God's promise is real. His Word is Truth. So why aren't you receiving what you ask of God?

Today's episode will shed light on understanding God's promise by unpacking John 15:1-8 and 16 about Jesus as the vine and we as the branches. Kim provides a simple framework (Principles, Process & Promise) to understand the meaning of God's promise and why you may not have realized it.

Principles, Process and Promise

• Principles are fundamental truths; they are a grounding for what to expect in God's promise and answer the question "WHY".
• Process is the series of actions or steps taken to realize a particular outcome; they answer the question of "HOW". You need to understand the WHY (principles) before embarking on the HOW.
• Promise is the declaration or assurance that someone will deliver on their word when the required process is followed. The promise answers the question of "WHAT".

Let's apply this framework to John 15:1-8 and 16 by starting with the underlying principles.

Jesus came in the flesh to redeem mankind and to introduce an alternative Kingdom to the worldly kingdom. While man once ate from the Tree of Life, Jesus reintroduced the Tree of Life through an alternate Kingdom. Jesus went insofar to state that He IS the "true" vine -- the vine of truth.

Now that we understand the principles of Jesus' purpose, let's look at the process -- the HOW.

Jesus said that we are THE BRANCHES. Jesus is giving us an identity as a branch that is tied to the vine. Our identity flows from Jesus Christ when He abides in us. Then we will bear much fruit. A branch that is not attached to the vine withers and dies. Jesus is clear when He says, "if you abide in ME and MY words abides in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

The process that Jesus followed was clear. He said, "I can do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me." The Father was in Jesus, and He was in the Father. Jesus operated completely under the Father's will and not His own.

As a branch that enters into the vine, to be fed by the vine, we are called to receive the vine. When you follow the process, you will produce much fruit and not on your own accord. Fruit is the result of the vine giving life to the branch and not the branch itself.

Let's look at the Promise and unpack John 15:16: You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."

In order to realize the promise from this scripture verse, JESUS MUST ABIDE IN YOU. Abiding is a lifestyle and not an event. It requires that you accept God's word, to receive His truth, to be connected to the vine, and to have the word abiding in you. We are to receive and respond, yet are often taught to GIVE. Give our time, talents, money, etc. to the church. Do not conflate these things to be the fruit that is produced when Jesus abides in you which is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

You were chosen, positioned and appointed by God to go and bear fruit… SO THAT God will give you what you ask for. "So that" is a conjunction used to show purpose, intent, or the result of something. It's synonymous with "in order that". It's conditional.

What you ask of the Father is conditional. When you were born again and accepted Christ, you gave up your worldly right to be anything you want, have anything you want, or do whatever you want. You CAN have everything provided for you in your appointment, your assignment and position that God has given you. The branch doesn't decide where it's positioned on the vine, nor does it decide what it needs. We are to accept God's will in His way, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for... and He will.

John 15:1-8, 16; John 14:6; Is 4:2, 11:1; Jer 23:5; Zech 3:8; John 5:19, 30, 42-44; 8:28; 14:10; Gal 5:22-23; James 4:1-3; John 8:31-33