Where Do You Live?

John 15:5-8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

It is easy to forget who you are in Christ.  The business and cares of this life can often get in the way of storing up treasures in heaven.  In this text Jesus is explaining to the disciples the Father's intent for the church and certainly for the individual believer.  

We abide in Christ by faith.  The vine is what supplies life to the branches. All the nutrient giving sap flows through the vine into the branch which causes the bearing of fruit.  Trust that you are in the vine.  That your life is hidden, there in Christ, by faith.  

We bear fruit.  Branches do not strain to bear fruit.  Branches allow the vine to bring forth fruit through them.  As a believer trust Jesus allow Him to work through you to bear fruit. 

His word abides in us.  In an earlier post we talked about knowing the will of God. It was through His word. In the same way we can only bear fruit if His word abides in us.  GOD HAS SPOKEN. Read the word of God let it do a work in you and be a doer of the word.  In this His word abides in you, you abide in Him and He abides in you.  

Galatians 2:20

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Don't Stop Now!

Philippians 1:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment
 
Dear fellow disciples I urge you this day to abound more in love.  This world is in need of it. Whether is the clerk at the store, your coworker at the next desk, your neighbor across the street or a stranger on the bus, they all need to know the love of Christ. You are the one to show it to them. 

"But I don't have the love" you say.  Trust that the love of God has been poured out into your hearts. Romans 5:5 (NKJV) ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Love in faith my friend. Say a kind word, give a smile ask if you can pray for them and see the glory of the Lord.

Philippians 3:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Overflow

John 7:38

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

As a follower of Jesus I have to admit I don't always feel like my life flows with living water.  There are days when I am not compassionate or loving. Seasons when I feel my life is more of a drought then a river.  I do not believe that this is what God intends for us.  

Jesus promises that if we believe in Him then rivers of living water will flow from our hearts.  Rivers flow continually and they are a source of life to all they flow past.  Jesus intends for us believers to be the same.  That life would continually flow from us and bring life to those around us. So why do I feel there is a dam blocking this river of life? 

A natural river is not the source of it's own water. It gets its source from streams and creeks that flow into it. Run off from mountains and even man made drainage all combine to create natural rivers.  For the believer our source is Jesus Himself.  He is the very living water that fills the believer and the living water that is to flow from our hearts.  The key for the believer is to stay connected to the source.  

Spending time with Jesus (prayer and the Word) is the only way that we can flow with life.   The more time we spend with Jesus the more we become like Him; therefore wait on the Lord and you shall receive power from on high.

John 15:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

We Are at War

2 Timothy 2:3-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Believer have you given much thought to spiritual warfare? Have you considered what is at stake in this life?

This world is not our home it is the front line of battle.  Millions of people in the world are casualties of this war.  Every day they are dying in their sins, lost to spend eternity in hell.  You have been enlisted in the battle for their freedom.  Forsake your comfort, your agenda and your will.  Ask the Lord for the holy burden of souls and fight the good fight.

These souls are important to the Lord.  He longs that none should perish. Rise up church!
Love deeply
Pray without ceasing
Be ready in season and out

1 Timothy 6:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Hold Nothing Back

Philippians 2:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 
  
Follower of Jesus, brother, sister in Christ I exhort you to live life to the fullest.  Strive to do all the works God has planed for you.  Fervently seek His face and His will.  Make disciples.  Love deeply. Do good to all men especially the brethren.  Leave this world tired.  The world needs us to live so.  Allow God to pour you out as He fills you up. 

Galatians 6:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Mark of Cain

Genesis 4:13-15

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! ¹⁴ Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

 Have you ever known that you deserved punishment for your wrong doing?  Have you ever blown it and thought I deserve exactly what I get? Has the realization of your sin been so strong that your heart broke? 

Cain could not have been more guilty and he had no one to blame but himself.  He had killed a quarter of the population.  In a jealous rage he struck out at his brother and at God. But the story is really not about Cain, its about God.

We see that God is just.    Cain's sin was not going to go unpunished.  I as a believer in Jesus can take rest in knowing that every sin will be accounted for.  I have no need to seek vengeance. Why? Because sin is paid for in one of two ways: The person will pay for their sin by an eternity of suffering in hell or Jesus paid for their sin on the cross.   Either way I can love my enemies because I know justice will be served.

We see that God is merciful.  Cain was guilty and wasn't even repentant for the crime he committed.  God would have been justified by killing Cain and when Cain explained that he feared for his life God could have said you should have thought about that when you killed your brother or so what you killed your brother why should I protect you.  Instead God placed His holy protection upon Cain heading to his cry.  His protection was so thorough that He would have vengeance on anyone who killed Cain.

God further showed His mercy through the cross.  Your sin is not so great that the mark of Jesus' cross can not protect you from the judgement that is to come.  Cry out to God for mercy and you will receive it.

How to Know the Will of God

Romans 12:2

New King James Version (NKJV)

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Often times we make things more difficult than God intended. We spend time crying out to God to know His will and His desire when the answer is right in front of us.  

God has laid out His will in His word here are just a few examples: 

Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church
Wives submit to your own husbands
Children obey your parents
Go and make disciples of all the nations
Love one another as I have loved you
Believe in me
Love your neighbor as yourself

Knowing God's will is as easy as picking up the bible and reading it.  The difficult part is in the doing, but God has made provision even for this.  Through the Holy Spirit you have all the power you need to walk in the will of God.  

The only question that remains then is are you willing to do His will?