Abiding in Jesus: The Source of Spiritual Fruit

To abide in Jesus is to stay in his word. And we talked about last week, that word abide literally means to remain. It means to stay. See the, the branch did nothing. He, the branch didn't come from another tree and attach himself to the olive tree. The branch grew out of the vine. Guys, that's how salvation happens. We believe in Jesus. Jesus gives us the growth. Like Jesus, does all the work of salvation for us. It's not like we come to him and say, look at all the fruit that I bear. And he said, oh, I could really use you for my kingdom. Come attach yourself to this vine. That's not how it works. Instead, Jesus is the one who gives the growth. [00:58:52] (39 seconds)


And if we stay connected to Jesus, fruit will grow. It's amazing. And so this is what Jesus promises. He says, if you're going to abide in 2025, then you're going to have to stay in my word. And here's what I love about it is he says, you'll stay in my word. You'll abide in my word. And he gives a promise. My word will abide in you. Isn't that amazing? Like, think about that. That's not just, you know, a thing. Well, you bet you guys better read your Bible, but it's a promise that as we consume the word of God, the word of God is making its home inside of our lives. [00:59:46] (44 seconds)


Church, the bottom line is that we've kind of eliminated all the excuses to not be in God's word. It literally now boils down to this desire. It's no longer about competency. It's no longer about whether or not you can understand it. No longer about whether or not you should read it or listen to it. It's no longer. I left my Bible somewhere and can't find it. We don't lose our phones and there it is. Well, sometimes we do, but it's, there it is right there. And guys like we have, we have more access to the word of God than any other generation has ever had in human history. [01:02:06] (48 seconds)


To abide in Jesus is to pray. To abide in Jesus is to pray. I love this. Jesus says, if you abide in me, ask whatever you wish. And so here's what happens. When we abide in Jesus and we pray, we pray until Jesus aligns our wishes with his will. Because if we're not careful, we'll read this passage and we'll say, great. God's a genie. Ask whatever you wish and it will be granted to you. So you're saying all I got to do is read my Bible every day this week. And all I got to do is say a few prayers and I'm gonna get whatever I want. No, that is not what God's word is saying. [01:04:24] (51 seconds)


Oh God, I don't know how I'm going to pay this bill. Please provide for us. Oh God, I'm so lonely. I just, please give me friends or give me a spouse or a maid. Like, like we're good at praying for the things we're desperate. But what about just the ho -hum everyday things that we wish for? You know why we don't pray for them? Because we can do them on our own. And the power of God is not needed. It makes me wonder if so many followers of Jesus today have not built a life for themselves to where God is actually unnecessary in their lives. [01:05:37] (42 seconds)


Church, to abide in Jesus, to abide in Jesus is to continue to grow. Like what if the branch was trying to bear fruit without the vine? Like what if the branch was trying to bear fruit without the vine? Like what if it just said, I don't need this and backed away from the vine? It's impossible. It's impossible for this to bear fruit without being intimately attached to the vine. It's impossible. Well, guys, it is. You have to have a relationship with God to bear fruit. You have to love him. And this is exactly why Jesus came. Jesus came because we were all branches that were separated from the vine. [01:21:44] (49 seconds)


Jesus said, the whole reason I'm telling you these things is that my joy, you know what that word joy means? Joy. It means joy. So that my joy may be in you, not the world's joy, not your joy, but his joy. Did you know, Jesus? Jesus was a joyful person. Did you know he still is? That he's alive and that one of the marks that he had of his life here on earth was his joy. And he says the same joy that I have. If you'll abide in me, I'm giving you that joy. And that your joy. Now, do you know what this version of joy means? Joy. That your joy may be full. [01:25:51] (62 seconds)


Jesus says, bring your mops, bring your buckets, bring your plow trucks, because we're about to have a floor just ruined. Ruined by the overflow of joy that I'm going to bring into your life. And I don't want to explain this away. Do you know why? Because I want it. I want joy. I don't want to be told it's okay to just sit by yourself in isolation and be miserable. That's the life of a Christian. No, it's not. No, it's not. Now, this word joy doesn't mean worldly happiness. Because you know what? The Bible also says it was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross. [01:27:11] (54 seconds)