Please join us as Pastor Patrick Joyner continues the series on the Gospel of John. John 15:18-16:4.

Please join us as Pastor Patrick Joyner continues the series on the Gospel of John. John 15:1-7. The question at hand is simply what does it mean to abide in Christ? Often when we think of abiding, there is an inclination to draw attention to the union with Christ. But what we see in the term “abiding” in this chapter, particularly in verse 4, is that it is a verb, a directive to those already in union with Christ. To abide in Christ means we can participate in and look forward to: being grafted in, friendship, safety, revelation, comfort, correction, worship, adoration, and eagerly waiting. To abide and flourish we must believe and apply His truths.

Please join us as Pastor Patrick Joyner continues the series on the Gospel of John. John 15:1-17. Doing the works of Christ is the purpose of all believers (John 14:12). God honoring productivity is not a New Testament idea. The first command God gave Adam and Eve, be fruitful and multiply, sounded a lot like John 15. God’s intention for creation was not only to have children but that they involve themselves in the work of the earth - cultivating and creating. This fruitfulness was in the context of abiding with God. In John 15, we see that the recovery of communion with Christ brings a recovery of God honoring productivity (fruitfulness). Both physical and spiritual productivity was necessary and expected as fruit bearing is the essence of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

Another thing we see in this passage is that the abiding work that the lord Jesus is calling us to is the consequence of prayer. We should ask ourselves, “Is the work I do a result of prayer? Am I willing to ask the Lord to help me with all the things I think, say, and do with my hands?”