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The Power of Remaining

The Power of Remaining
Words of Faith 2-10-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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Winter Conference at FFC - February 10-12 - with Nate Garrett. Four great teachings in 1 John - "True Love".
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John 15
[5] "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. [8] This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
[9] "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Jesus continued here to describe our relationship as believers with Him. Foremost, it is a fruitful relationship! Our connection as branches to the true Vine guarantees fruit. Fruit comes as a result of no other fact. If a man remains in Jesus and Jesus in him, he will bear much fruit. Likewise a branch that does not remain in Jesus is cut off, thrown away, and withers.
From the description in these verses there are three kinds of branches.
1) There are branches that remain in the true Vine. These can be recognized because of their fruit. Fruitfulness is normal for believers.
2) There are branches that bear no fruit. These are apparently not “in” the true vine at all, and they are cut off. An absolutely fruitless life is evidence that one is not a believer.
3) There are branches that do not remain in the true Vine. Perhaps they bear some fruit for a time but they do not remain. These are “like” a branch that is thrown away and withers and is burned. Jesus left no place among his followers for fruitless disciples.
In this third situation, Jesus may have been speaking of “false disciples” who do not remain. He may have been speaking of Judas who was a part of Him for a while but then chose not to remain. Jesus had already stated that His sheep listen to His voice. “I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
The primary point here is not to ponder the fate of those cut off but to realize that the source of life is Jesus. A true believer will remain in Jesus. As a connected part of the True Vine, the believer is empowered to do the will of the Father. The things that we ask in His name will be given to us.
This is not a super-platinum no-limit credit card. The things we ask “in His name” are those things that are in keeping with the spirit and teaching of Jesus and are confirmed as the will of God. These things we ask will be things that glorify the Father and are in accordance with His Word. All this will be to the glory of the Father and not to the glory of the disciple. The bearing of fruit will always glorify the Father.
Jesus has loved us just as the Father loves Him. We are called to remain in that love. How do we do that? We do so through obedience. Remember? The way that we love Jesus is to obey Him. This is also the way that we remain in His love.
We often think of the commands of God as restrictive or punitive. In fact, the commands of God are an expression of His love. He shows us His great love by protecting us from the disaster and calamity that comes from sin and disobedience.
So for today? Choose to remain in Him. Choose to obey Him. Choose to enjoy His protection. Choose to enjoy His love. As a result we will see much fruit.

Lord, I am Yours. May Your fruit be evident and abundant in my life today. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2017
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.