Need Joy?
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"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing..." 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:1-11 In this passage of scripture Jesus refers to Himself as the vine. He compares us to branches. As branches, he says in verse four, we are to "abide in him."
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Surrender First, it means to surrender. According to John 15:4, we cannot bear fruit on our own. What issues do you have in your life that keeps you from fully surrendering to Jesus?
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Dependence Secondly, abiding means dependence. The joy of Jesus is given when you depend upon the Lord. John 15:5b says, "…without Me you can do nothing." But God cannot be everything until you become nothing. |
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Resting Thirdly, abiding also means resting. Look at verse 9, "continue ye in My love." That means to rest in His love. Have you ever thought about what a branch does when it needs water, when it's time to produce buds in the spring or produce fruit for harvest? The branch does nothing; it depends fully on the vine for its support. The vine does all the work and sends down its roots for water and nutrients. How would your life be different if you rested and let the Vine do all of the work and all of the worrying? |
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Obey Finally, abiding means obedience. John 15:10 gives a condition for joy; "If you keep my commandments ye shall abide in My love ..." |
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Receive Joy It's easy to receive this joy!
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