Latest / First15 Devotional / The Fruit of Abiding

Transcript

The Fruit of Abiding · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Every Christian I know wants to live an effective life for Jesus.
• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: The key to succeeding in this is abiding in Him.
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Abiding in Christ is foundational to centering your whole life around God.
• 0:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tapping into Christ's presence and power is what will allow you to bear good fruit in this life.
• 0:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is my hope that after today, you are more equipped and empowered to live out a life centered around God.
• 0:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from John 15 verse 5, Scripture says, whoever abides in me and I in him, He it is that bears much fruit.
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: For apart from me, you can do nothing.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: so often out of a right desire to do good and God honoring works.
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: We try and force fruit out of ourselves without taking the time to rest and receive the nutrients we can only get from abiding and our Heavenly Father.
• 1:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: A branch disconnected from an apple tree can no more produce good fruit than you and I can do good works apart from continual abiding in the love, grace, and presence of God.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Without truly centering our lives around meeting with God, we'll never produce the fruit we were created to make.
• 2:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus taught us in John 15 verses one through five.
• 2:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: He says, I am the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser.
• 2:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away.
• 2:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit.
• 2:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Already, you are clean because of the word that I've spoken to you.
• 2:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: A bite 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.
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: I am the vine, you are the branches.
• 2:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.
• 3:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: For apart from me, you can do nothing.
• 3:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: God's heart is for us to abide in Him all day every day.
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: How incredible is that?
• 3:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: You and I graft ourselves every day into the perfect, good, and powerful vine of our heavenly Father.
• 3:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: We can wake up every day, open our hearts to God, and live out of the union afforded us by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus.
• 3:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than striving to do good works from the moment our feet hit the ground, we must take time to be loved by our Heavenly Father.
• 3:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than making our own opportunities to serve God, we must allow Him to guide us to the works He set out for us.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: rather than trying to lead others to Jesus by our own efforts.
• 4:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: We must simply live openly and honestly with others.
• 4:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're by revealing God's heart to meet with those who are broken and in need of him.
• 4:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: And rather than living as if God has left us to our devices, we must acknowledge our union with the Holy Spirit in every moment, thereby allowing His loving presence to permeate everything we do.
• 4:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: James 226 teaches, for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead, connect yourself to the wonderful vine of Jesus today, center your life around meeting with him.
• 4:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's only in a biting in God that your faith will produce works that are alive, eternal, and filled with the transformational power of God's Spirit.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: May you discover the freedom and love available to you in continual communion with your heavenly Father today.
• 5:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of abiding in the vine.
• 6:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow scripture to stir up your desire to rest in God today.
• 6:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: John 15 5 says, whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.
• 6:21
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you for watching.
• 6:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next, where have you been striving to do good works apart from the abiding presence of your creator?
• 7:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: What parts of your life need to have a greater connection to the love of God?
• 7:28
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: and last.
• 7:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to rest in the presence of God, abide in Him.
• 8:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Don't look too or think about the things set before you today.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: There will be plenty of time for tasks and relationships.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Focus all your attention on the reality of God's enneerness and open your heart to receive all the love he has for you in this present moment.
• 8:27
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you very much for joining us
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: The absolute most powerful and good work we can do every day is pursuing continual communion with God.
• 9:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: More than God wants us to strive to serve Him.
• 9:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: He simply wants us to let Him love us.
• 9:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: More than he wants any work of our hands, he wants our hearts.
• 9:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: His love comes without agenda.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is immense value in the children of God simply living in relationship with the Father.
• 9:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Don't let the works-based system of this world
• 9:55
  [UNKNOWN]: You
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's devotional.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with verse 15.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Before you go today, what's one way you can seek to abide in God throughout the rest of your day today?
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you can repurpose some time in your car, or maybe try to take a few moments before a meeting to take a deep breath and rest in God.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever comes up for you, try and find some new practice that can help you in this pursuit of abiding.
• 10:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day today, and may God bless you as you seek him.