Arise and Abide

John 15:1-8. Jesus tells His disciples that He is “the True Vine”, pause and think about the things that are not Jesus that people look to for energy and life. The distractions we pick as favorites need to be kept in proper perspective. The good fruit produced in our lives is not from our actions, abilities, or power, it is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Sally the branch. Abiding in, remaining in Jesus is required for fruitfulness. Pruning and fruitfulness are for the benefit of others, not just for self. Jesus' life and teaching purify our lives as we surrender to God’s pruning in the process. God remains.

Matthew 28:18-20 Setting a brief explanation of the context and the connection between loving God and obedience to His call.  The intentional way Jesus kept his relationships. God partnering with humanity and explaining as clearly as possible how God wants us to live and handle our relationships. God’s call on your life is more than just one thing. The pattern of kings who choose their own way in 2 Kings, the same pattern we see throughout scripture and in life today. Because of His authority, therefore, go and make disciples of Jesus. Surrendering your ideas of what it means to “serve”. We make disciples of Jesus, not of ourselves. Giving the people we disciple more access into our lives, how we live and how we walk through circumstance. Responding in loving patience instead of offence. Jesus promise that He is always with us, even to the end of the age.

John 15:9-17 Setting a brief explanation of the context and the connection between loving God and obedience to His call. We see the production of the fruit of the Holy Spirit as we remain in Christ.  The meaning of life, Love and relationship, Love God & Love People. Our purpose is to be an expression, a reflection, of God’s love and remain in Him. Remaining in Him is to be surrounded and filled with an all-encompassing love. Loving others is only hard when it goes against our selfish nature. Loving others starts with laying down our lives and our own agenda. The creator of the universe calls us “friend”. As our heart aligns with Christ we desire more and more to see His will be done. The promise of something so much better than defining our own life.   

John 4:27-38 Setting the context with a brief explanation of the text between the teaching to Nicodemus and the woman at Jacob’s well.  Jesus telling his Disciples to “wake up”. Jesus uses this moment to show us we need nourishment beyond the physical and that nourishment comes from doing God’s will and God’s work. God is showing His chosen people that His heart is for all people. The challenge to wake up, look around, and see the opportunities God is presenting. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and surrendered to God’s lead. Faking it until you make it isn’t the same as surrender. The need to surrender our plans and our comfort zone. 1 Corinthians 3, Planting, Watering, and Harvesting.

Reading John 3:1-21 after setting the context with a brief explanation of the opening chapters of John. Nicodemus tells Jesus he is teachable, and Jesus replies in a way that shows how Nicodemus has made himself unteachable. Confused? Jesus is our source of understanding and our source of spiritual life. Being born and coming into light. The picture of God calling us into the light. It will cost us our pride to be humble enough to go to God for understanding and of life. The idea of surrender is simple enough to it can be a challenge. Nicodemus comes to learn, Jesus challenges him to believe.  We are promised spiritual life by the power of God, not in our own strength, knowledge, or ability.  

Mark 1:14-15 Setting the context with a brief explanation of the intertestamental period. The picture of Jesus coming though we far, saying the kingdom of God is near. God seeking us precedes us returning to Him. The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin. God is patient with us for our own good. The world tries to lead people astray saying, “You do you”. The posture of Humility, recognizing our need for Jesus and turning to Him daily. Everything spirals and continues to spiral when humanity continues to choose for themselves right and wrong instead of  turning to God. God is near, Deut. 4:7. God’s Holy Spirit living in us shows how near God is.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The description of selflessness and fullness of Love. To love others, we must fall in line with the heart of God, to truly love we must surrender our version of love. To embrace God’s ways we must let go of our selfish childlike ways. Surrendering your moral codes for the Lord’s. Embracing that people can only know partially in this life.  Surrendering “feelings” of love. Adults are often like children, we need real love.

In the second week of this series we look at Colossians 3:1-15, the Holy Spirit expounding, through Paul, on Jesus teaching in Luke 6:45. God knows our nature but loves us so much He wants us to share in His Glory and live a better life. Putting our focus on the realities of Heaven, Jesus is on the throne, He is the source of truth. Turn from the things that promote self and selfishness and look to Christ. As we press into the presence of God, God does the work. God draws me to Himself. Our relationship with people flows from our relationship with our creator.

In the second week of this series we look at Matthew 5:38-42, When Jesus teaches on revenge and forgiveness. Murder starts with anger in a person’s heart. The moral judgments of humanity falls short of the goodness of God. We all fall short but Jesus fills the gap. Turning the other cheek breaks the cycle of revenge.  Realizing the grace of God allows us to extend it to others.  Turning the other cheek shows you value the relationship more than whatever it is that they are upset over. Abiding in Christ is the only way to respond in the Spirit of God.

In the first week of this series we look at Luke 9:18-26, When Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is, predicts his death, and calls anyone following Him to pick up their cross if they want to follow. Jesus is the example we are to follow. Jesus raises the expectations to follow him after he tells them the life and death that awaits Him. Holding on to our lives leads to death, letting go leads to life.