in the womb and say sorry can we attach this cord again Lord I need everything from you and I am sorry for detaching myself from the body and even repenting of times we've left bodies of Christ and just assumed I'd be better off without you and I believe it honors the Lord when I just go Lord if I had to do it over again if you had revealed this to me 30 years ago I know now I shouldn't have left I should have done so much I should have looked at all those old people they were driving me nuts and go look I need you this isn't going to work unless we stay together so I can go oh but it was so much more efficient I don't know that what would God have done if at an early age I didn't have the CEO mentality and I just came as a member of the body and trusted the word of God and say look I am never going to touch I will never detach myself from you we'll figure it out we'll figure it out" [02:30:58]

"and I pray this sticks with you story Ryan told me and I'm gonna get it wrong so this is a good time to share it because then you can say okay this was off this you guys were on your honeymoon in the Amazon I got that right and you saw the Cocoa Tree you saw the Cocoa Tree and they they're in the Amazon um that's a forest not ordering stuff uh it's an actual place before it was a company so there's an Amazon forest it's like a rain forest it's like Crown kind of one of those last like raw places that's quickly getting eaten up anyways so B notices this Cocoa Tree Okay so did you know Coco comes from a tree does these beans um I knew that is it sure I looked it up actually because I don't you know it's like a pancreas it just lets these beans out and uh and so you've got this beautiful Cocoa Tree and was it Ryan that you're the one that observed that like you thought it was a waste or was it be yeah it never been touched so we're seeing these beans fall to the ground like a gorgeous Cocoa Tree and so he thought to himself man what a waste like look at all these beans for all these years it could have been harvested I mean if someone had collected those beans you know and packaged them man how many Cocoa Puffs could we have made from that tree like you just because that's the way we think production that's a waste it could have been packaged it could have manufactured it could have resulted you know in this this this and then as a bee that just says but what if God made that tree because he just loved watching those cocoa beans like fall to the ground like he intended it to and he liked watching them fall to the ground maybe get buried and died and then something else Sprouts up and he's in heaven just going oh that's so good so beautiful but we're always thinking production" [02:15:50]

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