John 15.1-7 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
The apostle James wrote, ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. My heart breaks when I hear word that a person has walked away from Jesus Christ. What went wrong? They loved this present evil world.
They sought fulfillment and satisfaction in the fallen pleasures of this world. Question. Why did this happen? They never stopped having an affair with this world instead of seeking to abide in Jesus.
Apart from abiding in Christ, we can do nothing but fail. Think about a vine. Think about those branches. All that each branch needed for life and nourishment came from the vine. Severed from that vine, the branches would wither and die. Severed from Christ, sinful man seeks fulfillment from the corrupt springs of this world. Beloved, God’s will for us to abide in Jesus and bear fruit. Maybe you are caught in between two worlds this morning. Know this, child of God. You cannot afford to not abide in Jesus. You cannot afford the wages of compromise. It will destroy you physically, emotionally and spiritually. The world will not stop it’s pursuit of your affections. Satan desires to sift you like wheat.
The battle will rage today. The flesh will fight against The Spirit. But Jesus said IF you abide in Me. Hang in there beloved. Simply abide in Jesus, trusting in His grace, mercy and His everlasting love for you. Let His beauty and splendor fulfill you and encourage you to abide in Him today. Don’t believe the lies of the world, embrace the truth of God and live.
