Day 30 :: The Upper Room

John 15:9-11

The Fruit of Abiding

February 20, 2015

Jim Boyd, Director | Support Services

This week, we have been looking at a great passage of Scripture talking about the vine and the branches. We have seen what it means to be shaped and pruned by the gardener, God. This removal or pruning of branches that do not bear fruit is done for the purpose of strengthening and maturing the branches. We also see in verses 9-11 that mature Christians are told to remain in Christ's love. Abiding in Christ's love results in abundant fruit. The result is an increased love for God and his commands.

We are also told many times in scripture that if we keep Christ's commands, we prove our love for Him (John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3). We are told in verse 11 that, in keeping his commandments, Christ's joy will be in us and that our joy will be full. The word “full” means: "with nothing omitted, to the full amount due, to the utmost, complete.” So, are you remaining in Christ's love? Are you keeping the commandments of Christ? If so, you are abiding in the love of Christ, and your joy will be unbelievably full. If not you are not abiding in Christ day by day, take time now to pray, ask forgiveness, and ask God to turn your heart back toward him.

TWEET THIS: To abide in the love of Christ is to experience joy that is unbelievably full. #UpperRoom

Day 29 :: The Upper Room

John 15:7-8

The Vine Transforms the Desires of Our Hearts

February 19, 2015

Larry White, Associate Pastor | Music

Christ is talking with the disciples about abiding or remaining in Him. It’s in abiding in Christ that our sin is crushed and our hearts are perfected through his power. When the gospel has takes deep root in our lives and becomes the very fabric of our being, our heart’s desires are transformed by the divine love of Christ. Thus, what we long for, ask for, live for and pray changes as we rest in Christ through his grace. Our reason for running to Christ, in prayer, shifts from focusing on self to being obsessed with the God’s kingdom and God’s will being done, on earth and in our lives as it is in heaven (Mat. 6:10).

“Whatever you wish” does not imply that Christ will give us anything that we ask for. Instead, it implies that he’ll change our hearts so that we’ll ask for what he wants to give us. The command and invitation is given with the understanding that abiding in Christ always results having our hearts become enamored by his purposes. As a result, the “whatever you wish” is met with God’s provision and favor because he satisfies the desires of our hearts—the desires that he has graciously transformed and is transforming moment by moment.

Spend time meditating on how God has the power to transform our heart’s affections and longings. Ask God to continue to give you the faith to abide in Him so that He might align your desires with his glory and purposes.

Additional Scripture: I John 2:24; I John 2:19; John 8:31; Psalm 1:1-6

TWEET THIS: When we abide in Christ, he transforms the desires of our hearts. #UpperRoom

Day 28 :: The Upper Room

John 15:5-6

Power from God

February 18, 2015

Larry White, Associate Pastor | Music

Jesus clearly asserts that strength is to be constantly found in Him. We are able to bear fruit not as a result of trying to abide in our strength, but because of the power we receive from the vine, Christ. Just as a branch separated from the vine could bear no fruit, we are can do nothing of lasting and eternal value unless our power is coming from Him. Someone that professes Christ but lacks faith in the power of the true vine will be fruitless and fail to experience the life that the vine supplies in abundance.

As Christ followers, there is only one way for us to make the most of our vapor of life. God is calling us to be in constant and strict communion with Christ through the reading of His word and talking with Him through prayer. In doing so, our hearts are ripped off of self and placed on the glory of Christ who is ready to give us faith to trust in his strength and love.

Are you abiding in Christ? Whose strength are you relying on? What or who has your heart’s affection?

Additional Scripture: Matthew 13:21; John 15:16; Ezekiel15:2-5

TWEET THIS: We can do nothing of eternal value unless our strength is found in the power and love of Christ, the true vine. #UpperRoom

Day 27 :: The Upper Room

John 15:3-4

Abide

February 17, 2015

Lee Chewning, Associate Pastor | Worship

Yesterday, we talked about the Father and His work in us as the Vinedresser. Today, as branches, we look at the vine. The vine symbolizes Christ, the one to whom we are attached when we are born again. When we belong to Christ, we can have confidence that He has what we need to yield good fruit. He says "Abide in Me, and I in you." When we find ourselves dwelling in Him and clinging to Him, we can be fruitful. We will then begin to live lives marked by fruit such as kindness, peace and joy. The key to bearing fruit is not focusing on the fruit as much as it is on abiding in God and walking with Him. When our focus is on the fruit we need to bear, we will naturally strive to bear fruit in our own strength. If abiding in the love of Christ is our focus, the natural byproduct is Christ producing fruit in us.

The idea of leaning on someone is counterintuitive to our nature and our upbringing. We naturally think that happiness is found in self-reliance. Abiding in Christ requires that we admit our need for his help and guidance. Daily. Being that our hearts are tainted by sin, the need to direct ourselves back to Christ is vital. When we do, we learn more and more how to truly abide, each time bearing a little more fruit and we shine the light of hope just a little farther into the darkness around us.

TWEET THIS: As we abide in Christ, we will bear fruit and shine the light of hope into the darkness around us. #UpperRoom

Day 26 :: The Upper Room

John 15:1-2

The Vinedresser

February 16, 2015

Lee Chewning, Associate Pastor | Worship

We begin this week by studying a well-known passage. It’s evident that our Heavenly Father is actively involved in the lives of those He has created. As a farmer, my grandfather understood this type of involvement well, especially when it came to the well being of his crops. As a child, I remember watching my grandfather cut off over half of a scuppernong vine’s branches every year. He would always say, "It's good for it." He was right because every year the branches would come back fuller and healthier that before. The vine’s branches were sensitive and required my grandfather give them consistent care. Jesus knew that the agricultural analogy would communicate a myriad of truths.

As we consider spiritual maturity, it’s important to realize that our Father is aware of our lives and He is actively involved in drawing us closer to Himself. As the vinedresser, He grows us by way of pruning us. He prunes us because he desires that every part of our lives be increasingly abundant with fruit (Gal. 5:22). With care and understanding, He grows us by allowing pain and revealing sin. Are you bearing good fruit in every area of your life? Are there branches of your own life that need to be pruned? My prayer today is that He will show you the areas of your life that are fruitless. Ask the vinedresser to prune and shape the areas of your life that need to be matured.

TWEET THIS: Our Father is actively involved in our lives and He desires that every area bear good fruit, even if pruning is required. #UpperRoom